REAPER: GOLDEN SKULLS M.C. by Rebecca Joyce (elon musk reading list TXT) 📗

about to send off another when there was a light tap at the window. Looking up, I smiled and went to raise the window.

“Uncle Peter, what are you doing out there?”

“Hey Princess. I’ve come to get you.”

“Really,” I grinned.

“Yep, now grab your coat. It’s freezing outside.”

Doing as he instructed, I grabbed my coat from the bed and stopped when I saw Snake slit the throat of Chisel, who was standing watch in the front of the cabin. Moving slowly, I put my coat on and hit Max’s number, instantly dialing him. I waited until I knew the call had connected before I said, “Uncle Peter, is Max alright?”

“Yeah Princess, Max is good.”

It was then I knew.

Never not once since I’d arrived at the clubhouse had I heard Hellhound call Max by his given name.

Not once.

Whatever was going on, I knew Hellhound wasn’t taking me to Max. Leaving my phone on the bed, I walked to Uncle Peter and allowed him to help me out the window. I tried with everything I had left in me not to run, scream, or shout. It was of no use. I wouldn’t get anyone else killed, and I prayed that somehow Chisel survived.

I wanted to ask where we were going, but I knew Hellhound wouldn’t tell me the truth. Hell, I was almost positive he didn’t know what the truth was, well, not the real truth. The fact of the matter was that Hellhound wasn’t who he said he was, and neither was Snake. Two men I trusted implicitly had somehow wormed their way into my heart, only to break it with a simple lie and a flick of the wrist.

Following Hellhound, I said nothing when Snake came up behind me. He didn’t greet me, say hi, nothing.

“I parked the vehicle up ahead,” Snake said.

“I see it.” Hellhound muttered, moving through the trees to a small clearing up ahead.

“Remi, go ahead and get in the back seat. It’s too chilly outside.”

Doing as he instructed, I got in and closed the door. I wished I had brought my phone with me, so Max could hear everything, but I figure he’d heard enough. Why I did that, I didn’t know, but somehow Max knowing I was in trouble seemed to alleviate some of my fears.

Within seconds, both men jumped into the vehicle, and Hellhound started the car.

“Why are you driving this?”

“Too cold for bikes tonight. We thought you’d prefer something more comfortable,” Snake said, texting someone on his phone.

Wherever they were taking me wasn’t far, because not even thirty minutes after we left the cabin, the car started to slow. Looking out the window, I realized we were at some small airport, where a leer jet was idling by, waiting.

“Hellhound, where are we?”

“Not to worry, Princess. All will be fine. Just going to take a trip.”

“But what about Max?”

“He is waiting for you on the plane.”

Another lie. I knew Max was afraid of flying. That was why he preferred riding his bike everywhere. Wherever that plane was heading, it was not to Max. I was about to say something else when I watched in horror as a man, I knew all too well, walked down the steps. Dressed in a long beige wool coat, I didn’t have to look to see the Armani three-piece suit, which was tailored to perfection underneath. Nor did I need to see the smug look of retribution on his face. Instead, I looked down at my hands, which were shaking. “Please don’t do this Peter. Whatever he promised you, he won’t give you. He’s not who he seems.”

“Remi, he can protect you. It’s his job.”

“He doesn’t protect me. He hurts me.”

Hellhound turned in his seat to look at me. “Look, Remi. There is shit going down that I can’t have you involved with. I need you safe. So, I called my old buddy with the FBI, and he said he would protect you. His name is Darrin Reynolds.”

“I know who he is. He’s the man who raped me when I was eight. He’s the man who captured me again when my mother died. He’s the man I’ve been running from. Don’t you see, Peter! The man you’ve all been looking for! It’s him.”

“Remi, calm down. Reynolds may be many things, but a rapist, pedophile, and trafficker he is not. He’s one of the good guys. He’s married with three kids of his own. In fact, he runs the task force we’ve been helping for years now.”

“What?”

“Yeah, the Golden Skulls has been working with Reynolds for years trying to find those fuckers and bring them to justice.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t. Max would never align himself with a man like Reynolds. “Your wrong. He’s been lying to you. I swear it, Peter. He’s the man you’ve been looking for.”

Peter said nothing more as he got out of the car and opened the back door for me. I steeled myself for what was to come, knowing damn well, this was going to be the last time I ever had any freedom. Hell, if I survived the night, I would be shocked.

Getting out of the car, I looked up at the stary night and prayed to God that my death would be swift. I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I wouldn’t. I prayed that Max found happiness somewhere, with anyone and that he found a way to go on without me. God, I wanted to call him and tell him goodbye. I at least deserved that, I thought. After everything I’d been through, I should have been able to say goodbye to the one man I loved.

Instead, Peter took ahold of my arm and walked me towards the devil waiting by the plane. I never heard Snake behind me, but when I looked, he was there.

“Reynolds,” Peter greeted. “How are things going?”

“Better now,” the devil said, then added. “Hello Remi.”

“Asshole.”

“Now, darling, is that any way to greet your lover?”

“Fuck off, you evil piece of shit.”

Before Peter or