But he remembered it.
And suddenly, the room felt much smaller.
A Name from the Past
Jack walked closer.
"Your father wasn't just a member."
Mia said nothing.
"He was our road captain."
A murmur traveled through the room.
Ralph's smile disappeared.
An older biker near the jukebox lowered his drink.
Someone whispered, "Daniel?"
Jack nodded.
"Daniel Carter."
He looked at Mia again.
"Your father saved my life."
Mia's eyes widened.
Jack continued.
"Twenty years ago, we were riding through Tennessee during a storm. A truck crossed the center line. I didn't see it until it was almost on top of me."
He pointed toward an old scar running along his jaw.
"Daniel did."
Jack swallowed.
"He pushed my bike out of the way."
"What happened to him?"
Jack's voice became quieter.
"He crashed."
Mia already knew the rest.
"He died three days later."
The room was silent.
"I know."
Jack stared at her.
"Your father never told you?"
"He couldn't."
Jack looked confused.
Mia opened her messenger bag.
Inside was an old photograph.
She pulled it out and placed it on the bar.
Jack picked it up.
The photograph showed a younger Daniel standing beside several bikers.
At the center was Jack.
Jack's fingers began to tremble.
On the back of the photograph, written in faded ink, were five words:
Brothers don't leave brothers behind.
Jack closed his eyes.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Mia said quietly:
"My father left me something else."
Jack looked up.
"What?"
Mia reached into her bag again.
The Last Letter
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
The edges were yellow with age.
"My dad wrote this before he died."