Page 31

Kingsley

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Zane stormed into the clubhouse. Kingsley followed, ignoring the men partying. The girls were anxious to dive into the package their father left, but before they lost themselves in new information, they needed to find out one important clue.

Kingsley headed straight to the office. He hated leaving Kenna at the house, but she'd fallen asleep on the bed while he'd showered. Likewise, Zane informed him that River had fallen asleep on the couch in the rec room.

If Zane could find what he was looking for, Kingsley could get back to Kenna before she woke up.

He shut the door, cutting off the music and the noise.

Zane sat in the chair and unlocked the drawer to his right. Kingsley walked over and looked at the pictures. They went back to before he and Zane were born.

"I got it." Zane slapped a folder on the desk. "I've spent so much time pouring over Dad's old records, I knew I'd seen it."

Since their dad went to prison, he'd let Zane run the club. While Zane dove in headfirst, Kingsley had spent most of his time trying to find Kenna the last two years.

"Take a look." Zane slid a piece of paper across the desk.

Kingsley read.

As a favor to Big John, I took his sister, Lou Carpenter, to the only place where she'd be safe. Burt Shay could take her in, get her a new identity, and protect her from Valdones Motorcycle Club. If Big John doesn't make it out alive, his sister will be taken care of. There is no payment for the service. Big John is a member of Gem Haven Motorcycle Club.

"Jesus." He looked up. "Why not tell Big John where his sister was located once it was safe?"

"Because..." Zane took another paper from the file. "It'll never be safe. Take a look."

Kingsley scanned the paper, shaking his head. "Did you know this?"

Zane nodded. "Only because I've read every paper Dad had squirreled away in the office.

According to the records, Dad recruited Big John away from Valdones a year after he'd started the motorcycle club. Nobody left Valdones alive.

"If I remember right, Big John was in prison after Dad went to war with Valdones and didn't get out until..." Zane grabbed another file and opened it, shuffling through the papers. "He got out two years before Dad went to prison." He met Kingsley's gaze. "The same year Louanne Carpenter was killed."

He planted his hands on the desk. "We have to tell the girls."

"Agreed. But not tonight. It's late." Zane put the papers back in the files and locked the drawer. "We'll let them sleep."

"What about Big John?"

"I'll let him know tomorrow when we tell River and Kenna, " Zane said, rising from his desk.

Kingsley crossed his arms. Big John was Kenna and River's only relative—the only relative not sitting on Death Row.

Secrets run deep in Gem Haven.