Page 120 of Destiny

Dr. Franklin shakes his head, sighing. “I don’t know. You have to decide that for yourself.”

“Christ.” Ryan rakes his fingers through his hair. “I’m damned tired of history repeating itself. Damned tired of people coming back from the dead.”

Dr. Franklin’s eyes go wide. “Coming back from the dead?”

“It’s a long story,” I say. “Ryan, are we done here?”

“For now. But we’ll be back.”

My phone buzzes. It’s Jack. I walk out of Dr. Franklin’s office to take the call.

“Hey,” I say, still walking until I’m outside the clinic.

“Yeah, just got your message. You want my mom to have a DNA test?”

“It’s a hunch, but we think her father may be Brad Steel.”

“We’ve had the same hunch over the years.”

“Have you?”

“Well,Ihave. She’s always been convinced that she didn’t belong to Brad Steel, or her mother would’ve treated her better.”

“I can see your concern. Ruby’s been in touch with Tucker Madden. If your mother could get over there, he can do the test and get it done quickly like he did for us.”

“Yeah, okay.”

I inhale. “I have some more news for you, Jack.”

“What’s that?”

“Ryan Steel and I found your father.”

No reply.

“His sperm, that is. You trulyarethe son of Sean Murphy, and you and my father are cousins. I’m not sure why Wendy chose him to father her grandchild, and we may never get a straight answer out of her about that, but if anyone can, it’s Ava.”

More silence.

“You still there?” I ask after a few seconds.

“Yeah. Damn.”

“I know, man. Listen, Ryan and I are on our way back to the ranch. Ava is there now. Let me know as soon as you can get your mother up there for the test.”

“Maybe this afternoon. Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

I end the call.

Ryan looks at me. “You gave him a lot of information.”

“I did,” I say. “But he’s my cousin. Wendy Madigan made him my cousin. I’m not sure why, but I’d like to find out.”

Ryan sighs, shaking his head. “I gave up trying to figure out my mother long ago. If Lauren is my full sister—if she’s Brad Steel’s daughter—I have to share the fortune with her.”

“That deed we found,” I say, “transferring everything to you. I’m wondering if that was signed before Lauren was even born.”

“It could’ve been,” he says. “Or perhaps not. You have to think like my mother. Even if Lauren is Brad Steel’s daughter, she was probably conceived through artificial insemination. In my mother’s mind, that means Lauren doesn’t mean as much as I do, since I came from her actually having sex with my father.”

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