Page 11 of King’s Reckoning (Blind Jacks MC #5)

The clubhouse war room had gone deathly silent as Rowan spread Flash's recovered journal across the table. Cigarette smoke hung thick in the air, brothers crowded around to study the documents that might hold the key to understanding what they faced. Barbara worked methodically to preserve the fragile pages, her expert hands treating each one like the historical treasure it was.

"The dates match Mom's research,"

Rowan said, comparing the journal to Elena's notes.

"Flash was documenting the same findings—unusual geological formations, hidden chambers beneath the territory. He knew something was hidden under the club's property."

"More than that,"

Barbara said, carefully smoothing a particularly damaged section.

"He was tracking historical connections. Look at these family trees going back generations, all connected to the original territory settlements."

King leaned closer, his expression darkening as he recognized names.

"These are the founding families. The ones who established the first MC chapters in this region. Flash was trying to prove some kind of connection between them and..."

"And whatever's buried in those tunnels,"

Reed finished. He stood at Rowan's shoulder, close enough that she could feel his presence.

"Whatever evidence Blackwood thinks is worth killing for."

Rowan studied the complex diagrams Flash had drawn—tunnel mappings, geological surveys, architectural plans that went far deeper than normal club operations would require. Her mother's notes showed similar observations, but Flash had taken it further, documenting specific families and their connections to the land.

"He was looking for historical ties,"

Barbara said, adjusting her glasses as she examined a partially burned page.

"Family connections to whatever archaeological discovery they'd made. And look at these dates. They correspond exactly with—"

The clubhouse door crashed open, cutting her off. Ace burst in, his usual calm shattered.

"Devils incoming! Multiple vehicles, heavily armed. And they've got company. Looks like private security teams with them."

"Security teams?"

Darkness demanded, already moving toward the armory.

"Since when do Devils work with corporate muscle?"

"Since Blackwood pulled whatever strings he needed to,"

King said grimly.

"How long?"

"Minutes. They're coming in hot from both directions."

Rowan's mind raced as brothers mobilized around her. The Devils were one thing—they knew how to handle rival MCs. But professional security forces changed everything. This wasn't just club business anymore.

"The tunnels,"

she said suddenly, remembering her mother's careful mapping.

"There's a network under the clubhouse. We can use them to evacuate."

The sound of vehicles pulling up outside cut her off. Through the windows, Rowan caught glimpses of teams of men moving with swiftly—professionally. Definitely not Devils.

"Move!"

King ordered.

"Get the artifacts and research into the secure room. Now!"

Rowan grabbed Elena's journal while Reed and Barbara quickly gathered Flash's pages. But as they headed for the hidden storage area, the sound of battering rams against the doors echoed through the clubhouse. The power cut out, emergency lights casting everything in dim shadows.

"They're targeting all access points,"

Rowan realized, noticing the pattern of teams.

"They know about the main tunnel entrances. They're trying to cut off our escape routes."

"How?"

Reed demanded.

"That information was—"

Understanding hit them both at the same time. Rowan's blood ran cold as she met Reed's eyes. "Abby,"

she breathed.

"She knew about the main tunnels. Knew Mom's typical routes."

"Which means everything she told us..."

Reed's expression hardened.

"It was all intelligence gathering. She was working for them the whole time."

The sound of doors being breached grew closer. Rowan could hear concentrated voice commands—teams coordinating their approach. But without the known tunnel network, they were trapped.

Unless.

"Mom's contingency,"

she said suddenly, pulling out the journal. Elena's precise handwriting filled the margins around a detailed map of the clubhouse foundation.

"There's one route they don't know about. A secondary escape tunnel Mom discovered but never told anyone about. Not even Abby."

"Where?"

King demanded.

Rowan traced the path on the diagram with trembling fingers.

"Under the chapel. Behind the memorial wall. But it's hidden with a specialized mechanism that Mom designed herself."

"Like mother, like daughter,"

Reed said softly.

"Always thinking ahead."

The sound of boots grew louder as more security forces entered the building. Rowan could hear vehicles positioning around all sides.

A complete perimeter lockdown.

"Get everyone into the chapel,"

King ordered. "Now!"

Brothers moved with practiced efficiency, gathering weapons and essential gear. Barbara carefully packed the artifacts and research materials while Ace coordinated the evacuation. Outside, the sounds of men searching the clubhouse grew closer.

The chapel was eerily calm compared to the chaos outside. Rowan moved straight to the memorial wall where fallen brothers were commemorated. Her fingers found the subtle irregularities worked into the wooden panels—mechanical elements that matched designs in her mother's journal.

"Mom modified this,"

she said with sudden understanding.

"She knew someday we'd need it. Knew I'd be here to find it."

"Hidden in plain sight,"

King said quietly.

"Like she knew exactly what we'd need and when."

Rowan pressed specific points on the wall in sequence, following the pattern from her mother's notes. For a moment nothing happened. Then a soft click echoed in the quiet chapel, and a panel slid silently aside, revealing a narrow passage.

"What the hell?"

someone whispered. Rowan turned to find the chapel full of brothers staring at the hidden tunnel. At her. Understanding dawned in their eyes as they looked between her and King, really seeing the resemblance for the first time.

"She's King's daughter,"

Darkness said into the silence.

"Elena's girl. The one we thought left with her mother."

