Page 49 of Golden Atonement

“Get out of my way, Shadow, before I snap your fucking neck.”

Before anyone could say another word, Sandman had his gun pointed at Monk’s head.

“You hurt my brother and I will kill you.”

“Your brother?” Monk sneered, pressing his forehead against the barrel of the gun. “He’s a fucking Diamondback. Can’t you fucking read? Or are you that fucking stupid?”

Before I could even think, I aimed my gun and fired. Monk stumbled back a few steps, grabbing his shoulder and that was when I heard her gasp.

The second our eyes connected, I felt the jolt right down into my soul. There, in the midst of all this blood and death, everything vanished, until it was just the two of us.

Time didn’t matter.

Only she did.

I never wanted this moment to stop. I would give anything to have her in my arms again. To taste her lips on mine. I needed to hear her voice, hear her laughter, hold her when she cried. The compulsion was so great, my demon screamed out, demanding we go to her.

She was ours.

Mine and his.

“Son of a bitch,” I vaguely heard Shadow say.

And just like that, the moment was gone, and I disappeared back into the darkness once more.

February 16, 2024

Remi

“I don’t like this,” Dakota bitched while I continued throwing items into my bags.

I didn’t give a shit if he liked it or not.

I fucking refused to sit around and do nothing while men gave up their lives to protect me.

I was done with all of it.

After I saw my sister in Vegas, I took matters into my own hands.

“What will you do if they find you?”

“They won’t,” I said zipping up the bag on the bed. “I’ve called my father. He has made arrangements.”

“You are going to trust the man who gave you up. Abandoned you to this life!”

“Yes.”

“That makes no sense, Remi.”

“It doesn’t have to make sense. It’s what I’m doing, and you can’t stop me. No one can. I’m done. I’ve been trying to tell all of you for months now, but none of you listen to shit. Now, I’m taking charge.”

“You are going to die!” he yelled while I grabbed my bags and headed to the door.

“Then I will die on my own terms. Move.”

“Remi,” Dakota sighed, pleading with me. “Please listen to me, honey. You do this and my hands are tied. I can’t go where you are going.”

“I know that.”

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