Page 82 of Shine: Sins of the Father
“Did you ever catch the man who hurt her?”
“Donnie Ray. No. Not for lack of trying. Daytona’s had the whole chapter trying to hunt him down. Every time we get close, the asshole slips through our fingers. It’s like he knows our movements and is able to avoid us. I just don’t get it.”
“Maybe he’s got another tracker on you.”
“I’ve been really diligent about checking my bike every time I leave it.” His fingers run absent circles on my spine, and he stares at the ceiling.
“I worry about you.”
“I can take care of myself, sweetness.” He presses a kiss to the crown of my head.
“Maybe you should forget about him.”
“I can’t. I promised my sister she’d never have to worry about him.”
“Does she know he’s been released?”
“Yes. I had to tell her when we moved her and my mom.”
I lift my head and study his face. “Moved them?”
“The club didn’t think it was safe, not with Donnie Ray out. Not if he’s bent on revenge. So, we moved them to a safe house.”
“Does your club know about Carl? Do they know I killed him and where he’s buried?”
“Daytona knows. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure he’s going to tell Cole about it during this visit, so there may be some fireworks. Maybe you shouldn’t be around when they happen.”
“Does Daytona know I’m the one who killed him?”
“No. I told him I did.”
“Shine?”
“Yeah?”
“You think Donnie Ray knows about his brother?”
“Since Carl disappeared, I’m guessing he’s figured out by now that I killed him.”
“So, then he’ll want revenge, won’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“Has he tried to get to you?”
“I’ve had some stuff happen. I can’t for sure pin it on him, though.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“Someone tried to burn down my mother’s house. I’ve had the tires on my truck slashed. Another time, the brake line was cut. Thank fuck I realized it before I got out of the apartment complex I live in. I only hit the dumpster and wasn’t hurt. If I’d been out on the highway, it would have been a different story, though.”
I lay my head on his shoulder again, and hug him tight. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
He strokes my back. “I’m being more cautious. Don’t worry, okay?”
I nod against his shoulder, but I can’t help thinking about Dylan’s safety. Shine doesn’t even know to worry about him or to take precautions to assure our child’s safety. I’m sure if he knew about his son, he would do those things. I think about telling him. There are a million reasons I should. I almost told him earlier. It’s the right thing to do, but the moment I tell Shine, everything changes. My life and Dylan’s life would definitely change. Even though I don’t know how much of it Shine would want to be involved in, he’d want to see his son, and it’s possible he’d lead Donnie Ray right to us. If the man suspected my child was Shine’s, it would definitely put a target on our baby’s back. How better to cause a man pain than to kill his only son?
I swallow. This all just got very real.
