Page 99 of Golden Atonement

She embraced the depths of my darkness, her breaths became a faint whisper, a silent acknowledgement of her faith in my ability to shield her from harm—a commitment that I upheld with unwavering devotion. While closely embracing her, I made a conscious effort to suppress any thoughts of the encroaching icy darkness, yearning to bask in the comforting glow that our love had left behind. Nevertheless, just like in every situation, life had a tendency to persevere, and in due course, the truth of what we still faced returned, introducing a somber atmosphere filled with anguish and distress.

With it came the fear.

The fear of what was to come.

Chapter Nine

Remi

I still wasn’t sure giving into him was the right thing to do, but I could no longer deny the inevitable. The fact was, Max had this hold on me I could no longer deny. Like an addict, he was my fix. I didn’t know what else to call it, but glutton for punishment came to mind many times. Regardless of the outcome, as long as he walked the earth, I knew I would follow him into hell every time.

Was it healthy?

Hell no, but at least this time I would be following with my eyes wide open. Only time would tell if he kept his word. A small part of me knew he wouldn’t. When it came to my safety, the man was unmovable, unrelenting, an unshakable force that not even God himself could move. Well, at least Max owned it. He had been crystal clear from the beginning. When it came to my safety, all bets were off.

Hearing my cell phone ring, I frowned, seeing the caller.

“Should you be calling me?”

“Tell Reaper to get ready. He has company headed his way. Montana is on the warpath, and so is Malice.”

“Legacy?”

“Safe for now.”

“Make sure she stays that way.”

“I will,” he said before the line went dead.

Pocketing my phone, I sighed. Getting to my feet, I headed for the clubhouse, knowing I would never get used to this shit.

I hated all this subterfuge.

Since our return from the camping trip, life within the club seemed to settle into a happy, comfortable lull. It was odd seeing all the brothers relaxed, enjoying the carefreeness of what the days offered. Like the kids, they soaked up the last remaining days of summer, almost like they knew that with fall, would come the realization that things were about to change.

Walking into the clubhouse, I felt a sense of contentment, almost as if the brand-new building welcomed me every time I stepped foot inside. The new clubhouse was nothing like the old one. Where the old place was marred with blood and death, the new club felt untainted, almost as if its soul was free. Well, if a building could have a soul. And considering the building had already seen its first death, the place still felt free of the past.

Not bothering to knock, I walked right into Max’s office to find him sitting at his desk as he talked with someone, and when both men turned, I gaped when I stared into a familiar face.

“Hi, Remi.” The young man smiled shyly.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, my hand going to my mouth as the young man stood. “Jason?”

The last time I saw him, we were all still in Tennessee. It was right before the crap with the Satan’s Angels kicked off. He wasn’t with the club for long, but he was from home and the club welcomed him with open arms.

Jason Seaver was the high school quarterback from Purgatory who took his team all the way to the State Championship and won, earning him a full ride to USC. Headed for the pros, he lost it all when he blew out his knee in his senior year. After finishing college, he returned home, took a job with the Purgatory police, and worked under Brian Connor, the former police chief, until Max killed the man for betraying the club. Jason then took over as interim police chief. He only got the job because the town didn’t want to hold another election. Italso helped that the kid was born and raised in Purgatory and a football legend. But Jason was more than that.

He also had Golden blood running in his veins.

Jason’s father was a club brother in the days under James Doherty and also after Reaper took over. His mother was the baby sister to Nitro. Jason’s father died returning from a club run when a truck came out of nowhere. He died instantly. After that, his mother distanced herself and him from the club because she didn’t want the same fate for her son.

Running over to him, I threw my arms around him and hugged him, ignoring Max’s low growl.

Smiling up at him, I asked, “Where have you been? One minute you were in Tennessee, the next you were gone again.”

“It’s rather a long story.”

“That’s why I’ve called for a club meeting,” Reaper said, walking around his desk and gently pulling me back against his chest. “The time for secrets is over.”

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