Duality Read Online Free PDF Page A

figure out what was wrong with Denny when his jaw fell open and he suddenly paled. He staggered back, clutching his bleeding side to reveal the knife in Jules’s hand, the one he hadn’t noticed because she’d been distracting him with the other hand. She grabbed the gun from him and shot down one of his men, the other leaping for cover behind the bar. As he shot back Jules ducked down behind a table while Mikey ran to a corner of the room, threw aside an old dust sheet and produced the weapon he’d secreted there the day before. Jules and the second man were firing at each other but neither were able to get a clear shot and bullets were pinging around the room.
    “Stay down,” he yelled to Jules.
    “Yeah, I’d already got that,” she said sarcastically.
    From his vantage point Mikey was able to get a shot off at the man who had entrenched himself behind the bar.
    Jules heard movement behind her and turned to see another of Denny’s men burst out of a side door and charge at her. She just managed to duck as a huge fist flew at her and she kicked out, catching him in the jaw. The man groaned and staggered back but didn’t go down. She lashed out again but he was faster than she’d anticipated and caught her wrist. A punch to the chest released her and she followed it up with a punch to the face. Unfortunately she tripped over a fallen chair and staggered backwards into the bar. This gave him all the time he needed to snatch up the gun and aim it at her.
    “No,” she screamed, wrapping her arms around her stomach.
    Mikey had finally shot down the man behind the bar. He leapt forward and shot the second man before he could fire. As the sound of the last shot died away he looked to Jules, who unwrapped her arms and raised her head, looking upset.
    “What the fuck Jules?” Mikey exclaimed as he tugged his phone out of his jacket and dialled Jez’s number. “Have you lost your bottle or something?”
    “No I haven’t,” she retorted.
    “Then how can you explain behaviour like that? If you can’t handle it anymore just tell me but I can’t have someone on my firm who can’t deal with violence.”
    “I’m not losing my bottle,” she yelled at him.
    He held up his hand for silence when Jez answered his call and she anxiously waited to hear if her younger brother was okay.
    “Jez, thank fuck,” breathed Mikey. “Get out of there, it’s a trap…oh, you already know. Alright. when the clean up crew’s done over there we need them over here. Yeah Denny’s gone, silly bastard.”
    “So they’re okay?” said Jules after he’d hung up.
    “Fine. Denny’s henchmen were no match. Now, are you going to tell me what’s up?”
    She sighed and turned her back, wrestling with herself.
    Realising something was really wrong he threw down the gun and decided to try a more gentle tactic. “Jules, please, what is it?”
    She turned back round to face him, eyes wide. “I’m pregnant Mikey.”
    Mikey swallowed hard, hating the knot of jealousy that formed inside his chest. Involuntarily his eyes swept to her stomach, which looked completely flat. “When did you find out?”
    “Just before you came to pick me up. I did a test. Actually I did three tests because I couldn’t believe it and all three of them were positive. I reckon I’m about three months gone.”
    “I thought you couldn’t have kids?”
    “So did I,” she sighed.
    “Jax must be pleased,” he said acidly.
    “He doesn’t know.”
    “Are you going to tell him?”
    “He’s not the father.”
    “Then who?” His mind slipped back to three months ago. “Oh Jesus, please don’t tell me it’s…”
    “Jared Slattery’s. Yes.”
    “Holy hell.”
    “Indeed.”
    Mikey had no idea what to make of that so, to buy himself some time, he got on his phone and called Declan to ask how long it would take for the clean-up crew to arrive.
    When he’d done he said to Jules, “sit down,” righting an upturned chair for her.
    “I’m fine