Page 2

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.

I wouldn’t.

“Emma, unbuckle Jesse, please.”

Gathering my bag, I got out of the vehicle. Opening the back door, I reached for my sleepy son, holding him close as Emma stepped out. Loaded down with bags, Emma, Jesse, and I headed for the elevator.

No one said a word while the elevator moved. We were tired and desperately needed to shower and rest. A good hot meal wouldn’t hurt either. The elevator stopped, and we stepped out. Looking left and right, I referred to my phone and the text Sandman sent me. Seeing the penthouse number, I pointed to my left.

“It’s that one.”

Walking the few steps, I knocked on the door and prayed Vicious was an understanding man. Hearing the locks, Vicious flung open the door as I heard him say, “Just tell me who?”

The second I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling down my face as he stared in shock upon seeing me and the kids.

Lowering the phone from his ear, he whispered, “Remi?”

I sniffed, trying to get myself together as my emotions rode me hard. “Max cheated on me, Vicious. The man I loved above all others cheated on me.”

“Oh fuck.”

“Remi?” Linsey whispered from behind him. Vicious stepped to the side, taking Jesse from me as I rushed into Linsey’s arms. The second her arms surrounded me, I couldn’t hold back the torment cascading through my body.

“Uncle Vicious?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I’m tired.”

“I know, baby, come inside. Let’s get you and your brother to bed.”

Linsey took me by the hand and led me over to the kitchen. Vicious took Emma and Jesse upstairs. Pulling out a chair at the bar, I sat while Linsey walked around the island and put a teakettle on.

“I’m sorry for showing up like this.”

Placing two teacups on the counter, she turned to me and said, “Don’t do that, Remi. There is no need to apologize. You helped me before, and now it’s my turn. What happened?”

I took a deep breath. “I think some part of me always knew. I just wasn’t ready to accept it. Max just wasn’t himself after that crap with the Society . He never settled. Then the secret calls started again. I thought he was done with all that. I knew something was really wrong when he opened the club to those sluts. He promised me, ya know. He told me when everything was over, it would just be us and the brothers. A proper family. That was the first lie. Then he started drinking again. God, Linsey, he drank so much. I thought when Ghost took over the club, Max would rest and spend time with me and the kids. Only he didn’t. Then I lost the baby after that sick fuck took Daphne, and Max spiraled. Then I got a phone call two days ago from an unknown number. A man told me what Max was hiding. I went to confront Max. Found him in his office. He was fucking that bitch Wendy.”

“Remi, I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged. “It’s not your fault. I knew who I was marrying. Did you know that I really didn’t want to marry Reaper? Oh, I loved him to distraction and wanted to spend my life with him, but I never could reconcile the marriage aspect. I think some part of my soul knew he would hurt me. What does that say about me?”

“It says you believe in love. Wanted to believe in the man you love. It’s not your fault he cheated, Remi. Reaper is to blame. Not you.”

“All I know is that I can’t go back. I won’t. He broke me, Linsey.”

“No, he broke his marriage. What he did to you was just plain cruel. He should have been man enough to stop himself. He didn’t break you, Remi. Never. You are a strong woman. Yeah, you’re hurting right now, but that doesn’t mean you’re down. Eventually, the pain will subside and you will stand stronger than ever.”

“Linsey’s right, Remi. This isn’t on you. Reaper made his choice. Now he will suffer the consequences. You and the kids can stay here as long as you need. I may not be a Golden Skull anymore, but I am still your friend,” Vicious said, walking into the kitchen.

I grinned, looking at him. “You look different. Happier.”

Linsey smiled as Vicious wrapped his arms around her. “I am. Finally got my foot out of my ass and claimed my woman.”

“I’m happy for you both.”

“Remi, do you have any idea who it was that called you?” Linsey asked.

I shook my head. “No. Like I said, it was an unknown number.”

“Vicious, I thought you said this was a secure building? That it is off-limits to everyone except those who live here. That no one could get in unless invited?”

“It is.”

He frowned, releasing Linsey as he picked up his phone to make a call. Disappearing into the downstairs office, I heard the door click shut when I asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. So, other than Reaper, tell me about the girls. How are they?”

I spent the next several minutes giving her all the gossip she had missed since leaving Tennessee. I had to admit, it felt good to talk about mundane things. Because as long as I did that, I wasn’t thinking about him and what I’d done.

Hours later, I heard a movement on the stairs and rolled over to see Vicious carrying a bag as he headed for the front door.

He had a look I was all too familiar with.

He was about to do something he didn’t want to do.

I could only guess who he called earlier. I saw the look of frustration and worry on his face when he came out of the office. He wasn’t happy. Not one bit.

Taking a wild guess where he was going, I sat up and whispered, “Vicious?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t dig too deep. You won’t like what you find.”

“What?”

I just shook my head as tears silently fell from my eyes. I laid back down and rolled over, pulling the blanket up to my chin.

Unable to get back to sleep, I got up and stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, and I looked out over the vast city, watching the sun slowly rise, heralding a new day. Standing there, I never heard the front door open or the men walk up behind me.

“Remi?”

Refusing to turn, I asked, “You here to kill me?”

“No,” the man whispered, “I’m here to make sure you and the kids disappear.”

Turning, I looked at a man I had never met before.

“Same thing, just different words.”

Honestly, I didn’t care anymore. I was so fucking tired of all this shit. I just wanted it all to end. Every time I closed my eyes now, all I saw was his lifeless body and that whore he was with. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep and never wake up.

“My name is Montana Stone. You already know Maxim Fedorov. The two men behind us are my VP Mercy and Maxim Fedorov’s second, Vladmir Ivenok. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but it’s best we get you and the kids out of here before Linsey wakes up. She wouldn’t understand.”

“I don’t understand,” I countered, confused.

“Let’s just say that we made your husband a promise if anything happened, no matter what, you would be protected.”

I scoffed at that, walking over to the couch and taking a seat. Fucking figures that the son of a bitch would prepare for any eventuality. Why couldn’t he put that determination into saving our marriage?

Why did he have to do it?

Was I not good enough anymore?

Why did he stop loving me, and how did I not see it?

Shaking my head, I muttered, “That’s fucking rich.”

“Remi?” Maxim said, sitting next to me. “I know your mind is in chaos right now, but I need you to listen to me. Your life is in danger. Reaper knew this and asked us to protect you if anything happened to him.”

“Did he tell you to protect me if I was the one who killed him?” I challenged.

Maxim’s head whipped to Montana’s, who stood firm, not moving an inch as Mercy and Vladmir both glared at the man. Yeah, I was betting Montana hadn’t told them that little piece of information. It wasn’t every day the wife of a MC President admitted to killing her ol’ man, but I was so tired of all this shit. I just wanted it all to end and killing the President of a well-known MC would do that.

I just hoped they’d show my kids mercy.

When Maxim turned back to me, he sighed. “All I know is that we need to get you out of here. I made a promise to him, and I plan on keeping that promise.”

“ Moi malenkiy lev ,” Vladmir whispered, kneeling before me. “I know you are hurting right now, and you have every right, but please, let us get you and the kids to safety. Someone extremely dangerous is looking for you. Please?”

Staring at the man with the soft blue eyes, I felt myself calming, almost like a fog was being lifted and I could breathe again. It was a weird feeling. The man was unfamiliar to me. I remembered seeing him when Maxim and the others came to help the club get rid of the Society . I never talked to him when he was in Tennessee, but I remembered he watched and saw everything.

With no idea what to do next or where to go, I nodded.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, I went.