Page 58 of Destiny

I sigh.

To think… How much I loved this new place. Especially how quickly it got done, and now? It’s tainted. Tainted with Steel money.

It’s so obvious as I think about it. No insurance company pays as quickly as mine did, and no insurance company waives a deductible. I just didn’t want to see what was right in front of my face. I was anxious to get back to my place, anxious to stop living with my parents.

So I chose not to see.

Never again. Never fucking again.

I will never have a blind spot—not when it comes to the Steels. Not when it comes to anything.

My phone rings. Speak of the devil. Ruby Steel.

“Yeah? This is Brendan.”

“Brendan, it’s Ruby Steel.”

“Hi, Ruby. How’s Ava?”

“She’s hanging in there. She’s with her father and her”—throat clear—“grandmotherat the moment.”

“You’re not with them?”

“No. It’s best that I’m not there. But that’s why I’m calling. I wanted to check to see if Tucker was able to help you.”

“Yes, thank you for the recommendation. He already got the results back to us.”

“And?”

“What the hell, I guess you know everything anyway. It seems that my father and Lauren’s son, Jack, share a grandparent. Which makes absolutely no sense at all.”

“I see.” Her tone is odd, almost robotic.

“My grandfather’s brother, as you know, died at Brad Steel’s wedding.”

“Yes. I’ve been thinking about this. And I have a working theory.”

“I have a working theory too,” I say. “Although I haven’t even allowed myself to think about it.”

“I’d like to meet with you and your father. I think we have some digging to do.”

“Whose side are you on, Ruby?”

“There’s only one side here, Brendan. The sideagainstWendy Madigan. She may be Ryan’s mother and Ava’s grandmother, but she is the enemy. We would all be wise never to forget that.”

“I haven’t forgotten that. Do you feel Ava has?”

Ruby pauses a moment before she speaks. “No, I don’t think Ava has, but Ryan and I are concerned. Ava seems to want something from Wendy. She seems to feel some kind of connection to her. And I’m not just talking genetically.”

“Yes, I got that feeling as well. Especially when she was reading some cards, and when she figured out exactly who Wendy was.”

“Ryan doesn’t want to leave Ava’s side right now, and I don’t blame him. I think Ava would like to be left alone with Wendy, but Ryan won’t allow it. However, I don’t plan to be anywhere near the woman. And I just have a feeling that…a lot more is going on here.”

“Yes.”

“I know you’re busy—”

“Actually, Ruby, I’m not. I’m taking a week off from work. I’ve got all my shifts covered with the addition of some temps.”

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