“You're protecting a secret that could destroy people much more powerful than you.”
“Good.”
The man's smile disappeared.
“You think this is about revenge?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
He glanced back toward the clubhouse.
“It's about family.”
The man took a step forward.
Marcus didn't move.
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then the scarred man said:
“Daniel should have given us what he found.”
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“What did he find?”
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
The man laughed.
“You already know.”
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Tell me.”
The man leaned closer.
“Your brother wasn't killed because he knew too much.”
Marcus waited.
“He was killed because he trusted the wrong person.”
Marcus felt the words hit harder than a punch.
“What person?”
The man smiled.
“Someone close to him.”
Then he turned away.
“Give us the girl.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“You're not taking her.”
The man looked over his shoulder.
“Then we'll take everything.”
He raised his hand.
The men behind him moved.
But before they could advance, motorcycle engines exploded through the night.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
The entire parking lot suddenly filled with headlights.
Members of Marcus's motorcycle club had arrived.
They had been contacted by Ray.
The men outside froze.
Marcus smiled.
“You should have brought more people.”
The scarred man stared at the motorcycles.
Then he backed away.
“This isn't over.”
Marcus watched him leave.
But he knew the man was right.
It wasn't over.
Because now Marcus had a more important question.
Who was the person close to Daniel who had betrayed him?
The next morning, Marcus took Lily to a quiet diner outside town.
They sat in a booth near the window.
Lily ate pancakes.
Marcus drank coffee.
Neither spoke much.
Finally, Lily looked at him.
“Are you angry?”
Marcus looked surprised.
“At you?”
She nodded.
“No.”
“Then why do you look angry?”
Marcus smiled slightly.
“Because adults make complicated problems.”
Lily thought about that.
“Dad said adults do that.”
Marcus laughed softly.
“That sounds like Daniel.”
She looked down.
“Do you miss him?”
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
“Yes.”
“Every day?”
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
“I miss him too.”
Marcus reached across the table.
“I wish I had known you existed.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I would have found you.”
Lily was quiet.
“My mom said Dad wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“That I was born.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“Why didn't he?”
“He thought it would put me in danger.”
Marcus looked through the window.
The truth was becoming clearer.
Daniel had hidden his daughter to protect her.
But if Daniel had trusted someone enough to help him, that person might have known about Lily.
And if that person betrayed him…
Marcus needed answers.
He called Ray.
“Find everyone who worked with Daniel seven years ago.”
Ray answered immediately.
“Already doing it.”
“Anyone else?”
“There was one name.”
Marcus waited.
“Elias Grant.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who?”
“He was Daniel's business partner for a short time.”
Marcus remembered.
Elias had been around the club years ago.
Quiet.
Polite.
Helpful.
He had often repaired motorcycles with Daniel.
Marcus had trusted him.
But Elias had disappeared shortly after Daniel's death.
Marcus felt a knot form in his stomach.
“Where is he now?”
“Runs a repair shop two towns over.”
Marcus stood.
“Send me the address.”
Elias Grant was waiting when Marcus arrived.
He was older now.
His hair was gray.
He wore work clothes and safety glasses.
When he saw Marcus, his face immediately changed.
“Marcus.”
Marcus walked inside.
“You knew Daniel was in trouble.”
Elias looked down.
“Yes.”
“You knew about the evidence.”
Silence.
“You knew about Lily.”
Elias closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of whom?”
Elias looked at him.
“Everyone.”
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Daniel trusted you.”
“I know.”
“You were the last person he spoke to.”
Elias swallowed.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Elias sat down.
“I betrayed him.”
Marcus didn't move.
Elias continued.
“I didn't mean to.”
“Then explain.”
“They threatened my family.”
Marcus's fists tightened.
“They told me they would hurt my wife and son if I didn't tell them where Daniel was keeping the evidence.”
“Did you?”
Elias nodded.
“I gave them information.”
Marcus stared at him.
“What information?”
“Where Daniel was going.”
“And then?”
“They followed him.”
Marcus's voice became quiet.
“You got him killed.”
Elias looked away.
“I know.”
Marcus wanted to hit him.
But something stopped him.
Perhaps it was Daniel.
Perhaps it was the fact that Elias looked like a man who had punished himself every day since.
“Where is the evidence?”
Elias looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Marcus frowned.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Elias stood.
“Daniel didn't trust me after that.”
Marcus said nothing.
“He gave the evidence to someone else.”
“Who?”
Elias hesitated.
Then he said:
“Someone you would never suspect.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Who?”
Elias whispered:
“Your old club president.”
Marcus's blood ran cold.
The president before him.
The man who had supposedly died of a heart attack six years earlier.
Marcus suddenly understood.
The club had been infiltrated from the beginning.
Daniel had been trying to expose something that was much bigger than a criminal gang.
And someone inside the club had helped destroy him.
But Elias wasn't finished.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Daniel wasn't killed that night.”
Marcus stared at him.
“What?”
“He survived the crash.”
Marcus stopped breathing.
Elias continued.