The truth hung in the air as the sounds of searching grew closer. Rowan felt the weight of every gaze. Brothers she'd fought beside, protected, earned the respect of. Now they knew she'd been hiding her identity from the start.

"Later,"

King said sharply.

"We need to move. Now."

But the damage was done. Rowan could see it in their faces—the doubt, the sense of betrayal. Everything she'd worked to build here was at risk.

Reed's hand found hers in the chaos, squeezing gently. When she met his eyes, she saw no accusation there. Only understanding, and something deeper that made her heart skip.

"Together,"

he said softly.

The sound of approaching teams grew louder. Through the chapel windows, Rowan could see tactical teams methodically searching each room. Devils mixed with Blackwood's security forces, all converging on their position.

"Move!"

King ordered again.

"Questions later. Survival now."

They filed into the tunnel, Barbara carefully protecting the precious artifacts and documents. Rowan brought up the rear with Reed, watching as the panel slid silently closed behind them. Emergency lights on the wall provided just enough illumination to navigate.

"I can’t believe your mother prepared all this,"

Reed said quietly as they moved deeper underground.

"These tunnels, these escape routes…"

"No,"

Rowan said, studying the old brick work and support beams.

"She just discovered most of it. The original tunnels, the hidden chambers. She just...mapped what was already here. Added new concealed entrances and exits."

"For you,"

he said.

"Everything she did was to prepare you for this moment."

"Maybe."

Rowan thought about what they'd learned of her mother's careful planning.

"Or maybe she was just trying to protect these historical discoveries. Make sure the truth wouldn't stay buried forever."

Reed's hand tightened on hers.

"You're more than just a means to an end. To the club. To King."

His voice softened. "To me."

Before Rowan could respond, King called them forward. The tunnel had opened into a larger chamber, its architecture distinctly different from the passages they'd traversed. Older stonework formed elegant arches overhead, supporting the weight of centuries.

"Look at this,"

Barbara breathed reverently.

A stone table dominated the space, its surface worn smooth by time. But it was what lay on the table that caught Rowan's attention. A final wooden box, larger than the others, its surface darkened with age.

"The final piece of evidence,” Rowan said softly. “The one she was protecting."

She approached the table slowly, examining the box carefully. It was older than the others they'd found, its craftsmanship even more intricate, with designs that matched the stone chamber around them.

Behind them, voices echoed through the tunnel they'd traversed. Heavy boots approached their position.

"They're tracking us somehow,"

Ace said, checking his weapon.

"Following someone who knows the tunnels?"

"Abby,"

Rowan said, a note of defeat laced with her determined tone.

"She must have figured out where we'd go. Where Mom would have hidden the most important evidence."

"Then we need to move,"

King said.

"There's another exit through—"

"No."

Rowan's voice was firm as she turned to face them.

"You all go. Take the artifacts, the research. Get it somewhere safe."

She met Reed's eyes, saw the protest forming.

"I'll create a diversion. Lead them away. Give you time to escape."

"Not happening,"

Reed said flatly.

"He's right,"

King added.

"We're not leaving you."

The sound of boots approaching grew steadily louder. Rowan could hear radio chatter now—the teams coordinating their advance.

"I'm not asking,"

she said quietly.

"Mom died protecting these discoveries. Died making sure I'd find my way here someday."

She squared her shoulders, feeling Elena's strength flow through her.

"This is what I was prepared for. What she trusted me to do."

"Rowan..."

Reed started.

She silenced him with a kiss—hard and desperate and full of everything she couldn't say. When they broke apart, his eyes were dark with emotion.

"Together,"

he reminded her softly.

"Together,"

she agreed. Then she stepped back, drawing her weapon as she assessed their options.

"But we need to split up. Give them multiple targets. Increase our chances."

King nodded his understanding.

"Three teams. Barbara and Ace, take the artifacts through the eastern passage. Darkness leads half the brothers through the northern tunnel. Reed, Rowan, and I will create the diversion."

The plan was sound. The tunnels branched in multiple directions, and if they could split Blackwood's forces, at least some of them would get through with the vital evidence.

As the others prepared to move out, King pulled Rowan aside.

"Your mother would be proud,"

he said quietly.

"Not just of what you're doing, but of who you've become."

The words touched something deep inside her.

"I spent my whole life training for this moment. Following her plans. But now I'm making my own choices."

She glanced at Reed, who was coordinating with the other brothers.

"Creating my own path."

"That's what she wanted,"

King said.

"For you to be free to choose your own way. That's why she kept you away from all this for so long."

Rowan felt a deeper understanding of her mother's choices wash over her. Not calculation or manipulation, but love. The deepest kind of love, willing to sacrifice everything to give her daughter freedom.

"Ready?"

Reed asked, returning to her side.

Rowan nodded, feeling clarity she hadn't experienced before. This had become about so much more than just following her mother’s plans. This was about protecting a truth that powerful interests wanted buried. About standing with the family she'd found.

About choosing her own destiny.

"Let's go," she said.

As the groups separated, heading for different tunnels, Rowan moved with Reed and King toward the approaching forces. The first security team rounded the corner, weapons raised. Rowan took up position, feeling a calm certainty settle over her.

She was Elena's daughter. King's blood. Trained all her life for this moment.

Let them come.

She was ready.