Page 43

Reaper

“Give him his father’s cut.”

Everyone turned as I stood on the porch looking down at the kid before walking down the steps. Jason moved through the crowd and stopped a few feet from me before I reached out and hugged the young man.

“Fuck me. You still have that fucking baby face. Have your balls even dropped yet?”

Brothers chuckled.

I remembered Jason’s dad. Arsenal was a good man, honest and loyal to the club. More importantly, loyal to Pops, and from what I knew about Jason, he was a carbon copy of his old man. Morals and all. As the son of a patched brother, Jason was born Golden. To add to his legacy, Jason’s mom was Nitro’s sister. From what I remember, Shane Keller, Pops, Nitro, and Arsenal were all good friends. Where one went, the others would follow. Jason was still in high school when Pops died and I took over the club. By then, Arsenal, Shane, and Nitro had long been gone and my demon had taken hold.

Those were dark days that I tried not to think about.

But seeing the kid was like a breath of fresh air. Jason was cool as a cucumber and not easily riled. Though time had moved on, Jason hadn’t. He still looked fresh as a baby’s butt. Man may be twenty-six, but he didn’t look a day older than seventeen.

“Still got bigger balls than you.”

I flung my head back and laughed loudly. “Fuck me. Come on, baby face. Let’s go get a beer, and you can catch me up on all the shit back home.”

We all filed into the clubhouse, loud pipes had us turning as Satan’s Angels rolled past. None of us moved when the fuckers slowed before the gate, then sped up.

“Trouble?” Jason asked.

“When isn’t there?” I muttered before ignoring the fuckers and leading Jason into the club. As night fell, I closed the clubhouse to the ol’ ladies and kids and opened it up for a brothers’ party. It had been a long time since we’d all been able to sit back and relax. Just a bunch of brothers drinking, laughing, and having a rip-roaring good time.

I stood and whistled loudly, gaining everyone’s attention. “Tonight, we welcome home a Golden brother. Tonight, we welcome him in the Golden tradition of brothers, booze, and bitches!”

Just then, the clubhouse doors swung open and in walked scantily dressed women, all smiling and licking their lips as they eyed the buffet before them. It didn’t take them long to scatter, quickly finding a brother that caught their fancy.

I couldn’t remember the last time the clubhouse let loose and just had fun. Though I wasn’t sure Remi would be happy with this new revelation. My woman made it clear she hated club bunnies, hangers-on, and club sluts. Having these women here, while great for the single brothers, had me walking a thin line, but with everything going on, I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. Her safety always came first.

Taking a seat at a card table with Torque, Vicious, Jason, and Trout. A buxom blonde with the biggest set of fake tits I’d ever seen sat herself down in my lap while I downed a shot of bourbon.

Fuck. I was dead man if my wife ever saw this shit.

The night wore on, I ignored the cunt in my lap when Jason leaned over to me. “Reaper, we need to talk. I brought you something. Hoping you can help me with it.”

“What is it?”

“Something I found in Dad’s footlocker.”

Nodding, I frowned when the bitch wiggled her ass against my crotch.

“Wait till I leave, then follow.”

Music thumped all around and women danced. I watched single brothers hoot and holler as women tried to entice them, moving seductively and groping themselves. Shaking my head, I wondered how long I would have to stay here before I could duck out and head home. When my eyes landed on Ghost and Ink, I knew he was thinking the same thing. This was not our scene anymore. Hadn’t been for years. While I didn’t begrudge my brothers their fun, I had something better at home waiting for me.

Brothers laughed and drank all around me like nothing was wrong. Yet, when the bitch bent to kiss me, I stood, shoving her off me, and her ass fell to the fucking floor. The angry cunt got to her feet and started shouting, but I was done with this shit and stormed off to my office, slamming my door shut behind me.

“FUCK!” I roared, raking my hands through my hair. “What the fuck am I doing? No pact is worth this shit.”

A knock at the door had me turning while Jason slipped inside, locking the door behind him. Reaching inside his jacket, he handed me a book of sorts. Made of leather and worn pages, it was wrapped tightly in a leather strap.

