Page 55 of Golden Atonement

“That I should disappear. Take my kids and run.”

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“I don’t know.”

Leaning forward, Val sighed. “There isn’t a lot known about me. I don’t like talking about myself or my past. In my line of work, discretion is everything. But what I will tell you is that I didn’t grow up here in Nevada. I’m from New York City to be exact. My parents were professionals in their own right and well known. I guess you could say I had a privileged life and because of that life, I’ve learned a few things along the way, like whoto trust and who to avoid. The man you’re questioning isn’t the man you should be worried about. It’s the man with the most to lose. You figure out who that is and then you will know what to do.”

Saying nothing more, I watched Val silently get up from her seat.

“Val?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you for taking care of my sister. I owe you one.”

“No, you don’t. I was just helping a sister out. That’s what I do.”

“Regardless. If you need anything, call me.”

Val nodded when I added, “I’m leaving soon. Think you can give me a head start before you let the others know?”

Val smiled. “Honey, now you’re talking my language. I can give you all the time in the world.”

February 25, 2024

Remi

The trip from Vegas to Denver, Colorado was slow, but it gave me plenty of time to think about everything.

I still didn’t know what I was going to do. I knew what I wanted to do, but there was no fucking way in hell I was ready to see him. Not until I had my head clearly on my shoulders and the vision of him with that fucking woman out of my head.

Logically I knew nothing happened, but that son of a bitch let those bitches back into my home and around my family. He fucking knew how I felt. I couldn’t have been clearer.

Yet, he did it anyway.

I didn’t give a shit if it was to protect me. What he should have done was tell me what the hell was going on, but that would have been too easy for him.

Oh no. God forbid he did the right thing and talked to his wife.

Instead, his actions broke something in me, and I wasn’t sure it could ever be fixed.

That was on him.

That was what I couldn’t forgive.

He broke us.

“Did you know when you think about him, you snarl?”

Startled out of my head, I looked at Vladmir. “What?”

“When you think of Reaper. You snarl.”

“I do not,” I scoffed, looking out the window.

He chuckled. “Oh yes you do, and I can prove it. Who were you thinking about just now?”

Groaning, I said nothing, tightening my seat belt.

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