Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 32

"What is it?"

Olivia held on tight to the white sheets, holding them in place on her chest so they didn't fall off and expose her bare skin, pushing up on Rafael so she could feel her bare skin on his, their naked bodies, feeling the warmth of each other, her nipples pressing hard on his arm.

Rafael exhaled and then slowly turned to look at her, giving her a chance to ascertain herself that he really had something on his mind. Something bothering him, something not even the great sex they just had could distract him from. Rafael had his arm behind his head, just so he could really relax and also let Olivia get comfortable with her head on his chest.

He exhaled.
How was she so good at reading him anyway?

"I just had a tough day at the office that's all."

Olivia frowned, rubbing her hands on his chest with a rhythm, her manicured nails playing with his chest hairs.

"The ALCS case?"

He nodded.

"You still haven't found any evidence?"

He shook his head.

"It's as if whoever is responsible for this was really careful with erasing every evidence that could be used to bring him down. It's like there's a big hole in this case and I keep running around it. I can't really find what's missing. It's like nothing is there. Like something about it feels so wrong but nothing is there, it's just-" he let out a weak sigh so Olivia could see just frustrated he was.

"You know I was there today at the place where the chemicals were buried. The exact spot. Apapa."

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise as she glared at him.

"You went to Lagos?" Almost gasping so loud.
Rafael nodded, his frown thickening effortlessly.

"Second flight."

Olivia scoffed. No wonder he was almost unreachable the whole day and why he was back so late. Olivia didn't understand-

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." He slowly turned around so he could meet her face the moment he noticed how quiet she was all of a sudden. He looked into her bright eyes, keeping his head up and relaxed with his arm as a pillar. "I had no idea I was going to make that trip until I got to the office. I just became so frustrated and thought I needed to see it for myself. To be in that place."

"W-well how did it go?" Olivia stammered. She was so anxious to know. "Were you able to find anything?"

He shook his head.

"But I was able to meet them. The affected families." Olivia managed to raise her head a little bit more, concern written all over her face, eager to listen to the rest of the gist. "All my life, I had never seen so much sadness. It's been so many years but it looks like they haven't moved on from their losses. And then I got to hear their stories of how some of them lost their dads or parents, and were forced to fend for themselves alone, some of them lost someone else because the news became unacceptable to them, this particular family, they all died from the outbreak, every single one of them except Sharon. She's an only survivor. She was a kid back then. Six years old, currently on life support. She's been battling cancer ever since. I got to see her and when I did, for some reason, I felt this weird feeling of guilt. Like I was somehow responsible, like I was somehow connected to what had happened. Her uncles recently cut ties with her for good and stopped supporting her with financial aids for her treatment. No one is even sure how much time she has now. They've all given hope on her. Almost. Of course she didn't know who I was. None of them did. I'm sure if they had an idea that I was my father's son-"

"Hey," Olivia stopped him from saying anything else the moment she noticed the hurt in his voice. The hurt he was trying to hide. She pushed herself closer to him, not caring so much about the sheets. "Your family isn't responsible for what happened all those years. The court proved that. Whatever it is that man said, it's not true."

"We don't know that for sure." Rafael cut her off. "What if it's true?" He continued. "Olivia what if somehow, my family has something to do with this? What if all those people are right to be against Rand oil? Against my father? What if this whole thing is somehow connected?"

"But it isn't."

"You don't know that."

Olivia glared at him. She watched him sigh and then lick his lower lip hurriedly.

"Olivia, " He continued. "All my life, I've watched people say horrible things about my family, about my father. I've watched people worship him, even when he didn't deserve it, I've watched people respect him, I've watched people hate him and try to hurt him, try to hurt us. I've not always been on the right path with him, I know my dad is a lot of things but I don't want to ever think he is capable of killing someone. Of ruining so many lives. Of killing so many people and hiding and burying evidence so cowardly. Of hurting people without any remorse whatsoever. I can't let myself view him in that light, I can't imagine he could ever be worse than I think he is or I might never be able to forgive him and what's worse, I might never be able to forgive myself for being his son."

Olivia exhaled. She had never seen that much sadness in his eyes before. That much nervousness. He was doing all he could to remain so calm but he looked so scared. Scared of knowing the truth. Scared of accepting the truth.

"I'm scared." He finally admitted, looking right into her eyes, not daring to blink. "I'm scared I'm about to do something that could hurt me or my family or everyone else in the process, but what kind of a man would I be if I don't keep to my promise and uncover the truth about this? What kind of a man would I be if I don't try to find out what really happened and maybe, just maybe, clear my father's name. My family's name."

"You will." Olivia forced a smile on her bright face. "I know whatever the truth is, whatever it is that has been buried for so long, you're going to find it. I know you'd uncover the truth and give those people the justice they deserve, because you're a good man. You'd find the missing puzzle in this case and clear your family's name." She reached for his hands and then squeezed them. "I believe in you."

Her smile grew wider. Rafael snorted. He just couldn't believe how cute and extremely adorable this woman laying beside him was. She looked even more radiant with the way she gave him all her attention and her eyes were so honest and so were her words. He could feel the sincerity in them.

"Come here." He leaned closer to her and then hugged her close, feeling her fall under his embrace, remaining as calm as she could, wrapping her arms around him and settling her head on his chest.

"Thank you."