“But that would mean he’s known everything. All the players. Every damn thing from the beginning.”
“Now, you’re catching on. Reaper inherited this mess. We all did. We’re just tired of playing along.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“Do what you want Ghost. The choice is yours, as it’s always been. But you better think long and hard before you decide. Reaper may be forgiving, but I’m not. I won’t stop you.”
With that, the line went dead.
I wanted to trust Reaper. Everything in me begged to trust him, but I couldn’t. Not with my family’s life on the line. I now understood why Savage did what he did. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust us all. He just needed to ensure that Jess and his niece were safe and only he could do that. His family wasn’t anyone’s responsibility. That job fell squarely on his shoulders.
Like my wife and daughter.
They were mine.
Mine to protect.
“He told you?”
Turning, I found my best friend leaning against the back door, looking at his hands. It was strange to see him in such a relaxed, nonthreatening pose. He looked more like the kid I grew up with, had fun with, got in trouble with. The man standing there wasn’t just my President, but the best friend I remembered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t.”
“I would have helped.”
“And you would have died.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do.”
Sighing, I plopped down on the couch. I couldn’t believe he kept all this from me. Everything. All of it. The burden he carried had to weigh heavily on him. Yet he shouldered it every day without saying a damn word.
“I think you should take Ari and Becca and go. I can’t promise you tomorrow.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
“Never. You are my brother. I love you. I just can’t have your death on my soul too. I carry too many as it is. Just go. Live your life and be happy, Balthazar.”
“What about the others?”
“The choice has always been theirs.”
“Do they know that?”
“They will. I’m calling a club meeting tonight. Gonna lay it all out on the line. Going to give them all a chance to save themselves.”
“What will you do if they all leave.”
“What I’ve always done. Continue on. Fight until I can’t anymore.”
I thought I knew the man standing before me. In reality, I never knew him. He was a stranger to me with the face of someone I remembered once.
“I need to head back. The rest of your team should be here shortly. Tell them what you want.” he said before turning for the backdoor.
Jumping to my feet, I said. “Max?”