Page 18 of King’s Reckoning (Blind Jacks MC #5)

Reed's hospital room was quiet except for the steady beep of monitors when Rowan returned. He looked better already, some color returning to his face as the treatments worked. But his expression was serious as she took her usual spot beside his bed, her hand finding his with practiced ease.

"Barbara showed me her analysis,"

he said without preamble.

"About the artifacts being historical evidence instead of mystical objects."

"Changes things, doesn't it?"

Rowan traced patterns on his palm, finding comfort in the small, intimate gesture.

"Makes me feel almost foolish for believing there was something supernatural going on."

"Don't."

Reed's fingers tightened on hers.

"Elena understood exactly what she was dealing with. She just...presented it in terms people would fight to protect."

"By emphasizing family connections and heritage?"

Rowan frowned.

"That doesn't sound like Mom. She was all about hard evidence, documented proof."

"Think about it,"

Reed said, shifting slightly to face her better.

"What's more likely to motivate MC members? Telling them about complex historical land claims and corporate interests? Or telling them they're protecting their family's rightful heritage?"

Understanding dawned.

"She made it personal. Made them feel connected rather than just involved."

"Exactly."

Reed winced slightly as he adjusted his position.

"And it worked. For generations, MCs protected these records without fully understanding their implications. Kept them away from people who would use them to maintain unjust power structures."

His free hand came up to brush a strand of hair from her face, the tender gesture speaking volumes about how their relationship had evolved.

"Your mother was brilliant. She knew exactly how to make people care about abstract historical justice."

The conversation was interrupted by a commotion in the hallway. Through the door's window, Rowan caught glimpses of Devils members escorting someone—Ace, looking worse for wear but alive.

"Found him at one of our old safe houses,"

Cole reported as they helped Ace into the room.

"Someone worked him over pretty good, but he managed to get away with this."

He held up a familiar laptop—one Rowan recognized from Abby's belongings.

"She wasn't as careful as she thought,"

Ace managed through split lips.

"Left it charging when she went to meet her contact. I managed to copy her files before they caught me."

Barbara immediately took the laptop, connecting it to her own systems. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she began analyzing the data.

"This is significant,"

she breathed after several minutes.

"This goes much deeper than we thought. Abby wasn't just working with Blackwood. She was part of something called Continental Resources Development. A decades-long corporate initiative to control land and mineral rights throughout the region."

She turned her screen to show them—countless documents detailing property acquisitions, legal strategies, and political influence campaigns that made Rowan's head spin.

"They've been manipulating land records for generations,"

Barbara explained.

"Systematically erasing evidence of pre-colonial claims, particularly those belonging to certain families. Looking for ways to permanently secure resource rights despite questionable legal standing."

"Which is why they targeted certain MC territories,"

King added from the doorway. He entered carrying more files—records recovered from one of Darkness's hidden caches.

"The founding families weren't chosen randomly. They held legitimate claims to territories with valuable resources."

"And now they want to erase that evidence permanently,"

Reed said grimly.

"Make sure these historical records never reach the proper authorities."

"It's worse than that,"

Barbara said, still analyzing Abby's files.

"These artifacts aren't just separate historical records. They're components of a comprehensive land claim that could overturn billions in resource rights. And according to these documents, they're ready to implement the final stage of their containment strategy."

"What kind of strategy?"

Rowan demanded.

Barbara pulled up complex legal documents.

"A coordinated legal and political campaign to discredit any historical evidence that emerges. They've already positioned experts, influenced judges, prepared media narratives, all to ensure that even if these records come to light, they'll be dismissed as forgeries."

"The founding families,"

King said quietly.

"All their descendants. Everyone who thought they were protecting abstract historical truth, when really..."

"They were protecting their own rightful heritage,"

Rowan finished.

"Keeping these records away from corporations that would ensure they never received justice."

"Elena figured it out,"

Barbara added, reading through more files.

"Discovered what Continental Resources was really planning. Why they'd been targeting certain families, certain territories...”

"Including ours,"

Rowan said softly.

"The Matthews family has legitimate claim to parts of this land. That's why they wanted my mom silenced."

King's hand found her shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Your mother wouldn't let them erase your heritage. Wouldn't let them steal what rightfully belongs to her family."

"No,"

Rowan agreed.

"She taught me to fight instead. To protect not just our claim, but everyone's right to the truth."

She studied the legal documents with new understanding.

"And she left instructions for how to counter their strategy. We just couldn't see them before because we were too focused on individual artifacts rather than the complete picture."

She pulled out Elena's journal, finding specific passages that now revealed themselves as legal strategies rather than mysterious instructions. What had seemed like cryptic notes were actually detailed documentation plans and authentication protocols.

"Look at this,"

she said, showing Barbara a particular section.

"Mom wasn't documenting strange connections—she was mapping authentication chains. Ways to prove the legitimacy of these historical records so they couldn't be dismissed as forgeries."

"Brilliant,"

Barbara breathed, comparing Elena's notes to Abby's files.

"She created a comprehensive authentication methodology, disguised as personal research. Anyone looking for conspiracy would miss the actual historical verification techniques."

"Which is exactly what happened,"

Reed added.

"Everyone was so focused on controlling these artifacts, they missed the real protection Elena put in place—indisputable proof of their authenticity."

Before anyone could respond, Reed's monitors beeped as his heart rate increased slightly. Rowan looked up to see his expression tighten with pain and immediately reached for the call button.

"Don't,"

he said, catching her wrist.

"It's manageable. And we don't have time for more medication to cloud my thinking."

"You need to rest,"

she insisted.

