Page 30 of King's Reckoning
"I know," he said simply. "Just like I know you're exactly where you're supposed to be right now."
As they turned back to the planning, Rowan felt a sense of certainty settle over her. She had come looking for her father, for answers about her past. But she had found something more—a purpose that extended beyond family history, beyond club politics.
Whatever secrets lay buried beneath the club's territory, whatever evidence her mother and Flash had died protecting, she would bring it into the light. With Reed at her side and King at her back, she would finish what they started.
The Archive's truth would finally be told. And Rowan Matthews, daughter of Elena and King, was exactly the right person to tell it.
The clubhouse war room had gone deathly silent as Rowan spread Flash's recovered journal across the table. Cigarette smoke hung thick in the air, brothers crowded around to study the documents that might hold the key to understanding what they faced. Barbara worked methodically to preserve the fragile pages, her expert hands treating each one like the historical treasure it was.
"The dates match Mom's research," Rowan said, comparing the journal to Elena's notes. "Flash was documenting the same findings—unusual geological formations, hidden chambers beneath the territory. He knew something was hidden under the club's property."
"More than that," Barbara said, carefully smoothing a particularly damaged section. "He was tracking historical connections. Look at these family trees going back generations, all connected to the original territory settlements."
King leaned closer, his expression darkening as he recognized names. "These are the founding families. The ones who establishedthe first MC chapters in this region. Flash was trying to prove some kind of connection between them and..."
"And whatever's buried in those tunnels," Reed finished. He stood at Rowan's shoulder, close enough that she could feel his presence. "Whatever evidence Blackwood thinks is worth killing for."
Rowan studied the complex diagrams Flash had drawn—tunnel mappings, geological surveys, architectural plans that went far deeper than normal club operations would require. Her mother's notes showed similar observations, but Flash had taken it further, documenting specific families and their connections to the land.
"He was looking for historical ties," Barbara said, adjusting her glasses as she examined a partially burned page. "Family connections to whatever archaeological discovery they'd made. And look at these dates. They correspond exactly with—"
The clubhouse door crashed open, cutting her off. Ace burst in, his usual calm shattered. "Devils incoming! Multiple vehicles, heavily armed. And they've got company. Looks like private security teams with them."
"Security teams?" Darkness demanded, already moving toward the armory. "Since when do Devils work with corporate muscle?"
"Since Blackwood pulled whatever strings he needed to," King said grimly. "How long?"
"Minutes. They're coming in hot from both directions."
Rowan's mind raced as brothers mobilized around her. The Devils were one thing—they knew how to handle rival MCs. But professional security forces changed everything. This wasn't just club business anymore.
"The tunnels," she said suddenly, remembering her mother's careful mapping. "There's a network under the clubhouse. We can use them to evacuate."
The sound of vehicles pulling up outside cut her off. Through the windows, Rowan caught glimpses of teams of men moving with swiftly—professionally. Definitely not Devils.
"Move!" King ordered. "Get the artifacts and research into the secure room. Now!"
Rowan grabbed Elena's journal while Reed and Barbara quickly gathered Flash's pages. But as they headed for the hidden storage area, the sound of battering rams against the doors echoed through the clubhouse. The power cut out, emergency lights casting everything in dim shadows.
"They're targeting all access points," Rowan realized, noticing the pattern of teams. "They know about the main tunnel entrances. They're trying to cut off our escape routes."
"How?" Reed demanded. "That information was—"
Understanding hit them both at the same time. Rowan's blood ran cold as she met Reed's eyes. "Abby," she breathed. "She knew about the main tunnels. Knew Mom's typical routes."
"Which means everything she told us..." Reed's expression hardened. "It was all intelligence gathering. She was working for them the whole time."
The sound of doors being breached grew closer. Rowan could hear concentrated voice commands—teams coordinating their approach. But without the known tunnel network, they were trapped.
Unless.
"Mom's contingency," she said suddenly, pulling out the journal. Elena's precise handwriting filled the margins around a detailed map of the clubhouse foundation. "There's one route they don't know about. A secondary escape tunnel Mom discovered but never told anyone about. Not even Abby."
"Where?" King demanded.
Rowan traced the path on the diagram with trembling fingers. "Under the chapel. Behind the memorial wall. But it's hidden with a specialized mechanism that Mom designed herself."
"Like mother, like daughter," Reed said softly. "Always thinking ahead."
