Page 14 of King’s Reckoning (Blind Jacks MC #5)

The wooden box sat on the table as Barbara connected it to her monitoring equipment. The artifact they'd recovered from the Devils had different craftsmanship from the others—larger, more ornate, its surface covered in intricate carvings that showed remarkable preservation despite its age. Even King kept his distance, watching with undisguised concern as Barbara's instruments analyzed its composition.

"The material analysis is unlike anything we've seen,"

Barbara said, adjusting sensors with careful precision.

"It's showing elements that shouldn't exist in artifacts of this age. As if it was deliberately preserved somehow."

"They knew what they had,"

Rowan observed, studying the detailed craftsmanship.

"The Devils were protecting this piece, just like we were protecting ours."

She caught King watching her, saw the mix of pride and concern in his eyes. Since her return from the Devils' compound, he'd been more protective, more present. The revelation that their rivals had their own historical artifacts, their own connection to these discoveries, had shaken him more than he wanted to admit.

"Cole said Mom wasn't the only one protecting this stuff,"

Rowan said quietly.

"That the Devils have been guardians too. For generations."

"He was lying,"

King said flatly.

"Devils lie. It's what they do."

"Do they?"

Rowan pulled out Elena's journal, its pages worn smooth from constant handling.

"Because Mom's notes mention other families. Other historical connections to these artifacts. She knew, Dad. Knew there were others out there involved in this."

The word slipped out without conscious thought. Dad. She saw King flinch slightly, saw emotion flash across his face before he could hide it.

"Elena knew a lot of things,"

he said finally.

"Saw patterns the rest of us missed. But she never told me about other groups being involved. Never told me why..."

He trailed off, but Rowan heard the unspoken words. Why she chose him. Why she'd run. Why she'd spent decades preparing their daughter for this moment.

"Speaking of Elena,"

Barbara interrupted gently, her voice filled with excitement.

"There's something you both need to see."

She pulled up images on her laptop, a detailed analysis of the artifacts' designs and markings. Even to Rowan's untrained eye, the connections were striking.

"I've been studying the symbols on all the artifacts we've recovered,"

Barbara explained.

"They're not just decorative. They're a form of written language, one that predates known settlement patterns in this region. And look at this..."

She highlighted specific elements.

"These same symbols appear in both your mother's notes and Flash's journal."

"Mom knew,"

Rowan breathed, understanding flowing through her.

"She had decoded at least part of this language. Understood what these artifacts were documenting."

"Yes,"

Barbara said quietly.

"Which means..."

"Which means she knew exactly what she was protecting,"

King finished. His voice was rough with emotion.

"And exactly who she needed to help her protect it."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Rowan felt something crack in her chest—the last remnants of childhood fantasy about her parents' relationship.

"What are you saying?"

she asked, though doubt was already creeping in.

"That Mom only chose you because she needed help protecting these artifacts?"

King pulled something from his cut—a worn envelope that made her breath catch. She recognized Elena's handwriting on the front.

"Found this in Flash's journal,"

King said quietly.

"Must have been keeping it for her, all these years."

He held the letter out, hand trembling slightly.

"Think it's time we both knew the truth."

Rowan took the envelope carefully, feeling its weight in her hands. Part of her wanted to leave it unopened, preserve whatever illusions she still had about her parents' relationship. But Elena had raised her daughter to face hard truths.

The letter was dated just days before Elena disappeared.

Marcus,

By the time you read this, Rowan and I will be gone. I tell myself it's to protect you, to keep you safe from what's coming. But the truth is more complicated. It always is with us.

I knew what you were the moment we met. Knew you had the strength and integrity I was looking for in a partner. The artifacts were only part of what drew me to you. Your determination, your loyalty to the club, your unwavering sense of justice—these were the qualities I needed in someone who would help me protect these discoveries.

I told myself I was looking for a partner who understood the importance of historical truth, of preserving knowledge that powerful interests wanted buried. But the truth is, I was looking for something specific. Someone specific. A partner whose strength could complement my knowledge.

I found that in you, Marcus. Found the perfect balance that could create a foundation for what needed to be protected. For who needed to be protected.

But something happened that I didn't expect. I fell in love with you. Really, truly in love. And that love created something even stronger than careful planning. It created Rowan.

She's special, Marcus. More special than either of us could have imagined. She has your strength and my insight, the perfect combination to continue this work when we no longer can.

That's why I have to hide her. Have to prepare her away from all this. Because they're watching, Marcus. Have been watching for generations. The Devils, Blackwood's people, others we haven't even identified yet. They all want what's buried in this land. Want to control what it could reveal.

I won't let them use our daughter that way. Won't let them exploit her connection to this history. So I'm taking her away, training her myself. Teaching her everything she'll need to know when the time comes for her to return.

