Page 125 of Golden Atonement

I scoffed. “You know, even after everything that fucker’s done to me, I still want to help him. What does that say about me?”

“That you’ve learned from your mistakes. Look, Reaper, Montana is a grown ass man. He can either accept the help when you offer it, or he can go it alone.”

Changing the subject, I asked, “How are things on your end?”

He groaned. “Painful.”

I smirked at that. “Problems?”

“What the fuck do you think? I live in a house filled with estrogen. I can’t escape it. Zeke and I run to the barn every fucking chance we get. Everywhere I turn, I’m bombarded by my sisters or my daughters. I swear, I did something wrong in a previous life. Poor Zeke has taken to sleeping at the fucking clubhouse when Joan works nights, just to get some peace.”

Chuckling, I muttered, “Then maybe it’s time for you and Ari to come home, brother.”

“Maybe it is,” he groaned.

“Balthazar?”

“Shit,” Ghost cursed. “I gotta go, Max. Don’t think. Just stick to the plan, brother. Talk later. Bye.”

Ending the call, I sat there and stared into the darkness, no closer to sleep than I was before I called him, when I felt her arms wrap around me.

“What can I do?” she whispered, laying her chin on my shoulder as her hands rested against my beating heart.

“Tell me everything is going to be okay.”

“Everything is going to be okay.”

As I looked out into the darkness, I so wanted to believe her, but I knew before this ended, more good men were going to die.

Ghost was right. The only way forward was to stick to the plan.

By the time morning came and I walked in the back door of the clubhouse and saw all my brothers sitting around the large table quietly drinking coffee, I clearly said, “I know what we’re gonna do.”

“Baby, you don’t have to go,” I said, leaning against the wall as she packed a bag.

“And leave you and Montana alone, I think not,” she replied, shutting her suitcase and looking at me. “Contrary to your belief, it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than your snarky demeanor to sway Montana. You are going to need Tessa on your side.”

“He doesn’t inform his wife on club business, babe.”

“Well maybe he should,” she snarked, glaring at me. “If you had told me from the beginning, then maybe you wouldn’t be in this current mess, and I wouldn’t have gone a year thinking I killed my husband.”

I groaned. “You are never going to let me forget that, are you?”

“Not a chance in hell.”

“Fine,” I muttered, pushing off the wall. “But I’m serious, babe. Montana keeps his wife away from club business. He’s old-school.”

“So were you until you grew the fuck up. It’s time he did the same. Besides, you can’t do what you need to do with Montana and handle Solomon. You need me with you.”

“Sandman can keep his ass home.”

“No. He’s coming. You said yourself you are only going to New York to discuss Delany. All that other shit can wait. One problem at a time.”

“I don’t need you there for that?”

Standing to her full height, my woman glared at me and said, “So, you can control Solomon all on your own?”

Before I could reply, she added, “Without bloodshed?”

---