Page 24 of King’s Reckoning (Blind Jacks MC #5)

"I'm afraid your legal teams will find these documents quite securely protected,"

Beasley continued conversationally.

"Complex authentication challenges—your mother's approach, actually. Very effective when properly implemented."

Rowan's blood ran cold at the casual reference to her mother.

"What are you doing, Miles? These records were meant to help people."

"Help people?"

Beasley's laugh held no humor.

"My dear, these old papers were never about helping anyone. They were about leverage. Power. Control."

His gaze seemed to bore through the video conference screen directly into their meeting room.

"Until the right people could properly use them."

"Barbara?"

Rowan asked quietly.

"Working on it,"

the professor replied, analyzing the legal documents rapidly.

"But these challenges...they're definitely based on Elena's work. Advanced verification questions we hadn't anticipated."

Fresh understanding dawned as Rowan processed the implications.

"You helped her develop those verification standards, didn't you? Worked alongside her on the original authentication framework?"

"Very good,"

Beasley approved.

"Elena always said you were quick. Yes, we collaborated on multiple projects—including the verification methods currently keeping your legal teams scrambling. She was brilliant at creating unassailable documentation chains, you know. Saw possibilities none of us had considered."

More alerts appeared on Barbara's screen as legal filings multiplied across different jurisdictions. "Rowan,"

she said urgently.

"Something bigger is happening. Multiple corporate entities are filing similar challenges..."

"Of course they are,"

Rowan replied grimly.

"Because this isn't really about Beasley at all. Is it, Charles?"

"Perceptive,"

he said softly.

"While you focused on the obvious legal challenge, my associates have been quite busy elsewhere. Testing your resources, monitoring your responses...learning exactly how your alliance protects these old papers."

"There are multiple legal challenges appearing,"

Barbara announced suddenly, her screen filling with case notifications.

"They're attacking our authentication approach from several different angles, targeting specific weak points."

"The initial filing was just a distraction,"

Rowan realized, watching as new cases multiplied across their tracking system.

"They needed us to trigger certain legal responses, see how we handle things."

"Precisely."

Beasley's voice held dark amusement.

"Though you're still not seeing the full picture. Tell me, did you ever wonder why Elena was so interested in land rights documentation? Why she spent years collecting these specific records?"

Rowan's mind raced as she coordinated responses to the legal onslaught.

"She was tracking corporate land grabs. Documenting how they justified taking resources from rightful owners."

"That's what she told everyone, yes. Very convincing story."

Beasley's image showed him reviewing documents, consulting with unseen associates.

"But the truth was far more interesting. She wasn't just studying their methods—she was countering them. Creating a comprehensive framework to challenge generations of carefully constructed legal fiction."

A chill ran through Rowan as the implications of what he was saying became clear.

"Barbara, check Elena's original research files. Look for anything about corporate ownership structures."

The professor quickly accessed the encrypted archives.

"Found something. Extensive documentation on shell companies, property transfers, mineral rights assignments..."

She paused, eyes widening. "Oh my..."

"What is it?"

"These aren't just research notes,"

Barbara said quietly.

"They're a complete mapping of corporate control. Elena wasn't just collecting historical records. She was actively tracing ownership chains back to their origins. Creating a comprehensive picture of who really controls the region's resources."

New legal filings appeared on their screens as more corporate entities joined the attack. Rowan watched as each challenge targeted specific pieces of their documentation, each one striking at carefully selected weak points.

"She created alternative pathways,"

Rowan said suddenly, understanding flowing through her.

"Hidden documentation routes that could bypass traditional legal challenges if you knew where to look. If you had the right connecting evidence to activate them."

"Very good,"

Beasley approved.

"Elena always said you'd figure it out eventually. Why do you think she was so careful about collecting seemingly unrelated records? Why she focused on such specific historical connections?"

"Because she needed certain documents linked in precise ways,"

Rowan finished.

"To create a chain of evidence that could withstand coordinated legal attacks. That could break through corporate ownership disguises."

"The perfect framework,"

Beasley agreed.

"Capable of cutting through barriers that would stop anyone else cold. Though I doubt she anticipated how effectively you'd eventually use that approach against the very interests she identified."