Because she will return, Marcus. When the truth starts emerging, when the evidence we've hidden begins to surface...she'll come home. And she'll need you then. Need your strength, your guidance, your love.

Yes, I chose you partly for your position in the club, for your ability to help protect these discoveries. But I loved you for yourself. Never doubt that. And that love created something more precious than any carefully considered partnership could have achieved.

Take care of our girl. Protect her from those who would use her for their own ends. And know that despite everything, despite all the secrets and lies, you were always more than just a carefully selected ally.

You were the love of my life.

Forever yours, Elena

Rowan's hands shook as she finished reading. She looked up to find King's eyes wet with unshed tears.

"She never told me,"

he said roughly.

"About other clubs being involved, about why she chose me. I thought...when she left, I thought it was because I'd failed her somehow. Failed to protect her from whatever she'd found."

"She was protecting you,"

Rowan said softly.

"Protecting all of us. From what's buried here, from those who want to control it."

"By using me?"

Bitterness crept into King's voice.

"By calculating the perfect partner to create what she needed?"

"No,"

Rowan said firmly.

"By loving you enough to create something stronger than mere strategy. Something that could actually stand against what's coming."

Before King could respond, Reed burst into the room. His expression sent ice through Rowan's veins.

"We've got trouble,"

he said without preamble.

"Just intercepted communications between Devils leadership and someone else. There's a contract out on both of you. Multiple teams moving on our location."

"How?"

King demanded.

"This place is off the grid."

"We've got a leak,"

Reed said grimly.

"Someone inside the club feeding intel to multiple parties. They know about the artifacts, about Rowan's connection to Elena. About everything."

Rowan's mind raced. "Abby?"

"No."

Reed's expression hardened.

"Someone closer. Someone who's been watching longer. Building trust, gathering intel..."

He met King's eyes.

"Someone who knew Elena."

Understanding hit Rowan like a physical blow.

"Darkness,"

she breathed.

"He said he worked with Mom back then. Said he recognized her methods in me."

"Makes sense,"

Reed said.

"He's had access to everything. Club records, security protocols, Elena's old research. And he's been feeding it all to..."

"To everyone,"

King finished.

"Devils, Blackwood, whoever's really pulling the strings. Playing all sides against each other while these historical secrets are unearthed."

As if in response, Barbara's equipment beeped urgently, registering significant findings from the latest artifact.

"We need to move,"

Reed said.

"I've got brothers setting up fallback positions, but we don't know how compromised our security is. How many of our escape routes Darkness has exposed."

"The tunnels,"

Rowan said suddenly.

"Mom's private tunnels, the ones only family knew about. She never told anyone about the secondary network. Not even Abby."

"Too risky,"

King argued.

"If they're tracking us through surveillance..."

"They'll be tracking us anyway,"

Rowan pointed out.

"At least in the tunnels we have the advantage. We know the layout, the hiding places, the escape routes."

"She's right,"

Barbara said, quickly gathering her essential equipment.

"These tunnels Elena mapped, they're not just random passages. They're part of an older network that connects to historically significant sites throughout the territory."

"A hidden historical record,"

Rowan realized.

"Mom built her escape routes to preserve access to these sites. To protect the evidence buried there."

King studied her face. So much like Elena's, but with his own determination in her eyes.

"Together then?"

Rowan nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility her mother had prepared her for.

"Together."

"I'm coming too,"

Reed said firmly. When they started to protest, he added.

"Someone needs to watch your backs while you deal with these artifacts. Besides..."

His eyes met Rowan's, warmth flickering in their depths.

"I've got my own reasons for keeping you safe."

The memory of their night together hung between them, unspoken but powerful. Rowan felt heat rise in her cheeks, even as Barbara tactfully focused on packing her equipment.

"Multiple vehicles approaching,"

Barbara reported, checking security feeds on her laptop.

"They're moving into position around the property."

"Time to go,"

King said. He gathered the artifacts while Reed helped Barbara secure her essential equipment.

"Rowan, you're on point. You know these tunnels better from your mother's notes."

Rowan nodded, mentally reviewing the escape routes Elena had documented. Whatever came next, they would face it as a family. The way Elena had always intended.

As they moved toward the hidden entrance, Reed's solid presence at her back provided silent support. His hand found hers briefly, squeezing gentle reassurance.

"Together?"

he asked softly.

She thought about her mother's letter, about carefully calculated partnerships and unexpected love creating something stronger than mere strategy.

"Together,"

she agreed.

Outside, vehicles pulled up around the property as multiple forces converged on their location. But Rowan remained calm as she led her family deeper into the tunnels' protective darkness.

The time for running was over. Now it was time to uncover the truth Elena had died protecting. No matter who tried to keep it buried.