Page 26

Remi

It had been over a week since I’d arrived and been hidden in New York City. I found it rather remarkable that for a city this size how easily one could disappear and blend in with the backdrop. The city that never sleeps was exactly what I expected—it was loud, robust and full of dark secrets.

Since my arrival, I’d been sequestered, hidden away in a posh hotel while Vladmir and Sypher brought me up to speed on Delany Campbell and her daughter Harlow. The poor woman had been through so much already, but with what I now knew, it would be over my dead body before I allowed Montana or his fucking club to harm one more fucking hair on her head.

Enough was enough.

But more than that, during my time here I became a dutiful student, asking Sypher to answer all of my questions regarding everything from the moment Max was kidnapped to present times. I made damn sure the kid left nothing out. I may not be a club brother, but I was damn tired of being behind the eight ball. I still had some questions, but now I knew what was at stake and who was to blame for it all. After everything I’d been through, I deserved to know the score before I did one damn thing to help Max or the Golden Skulls.

It was a lot; of that, I was sure. I still couldn’t believe everything I learned. All because of four greedy men, two who were now dead. The threat still loomed, and I knew Max wouldn’t stop hunting, stop fighting, stop killing until they were all dead. Any threat to me and he would jump back into the fray without a second thought.

If there was going to be any chance for a reconciliation, he was going to need help. He was only one man and couldn’t do it all alone.

I knew that now.

What bothered me was figuring out if I was ready, willing, and able to jump into the fray and let the chips fall where they may.

I wasn’t like Max.

I couldn’t just blindly kill and go on about my day.

I could, however, protect my children and all the kids and wives at the clubhouse, but to do that I would have to return home and take my place at his side.

That was something I wasn’t ready to do.

“Are you sure, Sypher?” I asked, looking out the window, down at the city below, from the expensive room Vladmir rented for me.

I had to give the man props. He made sure I was well cared for and had everything I wanted. After making damn sure I was safe, he took off to check in with Maxim, leaving me with Sypher.

“I’ve double and triple checked everything. Even Ace ran a search and came up with the same information. It’s legit.”

“And she has no clue?”

“No,” Vicious answered.

Turning, I looked at the man sitting at the small table next to Sypher. “After Storm learned the truth, he called Mercy and a few others. We were all there when he married her. He’s determined to protect her and his daughter.”

“That says a lot about him.”

“Yeah.” Vicious smirked. “He’s either the smartest man on the fucking planet or he’s begging for Montana to take his brand. Either way, Montana isn’t backing down. He refuses to have a Golden Legacy in his club. He wants no ties to the Golden Skulls.”

“And what does Storm want?”

“Storm wants Delany and Harlow. He doesn’t care. He also doesn’t want Reaper to kill him, and he’s hoping you might be able to sway your volatile husband.”

I smirked, shaking my head when I turned to look at the two men watching me. “I’d have better luck winning the fucking lottery. So, what do you need me to do?”

Sypher sighed. “Well, we were thinking of branding her in a way so that Montana can’t touch her. Kind of like what Reaper did to Layla.”

“I’m not a club brother, Sypher. I can’t claim Delany.”

“No, but Sypher can,” Vicious stated, leaning forward. “He’s a patched brother and can administer the tattoo while you and Layla swear the Golden Oath, claiming her as your sister. With that, Montana’s hands will be tied. Delany would be untouchable and because she bares the Soulless Sinner brand, Montana would be club bound to protect her.”

“This only works if Reaper agrees to the marriage.”

“Not necessarily.” Sypher grinned. “My mom was always good at telling my dad what he was going to do when it came to the women of the club. He never told her no. You are the wife of the President of the Golden Skulls, Remi. You have dominion over the women. The buck stops with you and Reaper knows it. If you claim Delany as your sister and she bares the Golden tattoo, like Montana, Reaper would be club bound to protect her.”

“Whatever you decide, you need to do it fast, because I just got word that Giovanni just picked up Delany. Montana kicked her out of the clubhouse and refused to let her take Harlow,” Vladmir said, rushing into my room.

“Shit,” Vicious cursed, getting to his feet. “That stubborn son of a bitch never learns. If he’s not careful, he is going to lose everything. I need to get back. Remi, it was good seeing you again. Sypher, keep me updated.”

“Will do, Vicious.”

As Vicious left, Vladmir added, “I’m going to go pay Storm a visit and see if I can get a good read on him. I know he will check the penthouse first. I don’t want you interfering if the man isn’t on the level.”

“Don’t really have a choice. I won’t allow Montana Stone to hurt an innocent woman just because she has ties to the Golden Skulls.”

“Be careful, moi malen’kiy lev . Montana Stone can either be your best friend or your worst adversary.”

