Page 25 of King’s Reckoning (Blind Jacks MC #5)

Two black SUVs cut through the pre-dawn fog, their headlights dimmed to avoid attention. Rowan studied satellite imagery on her tablet, tracking their progress through industrial backstreets. The vehicles moved with practiced precision—professional drivers following carefully planned routes.

"Target facility ahead,"

Reed murmured from the driver's seat. His hand brushed hers briefly as he downshifted, the touch sending familiar electricity through her nerves despite their tactical situation.

"Security looks heavier than intel suggested."

Rowan nodded, noting multiple armed guards patrolling the warehouse perimeter. Not Satan's Riders members. These men moved with military discipline, their gear marking them as private contractors. The same ones who'd helped Blackwood escape three days ago.

"They're expecting us,"

she said quietly.

"Knew we'd eventually track their new document storage site."

"Good."

Reed's smile was predatory.

"Means we don't have to worry about maintaining cover stories anymore. Time for some direct action."

Behind them, two more vehicles carried select members of their strike team from King's Chosen and Iron Fists. Three months ago, such cooperation would have been unthinkable. Now it felt natural, necessary.

"Barbara, status on their security systems?"

Rowan asked through their encrypted comms.

"Extensive coverage,"

the professor replied from her mobile command center.

"Motion sensors, infrared cameras, automated countermeasures. But..."

She paused significantly.

"They're using the same security company again. Same protocols we've breached before."

"They never learn,"

Rowan said with grim satisfaction. She pulled up building schematics on her tablet, overlaying them with thermal imaging data.

"Still think they can use Mom's historical documentation against us. Still don't understand what she really built into those land claim reports."

The facility ahead had been carefully chosen—an abandoned corporate research center with specialized equipment already in place. Perfect for continuing Blackwood Industries' work. Perfect for forging new documentation to counter Elena's historical land claims.

Perfect for a trap.

"Multiple heat signatures in the main records room,"

Barbara reported.

"Power consumption suggests active document processing operations. They're running some kind of forgery sequence."

"Not for long,"

Rowan replied. She met Reed's eyes briefly, saw the same determination there.

"All teams, execute on my mark. Remember, this isn't about subtlety anymore. We shut them down hard, send a message to anyone else thinking of contesting these land claims."

Affirmative responses came from their strike teams as final positions were established. Rowan felt anticipation build—not nervousness, but the steady focus she'd inherited from both parents. The calm before decisive action.

"You know this is probably another setup,"

Reed said quietly as they waited for the best time to strike.

"Like the last facility. They're testing our responses, documenting our capabilities."

"Let them."

Rowan's smile held a dangerous edge.

"Because this time, we're not just responding. We're changing the rules entirely."

She activated her secure tablet one final time, implementing protocols she'd spent weeks perfecting. Elena's original documentation had been brilliant. But Rowan figured out how to improve on it. Had found ways to turn apparent vulnerabilities into devastating advantages.

"All teams, execute."

The assault unfolded, strike teams breaching multiple entry points simultaneously while Barbara's cyberattacks overwhelmed automated defenses. Private security contractors found their sophisticated weapons mysteriously malfunctioning as Rowan's modified security protocols corrupted their communications systems.

"East sector clear,"

one team reported.

"Finding lots of forged documents. Looks like they were trying to create backdated land transfers."

"West sector secured,"

another added.

"Multiple servers located. Beginning data retrieval."

Rowan moved with Reed through the facility's central corridor, their movements synchronized by months of working together. More than partners now, they'd become extensions of each other in the field, anticipating reactions, covering blind spots automatically.

"Main records room ahead,"

Reed murmured as they approached heavy security doors.

"Reading multiple hostiles inside. Ready?"

Rowan nodded, feeling that familiar spark of connection as their eyes met briefly. Whatever came next, they'd face it together. Would protect what mattered with every skill and resource at their disposal.

The doors exploded inward as breaching charges detonated. Rowan and Reed moved through the smoke in perfect tandem, weapons tracking separate sectors as they cleared the space. But the scene that greeted them made them pause.

Miles Blackwood stood calmly at a central console, surrounded by humming professional-looking equipment. Behind him, multiple screens showed familiar paperwork—Elena's original research into historical land claims and tribal boundaries.

