Page 77 of Golden Atonement

I whispered, “She’s not here. I can’t pay restitution to someone who isn’t here.”

“No, but you can to all of us. Face it, Reaper. You fucked up by not including all of us. You yourself said no more lies, no more secrets. You went back on your word and for that alone,you will face the Golden Lineup. Maybe this time, it will sink in. This club isn’t just one man. We are a brotherhood. A family. We all work together as one.”

Bullseye was right.

They all were.

I fucked up again and that was on me. I hurt my brothers, endangered them, but more importantly, I destroyed the one woman who believed and trusted me the most.

For that alone, I deserved much more.

“Fine,” I growled. “When do you want to do this?”

“Now,” Sandman grumbled, leading the way out of church while the rest of the brothers followed.

Bullseye walked over to me, slapping me on my back. “Just be happy we’re not back at the Tennessee Chapter, ‘cause Digger wanted you to walk blindfolded in the back forty and if you survived, Stella had plans for your ass.”

I cringed at that.

Stella was mean as hell when pissed.

Following me out into the common room of the new clubhouse, I saw that all the members had lined up in a circle, waiting eagerly to take their turn. Walking into the center, I shook my head, bracing myself for what was about to happen when Phantom stepped forward first. “You know I still love you, right?”

I gulped. “Yeah.”

“Good, because if you ever put this club through that shit again, I’ll rip your dick off and staple it above the entrance to the clubhouse.”

Before I could respond, my Golden sister reared back, punching me in the nose. My eyes watered instantly as she stepped away and Player stepped forward.

“You cost me two years with my brother, Prez. He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s mine. My blood.”

“I understand, Player.”

“Good,” the easygoing brother said right before he hauled off and hit me square in the jaw.

Fuck, that hurt.

Rubbing my face, I watched as Matrix walked up to me.

“You gave me a second chance when I didn’t deserve one. So, I will give you the same,” Matrix said before taking his pound of flesh.

One after another, the brothers walked over and exacted their punishment, but when Sandman walked over, I braced myself.

The biggest fucker in the club, we all knew getting hit by him was like getting hit by a Mack Truck.

The brother never held back.

So, when the big man hugged me, I was confused.

“Thank you for getting me back to my Sunshine.”

Nodding, I looked up at the man, thinking that was it.

I should have known it wasn’t because before I could blink, Sandman threw his fist, which landed squarely against my jaw, throwing me off my feet, before landing hard on the floor.

Seeing stars, I groaned in pain just as the front door of the club opened.

Breathing through the pain, I couldn’t see who it was, but hearing dead silence reign around me, I tried to roll over, when I heard the one voice I thought I’d never hear again.

---