"You've got ten seconds to explain why you're standing in my clubhouse."
Victor glanced around.
"Clubhouse?"
He smiled again.
"That's generous."
Jack's eyes narrowed.
"Nine."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"I'm here for the girl."
Mia's hand closed around the strap of her bag.
Jack glanced back at her.
She was trembling.
Not much.
But enough.
Jack turned toward Victor.
"She's not going anywhere."
Victor sighed.
"This isn't your business."
Jack laughed once.
It wasn't a friendly laugh.
"You're standing in my bar telling me what's my business?"
Victor took a step forward.
"Daniel Carter stole something that belongs to people who don't appreciate theft."
Mia spoke.
"My father didn't steal anything."
Victor looked at her.
"Your father lied to you."
"No."
"He used you."
"No."
"He left you with a dead man's jacket and a story because he knew he couldn't protect you himself."
Mia's eyes flashed.
"You don't know my father."
Victor smiled.
"I knew him better than you ever did."
Jack stepped closer.
"Enough."
Victor looked at him.
"Give me the box."
Jack's eyes moved to the metal container.
"No."
Victor sighed.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He turned toward the door.
"Come on."
The two men followed him outside.
Jack watched them leave.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then one of the older bikers, Frank Doyle, stood.
"Boss."
Jack looked at him.
"Get the doors locked."
Frank nodded.
"Already done."
Another member moved toward the windows.
Mia stood frozen beside the bar.
Jack turned to her.
"Sit down."
She didn't move.
"Mia."
She looked at him.
"I can't stay."
"Why?"
"Because they'll come back."
Jack nodded.
"They will."
"That's why I have to go."
Jack shook his head.
"You're not going anywhere."
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
"No, you don't."
Mia's voice cracked.
"My father spent three years running from those people. He changed names. He moved us from town to town. He slept with a gun beside the bed. He never stayed anywhere longer than six months."
She swallowed.
"Three weeks ago, he disappeared."
Nobody spoke.
Mia looked at the floor.
"The police said he was probably dead."
Jack's expression softened.
"Was he?"
She nodded.
"They found his truck."
Jack waited.
"Where?"
"Outside a warehouse in Cincinnati."
"Body?"
"No."
Jack looked at her carefully.
"Then you don't know he's dead."
Mia pulled something from her pocket.
A photograph.
She placed it on the bar.
Jack picked it up.
It showed Daniel Carter.
Younger.
Maybe twenty-five.
Standing beside a motorcycle.
Jack knew the bike.
A black 1986 Harley-Davidson.
He knew the man standing beside Daniel too.
Jack.
Twenty-four years old.
Thin.
Beardless.
Laughing.
His arm around Daniel's shoulder.
Jack stared at the picture.
Memories hit him.
A garage.
Summer heat.
Cheap beer.
Two young men arguing over an engine.
Daniel laughing.
Daniel saying:
One day, we're going to build something that lasts.
Jack closed his eyes.
"Where did you get this?"
"My mother."
Jack looked up.
"Your mother?"
"She died when I was ten."
"What's her name?"
"Lena."
Jack's face changed.
"Lena Carter?"
Mia nodded.
Jack slowly sat down.
For several seconds he said nothing.
Then he looked at Mia.
"Daniel loved your mother."
Mia blinked.
"You knew her?"
"I did."
"Then why didn't he tell you about me?"
Jack looked away.
"Because he was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
Jack stared at the metal box.
"Victor Hale."
Mia frowned.
"Who is he?"
Jack didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he opened the box.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
A key.
A small flash drive.
And an old photograph.
Jack picked up the photograph first.
His breath caught.
It showed seven men standing beside a motorcycle.
Daniel.
Jack.
Frank.
And four others.
But one face had been crossed out with a black marker.
Mia leaned closer.
"Who is that?"
Jack stared at the crossed-out face.
"His name was Thomas Reed."
"What happened to him?"
Jack folded the photograph.
"He betrayed us."
Mia frowned.
"How?"
"He sold information to Victor Hale."
She looked toward the door.
"Is Victor Hale the reason my father disappeared?"
Jack nodded slowly.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Daniel spent years trying to find proof that Hale was involved in something bigger than we knew."
"What?"
"Money. Weapons. Stolen motorcycles. People."
Mia's face tightened.
"People?"
Jack nodded.
"Your father believed Hale was running a trafficking network through several states."
Mia stared at him.
"Why would my father know that?"
"Because Daniel used to work for him."
Mia stepped backward.
"No."
Jack said nothing.
"No."
"Mia—"
"My father wasn't a criminal."
"I didn't say he was."
"He wouldn't do that."
"He didn't."
"Then why?"
Jack looked at her.
"Because sometimes the only way to destroy a monster is to get close enough to learn how it feeds."
Mia stared at him.
"You're saying my father infiltrated him?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Almost four years."
Mia's face went pale.
"Then why didn't he tell me?"
Jack looked at the vest.
"Because he knew you were the one thing Hale could use against him."
Mia closed her eyes.
For three years, she had believed her father had simply vanished.
Now she was learning that almost everything she knew about him had been a lie.
But perhaps the worst part was this:
Jack Mercer knew the truth.
And had known it for years.
Mia looked at him.
"You should have found me."
Jack didn't defend himself.
"You're right."
"You should have looked."
"You're right."
"You should have told me."
Jack lowered his head.
"You're right."
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"I hated him."
Jack looked up.
"What?"
"I hated my father."
She wiped her cheek.
"After he disappeared, I thought he abandoned me."
Jack said nothing.
"I thought he chose whatever secret life he had over me."
Her voice broke.
"And now you're telling me he was trying to protect me?"
Jack nodded.
"Yes."
Mia stared at the old photograph.
"Then I need to know the truth."
Jack folded his hands.
"All of it?"
"All of it."
Jack looked around the room.
"Then you're going to hear things you may not like."
Mia nodded.
"I've already heard worse."
Jack stood.
He looked at the other members.
"Nobody leaves."
Then he looked at Mia.
"Tonight, you stay here."
She shook her head.
"I can't."
"You can."
"I don't belong here."
Jack pointed toward the vest.
"Your father disagreed."