More legal alerts appeared as challenges intensified. Barbara worked frantically, trying to counter multiple attacks simultaneously.

"They're not just filing random objections,"

she reported tensely.

"They're using Elena's own authentication approach to map our entire legal strategy. Every supporting document, every verification chain, every hidden connection..."

"While simultaneously tracking how you respond to each challenge,"

Beasley added.

"Documenting exactly how your alliance protects its evidence. Quite efficient, wouldn't you say?"

Rowan's mind raced through options as she watched their carefully constructed legal defenses systematically undermined. They'd built those protections using Elena's methods, trusting in the strength of her authentication approach.

Never suspecting Elena had deliberately created alternative pathways around her own framework.

"Reed,"

she said suddenly.

"Get me a secure line to all team leaders. Now."

"Setting it up,"

he replied, already implementing communication plans they'd designed for worst-case scenarios.

"Stand by."

"What are you thinking?"

King asked quietly.

Rowan studied the displays showing the legal teams their alliances had gathered still trying to counter the coordinated challenges. Watched Barbara struggle against attacks that seemed to anticipate every response.

"Mom didn't just create authentication chains,"

she said slowly.

"She built a comprehensive backup strategy. A complete alternative approach that would strengthen our position if the primary evidence was challenged."

"And you think you can activate it?"

Barbara asked, still organizing counterresponses.

"No."

Rowan smiled with quiet determination.

"I think that's exactly what they want me to try. Because Mom would have created safeguards within safeguards. Ways to protect anyone attempting to use those alternative pathways without proper understanding."

"Clever observation,"

Beasley's voice held genuine admiration.

"You really are your mother's daughter. But you're still missing a crucial element."

"The connecting documents,"

Rowan said.

"They're not just linked to the main historical records. They're connected to supporting evidence that hasn't even been presented yet."

She met Barbara's eyes.

"Which means we can use their own challenges to strengthen our position."

Understanding dawned on the professor's face as she caught Rowan's meaning. Her hands began moving with renewed purpose, organizing new documentation.

"Legal teams need to present the supporting evidence immediately,"

Rowan directed. But even as alliance members moved to comply, she knew a bigger picture was emerging.

"Alert,"

Barbara announced suddenly.

"Multiple new corporate entities joining the legal challenges. Some kind of coordinated effort building..."

"Standard corporate strategy,"

Beasley said calmly.

"Ensuring maximum pressure across all fronts. Rather elegant approach. Elena would have appreciated it, actually."

Rowan had seconds to make a decision.

"All teams hold their responses temporarily. Barbara, implement the secondary documentation strategy. Reed, get those supporting records—"

Before she could finish, Beasley's video feed ended abruptly. When they reestablished connection, he had vanished along with several key pieces of evidence they'd been discussing.

"Teams report minimal disruption,"

Reed said, coordinating status updates.

"The legal challenges remain active, but Beasley's direct involvement seems to have ended."

"Very precisely coordinated withdrawal,"

Barbara added, analyzing the pattern.

"The challenges targeted specific documents while preserving certain legal approaches. Almost like..."

"Like they wanted us to see exactly what they were capable of,"

Rowan finished.

"How effectively they could undermine our case when they had the right insight to work with."

She moved to study the case mapping Barbara had created, noting patterns that had been hidden before.

"They've been planning this for months. Setting up challenges, testing responses, documenting exactly how we protect key evidence."

"And now they know how to counter those protections,"

King said grimly.

"Using Elena's own approach against us."

"No."

Rowan's voice held firm conviction as she pulled up her mother’s original research files.

"They know how to counter the obvious protections. The ones Mom deliberately left visible."

Understanding brightened Barbara's expression as she caught Rowan's meaning.

"The shadow documentation. Records hidden so deeply even Beasley never found them."

"Because Mom knew this might happen,"

Rowan explained.

"Knew someone would eventually try using her authentication approach against her. So she built an entire parallel documentation framework—evidence that only becomes relevant when the primary records are challenged."

She gestured to files appearing on Barbara's screen.

