Page 57 of Destiny

Chapter Seventeen

Brendan

“You think the bar could use some remodeling, Dad?”

“Why the hell would it need remodeling?”

I sigh. “I need some time off.”

Dad steps toward me. “Does this have anything to do with Ava shutting down her bakery?”

“Yes and no. Ava and I…” I pause. “Well, I guess we’re taking a bit of a break. She has some stuff to work through, and frankly, so do I.”

“You know, Brendan”—Dad rubs his chin—“I like Ava. But it wouldn’t bother me if you stayed far away from the Steels.”

“I’m in love with her, Dad. Right now, I’m not sure where her head is in the whole thing. So we’re taking a little time. She has some family stuff to deal with. The reappearance of her grandmother is the biggest part. I think she feels… I don’t know. She feels some kind of kinship with this woman. This woman who, by the way, was a complete psychopath, so I’m a little bit scared for Ava. But I can’t be with her right now.”

Dad exhales. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, since I just told you I wouldn’t mind you staying away from the Steels, but perhaps she needs you now more than ever.”

I clench my hands into fists. “If it comes to anything like that, if she’s in danger or anything, I will be there in a moment to protect her with my life. But that’s not what I’m feeling. This is just some stuff she needs to work out.”

“All right, son.” Dad looks around. “So why do you need to shut down the bar?”

“I want to figure out the whole thing with my great-uncle once and for all.”

Dad raises an eyebrow. “Brendan?”

“I know, Dad. I know I’ve told you to let it lie. But this thing with Jack. We need to figure out where he came from. How it’s possible that the two of you share grandparents.”

“I thought you said you wanted to wait until we got the rest of the DNA results.”

“You and I both know they’re going to say the same thing.”

Dad nods. “I know. I’ve given that some thought, and I believe you’re right.”

“I don’t want to sacrifice the income, but I see Ava’s point. She needs to figure this out, and I’m feeling the same thing about our situation. I need to devote some time to this.”

“We could hire people. Laney, Johnny, Marianne, the Petersons. They could all take extra shifts. They might like that.”

“They might. Plus I suppose we could bring in some temporaries too.”

“Tell you what. I’ll help you get it all set up.” Dad takes his phone out and begins scrolling. “We don’t need to close the bar, Brendan. You just need to take a week off. You and I will figure this out together.”

Turns out Dad was right. All the employees were more than happy to take extra shifts, all except the Petersons, of course, who have to work their liquor store the rest of the week. I filled any gaps with the temp agency, and now I have a week off.

Feels strange—very strange sitting in my apartment, which was paid for by the Steels.

In my heart, I know Ava had nothing to do with that, but she did keep it from me. Now I know, and somehow I will pay back every cent, but in the meantime, I need to figure out my own family’s involvement.

It will be a few more days before we get the DNA results from the other lab, but as of now, Dad and Jack Murphy are cousins, which makes Jack my first cousin once removed.

It also means we have a link not only to the Steels but also to crazy Wendy Madigan.

At least our link isn’t genetic. Only Jack is that unfortunate.

Jack…and Ava.

But Jack will be fine, just as Ava is fine. Ryan is fine and Lauren, although I only met her once, seems fine as well—as fine as anyone who was brutally raped thirty years agocanbe.

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