Page 37 of Maddening Fixation

I wanted every Flynn to see exactly who had returned.

The room gradually fell silent.

One cousin frowned first.

Then an aunt turned her head.

A servant carrying wine froze in place.

A crystal glass slipped from trembling fingers. It shattered against the marble floor.

The sharp crack echoed through the room.

Every conversation stopped. Every head turned.

Dozens of eyes fixed upon me.

Recognition spread slowly.

Then all at once.

A chorus of horrified gasps filled the hall.

The colour drained from nearly every face at the table.

It was as though they had seen a ghost walk in from the grave.

Which, in a way...

They had.

“Romeo...”

The name escaped Father’s mouth first.

Barely a whisper.

Disbelief widened his eyes as he slowly rose from his chair.

For the first time in my life...

Medved Flynn looked genuinely shaken.

His gaze swept over my scarred face.

The ruined eye.

The prison tattoos disappearing beneath my collar.

The broad shoulders forged by ten years of violence.

Then his attention shifted toward Keegan.

Toward Bodgan.

Recognition quickly turned into anger.

“What in God’s name...”