“Like I said, I don’t know what it is, but it’s my dad’s handwriting. I’d know that chicken scratch anywhere. But none of it makes sense.”

Opening the book, I frowned.

“It’s just a bunch of numbers and letters,” I said, flipping through the pages.

“Yeah,” Jason moaned, standing before me.

“And where did you find it?”

“In Dad’s footlocker. After he died, Mom didn’t have the heart to get rid of anything, so she just put the locker in the attic and forgot about it. When I told her I was moving out after I got the chief of police job in Purgatory, she told me to take Dad’s things and to stay safe.”

“That was right around the time when shit was kicking off with the Society.”

“Yeah. I originally talked with Chains about setting up a meeting with you, but when I heard nothing, I figured you didn’t want me, so I stayed at the police station. Then you killed Chief Conner and the city made me interim police chief. Shit got really freaking weird after that. I fucking hated that job and was thinking about leaving when I spotted Savage walking out of the bank. I asked again for a meeting with you, but then shit went sideways and the whole damn town thought all you guys were dead.”

“So, you’ve had this since you were a deputy?”

“Yeah, and I’ve been trying to get it to you ever since.”

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, walking around my desk and taking a seat. Laying the book on my desk, I shook my head. “I have no fucking clue what this shit is. It looks like gibberish to me.”

Reaching for my cell phone, I snapped a picture of a code written on the front cover and sent it to Sypher. If there was anyone on the planet who could make sense of this shit, it would be him. And I was right, because not even a few seconds later, my phone rang.

“Where the hell did you get that!” the kid shouted excitedly.

“Uh, it just dropped in my lap. Why?” I muttered, laying my phone on the desk and hitting the speaker button.

“Then you are the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet, because that is the key code.”

“What?”

“The password, Reaper. It is the password to the thumb drive Pops gave you!”

My head snapped to Jason, who was frowning.

“Are you telling me that after all these fucking years, you are finally in that damn thumb drive?”

“Not only in, but I’m staring at thousands of secured and encrypted files.”

“Holy fuck,” I groaned, flipping through page after page of passwords. Why would Arsenal have a book of passwords? I already had enough shit to deal with. I wasn’t in the mood to go on a fucking scavenger hunt.

Rubbing my temple, I groaned. “Well, Jason Seaver showed up with a book of codes. I’m betting it’s the key to unlock all those files.”

“Reaper,” Sypher whispered as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Pops left you a letter.”

“What does it say?” I growled.

“Dear Maxwell. If you are reading this, then I am dead. I am so sorry I wasn’t able to protect you. I never wanted this life for you and for that, I am truly sorry. Max, I’ve ensured your future, so pay attention. This thumb drive contains everything you will need to navigate the underworld. Who to trust, who to deal with, who to watch, and who to kill. The biggest threat to you is the Soulless Sinners. Max, do not trust them. That club has dark roots and will not think twice before wiping you and the Golden Skulls off the map because ... oh dear God.”

“What?” I roared, slamming my hand down on the desk. “What did he say Sypher?”

“Maybe I should just send this to you, and you can read it in private.”

“Too late now. Read the fucking letter!”

“The biggest threat to you is the Soulless Sinners. Max, do not trust them. That club has dark roots and will not think twice before wiping you and the Golden Skulls off the map because William Doherty was there the day of your greatest nightmare. He, along with George Stone, the President of the Soulless Sinners, watched from behind the scenes as you were forced to have sex with the young girl, Sarah Greene. Her file is the only file not on the thumb drive, but I know how you can get it. Max, I have a plan, and if you follow it to the letter, you will live free, unencumbered by this life, and maybe you will finally be able to find the happiness that you’ve been denied. It won’t be easy, but nothing in life ever is. Trust your gut, Son,” Sypher said then added moments later, “The rest is an itinerary of sorts. A step-by-step guide on what to do next. Reaper, the Satan’s Angels are in bed with the Soulless Sinners. Pops wants you to—”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “No more. I don’t want to hear anymore.”

“What does Pops say, kid?”

