AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bella Wilkinson.” I shook my head. “Lad, what were you thinking?”
“Full disclosure?”
“Go for it.”
“I was with her more than once.” His cheeks reddened. “When we were a couple.”
“Well, shit,” I grumbled, patting my belly. “Now, I’m really glad I kicked her ass.”
“I figured you were screwing Lynchy behind my back, and that was why you refused to sleep with me, so I went hell for leather with pretty much any girl who looked sideways at me.”
“I wasn’t screwing Joey,” I told him. “Nothing physical happened with Joe until that kiss in fifth year.” I narrowed my eyes. “When you and Billy doubled-teamed him before getting him arrested.”
He winced. “Yeah, I know that now.”
“So, speaking about batshit girls.” The baby jabbed me in the ribs, and I shifted around in discomfort. “How’s Danielle?”
“Danielle?” He laughed humorlessly. “Danielle was a distraction from you. We parted ways shortly after the leaving cert exams in June. Last I heard, she was seeing Bella’s ex from Tommen.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrugged noncommittally. “I hate to say it, but you probably dodged a bullet with that one.” Snorting, I added, “Which is rich coming from your knocked-up ex.”
He laughed in response before saying. “Listen, I wanted to do something for you before I left. Help you in some way.”
“You don’t need to do anything for me, Paul.”
“I know you’re on your own right now, while Lynchy is at rehab—”
“Joe’s coming home,” I was quick to declare, hands moving protectively to my stomach. “He’s getting better and then he’s coming back for his family.”
My ex shifted in discomfort.
“I’m sorry if that’s still hard for you to hear,” I added. “That I love him? But it’s the truth, and I’m never going to give up on him.”
“Yeah,” he replied with a heavy sigh. “I know you’re not, which is why I did it.”
“What?” Sitting upright, I studied him warily. “What did you do, Paul?”
“I’m guessing you didn’t read today’s paper.”
“No.” I rested my elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Why?”
“There was a huge drug bust in Ballylaggin last night,” he blew my mind by saying. “According to my father, they’ve had eyes on the Holland brothers for a long time now.”
My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Paul nodded. “He’s being remanded in Portlaoise until sentencing.”
“Shane is?”
“And more with him,” he confirmed. “According to my father, Shane’s already up for sexual assault, GBH, and several other unanswered charges. Dad reckons the judge will throw the book at him. He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t celebrate his thirtieth in prison.”
“That’s six years.” I felt my body sag in a rush of instant relief. “You’re saying he’s going away for six years?”
“Longer if the DPP have their way.”
“Jesus Christ.” I blew out a ragged breath and clutched my chest. “How did this happen?”
Paul shrugged. “Someone tipped the drug squad off about a shipment of coke with a street value of six hundred grand.”