"Look at the pattern. Every challenge, every legal attack...they all connect to specific pieces of supporting evidence. Evidence that strengthens our position rather than weakening it."

"Creating our own opportunity,"

Reed said with quiet admiration.

"While they studied our legal approach..."

"We were studying theirs,"

Rowan confirmed.

"Building a clear picture of their methods, their ownership structures, their ultimate goals."

She smiled with quiet determination.

"Time to show them exactly why Mom spent years preparing for this moment."

The command center hummed with renewed purpose as teams began analyzing the information they'd gathered. Rowan coordinated between stations, watching insights emerge from seemingly unrelated challenges.

They'd lost this skirmish. Allowed Beasley to expose vulnerabilities in their primary evidence. But in doing so, they'd gained crucial insight into who was really behind these coordinated attacks.

"Start implementing the secondary documentation strategy across all pending cases,"

she directed.

"Full authentication reinforcement using Mom's supporting records. I want every challenge met with evidence they don't even know exists."

"Already on it,"

Barbara replied, organizing the documents efficiently.

"But Rowan...some of these connections...they're remarkable. It's like Elena spent years building an entire hidden framework, just waiting for the right moment to reveal it."

"She did,"

Rowan said quietly.

"And now we know why. Because she understood exactly what people like Beasley would eventually try. How corporations would attempt to use legal challenges to maintain control over resources that rightfully belong to others."

She studied displays showing the clubs’ legal teams coordinating their responses, preparing to present the supporting evidence. They'd faced a coordinated challenge to their primary documentation, but gained something far more valuable—knowledge of exactly who they were really fighting against. Understanding of how deep these corporate connections truly went.

"Reed, get me secure lines to all chapter leaders,"

she directed.

"We need to coordinate our response. Show them we're stronger than they think."

Because Elena hadn't just collected historical records. She'd created an entire parallel framework—evidence hidden within evidence, connections layered within connections.

All waiting for the right moment. The right circumstances. The right person to finally understand their true purpose.

That moment had arrived.

And Rowan intended to make the most of it.

***

Later that evening, as the alliance’s legal teams implemented their coordinated counterstrategy, Rowan found herself on the clubhouse roof with Reed. The sunset painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson as they took a rare moment of quiet together.

"You were brilliant today,"

Reed said, his arm around her shoulders as they watched the fading light.

"The way you saw through their strategy, understood what Elena had really prepared..."

"I had help,"

Rowan replied, leaning into his warmth.

"Barbara's expertise, Dad's guidance, your support... This isn't something anyone could do alone."

"That's what makes it work,"

Reed agreed.

"The alliance, our relationship, all of it. Everyone contributing their strengths toward something larger than themselves."

Rowan thought about everything they'd accomplished in the months since she'd first arrived seeking answers about her father. The alliance they'd built, the history they'd protected, the corporate schemes they'd exposed.

And most importantly, the family she'd found. Not just King, but Reed and all the others who had stood with them through crisis after crisis.

"Wedding's in three days,"

she mused, feeling the weight of her engagement ring on her finger.

"Hard to believe with everything else happening."

Reed's smile was tender as he turned her to face him.

"Some things are worth making time for, no matter what else is happening. Some promises need to be kept, especially when the world seems determined to complicate everything."

His hands gently cupped her face, his expression serious despite his smile.

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"Not one,"

Rowan replied without hesitation.

"The alliance matters. The history matters. But this—us—that matters more than anything."

His kiss was gentle, a promise of everything to come. When they finally separated, Rowan rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"We'll face more challenges,"

she said quietly.

"Blackwood and his corporate clients won't stop just because we countered this attack."

"Let them come,"

Reed replied, his voice steady with conviction.

"Whatever happens, we'll face it together. The way Elena planned, the way you've led, the way we've all committed to."

As darkness settled over the clubhouse, Rowan felt a sense of peace she hadn't expected. They had work ahead—legal battles to fight, history to protect, corporate schemes to counter.

But they would face all of it together. As an alliance. As a family. As partners in every sense that mattered.

Elena's daughter. King's blood. Reed's heart.

The legacy her mother had fought to protect was in good hands.

And the future they would build together looked brighter with each passing day.