Page 124 of Golden Atonement

Only he had no fucking clue.

Throwing the covers back, I sat up, resting my feet on the cold floor as I hung my head and sighed.

“Max?”

“Go back to bed, baby,” I whispered, reaching for my phone as I stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“To call a friend.”

Saying nothing more, I headed downstairs and walked out onto the front porch. Standing there, I looked around the compound. Everything looked the same. As if the last couple of years never happened. Part of me wondered if it really happened, but seeing the Golden Cemetery up on the hill, I knew it had. No amount of time would erase the blood, pain, and heartache of everything my club lost. Brothers died so we could live. So many good men gone, and for what? All because of a fewgreedy men who didn’t give a damn who they killed along the way.

I didn’t want that legacy for my son. For any of them. I needed to break the chain and set a fresh course for the club. But to do that, the secrets of the past needed to be aired out and resolved.

Holding my phone, I dialed his number.

I knew it was late, but I needed to talk.

I needed to hear his voice.

“What?”

“You got a minute?”

“It’s two in the damn morning, asshole.”

“It’s important.”

“Fine,” he growled. “Give me a minute.”

Taking a seat on the front porch, I said nothing while I waited for him to find a quiet place to talk.

“This better be good.”

“Remi’s pregnant.”

“You did not call to tell me that.”

Sighing, I asked, “What do I do?”

“You already know what to do, Reaper. You’ve known since before you made that stupid fucking pact with that asshole. Nothing’s changed.”

“Why does it feel like everything’s changed then?”

“Because you know what’s coming and you can’t stop it. Look, man, you knew this would not be easy, but you set all of us on this course a long time ago. We’ve all done our part. Now it’s time for you to do yours. You’ve played the long game, Reaper, and it’s almost over. Don’t be a pussy and chicken out now, just because shit’s about to get real. Remi’s on board, right?”

“Yeah. She knows everything.”

“Then what’s the fucking problem?”

“How do I stop him from starting a war?”

“You can’t. He’s going to do whatever he wants. He can either listen to reason or ignore it, man. You know that. All you can do is protect those around you. In the end, what Montana decides will be on him.”

“He’s innocent.”

“I know, and his actions moving forward will decide his fate. You knew that from the beginning. He is the only wild card in this fucked-up mess. How he handles the truth is on him. Not you.”

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