Charlie was behind the counter.
He stood by the door.
I need to talk to Hassan.
Charlie looked toward the booth.
Hassan nodded.
Bradley approached.
He seemed different.
Less confident.
More tired.
He stopped beside the table.
I was wrong.
Hassan looked at him.
About what?
Everything.
Hassan waited.
Bradley swallowed.
I'm sorry.
Hassan studied him.
Why?
Bradley frowned.
What?
Why are you sorry?
Bradley hesitated.
Because my father told me to apologize.
Hassan shook his head.
Then you aren't sorry.
Bradley looked down.
After a long silence, he said:
Because she stood up for you.
He glanced at Charlie.
I shoved her.
Charlie said nothing.
Bradley continued.
I've never seen anyone do that.
Hassan nodded.
Better.
Bradley looked at him.
I thought because my father had money, nobody could touch me.
That is a dangerous belief.
I know.
Hassan leaned back.
Then remember tonight.
Bradley nodded.
He started to leave.
Hassan stopped him.
Bradley.
He turned.
Don't become your father.
Bradley's expression tightened.
Then he left.
Charlie watched him disappear.
Do you think he meant it?
Hassan smiled.
I think he's trying.
---
That night, Hassan received a call.
He listened for thirty seconds.
Then his face became pale.
Where?
Marcus's voice came through the phone.
Near the old warehouse.
Hassan stood.
Who?
Richard Hayes.
Hassan closed his eyes.
What happened?
He was attacked.
Charlie froze.
Hassan grabbed his coat.
Call an ambulance.
I already did.
Hassan looked at Charlie.
You stay here.
She shook her head.
No.
This isn't your fight.
Neither was yours.
Hassan stared at her.
She continued.
You came into my diner as a stranger.
She pointed toward the parking lot.
Then you became family.
Hassan's eyes softened.
You're stubborn.
Yes.
Fine.
They went.
Richard was found near the abandoned warehouse.
He was injured but conscious.
Before the ambulance took him, he grabbed Hassan's sleeve.
They're looking for the old records.
Hassan's expression changed.
What records?
Richard whispered:
The ones you thought were destroyed.
Then he lost consciousness.
Hassan stared after the ambulance.
Charlie asked:
What records?
He didn't answer.
Because he knew.
Years ago, the Iron Saints had helped expose a criminal network operating through trucking companies and warehouses.
Several men had gone to prison.
But one person had escaped.
A man named Daniel Voss.
And Hassan had spent twenty years believing Voss was dead.
Now someone was searching for the evidence.
---
The old warehouse stood beneath a broken water tower.
Hassan remembered it.
He had been there twenty-five years earlier.
So had Marcus.
So had men who were no longer alive.
Charlie stayed in the car while the bikers searched the building.
They found nothing.
Then Charlie noticed something.
A red ribbon tied around a fence post.
She got out.
Hassan.
He turned.
She pointed.
He walked over.
The ribbon was attached to a small metal tag.
There was an address engraved on it.
Hassan stared.
That's impossible.
What?
An old club storage location.
What's there?
He looked at Charlie.
Nothing.
Then why does it matter?
Because only six people knew about it.
Marcus approached.
Hassan.
He showed him another photograph.
This time, the picture showed Charlie leaving the clinic.
Hassan's expression became furious.
They've been watching her.
Charlie felt cold.
Why me?
Hassan answered honestly.
I don't know.
Then Marcus noticed something in the distance.
A vehicle.
It disappeared behind the warehouse.
The bikers moved.
Within minutes, they found an abandoned van.
Inside were photographs.
Of Hassan.
Of Marcus.
Of Charlie.
And one photograph of Emily.
Charlie nearly collapsed.
Hassan caught her.
Why would they photograph my sister?
Nobody answered.
Then Marcus found a folder.
Inside was a single sentence.
THE GIRL IS THE LEVER.
---
Charlie refused to go home.
Emily was moved temporarily to a safe location with relatives.
Hassan stayed at the diner.
Marcus stayed.
Then one motorcycle arrived.
Then five.
Then twenty.
By midnight, the parking lot was full.
By one, motorcycles lined the highway.
By two, riders were parked across the surrounding streets.
Charlie stood behind the counter looking through the window.
Hundreds of motorcycles.
Hundreds of people.