Page 80 of Destiny

He waves to Kiki and hands her my credit card. “Take a seat. You’re going to have to unbuckle your jeans and move them down about halfway, about where a low bikini would hit.”

My cheeks warm for a moment, but Cy goes about his business. He’s probably seen a lot more than just a client’s bikini line.

I follow his instructions, unbuttoning my jeans and moving them down to where he needs them, focusing on my right hip.

“I’ve got to warn you, Ava. This won’t be pleasant.”

“I can take it.”

The whir of his tattoo gun begins, and I close my eyes.

I don’t even jolt when the needle hits my skin.

The pain is good. Good in a strange way.

As if it’s what I deserve.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Brendan

At first glance, Ava’s grandmother looks completely harmless. She’s an old woman. An old woman whose eyes are closed and who’s hooked up to a heart monitor and pulse ox machine.

A nurse in light-blue scrubs sits with her.

“How is she, Jemima?” Ryan asks.

“She’s fine, Mr. Steel. No changes.” She glances at me.

“I’m Brendan.”

“Brendan is Ava’s friend,” Ryan says. “He wants to talk to Wendy.”

It doesn’t escape my notice that Ryan refers to her as Wendy and not as his mother.

“I’ll give you some privacy.” Jemima rises and leaves the room. “Oh, by the way, Dr. Parks has a family event tonight, but she’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

Ryan nods. “Very well, then.”

The nurse leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

“Can she hear me?”

“She hears what she wants to hear.”

Wendy’s eyelids flutter then.

I see what he means.

“Wendy,” Ryan says, “Brendan Murphy is here. He’s Ava’s…friend.”

Ryan hesitates a bit. Has Ava told him we had an argument? I don’t know. I’ll work things out with Ava later. For now, I need to find out what this woman knows about my great-uncle.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Madigan,” I say.

No response, but she still flutters her eyes.

“Wendy,” Ryan says, “Brendan’s here to talk about your grandson, Jack. Apparently they’re cousins.”

---