My head snapped up to find Ghost standing behind Jason. Looking at my most trusted brother, I didn’t know what to say.

“He wants a brother to infiltrate the Bratva, the Soulless Sinners, and Satan’s Angels. The President, Steele, is working with Baranov, Stone, and someone called Devlin Scott. Steele has records of his club’s dealings. He keeps it close. As does Baranov and Stone.”

“Email me the itinerary, kid, then I am ordering you to stay fucking silent. Got me. No one knows.”

“Understood, Ghost.” I heard Sypher gulp. “Email sent.”

I heard Ghost’s phone ping as I disconnected the call.

I said nothing while I sat there, and Ghost looked at his phone. However, the second I saw his shoulders drop, he closed his eyes, I knew what he said next I wasn’t going to like. And I was right, because when Ghost finally looked at me, I steeled myself while he lowered the boom.

“I’ve got an idea, but you’re not going to like it. Brace yourself.”

“Hold up,” Matrix said. “You mean to tell me it was Ghost who came up with this plan?”

“Yeah. I was in no condition to think rationally. All I cared about was Remi and her safety. Ghost knew I would do anything to ensure that, even dying to protect her.” I chuckled, then added, “And I guess I did.”

“And Jason?” Ink asked.

“Since Jason showed up out of the blue, Ghost knew Satan’s Angels wouldn’t know who he was. They’d think he was a prospect, someone who just joined the club. That his loyalty hadn’t been tested yet and could easily be turned. I had already suspected Chaos since he had been selling drugs through the Golden Slipper to Satan’s Angels. Ghost asked him to get close to Chaos.”

“And I did.” Jason sighed. “By the time of Reaper’s supposed death, the club was divided. It was easy to take sides. Ghost knew Chaos wanted the chair, but he couldn’t take it himself because Hellhound never claimed him. Me, however, I was born Golden, thanks to Mom and Dad. With me at his side, I could claim the chair, and when I was sitting in it, he would kill me. Well, that was his plan, but Chaos never considered Steele. After the Satan’s Angels’ attack, Steele kept me and Chaos close. Me more so than him because I was the one with Golden blood. After a while, Chaos showed his true colors and started doing drugs and whoring his way through the club. Steele knew Chaos was nothing more than a worthless pussy, so he made sure some of the club brothers kept him high all the time. Eventually, Steele patched me in, and over time, I found myself sitting in church. I became someone Steele could count on since I didn’t partake in the clubs’ festivities. Fucker had no problem selling drugs, but once a brother started using, he never trusted them again.”

“How are you not in jail with the rest of them?” Phantom asked.

“Because I completed my job when I helped Steele’s wife escape. With her free, I fucking jetted like the wind and laid low until it was safe to return home.”

“And you, Dwayne?” Player snarled. “Were you a part of this?”

Massacre shook his head. “Not at first, no. Everyone believed I died at the Golden Wedding. It took some doing, but eventually I was able to infiltrate the Russian Bratva. Those fuckers don’t trust anyone. My job was to gather information on Petrovitch and send it back to Montana and Fedorov, so they could finish what Reaper started,” Massacre admitted. “It wasn’t until my cover was blown that shit went tits up. I was running for my life when I got word that Reaper was alive. I found him in the city and that’s when he told me the score.”

Leaning forward in his chair, Bullseye looked at me and growled. “Ghost didn’t really leave the club, did he?”

Looking at my brother, I slowly shook my head.

This was a clusterfuck.

After telling the club everything I knew, brothers scattered off while a few headed straight for the bar to get drunk.

I didn’t blame them.

It was a lot to take in.

As for Phantom, well, she locked herself in her office and hadn’t been seen since. With the information I laid at her feet, if I knew that woman, she was determined to uncover all the information as soon as possible. Her old man sat across from me, glaring.

Fucker still hadn’t said a word since we walked into my office.

“Are you just gonna sit there and growl?”

“You’re lucky I’m not etching your name into a fucking bullet.”

Sighing, I hung my head. “I didn’t tell you because you tend to jump off the deep end, Dylan.”

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Look, I know I do the same, but I knew you would go off the reservation and just kill everyone.”

