Page 6 of Golden Atonement

I hadn’t seen him since the wedding.

He looked good and healthy.

More importantly, he was alive.

Reaching into his cut, he produced a syringe. “This should knock him out for a good twelve hours. You need to make sure Ghost calls for the police and the coroner removes him before he wakes up.”

“Will wake Ghost after you leave,” I muttered, looking around the room. “What are you going to do with him?”

“Montana wants him at the Soulless Sinners’ compound in New York City under lock and key.”

“Reaper ain’t gonna like that.”

“No, he is not.” Massacre sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But we’ve all come too far to turn back now. Montana has assured me he will keep his oath to Reaper and protect Remi. He’s calling in a marker to ensure her safety. What are you going to tell the others?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Nothing. They never ask me anything.”

It was the truth... they didn’t.

April 24, 2023

Remi

New York City...

It was a long drive from Tennessee to New York City. I was exhausted and mentally drained. Concentrating on the drive alone, I refused to think about what I’d left behind. None of it mattered anymore. All I could think about was getting the kids away from the fallout. I wasn’t worried about myself. I’d made my bed.

I knew what was coming and part of me welcomed it.

The idea of no more nightmares, no more fear, no more second-guessing myself seemed heavenly. I was growing tired of trying to pretend that everything was alright. That I was still wanted and loved. His actions cured me of that.

Now there was no one else to pretend with.

Pulling into the underground parking garage, I found an empty space and parked. Turning off the engine, I leaned on the steering wheel, trying to calm my racing heart.

I really didn’t want to be here.

I didn’t want to be anywhere.

I wanted to drive and disappear into the void.

“Remi, where are we?”

“In New York City. We’re here to see Vicious and Linsey.”

“Where is my dad?”

“Back in Tennessee. He couldn’t come with us.”

I hated lying to her.

After everything she’d survived, that girl needed stability. A family she could lean on and trust. Not a stepmother who killed her father in a fit of self-preservation.

No, that wasn’t right.

I was jealous. Jealous of a woman who weaseled her way into my husband’s life and grabbed onto him with both hands.

No. I can’t do this right now.

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