"Right on schedule,"

he said pleasantly.

"Though I expected you five minutes earlier. Getting predictable, Rowan."

"It's over, Miles."

She kept her weapon trained on him as teams secured the rest of the lab.

"We're shutting down every attempt to forge counterclaims. Every facility, every research site, every backup location."

"Are you?"

His smile held genuine amusement.

"Or are you just following the path we've laid out? Responding exactly as predicted to each carefully planned scenario?"

Fresh understanding bloomed as Rowan processed implications.

"The other facilities, the network attacks, your escape...they were all tests. Ways to document how we'd react to specific threats."

"Indeed."

Blackwood's fingers moved across his console, initiating new processes.

"Elena always said you were quick. But you're still missing the larger picture. Why do you think we kept using her original documentation? Her authentication methods?"

"Because you helped create them,"

Rowan replied.

"Knew how to exploit the loopholes in property law that she discovered."

"No."

Blackwood's smile widened.

"Because we needed to verify something she theorized years ago. Something about how specific historical claims could interface directly with tribal sovereignty protections. About how certain combinations of treaties could bypass any corporate land grab."

Ice slid down Rowan's spine as pieces clicked into place.

"You've been studying me. My responses, my capabilities, my ability to access my mom's historical documentation naturally."

"The perfect opponent,"

Blackwood agreed.

"Proof that Elena's theories about indigenous land rights were correct. That certain historical claims could be upheld without legal assistance."

"Target archives located,"

Barbara's voice cut through their comms.

"Beginning data transfer of all forged documents."

"I wouldn't do that,"

Blackwood said mildly. His fingers danced across keys, implementing new commands.

"Might disrupt some rather delicate documentation currently in progress."

Warning alerts flashed across Rowan's tablet as security signatures throughout the facility began shifting. The document processing equipment hummed at new frequencies, creating interference patterns in their secure communications.

"What are you doing?"

she demanded, fighting sudden signal loss.

"Completing the test sequence,"

Blackwood replied.

"Documenting exactly how your mother's historical claims respond to specific legal challenges. The data we've gathered from your previous operations was fascinating, but this..."

He gestured to scrolling documents on his screens.

"This is conclusive proof of what Elena theorized. What she spent years working to achieve."

"By experimenting on ancestral lands?"

Reed's voice held cold fury.

"Using indigenous people as some kind of test subjects for corporate greed?"

"Oh no,"

Blackwood corrected.

"Elena would never have used these protocols herself. She built them as a failsafe, a last resort if the claims ever fell into the wrong hands. A way to completely invalidate any corporate land grab using the very historical documentation she helped uncover."

Understanding hit Rowan like a physical blow as the communications interference increased.

"The override clause,"

she managed.

"She designed it to work through direct lineage documentation. Through me."

"Exactly."

Blackwood's smile held triumph now.

"And you've just proven it works exactly as intended. Your mother's documentation is already disrupting our forgery systems, invalidating the counterclaims at a fundamental level."

Fresh alarms blared as equipment began failing throughout the facility. Rowan felt the legal interference intensify, creating feedback loops between her lineage documentation and the facility's forgery systems.

"Rowan!"

Reed moved to support her as her knees buckled from the realization of what was happening.

"What's wrong?"

"The final test phase,"

Blackwood replied calmly, even as his carefully built systems crashed around him.

"Proving that specific historical documentation can permanently invalidate corporate land grabs through direct lineage claims. Rather elegant design, really. Elena would be proud."

"Shut it down,"

Reed ordered, his weapon never wavering from Blackwood's head. "Now."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. The sequence is already running. And in approximately thirty seconds, it will render every piece of forged documentation in this facility permanently invalid. Including..."

He gestured to Rowan's shaking form.

"The enhanced legal standing that makes such interference possible."

Understanding bloomed through Rowan's mind.

"You wanted this,"

she managed.

"Wanted proof that my mom's override clause worked. That indigenous land claims could create legal precedents capable of destroying corporate land grabs permanently."

"For the right price, such proof is invaluable,"

Blackwood agreed.

