Jack looked at her.
"She trusted us."
Emma nodded.
Jack swallowed.
He remembered Daniel's final conversation.
The last time they had spoken.
Daniel had told him something strange.
"If I ever disappear, Jack, promise me you'll protect the people I leave behind."
Jack had promised.
He hadn't known there would be a child.
He hadn't known Daniel was preparing for death.
Now the promise was sitting beside him.
Eight years old.
Alone.
Terrified.
And hunted.
Jack started the truck again.
When they reached the clubhouse, every member was waiting.
Emma stepped out.
The room became silent.
Marcus looked at her.
Then at Jack.
"What now?"
Jack looked around.
"Now we find Daniel."
Marcus frowned.
"He's been gone eleven years."
Jack held up the photograph.
"Not anymore."
The Room Behind the Wall
The Iron Vultures clubhouse had changed little over the years.
Old photographs covered the walls.
Motorcycle parts hung from wooden beams.
A pool table occupied one corner.
And behind the bar stood a row of brass plaques bearing the names of members who had died.
Daniel's plaque was there.
DANIEL CARTER
BROTHER. RIDER. FAMILY.
Emma stared at it.
She touched the letters.
"That's my dad."
Nobody spoke.
Jack stood several feet away.
"Yeah."
Emma turned.
"Did you know him?"
Jack nodded.
"He was my brother."
"Was he a good man?"
Jack's answer came immediately.
"The best."
Emma looked at the plaque again.
"Then why did he leave?"
Jack hesitated.
"He didn't."
The girl turned.
"What?"
"He didn't leave you."
Jack walked toward her.
"Someone made him disappear."
Emma stared at him.
"Who?"
"That's what we're going to find out."
Marcus entered carrying an old cardboard box.
"I found something."
He placed it on the table.
Inside were Daniel's belongings.
A watch.
A broken lighter.
A wallet.
A photograph.
And a small metal key.
Jack picked up the key.
He recognized it.
"What is this?"
Marcus shrugged.
"Daniel's locker key."
Jack frowned.
"His locker was emptied."
"Not this one."
Marcus pointed toward the basement.
"Old storage room."
Jack looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought it was empty."
They went downstairs.
Emma followed.
Jack wanted to stop her.
But he knew she would follow anyway.
The basement smelled of dust and oil.
Rows of shelves lined the walls.
At the back stood a rusted metal locker.
Jack inserted the key.
It clicked.
Inside was almost nothing.
A motorcycle repair manual.
An old jacket.
And a small wooden box.
Jack opened it.
Inside lay a cassette tape.
A photograph.
And a folded piece of paper.
Jack unfolded it.
Three words.
LOOK BEHIND THE WALL.
Marcus stared.
"Which wall?"
Jack looked around.
Then he noticed something.
The old clubhouse had been built over a garage.
One wall was newer than the others.
Jack walked toward it.
Tapped.
Solid.
Tapped again.
One section sounded different.
Hollow.
Marcus grabbed a crowbar.
They pulled away a wooden panel.
Behind it was a narrow cavity.
Inside sat a metal case.
Jack's hands shook as he pulled it out.
There was a combination lock.
Emma stepped forward.
"That's Dad's."
Jack looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"He used numbers from my birthday."
Jack stared at the lock.
He entered the date.
Nothing.
Emma whispered,
"Try Mom's."
Jack entered another number.
Click.
The case opened.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
A second flash drive.
And a handwritten letter.
Jack unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
The letter was addressed to him.
Jack,
If you're reading this, then I didn't make it home.
I'm sorry.
I need you to understand something. The person behind this isn't outside the club. He's inside our circle.
Jack stopped.
Marcus looked at him.
"Keep reading."
Jack continued.
Thomas Vance is involved, but he isn't the one who ordered everything.
Someone closer to us gave them access.
Jack's eyes narrowed.
The next line was underlined.
I trusted him with my life.
Jack lowered the paper.
"Who?"
There was no answer.
He continued.
If Emma ever finds you, protect her. Don't trust anyone who doesn't carry the mark.
Jack looked at Emma.
Then at his own tattoo.
The same tattoo her father had.
The same tattoo that had brought her here.
Then the clubhouse lights went out.
Total darkness.
A crash came from upstairs.
Marcus reached for his weapon.
Jack grabbed Emma.
"Stay behind me."
Footsteps.
Fast.
Several men.
Then the sound of breaking glass.
Someone shouted.
"Find the girl!"
Jack's expression changed.
He looked toward Marcus.
"They followed us."
The Betrayal
The attack lasted less than three minutes.
But those three minutes changed everything.
The Iron Vultures fought their way through the intruders.
No guns were fired.
Jack refused to let the clubhouse become a battlefield.
But by the time the attackers escaped, two club members were injured.
One had a broken arm.
Another had a deep cut above his eyebrow.
Emma was unharmed.
The metal case was gone.
Jack stood in the middle of the wrecked clubhouse.