Page 58 of The Inquirer

He smiled. “I’d like that.”

Taking Bradyn to a few places in the city wasn’t just easier than I expected, but more enjoyable too. I liked being able to show him places where I’d been happy. A couple of them had even been from before my dad died.

Staying busy had made it easier to forget why I was there, but by the time we went to bed, my mind had been racing again. Still, I managed to get at least a little sleep so that when Bradyn and I were having breakfast in the hotel restaurant, I felt like I was as mentally prepared as I could be for what I had to do.

“I think I want to talk to Ambrose alone,” I said as we waited for our check.

“Are you sure?”

“Not really,” I said honestly, “but I think it’d be better. If I go in there with you, that just gives him something to use as a distraction, asking how we met, how long we’ve been dating, that sort of thing. I have enough questions for him. I don’t need him asking me any.”

“That makes sense,” Bradyn said. “But only if you’re sure. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

“I know.” I smiled at him. It was a watery smile at best, but it was still there. “And I’m grateful for it. Knowing that you’ll be at the hotel when I get back is exactly what I need.”

He didn’t look like he was happy about my choice, but he didn’t try to talk me out of it. Instead, he walked me out front where a cab was waiting, gave me a kiss, and said that he’d be waiting for me.

His faith in me gave me the courage I needed to make the ride to A. Check & Associates without freaking out. The sight of the building didn’t trigger anything, but that was probably because I’d never been there before. Art hadn’t believed in taking his family to work. I suspected it would be actually seeing Ambrose that’d do it.

I paid the driver and went inside. A prim-looking woman with frosted hair and horn-rimmed glasses sat behind the welcome desk, and she gave me a tight, polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. I’d met women like her before. She might’ve been a great secretary or administrator or whatever her title was, but she wore it like a badge of honor rather than a job. I had no doubt she considered herself a gatekeeper of sorts, the person who was in charge of who got to see her bosses.

“I have an appointment to see Ambrose Check.”

“Your name?”

“Josie Pryor.” Since Min had found me in New York, I assumed Ambrose knew the name I was using. The last thing I wanted was to give him a head’s up. For all I knew, he’d bolt if he heard Nyx Phoenix was here to see him.

“Have a seat, Ms. Pryor. Mr. Check is currently on a call.”

I had no doubt the Mr. Check was meant for me since I’d said Ambrose’s first name, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t here for a social call.

I moved away from the desk, but I didn’t bother sitting. I had too much nervous energy to be still. While I waited, I paced, moving from the picture on one wall to flip through the magazines in the rack. I’d done that about four or five times before the secretary called me over.

“Mr. Check will see you now.” She pointed down the corridor behind her. “He’s at the end of the hallway. Knock before you go in.”

I was tempted to give her a salute and a smart-ass comment, but I behaved. I wasn’t here to annoy the help.

I found his office easily enough, and the voice that told me to come in was one I recognized, even all these years later. As I reached for the doorknob, I waited for the familiar feel of the world shifting, dragging me down into the past, but it didn’t happen. I opened the door and stepped inside, hoping I wasn’t making an awful mistake.

His hair was grayer than the last time I’d seen him, and there was less of it too. When he raised his head, I saw a few more wrinkles, and then he stood up, just as stocky as he had been thirteen years ago. His eyes were the same muddy brown, and they widened as he recognized me.

“Delia?”

“Hi.” I closed the door behind me and came closer to the desk. “Mind if I call you Ambrose? I don’t think uncle has meant anything in a while.”

“I-I…uh…” He shook his head. “What are you–”

I held up a hand. “How about we fast forward past you trying to figure out what to say and go straight to me telling you why I’m here.”

He nodded and motioned to the chair across from him. I didn’t really want to sit, but I was honestly worried that I might hit him, and the last thing I needed was to go to jail on assault charges, especially with Bradyn so close. Too much might come out if that happened. I’d told him more than I’d ever told anyone else, but there were still things I’d kept to myself.

I sat, and Ambrose dropped into his seat like all the strength had gone out of his legs.

“What the hell are you up to, Ambrose?” I didn’t care how harsh my tone was. “Fucking around with my life? Sending one of your employees all the way to New York to mess with me?”

Ambrose’s jaw dropped. “No! That wasn’t what I was doin’ at all!”

“Then what were you doing?” My hands gripped the arms of the chair hard enough to make my fingers ache.

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