Page 33 of Shiner's Light

“Forgive my Sonia, she’s a bit on edge when it comes to Alexei,” Rodion grumbles. “She has her own history with him.”

“It’s not history,” Sonia mutters.

“No, it is not,” Rodion agrees. “Now let me finish, daughter.” Releasing a heavy breath. “The reason we believe Sasha knows of Alexei being her father has to do with the fact I sent one of my trusted men to follow Alexei after finding he was behind not only a hit against Sonia but the men who were to kill her were to also rape her. They nearly did this if I hadn’t taught her to always be on guard for enemies.”

“I killed the three men after fighting them off me,” Sonia puts in.

No wonder the woman is being a bitch about this. She’d been attacked, and nearly violated.

One of Rodion’s men steps closer to Sonia and places a hand on her shoulder, and she seems to calm down. Interesting. I wonder if her father has noticed this as well.

Regardless, it’s not my business unless they make it mine by drawing Olive or Milo into it.

“Alexei was reported to have been in the area more than once over the past few years. According to the report I was given, Alexei was associated with a group called the Crimson Blood Clan.”

The tension thickens in the room to the point you can slice through it with a knife and still not ease it.

“Your brother was a part of the Crimson Blood Clan?” Nines snarls.

“Associated, yes, I don’t know how in-depth he was into it. But he was here not long ago. Just before Blow called to speak to me about Olive,” Rodion answers.

“What does Alexei look like?”

“Olive, honey,” I murmur. “I don’t think you need . . .”

“I need to know, Shiner,” she utters, twisting in my arms to meet my gaze.

I take her expression in and nod. This is something she believes she needs. I’ll deal with the fallout if she can’t handle it.

Rodion holds a hand up, and one of his men steps forward with an envelope, places it in his boss’s hand, and moves back. Rodion opens the flap, pulls out a photo, sets it on the table, and turns it to face us. Olives takes one look at it and clasps a hand over her mouth. She shoots up off my lap, breaking through the hold I had on her, and rushes across the room to the sink behind the bar.

I jump out of my seat and follow Olive, brushing her loose hair from her face as she heaves. “I’ve got you, honey. I’ve got you.”

Olive’s body shudders as she tries to get the heaves under control.

“Here, Shiner, give her this,” Rain says, holding a glass of water.

“Thanks.” Taking the glass, I encourage Olive to take a few sips and swish it around before spitting. Once she does this a couple more times, I set the glass to the side and pull her in my arms.

“It was him,” Olive whispers against my chest. “He was the one who hurt me most.”

“You sure, honey?”

“Yes.” She nods and clenches at my shirt. “I remember those eyes. They haunt my nightmares. There were three of them who raped me, but he was the one who took me first. He’s the one who gave me the message to give you and the others.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

OLIVE

My head throbs from the memories flooding back to me. So many memories, all of which threaten to consume me. The things my sister said to me over the years mixed with what Rodion revealed. I find it hard to believe him, but it makes sense at the same time.

If it’s true, which, though I don’t want to admit, it is, then it means my sister has hated me from the moment I was born. I was simply always her punching bag. Not just after our mom died. I don’t get it. Why does she hate me so much? I’ve never done anything to hurt her.

Shiner holds me close, not letting me go as they all discuss Alexei and Sasha. Both of whom are responsible for what happened to me. I guess it’s only fitting that Sasha would be a psycho if her real dad were one.

But how did she know he was her father?

I listen to bits and pieces of the conversation, but mostly ignore them while doing my best to sort through my head. It’s hard to think. To process what I’ve been told.

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