"What I need,"

he countered, his dark eyes intense.

"is to help finish what we started. What you started."

The conviction in his voice matched her own determination, another reminder of why they'd connected so deeply. Reed understood her in ways no one else did—recognized her strength while still wanting to protect her.

"Multiple vehicles approaching,"

King reported from the window, interrupting their moment.

"Blackwood's people, looks like. Must have realized we've figured out what they're really after."

"No,"

Rowan corrected, mind racing as pieces fell into place.

"They're moving because they have to. Continental Resources has a narrow legal window. If these historical records are authenticated and submitted to the proper authorities soon..."

"They lose their chance to control the narrative,"

Barbara finished, reading through more legal documentation.

"The pending legislation about historical land claims has a submission deadline next week."

Movement outside indicated security teams taking positions as the first vehicles parked. Rowan could hear boots in the hallways now. Devils members mobilizing to protect their facility.

"Whatever we're going to do,"

King said firmly.

"we need to do it quickly."

Rowan nodded, already moving to gather essential equipment.

"Dad, stay with Reed. Barbara, I need you to prepare the authentication documentation. We'll need everything organized exactly according to Mom's protocols. Cole, can you get your men in position to delay Blackwood's people?"

The Devils’ president was already on his phone, coordinating with his forces.

"We'll buy you time. But what exactly are you planning?"

Rowan smiled determinedly as she found the specific legal procedures she needed in Elena's journal.

"We're going to give them something they don't expect. Not confrontation, but completion."

"And what's that mean?"

Reed asked, frustration evident in how he shifted restlessly, clearly hating his temporary helplessness.

"It means,"

Rowan said, her hand finding his again and squeezing gently.

"that instead of hiding these records or fighting over them, we're going to release them. All of them, through multiple channels, to every legitimate authority that should have them."

"They'll try to discredit them,"

King warned.

"Abby knows how Elena documented things, how she organized evidence."

"No,"

Rowan corrected, already implementing the first stages of her mother's true contingency plans.

"Abby knows what Mom wanted her to know. What would make Continental Resources overconfident, sure they understood everything about how she preserved the evidence."

She held up the journal, showing them specific legal notations hidden within seemingly ordinary research notes.

"The real authentication protocols were hidden in plain sight, waiting for someone who could see past the obvious cataloging to the comprehensive verification system beneath."

Understanding dawned in Barbara's eyes as she studied the documentation.

"A parallel authentication system,"

she breathed.

"Elena built redundant verification into every piece of evidence. Multiple ways to prove legitimacy that would stand up to any legal challenge."

"And she arranged for independent experts to receive copies,"

Rowan added, finding a list of contacts in the journal's back pages.

"People who could verify these records without bias or corporate influence."

Movement in the hallway grew more pronounced as Devils members took defensive positions. They could hear Cole directing his men, securing the corridor outside Reed's room.

King nodded toward the surveillance footage. “Ryder helped set up these security protocols before stepping back to focus on family. Good man, balancing club loyalty with parental responsibilities.” Then he added, “But whatever we're doing, we need to do it now."

Rowan nodded, feeling pieces of a lifetime's preparation falling into place. No mystical connections or supernatural forces. Just meticulous historical documentation, careful legal preparation, and the strength of bonds forged through shared purpose rather than mystical heritage.

"Barbara, start implementing Mom's authentication protocols—all of them, not just the ones that look important. Dad, I need you to contact these academic authorities. They're expecting to hear from someone connected to Elena. And Reed..."

She turned to him, their eyes meeting with shared understanding.

"What can I do from this bed?"

he asked, frustration evident.

Rowan's hand found his, their fingers intertwining with practiced ease.

"You can remind me why we're doing this. Why it matters that these truths come to light."

Reed's expression softened.

"Because some injustices shouldn't stand unchallenged, no matter how long ago they happened. Because your family deserves its rightful heritage."

His thumb traced patterns on her wrist.

"Because you deserve to finish what your mother started."

The simple truth of his words steadied her in a way nothing else could. This wasn't just about historical justice or property rights. It was about honoring Elena's work, about completing a mission generations in the making.

King smiled slightly, seeing the connection between them, recognizing something of what he'd once shared with Elena.

"Together then?"

Rowan nodded as she began organizing the comprehensive release of all the evidence they'd gathered. On Barbara's screens, authentication chains began forming, creating unbreakable verification pathways exactly as Elena had designed.

"Together,"

she agreed.

"Time to finish what Mom started."

Outside, more vehicles arrived as Blackwood's forces prepared to move. But Rowan remained focused as she implemented Elena's final protocols—not mystical protections, but carefully designed authentication methods that would ensure the records couldn't be dismissed or suppressed.

Because some truths were worth any price to protect.

And some injustices had gone unchallenged for far too long.

Reed's hand remained in hers as she worked, his presence a constant reminder of what they were fighting for—not just historical justice, but a future together built on truth rather than secrets.

"When this is over,"

he said quietly, for her ears alone.

"we should talk about what comes next. For us."

The simple statement carried layers of meaning, of promise for a future beyond this immediate crisis. Rowan paused in her work, meeting his eyes.

"I'd like that,"

she said softly.

"Very much."

His smile, rare and genuine, gave her renewed determination as she returned to implementing Elena's final protocols. Whatever Blackwood and his corporate masters threw at them, they would face it together.

Because the real strength wasn't in supernatural bloodlines or mystical connections.

It was in the bonds they'd chosen to form. In love that had grown through shared purpose and mutual respect.

And in carefully preserved historical truths that would finally see the light of day, exactly as Elena had always intended.