“Because I talked to someone whoisan expert. Fiona Hennessey. She’s a developer down in Cork, and she showed me some properties that are a hell of a lot better suited for what you’re trying to do. Better infrastructure, less resistance from the locals, and no zoning nightmares to deal with. Honestly, it’s a win-win for everyone.”
There was another pause, and I could almost hear the gears turning in Gil’s head. “I’ve heard of Fiona Hennessey. What’s her angle?”
“Her angle is making money without pissing off half the Irish countryside,” I remarked, settling into my chair, feeling extremely content. “She doesn’t care about Ballybeg—hell, she probably thinks I’m insane for fighting this hard to protect it. But she’s got the data to back up the properties for sale, Gil. I can send you her contact info, and you can see for yourself.”
“I have her contact info.”
“Then use it, for fuck’s sake,” I snapped.
Gil let out a low chuckle that told me he was at least starting to entertain the idea. “You know, Jax, for a golfer, you’ve got a hell of a nerve sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“And for a billionaire, you’ve got a hell of a track record of ignoring red flags,” I shot back.
He laughed outright at that, the tension breaking for the first time since the call started. “Alright, hotshot. I’ll talk to Fiona. But if this doesn’t pan out, you can kiss any favors from me goodbye.”
“Fair enough,” I said sincerely. “But trust me, Gil—this will pan out. Ballybeg was never the right move.”
He sighed heavily, muttering something I didn’t catch, and then said, “You’re lucky I like you, kid. Otherwise, I’d have cut you loose the minute you started meddling.”
So, he’d known for a while that I was in Ballybeg and why. Well, we were both playing coy, so I couldn’t exactly blame him.
“And yet here we are.”
Gil laughed again, the sound booming through the phone. “Alright, let’s see how it goes since you’ve wasted a lot of my time. But if you’re wrong, Jax, I?—”
“I’m not. And if I’m right, which I will be, you’ll owe me a favor.”
“I’m already behind on time and money because of your meddling ass, and you want more favors?”
“Yeah, one more. If you go with Fiona’s deal, I need your help in crushing Cillian O’Farrell.”
“If what you say is true about him inflating the prices to fuck me over, don’t worry about Cillian O’Farrell. By the time I’m through with him, he won’t be able to sell his bait to a shrimp boat captain,” Gil promised and ended the call.
I let out a deep breath.
Dee came out with a couple of guests and led them to one of the benches.
I snagged her hand as she walked past me.
“I’m working,” she hissed.
“I have news.”
She stopped and waited. Nervously.
“Big Gil thinks he’s lost the county council. He just called me and yelled at me for being a meddling little shit.”
Her eyes went wide. She seemed to have stopped breathing.
“Dee, darlin’?”
“I…really?”
I pulled her down so she’d sit on my lap.
“Yeah, really.AndGil promised to fuck Cillian O’Farrell up. Between the county investigating his inflating the land valuation and Gil kicking him in the balls—I think we don’t have to worry about Cillian ever again.”
Dee flung her arms around me and kissed me loud and big on my mouth. “You’re the best boyfriend in the world.”