"Especially to certain interested parties concerned about tribal sovereignty protections falling into the wrong hands. About the need for legal failsafes that can't be hacked or duplicated."

More systems crashed as the feedback loop intensified. Rowan felt her consciousness wavering as her lineage documentation interfaced directly with failing forgery protocols. But through the haze of realization, pieces of a lifetime's preparation finally clicked into place.

Elena hadn't just built loopholes into her land claim documentation. Hadn't just created ways to bypass corporate land grabs through specific historical markers. She'd designed something far more sophisticated.

A way to permanently destroy dangerous corporate encroachment using the very treaties that Blackwood Industries had helped violate. Using her daughter's carefully documented lineage as the ultimate legal failsafe.

"It's done,"

Blackwood announced as final systems failed.

"Proof of concept confirmed. Indigenous land claims can indeed disable corporate forgeries permanently through direct lineage documentation."

Rowan felt her tension ease as the forgery equipment powered down around them. The weight of realization about her mother's legal protections left her momentarily overwhelmed. Reed's solid presence supported her as she stood shakily, drawing strength from his nearness.

"You got what you wanted,"

she said quietly.

"Proved Mom's theories correct. Showed that indigenous claims can destroy corporate land grabs permanently."

"Indeed."

Blackwood's smile held genuine satisfaction.

"My employers will be quite pleased with the results. Though I doubt they'll appreciate the wider implications."

"What implications?"

"That Elena didn't just create a way to protect ancestral lands,"

he replied.

"She ensured that anyone attempting to contest them would fail. Because now that your lineage documentation has interfaced directly with these forgery systems..."

His smile widened.

"Any future attempts will recognize those same historical patterns. Will automatically begin failing the moment they detect indigenous sovereignty sequences."

Fresh understanding bloomed as Rowan processed his meaning.

"She made me into a permanent legal guardian. A way to ensure these lands could never be successfully stolen."

"Quite brilliant, really,"

Blackwood agreed.

"Using Blackwood Industries' own legal tactics against them. Ensuring that every future attempt to develop land grabs would fail the moment they approached contested territories."

"You admire her,"

Rowan realized.

"Even now, even after everything..."

"Of course I do. Elena was a genius who saw possibilities none of us imagined. Who understood that the best way to destroy dangerous corporate overreach was to use its own principles against it."

He spread his hands in a gesture of surrender as more teams entered the lab.

"I imagine your alliance will want to take me into custody now. Study my research, analyze my data."

"No."

Rowan's voice held firm conviction as she straightened fully, supported by Reed's steady presence.

"We're going to let you go. Let you report to your employers exactly what happened here. Let you show them proof that any attempt to forge counterclaims will fail automatically."

"Because of your indigenous documentation,"

Blackwood finished.

"Because Elena ensured her daughter would become the ultimate legal failsafe."

"Exactly."

Rowan smiled grimly as she gave orders through their secure comms.

"Let him leave. But make sure he takes copies of all test data. Evidence of exactly what happens when indigenous land claims interface directly with corporate forgery systems."

Teams moved to comply as Blackwood gathered his research materials. But before he could exit, Rowan added quietly.

"Tell your employers one more thing, Miles. Tell them my mom didn't just create a legal protection for ancestral lands. She created a guardian—someone capable of ensuring they never threaten anyone again."

Blackwood's smile held genuine respect as he departed. Within hours, the facility was stripped completely—all equipment destroyed, all evidence eliminated except the specific data Rowan had allowed him to take.

"Think they'll finally give up?"

Reed asked as they watched cleanup teams finish their work.

"Stop trying to contest the land claims?"

"They'll have to,"

Rowan replied, leaning into his solid warmth.

"Mom made sure of that when she documented my lineage. Made me into something that could permanently invalidate corporate land grabs just by existing near them."

His arms tightened around her.

"Quite a legacy."

"Yes."

Rowan smiled slightly as she thought about carefully documented heritage and unexpected love creating something stronger than mere corporate greed.

"But not the only one worth protecting."

Because some legacies weren't about land claims or historical markers. Some were about choices made, trust earned, love freely given.

The kind of legacy Rowan intended to build with the man holding her. The future they would forge together.

Starting with their wedding, just two weeks away.