CHAPTER4
FLYNN
This is the most surreal experience of my life. Vivian has welcomed me in, a stranger off the street, and claimed me as her son with no hesitation, which makes me wonder if she is telling me the truth. Did she really think I’d died, or did she know all along I was living with the monster under my bed?
Nothing is adding up, which raises my guard. I want to believe this is the stuff dreams are made of, but I’ve led a bitter life of disappointment and good things don’t happen to me. Not ever, so I will proceed with caution and test the water before I dive in.
We head to a huge kitchen where a woman is working away, and she looks up with curiosity as we walk into the room. She stares at me in astonishment and her hand flies to her mouth as she whispers, “Well, I’ll be…”
Vivian smiles and says with a slight tremble to her voice, “I have an, um, visitor. Mrs. Hedges, would it be possible to rustle up some lunch? He must be hungry.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Thanks, we’ll be in the blue room. Make enough for three. Mr. Sullivan will be joining us.”
“Consider it done.”
Mrs. Hedges can’t stop staring at me and Vivian whispers, “Even she can see the resemblance; it’s uncanny.”
“It is.” I can’t stop gazing at my mother and she is the same and then she surprises me by smiling gently and whispering, “I’m glad you’re here, Flynn. We have a lot to talk about.”
I just nod because I’m not used to this. People don’t smile at me. They try not to look at me at all and the only people who ever seem pleased to see me are my friends in Club Mafia. I’ve had women glance at me a different way sometimes, softer, with a deep yearning in their eyes, but this look is nothing like that. It’s one I have yet to process in my mind and I’m struggling to understand how to deal with it.
We head to a room as described, decorated completely in blue and like every room I have seen so far, this one is light filled and chic, yet homey and welcoming. It’s as if I’m in the Twilight Zone and have stepped inside a movie. This world isn’t dark and formed with rough edges. Nothing bad can happen in a place like this and I’m doubtful anything ever has.
We take our seats at the polished mahogany table that is positioned beside a glass wall overlooking the garden.
The sun filters inside the room, touching my face with a warmth that relaxes me a little.
Vivian seems nervous and I can’t blame her for that because I know I cut a menacing figure without even trying. In my defense, it’s been crafted from years of pain and abuse and is the only shield I have in the cruel world I inhabit.
The door opens and I stand respectfully as a man heads inside and smiles with a curiosity I share.
Dimitri Sullivan is larger than life and every bit as commanding as his photograph. In fact, it doesn’t do the man justice because he commands respect with just one glance. His eyes find his wife’s and I see the concern in them and the look she shoots him tells me they are happy, which in turn makes me happy.
He moves across and offers me his hand and says in a deep voice, “Welcome…”
“Um, Flynn, sir.”
As he crushes my hand in his powerful grip, I struggle to see any similarities to Massimo, his apparent brother. A vile creature of the most demented kind, and I kind of expected his brother would appear much the same. However, I am pleasantly surprised to find he is nothing like him and relax a little as he regards me through curious eyes.
“So, Flynn, you came here for answers I believe, you must have many questions.”
He gestures to the seat behind me and as we all sit, I nod, swallowing the nerves and decide to get straight to the point. Something tells me he would appreciate that.
“Firstly, please accept my apologies for turning up unannounced. I suppose I thought you wouldn’t agree to see me if I called ahead.”
“Why not?”
Dimitri looks curious, and I shrug. “Forgive me, sir, but when people know where I come from, they do everything possible to avoid me.”
Vivian shakes her head sadly and surprises me by saying wistfully, “Flynn, we all have a past and I’m not that proud of my own. It’s what you do with the future that counts now.”
Dimitri takes her hand and kisses it gently and just that one sweet gesture disarms me in an instant.
“Don’t be ashamed of your beginnings, Flynn. Do you think it was easy for any of us? When I came to Seattle, I was running from a life I couldn’t wait to get away from. Vivian was much the same and there will be no judging anyone here. So, tell us what you know.”
“I’m sorry, sir, it’s virtually nothing. I was raised by my uncle. At least that’s the name I call him. I’m not even sure if we’re related by blood at all. I hope not, anyway.”