“Still might.”

“Well, you can’t,” I snarked, glaring back at the moody fucker. “I need you here, at my side.”

Dylan huffed, “Until Ghost returns.”

Quirking an eyebrow, I smirked. “You saying you want to keep the VP position?”

“Fuck no,” my brother growled. “Fucking hate babysitting those fuckers.”

“Then tell Massacre to do it.”

“Already did.” Bullseye grinned, then sobered. “You notice how quiet Sandman was?”

“Yeah,” I said, leaning back in my chair.

“Word of advice, Max. It’s not me you should be worrying about. In fact, I’d say we have two problems.”

“Sandman and Ravage.”

Dylan nodded. “Sandman I get, but not Ravage.”

“Not telling you his story, Dylan.”

“Not asking you to, but a word of warning. The longer this goes unsettled, the more agitated Ravage will become, and trust me when I say this. You do not want Ravage going off the reservation. He will make Sandman’s temper look like child’s play. Brother has a dark side, Reaper. I’d even say it’s as dark if not darker than yours. So be careful.”

“Understood.”

“What’s the plan with Montana ‘cause I really don’t like that motherfucker?”

“I am going to do nothing at the moment. Right now, I’m letting the fucker hang himself. He still has time to come clean. Tell me what he knows.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then what I do next is on him.”

“And these ghost files?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I groaned. “Until I know more, I’m keeping everything under wraps. Right now, Sypher’s managed to unlock the files containing the active clubs and organizations associated with the table. It’s a lot of incriminating evidence.”

“You use it against them and it will mean war.”

“I know,” I muttered. “Which is why I’m considering just handing it all over to them. We just got out of a nasty war. Not looking to start another. Besides, my gut is telling me Montana’s world is about to bust wide open when the table learns what his Pops was into. It’s not looking good for that fucker.”

“Sins of the father and all that shit.”

“Yep. Something we’re familiar with. Gotta say, I wouldn’t wish that shit on anyone, but then again, that motherfucker used my wife to bring me to heal. Fucker needs to atone for that one.”

“And Fedorov?”

“Not sure yet,” I admitted. “Maxim is a lot like me. He did what he did to protect Illyria. I can understand that, but it’s his association with Montana I don’t understand.”

“They shared a common goal. Could be as simple as that.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

We both heard a knock on the door before it was flung open and Sunny walked in, looking upset.

“Solomon is gone.”

Getting to my feet, I frowned. “What do you mean, he’s gone?”

“He got a text and ran to his bike and took off.”

“Shit,” I groaned, looking at Bullseye as he too got to his feet. “I’ll gather the brothers. Maybe he just went for a ride.”

“I don’t think so,” Sunny muttered, walking over and handing me Solomon’s cell phone. “He got a text from Hannibal.”

Frowning, I looked at the text. “Who the fuck is that?”

“He’s a brother in Disturbed,” Sunny admitted.

“Jesus Christ,” I groaned, picking up my desk phone, I punched in the phone number for the clubhouse in Destiny. I really didn’t have time for any of this shit.

“Disturbed. Saint speaking. How can I help you?”

“Saint, it’s Reaper. Want to tell me why Sandman got a text from Hannibal?”

“Jesus,” the man groaned. “Who the fuck knows? We’ve got problems here.”

“What problems?”

“Someone fucking shot up our clubhouse. Got several brothers down, and to make matters worse, the fucking Soulless Sinners showed up. It’s a clusterfuck here, Reaper. Look, if I see Solomon, I will send him back home, but right now, I’ve got to go.”

Before I could ask another question, the line went dead.

Hanging up the phone, I looked at Bullseye. “Gather the brothers. Something’s going on in Destiny. I want everyone armed and have Phantom, turn on Sandman’s tracker.”

“Trouble with Ivy?”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “Possibly. Soulless Sinners are in town.”

“I’ll get everyone ready,” Bullseye confirmed, leaving me alone with Sunny.

Walking around my desk, I hugged my sister-in-law and said, “It’s going to be alright, Sunny. I’ll bring him home to you.”