Page 190 of Heartless

“Like a shopping list of body parts,” Sienna whispered.

Jesus fuck.My teeth gritted while Sienna said, “Since my organs are itemized and priced, does it mean I can donate one and refuse to donate the other?”

The man coughed.“What Mr.Morrison—”

“Sienna, we’ll be happy to change the wording of the agreement in terms you’ll find more appropriate,” the woman replied.

That cold anger filtered through her voice.“The wording won’t make it less dehumanizing.”

After silence had befallen the airwaves, the woman spoke again.“Sienna, your father said you were a writer.With this, you’ll be able to write without ever having to worry about money.You could even start your own publishing company.”

There was a clack.Then a pause before Sienna said, “I want to talk to Nigel.”

“We can answer any question you have—”

“If he wants me to consider this, I want to talk to him directly.”

The male voice interjected.“Ms.Winslow, your father is very sick—”

“And he’ll get sicker if I don’t sign those.Set a video call.I want to talk to Nigel.”

Pride swelled my chest at the firmness of her voice.

A long minute later, Morrison’s weakened voice could be heard.“My little dear.”

Her gasp was loud.“My God...Nigel.”The old fucker’s appearance must have been shocking.She cleared her throat.“Nigel, I need you to tell me the truth.”

“I’m dying, little dear.The truth is all I have.”

Background noise covered the next few seconds.Sienna said, “I’m okay, Kelly.I’ll meet you downstairs.”

At that, Zook glanced at me, and my gut tightened.

Sienna went back to her conversation with her genitor.“I know you have a file on me dating back to when I was fifteen.Why didn’t you make contact then?”

“I did, but Caitlin asked me to stay away.”

Fuck.No way of telling if he was lying.

Sienna’s voice shook.“When...when did you speak to her?”

“The day I learned you were my daughter, I came to your house to tell Caitlin I wanted to be a part of your life.”After a pause, he wheezed.“You have to understand that the only thing your mother ever wanted was a child.She didn’t tell me she was pregnant.She hid you from me for years, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to intrude in your life.Even your father.Don’t be angry with her, little dear.She—”

“I’m not.”After a heavy sigh, she added, “If you so desperately wanted a relationship with me, why did you stop trying after one rejection?”He didn’t answer.“Nigel, do you seriously expect me to believe that the man who tried to have me kidnapped would just go away because my mother asked him to?”

Muffled thumps could be heard again.

“Sienna, wait,” Morrison said.“Please, wait.”She must have remained in the room because he continued.“You’re right.I never approached your mother.But you need to understand that those are the ills of a man in my position.We get shaken down for money every day.”

“You mean by the women you impregnated?Nigel, you’re hardly the victim here.”

Someone in the room coughed.The old fucker kept talking.“You want the truth?After enduring another false paternity claim, I asked someone to find anyone who could come after me.They found and investigated you and your mother just to be prepared for the day you knock on my door with your hand out like all the others.”

The silent pause stretched, and Sienna’s tone had lost its bite.“You could have helped when she was sick.”

“And I’m sorry I didn’t, little dear.”

Changing gear, Sienna asked, “What about Rowena?”