Page 171 of Golden Atonement

“I get her fear,” Illyria added. “All she wants to do is protect her daughter, but she needs to realize that everyone here wants the same thing. I can’t speak for the Sons of Hell or the Golden Skulls, but I know the Bratva will happily kill to protect her and Katiya.”

“Same,” Bailey and I muttered in unison when Max, Vladmir, and Maxim stuck their heads in the door.

“Hey, babe, where’s Aksana?” Max said, looking around the room.

“She took Katiya back to the cabin. Said she was tired.”

“It’s better we talk to her away from everyone,” Maxim quietly said as I looked at Illyria, who simply shrugged.

“Won’t do what I need to do with my daughter in the room,” Vladmir snarled, stepping back into the hall pacing while fury radiated off him.

Illyria and I got to our feet, and I asked, “What did he mean by daughter?”

“Yeah, about that,” Maxim muttered as he looked at his wife.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” she groaned. “How?”

“That’s what we need to find out.”

“Oh. My. God,” I gasped as I quickly put two and two together.

“Yeah,” Max sighed, turning to Maxim. “We need to tread carefully with this. First, we need to get Katiya out of the line of fire, so Vladmir can do what he needs to do. Then you and I will step in.”

“Agreed,” Maxim said, turning to me. “Remi, how would you like to watch your little sister while your father talks with her mother?”

Narrowing my eyes, I huffed, crossing my arms. “Define talk?”

Vladmir seethed. “I’m going to extract every bit of information from her lying lips by any means necessary.”

Pacing back and forth outside their cabin, I waited while my father went to retrieve my sister.

Yeah, I was still having a hard time with that one. Like how in the hell it happened? I mean, I had my suspicions, but until I learned more, I wasn’t going to voice them. It was bad enough that Vladmir was ready to kill; I didn’t want to send him over the edge.

“I know that look, woman. What is it?” Max whispered as he leaned against a tree.

Looking at my husband, I said, “Promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Be on her side. Don’t let Maxim or my father run roughshod over her. She’s been through enough already.”

“Woman is keeping secrets, Remi, and you know I won’t interfere with another man’s wife. Unless Vladmir lays hands on her, I can’t do anything.”

Stepping over to him, I whispered, “There is more at play here, Max. She’s Devlin Scott’s daughter.”

He grabbed my shoulders and sneered. “How the fuck do you know that, Remi? We just learned that shit not even an hour ago.”

Blinking, I said, “The Trick Pony.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Max seethed. “Did you know about Katiya?”

Shaking my head, the back door of the cabin opened and out walked Vladmir, carrying Katiya.

“No, but I had my suspicions,” I quickly whispered as my father walked directly toward me, handing me my sister.

“She doesn’t leave your sight,moi chrabry levie.”

“Translation?” Max asked as I held my sleeping sister close.

---