CHAPTER 7 – The Woman Who Owned Half the Brotherhood
Lightning illuminated the farmhouse.
The woman stepped out of the lead truck without fear.
She was in her early sixties, dressed in a black trench coat, the silver founder's ring gleaming on her hand.
Every armed man behind her lowered his head as she walked.
Not out of fear.
Out of respect.
The old man whispered only one name.
"Victoria..."
She stopped a few feet away and smiled faintly.
"It's been a long time, Edward."
Caleb looked from one to the other.
"You... know each other?"
Victoria's eyes never left the old man.
"We built the Iron Reapers together."
Caleb's heart nearly stopped.
"What?"
Edward nodded.
"There were four founders."
"Your father."
"Myself."
"Victoria."
"And Rex's father."
"We swore the club would protect forgotten towns and forgotten people."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Until greed destroyed everything."
She slowly removed a faded photograph from her coat.
It showed the four founders standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the original clubhouse, all smiling.
Then she tore one man from the picture.
Rex's father.
"He betrayed us before Rex ever did."
Caleb stared at the photograph in disbelief.
"So why are all these men with you?"
Victoria looked toward the trucks.
"They're not criminals."
"They're the original members who refused to follow Rex."
For decades...
They had been hiding.
Waiting.
Gathering evidence.
Preparing for the day the truth could finally come out.
Edward frowned.
"Then why bring fifty armed men?"
Victoria's face turned pale.
"Because we're too late."
She pointed toward the road.
Another convoy was approaching.
This one was twice as large.
Black armored SUVs.
No club patches.
No license plates.
No markings.
Only one symbol painted on every vehicle.
A silver wolf.
Edward's expression changed instantly.
"No..."
Caleb noticed the fear in his eyes.
"You know them?"
Edward nodded slowly.
"They're the people who financed Rex."
"They don't care about the club."
"They want what's hidden beneath it."
Caleb frowned.
"Beneath the clubhouse?"
Victoria looked directly at him.
"Your father never told you what was buried under the original clubhouse... because he wanted it to stay buried forever."
"What is it?"
Edward answered in a whisper.
"A vault."
"One that has never been opened."
"And according to your father's journal..."
"It contains enough evidence to destroy some of the most powerful people in America."
The convoy stopped.
The doors opened.
A tall man in a gray suit stepped out, smiling as if he'd already won.
He removed his sunglasses...
Looked straight at Caleb...
And said the words that left everyone speechless.
"Hello, son."
Caleb's face went completely white.
"My father died thirty years ago..."
May you like
The stranger smiled.
"That's what we wanted you to believe."
