Page 97 of Golden Atonement

“By taking his club away from him, one chapter at a time, starting with the chapter in Nebraska.”

Chapter Eight

Reaper

Laying there, next to my wife, I thought about what she said, and no matter how I played it out in my head, she was right. The only way I could ensure her safety was to make the Golden Skulls the biggest fucking club in the world.

Word had already spread that Montana wasn’t happy with the current state of affairs. He was still reeling from the news about his father’s association with theSocietyand the subsequent pact with Baranov and Scott. The mess he faced weighed heavily on him, and as someone who was familiar with closeted skeletons, I knew the monumental task he faced.

Hearing my phone vibrate, I reached over and picked it up to find a text message from Sypher. Clicking on it, I read.

Sypher:Files are ready.

Me:Good. Will let you know when.

Sypher:Um, there is something else you need to know.

Me:Is it life or death?

Sypher:Not at the moment.

Me:Let me know when that changes. In the meantime, I want you to dig into the files. Look for anything regarding our club and any association with the Soulless Sinners.

Sypher:Anything specific I need to look for?

Me:Gut’s telling me you will know it when you see it.

Sypher:There are a lot of files, Reaper. It’s gonna take me a while.

Me:Understood.

Turning off my phone, I rolled over and wrapped my arms around my wife. I had just closed my eyes when I felt her ass rub up against my crotch, followed by the sound of her soft laughter.

Groaning, I whispered, “Don’t fucking tease me, woman. I’m barely hanging on by a thread.”

“Then let’s see how long it takes me to snap it.”

“Consider it snapped,” I growled.

Rolling her onto her back, I lightly kissed her lips.

“I need you, woman.”

“I need you too, Max,” she said, tilting her head back for another kiss.

Never one to deny her, I grabbed her face and kissed her.

Closing my eyes, I remembered our first touch, first kiss.

If only she understood the weight of this moment to my soul. Having her in my arms still ignited a fire of passion and longing deep within me. In a world full of confusion and uncertainty, she gave me a reason to keep moving forward. Her voice, like a lifeline, cut through the silence of those long, lonely nights, providing comfort and a sense of sanity. Whenever the nightmares threatened to overwhelm me, her gentle hand and soft, reassuring words were there to guide me through the darkness. Just when I had resigned myself to a life of eternal darkness, she suddenly appeared, bringing with her a glimmer of hope. In the depths of my blackened soul, my heart began to beat with life as her bright light cast a warm glow on my once darkened soul.

My woman showed me how to live fully, love deeply, and laugh uncontrollably.

She was the absolute best of me.

As I brushed her hair back, her beautiful face came into view, and in that moment, I saw my future reflected in her eyes. A brief silence hung in the air. I found myself unable to do anything but look at her, completely entranced. I wanted to immerse myselfin the breathtaking images that lay before my eyes. To etch this moment into eternity, preserving its beauty indefinitely. To surrender to the darkness, to let it cloak us in eternal protection. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her mesmerizing presence, her allure so powerful that it filled my heart with both aching longing and an intense craving for her in the darkness.

In the dark, where no one could hurt us.

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