Chapter 9: The Enemy Among Brothers
The farmhouse felt empty without the motorcycles.
That was strange.
A few days earlier, I would have been terrified seeing twelve bikers surround my home.
Now, their absence scared me more.
Because it meant something was happening.
Something dangerous.
I sat with Ethan and Grace while waiting.
Grace looked at me.
“Mom?””
“Yes?””
“Is Mr. Breaker a bad man?””
I looked at my daughter.
The same little girl he had pulled away from a deadly device.
“No.””
She smiled.
“I knew it.””
I laughed quietly.
“You did?””
She nodded.
“He looked scary.””
I smiled.
“But?””
“But bad people don’t save you.””
Children see things adults miss.
Maybe because they haven’t learned to doubt everything.
Three hours passed.
Then four.
Finally, headlights appeared.
But only one vehicle.
Not twelve motorcycles.
My heart tightened.
The truck stopped.
The door opened.
And Mason stepped out.
Alone.
I immediately knew something was wrong.
“Where is Breaker?””
Mason looked away.
That was enough.
“What happened?””
He walked toward me.
“We found Vale.””
“Where is Breaker?””
“He’s alive.””
I exhaled.
“But?””
Mason looked toward the house.
“He knows who the traitor is.””
“Who?””
Mason didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t need to.
A second vehicle arrived.
The passenger door opened.
Breaker stepped out.
His face was bruised.
His jacket was torn.
But he was standing.
Behind him was a man I recognized.
One of the bikers.
One of his brothers.
The man who had stood beside him at Thanksgiving.
The man who had protected the family.
I stared.
“No.””
Breaker nodded.
“Yes.””
The biker looked ashamed.
His name was Cole.
Not Thomas.
Cole.
He looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
My anger rose.
“You helped him?””
He shook his head.
“Not at first.””
Breaker stepped forward.
“He was being blackmailed.””
Everyone became silent.
Cole looked broken.
“They threatened my granddaughter.””
I froze.
Breaker continued.
“Vale knew where she lived.””
“So you betrayed us?””
Cole closed his eyes.
“I thought I could control it.””
Mason shook his head.
“You almost got everyone killed.””
Cole nodded.
“I know.””
Breaker looked at him.
And for a moment, I expected anger.
Punishment.
Something.
Instead, he said:
“You should have told me.””
Cole looked up.
“I was ashamed.””
Breaker sighed.
“We’re brothers.””
Those words hit harder than any accusation.
Because I understood something.
This group wasn’t held together by fear.
It was held together by loyalty.
Even after betrayal.
Even after mistakes.
Breaker turned to me.
“Vale is gone.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“He escaped.””
My stomach dropped.
“Then it isn’t over.””
Breaker looked toward the dark road.
“No.””
He pulled something from his pocket.
A piece of paper.
“What is that?””
“The final message from Daniel.””
My hands went cold.
“There’s more?””
Breaker nodded.
“And this one wasn’t hidden for you.””
He looked at the paper.
“It was hidden for me.””
I stared.
“What does it say?””
Breaker unfolded it.
His expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear.
Real fear.
“What?””
He looked at me.
Daniel’s final message contained only six words.
May you like
Six words that changed everything.
*THE FIRE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.*
