Page 30 of Shine: Sins of the Father
I snag it with both hands like a football and look at it. “Reeses. I love these things. How did you know?”
He shrugs. “Lucky guess. Who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate?”
Tearing into the wrapper, I shove an entire cup into my mouth and moan around it as it melts. “Mmm. So good.”
Shine chuckles. “Maybe I need to get you something more to eat. I haven’t fed you since the pancake place.
Lake Tahoe. That seems like a million years ago. How can it only be this morning we were eating at Hanzel and Gretel’s?
My joy from the candy bar dies. Since breakfast, I’ve become a murderer. When the happiness drains from my face, Shine tilts his head.
“What is it?”
“I guess we share a big secret now.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” he teases, but I don’t laugh. “Don’t worry, sweetness. Dead men tell no tales.”
“Is that a joke? This isn’t funny.”
“Just trying to lighten the mood, babe.”
I stare off down the road.
“Everything’s gonna be okay. What happened today? I don’t want you to think about it again.”
“Are you joking? It’s all I can think about.”
He stands, tosses his wrapper in the trash, and moves to me, grabbing my waist and staring into my eyes. “Don’t. Put it out of your mind. It’s over. It’s done. And I will not let that shit touch you again. If this ever comes out,I’mthe one who shot him. Understand?”
“But you didn’t.”
“No, but I’ll take the fall for it, if it comes to it, sweetness. I’m the one who dragged you into this. Me. I put you in a situation I never should have put you in. I’m sorry about that. If I had it to do over again, I never would have made that run to Lake Tahoe today. I’d have waited for another time. I’m to blame for all of it, and every time I see that worry on your face, it reminds me how badly I fucked this up. So, you’d be doin’ me a favor if you’d try to put it from your mind and find that beautiful smile again.”
I believe him. I think hewouldtake the rap for that man’s death. So, I give him what he asks for… at least a small smile.
“There it is.” He turns and passes me my helmet. “You ready to climb back on? Navigation says we should be there in less than two hours.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
“You really want to work a shift tonight after everything today?”
“Yes. It’s the best way to get my mind off what happened.”
He nods and swings his leg over the seat, and I scramble on behind him. He drops the bike in gear, and we roar out onto the highway.
Hours later, he turns into the lot of Sonny’s Gentleman’s Club. The neon sign out front glows in the night. The bike rolls to a stop at the front door, and I spot Janey’s little Miata parked at the corner of the building, engine and lights off. Thankfully, she’s got the top up, so it’s not obvious she’s sitting in it.
I climb off, and Shine cuts the engine and stands, sending fear spiking through me. He cannot come inside. I can’t let him.
Instead of walking toward the door, he takes my helmet, shoves it in the saddlebag, then grabs my hands, pulling me flush against him.
“It’s been a wild trip, pretty girl. I know some bad shit went down, but it wasn’t all bad. I got to spend some time with you.”
His words make me smile, and I relax because I don’t think he’s going inside with me, after all.
“I’m glad I got to meet you, Shine.”
“You were quite the surprise. Best I’ve ever had.”
