Page 14 of King's Reckoning
"No," Rowan agreed, moving to cover the stairs. "We're not."
The rug above them was ripped away. Light spilled down as the hidden door was discovered. Rowan steadied her breathing, sighting down her rifle. Beside her, King was a solid presence, radiating deadly calm.
The first mercenary never made it past the third step. Rowan's shot took him in the chest, his body armor absorbing the impact but sending him stumbling back. King's follow-up caught a second man in the leg as he tried to provide covering fire.
Grenades bounced down the stairs—flashbangs. Rowan and King turned away as they detonated, the confined space amplifying the effect. Even partially protected, Rowan's ears rang.
Through the chaos, she heard engines approaching—lots of them. The backup Reed had promised, arriving right on time.
Gunfire erupted above as the mercenaries found themselves caught between two forces. Rowan recognized Reed's voice barking orders, heard the distinctive sound of Darkness's shotgun.
"Now," King said, and they moved up the stairs as one, catching the remaining mercenaries in a crossfire.
The fight was brutal but brief. The mercenaries were good, but they weren't prepared for the combined fury of the Blind Jacks MC. Within minutes, it was over.
Rowan emerged from the basement to find Reed securing the last of the survivors. His eyes found hers immediately, relief visible for a momentbefore his professional mask slipped back into place.
"Area's clear," he reported to King. "Darkness has men sweeping the perimeter. No sign of Blackwood."
"He wouldn't get his hands dirty," Rowan said, checking the captured mercenaries. "Not when he can hire others to do it."
"Speaking of which..." Reed produced a satellite phone from one of the men. "They were reporting to someone. Regular updates on their progress."
King took the phone, studying it. "We can trace this. Find out who's really behind all this."
"Already on it," Ace said, joining them with Barbara. "My wife's good with technology."
Barbara was already connecting the phone to her laptop. "Give me an hour. I'll have names, locations, everything."
"Good." King turned to Rowan. "Meanwhile, you and I need to finish watching your mother's message. Time to find out what's really buried under our club."
Reed stepped forward. "I should—"
"No." King's voice was firm but not unkind. "This is family business. For now."
Rowan caught Reed's expression a mix of concern and something else. Something that made her heart beat faster despite everything that had happened.
"I'll fill you in later," she promised softly as she passed him.
His hand caught her arm, gentle despite his strength. "Be careful. Family secrets have a way of biting back."
She nodded, following King back to the basement command center. As they descended the stairs, she heard Reed giving orders above—securing the scene, arranging cleanup, protecting the club's interests. Just like a Road Captain should.
But it was King who held her attention now. Her father, the man she'd spent twenty-five years wondering about, sat down to finish watching her mother's final message. Whatever came next would change everything.
Rowan took a deep breath and pressed play.
Elena's face filled the screen again, her expression more urgent now. "The Archive isn't just papers and old maps. It's proof of something older than our history books, something powerful enough to change everything. That's why they split it up, buried it with trusted members who would take the secret to their graves."
She leaned closer to the camera. "But someone found out. They've been watching, waiting, gathering their resources. And now they're ready to move." Her eyes seemed to bore into Rowan's. "Baby, everything in that journal…it's your inheritance. Your legacy. Just like being King's daughter."
King's hand found Rowan's shoulder, squeezing gently.
"Marcus," Elena continued, her voice softening. "I know you'll blame yourself for leaving. Don't. What I discovered...it would have put both of you in danger. So I made a choice. I kept our daughter safe, taught her everything she'd need to know. And I protected The Archive the only way I knew how: by making sure the pieces stayed buried until the right time."
She took a deep breath. "That time is now. The journal will lead you to each piece, but be careful. Trust no one outside the family. The people looking for The Archive...they have resources, influence. They've infiltrated governments, corporations, even other MCs."
"The Devils," Rowan realized. "They're being used."
