Page 35 of Shine: Sins of the Father
“She’s not anyone’s ol’ lady.”
“Thank fuck.”
“She’s worse.”
“Worse?”
“She’s Wolf’s daughter.”
“Wolf? Oh, Christ.” I rake my hand through my hair, thinking of how he high-fived me for fucking his own daughter at the cabin.
“Shine, why the hell are you asking about Fiona?”
“Fiona? Is that her name?” I commit it to memory.
“Yeah. What’s the fucking deal?”
“Because she was the woman waiting at the cabin. The one I thought was waiting forme.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Fiona was the girl at the cabin?”
“Swear to God, Reckless. It was her. She gave me a different name.”
“And she told you she was therefor you?”
I think back over the moment, trying to recall the exact exchange of words. Did I bring it up first? I think I did. “Brother, I don’t remember exactly what I said, but she played along with it. Why would she do that?”
“Hell, I don’t know. I have no idea why she’d even be up at the cabin. And I can tell you… I’m pretty sure Wolf had no idea she was up there.”
I’m quiet for a long time, trying to make sense of everything.
“Shine? You there?”
“Yeah.”
“Listen to me. What’s done is done. But now you need to get any ideas about this girl out of your damn head. If I were you, I’d head home first thing tomorrow and forget this weekend ever happened.”
Forget this weekend ever happened? Forget about the connection she and I shared? Not a chance.
I think about telling Reckless about the murder at the cabin. Christ, I involved the daughter of a brother in a murder. Holy fuck. It just adds to the weight of this albatross around my neck.
Instead, I stay quiet.
“Shine?”
“You’re right, brother. Thanks. It was good seeing you, Reckless.” I’m about to disconnect, but he stops me.
“Hey, Shine?”
“Yeah, brother?”
“I won’t say a fucking word about this. This conversation never happened, and I’d delete that photo. Understand?”
“Got it.”
“Take care, Shine.”
“You too.”