“What does that mean?” I frowned, curious. “You’ve called me that a few times already, moi”

Vladmir smiled. “ Moi malen’kiy lev. It’s Russian for my little lion.”

I grinned. “I like that.”

Walking over to me, Vladmir whispered, “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. But having you as my daughter has been my greatest achievement. I want you to know, that no matter what happens, I will never abandon you again.”

Nodding, I leaned up on the tips of my toes and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Vladmir stiffened a split second, then smiled down at me before leaving the hotel room. Left alone with Sypher, I turned to the brother and asked, “So. Where can we buy a tattoo gun?”

Walking toward the large mansion, I said nothing when a man stepped out of the darkness and smiled. “Good evening, Remi. My name is Aleksandr. Vladmir told me you might be visiting tonight and if you did, I was to escort you into the house.”

“Thank you, Aleksandr.”

The man nodded while he waved his hand toward the large sprawling house. Entering from the back of the house, he pointed to a long hallway, allowing me and Sypher to proceed him.

We made our way in the darkness, and soon I heard Layla’s voice.

“Jason married you without permission.”

“See, that’s what I don’t understand. Why would he need permission to marry me?”

Sighing, I knew it was now or never.

Going with my gut, I made my decision.

Looking up at Sypher, I nodded as we both stepped out of the darkness and I said, “Because you are Golden.”

I stood there while Illyria and Layla gasped and Giovanni and Maxim slowly rose to their feet.

“Remi?” Layla whispered before rushing over to me, hugging me tightly. Everyone greeted me, even Maxim Fedorov, and when the head of the Russian Bratva smiled lovingly down at me, cupped my face, and placed a kiss on my forehead, I knew I had made the right decision.

Turning to Delany, I smiled. “I wish we could have met under better circumstances, and I am so sorry you are being thrown into the deep end of this, but what you need to know is whatever you decide, I will support you. I know you didn’t ask for any of this. Neither did I. Nor Layla. We are just trying to survive it, like you. All I can tell you is to trust your husband. From what I hear, he is smart and cunning. He won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Did he know who I was before he married me?”

Sypher stepped forward and nodded. “Yes, he did. I warned him what would happen, and he still married you. Which is why his life is now in danger too.”

“He promised to protect me.”

“And he will,” Maxim confirmed. “I’ve known Storm for many years. Giovanni can back me up on this. The man you married doesn’t quit. He’s single-minded when it comes to something he wants and, Delany, he wants you and Harlow.”

“Then where is he? I’ve tried calling and texting him, but he doesn’t answer.”

“Delany,” I said, getting her attention. “Storm can protect himself. You, however, can’t. That’s why I’m here. I need to make sure that you are protected, no matter what happens.”

“And how do we do that, Remi?” Layla asked. “Because right now, she’s got her foot in one club and the other knows nothing about her.”

“That’s why Sypher is here,” I stated, looking at the man next to me, who smiled. “Sypher is a patched brother in the Golden Skulls and last I knew, I am still the president’s wife. Together, we can claim Delany.”

“What does that mean?” Delany asked, looking around the room as Layla clearly said, “It means she is here to brand you.”

Shaking my head, Delany got to her feet. “No one is branding me with a hot iron again. I refuse.”

Layla and I smirked while Sypher grinned. “Yeah, we don’t do that shit in our club. We prefer a more colorful way.”

“What does that mean?”

I smiled. “Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?”

It was done.

Delany was Golden.

Protected.

As Delany looked at her new ink, I looked over at Maxim and tilted my head toward another room.

The man nodded, getting up and whispering something to his wife before she walked over to Delany and escorted her out of the room.

No one moved until Maxim asked, “What is wrong, Remi?”

This was the part I knew I would never get used to, but to ensure my family’s survival, I would do anything and everything to protect them.

I now understood why Max did what he did.

He didn’t do it to save the club. The clubhouse was just a building that could be replaced.

He didn’t do it to protect his brothers. He knew the brothers could protect themselves.

He didn’t do it to protect me. He knew I was more than capable of taking care of myself.

No. Everything he did was to protect the future.

The kids that would come after us.

He knew from the beginning that the meek would inherit the world and in our case, that meant our kids. Everything he had done has been to protect our children, his brothers’ children, and all the children yet to come. He needed to make damn sure that no other child suffered the way he or I did and as long as there was evil in the world, I knew he would stand between that evil and the kids.

Closing my eyes, I sighed, because I would be standing right next to him, until I took my last breath.

Knowing what I had to do, I looked at the people before me and said, “I have another problem and I need your help.”

“Ask,” Giovanni firmly said, walking over to his wife, reaching for her hand.

Looking at Layla, I prayed she forgave me. “It has to be you.”

Layla took a deep breath and sighed. “Because I can’t be touched.”

I nodded.

“What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to kill George Stone.”