“He did. I need you to know that if I’d known Bear and you were brothers, or if you had even been a member of the club, things would have been different. I wouldn’t have tried for a relationship with you. I would have told you about Douglas. God, there’s so much I should have done differently.”
“Bear didn’t tell me about the two of you either. If he had, I want you to know I would have told him to man up and fight for you.”
“I know you probably hate me, Blade. You have every right. I want you to know that I really hope you find the happiness you deserve. I hope it’s with Winnie. She’s a beautiful soul. She’ll be good for you if you let her,” Olivia says.
“It’s weird, isn’t it? I told Arwen that we were the past and there was nothing there anymore. I explained that we were different people. I don’t think I realized how true that was, though. At least, I didn’t until right this minute.”
“Nothing could survive what we’ve been through if it was built on lies, and like it or not, we were.”
“Yeah. I should have been honest with you, too,” I admit.
“We both made mistakes. My worst one was not admitting that I have always loved Bear and could never completely give myself to anyone else.”
“Olivia, I need you to know that I truly do care for Arwen. I want to build a future with her. That’s something I didn’t think I would get when I was in prison. Now that I have the chance, I don’t want to lose it.”
“Good. I want you both to be happy.”
“Blade, I got to spend Bear’s last minutes with him. We got to talk and clear the air between us. That’s more than I could’ve dreamed of having. Now, I just want to live quiet. I hope one day, in whatever comes next, I will be able to find Bear and we can be together then.”
“I hope that, too, Olivia.”
“I tried, you know?”
“To build a life with me? Yeah, I know. If Eyeball wasn’t in the picture, maybe it would have worked.”
“Well, yeah. That, too, but I meant I tried to get you out of jail. The moment I got free, I went to Detective Sutton. He took me to the prosecuting attorney and the judge. In the end, it wasn’t enough to help. I had no proof and, worst of all, there was no body. I never knew what Douglas did with Bear. He just came back bragging that he was gone. The judge refused to reopen the case. So did the prosecutors. The club’s lawyer didn’t think it would help either—that’s what Sasa and Cross told me. By then you were close to getting out anyway, but I want you to know that I tried to get you out—everyone did.”
“Thanks Olivia. I appreciate that. It’s over. We can’t get those years back,” I respond.
“I know,” she agrees.
I stand up and go to kneel in front of her. I brace myself on either side of her chair. She looks at me, and even I have to admit that it feels good not to see fear on her face. “In my heart now, you’re my sister. Bear asked me to take care of you. He mentioned he left you money and I assume Cross dealt with that, but I want to stand by you and take care of you like he asked.”
She shakes her head no, tears shining in her eyes. “I never wanted Bear’s money. I never touched it. It’s still in the bank. You’re welcome to have it back. I’ve tried to give it to Cross, but he ignores me. Bear gave me the best gift a man could give a woman, and that’s his heart. I don’t want his money.”
I lean in and kiss her forehead. “You keep the money. It’s what Bear wanted. Spend it. He’d be pissed if you didn’t.” When I pull back, her lips are trembling, and she’s got tears sliding down her cheeks. “My brother would want you to live, Olivia. He’d want you to have the life that he wanted to give you and couldn’t.”
“We’ll see,” she says. “I’m going to move this week to Black Stone Ranch. I should be self-sufficient since I’ll be working too.” I can tell that she’s not planning on giving in on this. She’s more stubborn than I remember.
I finally stand up and sigh. “You’ll be safer there, but we’re not giving up. We will find your brother, and when we do, I’ll make sure he never bothers you again.”
“Be safe. Douglas is like a cockroach. He’s next to impossible to kill, even though he needs it more than anything or anyone on earth,” she says, and I damn sure can’t argue with that.
“I need to go. I’m going to head to the club and talk with the boys, and I need to see Ayita and check on her. I haven’t seen her since I got out. I know Cross said she had a letter?—”
“Ayita? Why in the hell is she still at the club?”
“Ayita? I know you loved Bear, but he had claimed her. She’s part of the club?—”
“That bitch is a traitor! She’s the one who helped Ranger set Bear up. She moved the meeting up so everyone would be busy, and Bear would be vulnerable. She even came to where Douglas was holding us and watched as …” Olivia stops talking as the tears takes over. I pull her into my arms. “I asked Cross. I asked him if all the traitors were gone. I thought since she was at Douglas’s club most of the time and sleeping with him that everyone knew she was. Cross just said all the traitors have been killed. He never mentioned anything about that bitch being protected …”
“Fuck, I’m going, Olivia. I’m not going to let her breathe easy one more day. She may know where Eyeball is now.”
“I’m going with you. I owe the bitch,” she says, and for the first time I see a fire in Olivia that I’d almost forgotten she possessed.
I just nod and call for Arwen. She might as well come with us. Olivia might need her.
Hell, when I see Ayita again, I may need Arwen to keep me together.
