Chapter 7: The Boy Who Was Never Supposed to Be Born
The man standing in the doorway looked at Caleb as if he had been searching for him his entire life.
His leather jacket carried no Iron Saints insignia. Instead, a silver cross was stitched over his heart.
Behind him, fourteen other bikers remained outside, their headlights illuminating the clubhouse windows.
Hank stood motionless.
"Arthur?""
The stranger smiled.
"That's the name your father gave me. I stopped using it years ago.""
Frank Miller backed away.
"My father is dead.""
Arthur turned toward him.
"Your father is standing right here, Frank.""
Frank shook his head.
"No. My father died when I was twelve.""
"That's what I arranged for you to believe.""
Frank's knees nearly buckled.
Damon moved in front of Caleb.
"Nobody takes another step.""
Arthur looked amused.
"Still playing the protective uncle, Damon? You always were the emotional one.""
"Who the hell are you?""
Arthur removed his gloves.
"My name is Arthur Miller. I was the man who burned the warehouse in 1999.""
Hank's fists tightened.
"You killed Sarah.""
"I did what I was paid to do.""
"And the mechanic?""
Arthur shrugged.
"Wrong place. Wrong night.""
Elizabeth made a choking sound.
"You murdered my sister.""
Arthur looked at her.
"Elizabeth, you should be grateful. If Sarah hadn't interfered, none of us would have needed to hide.""
Caleb stepped out from behind Damon.
"Why is my name on that photograph?""
Arthur's smile disappeared.
"Because you were the reason Marcus couldn't stay dead.""
"Explain.""
Arthur placed the photograph on the table.
It showed a newborn baby wrapped in a hospital blanket.
Underneath was written:
*CALEB REED — OCTOBER 2009.*
But the date was wrong.
Caleb had been born in 2009.
He looked at Elizabeth.
"What's going on?""
Elizabeth wiped her tears.
"Your biological father was never supposed to have children.""
Caleb frowned.
"What?""
"After the warehouse fire, Marcus suffered severe internal injuries. Doctors told him he would probably never have children.""
Damon looked confused.
"Then how?""
Elizabeth stared at Arthur.
"Because someone changed the medical records.""
Arthur nodded.
"Very good.""
He walked farther into the room.
"Marcus had a rare blood condition. His father believed it could be passed down to future generations. He wanted to know whether the family could produce another child with the same condition.""
Caleb stepped backward.
"You're saying I was some kind of experiment?""
"No," Elizabeth said quickly.
"You were a child. A loved child. Your father never knew what they had done.""
Arthur laughed.
"Your father knew more than you think.""
Hank grabbed the edge of the table.
"Leave the boy out of this.""
Arthur looked at him.
"You've spent twenty-seven years keeping him alive, Hank. Don't pretend you suddenly developed a conscience.""
Damon moved toward Arthur.
"Get out.""
Arthur raised one hand.
Outside, several bikers stepped closer to the windows.
Damon stopped.
Arthur looked at Caleb.
"Your father discovered the missing money because he found an old medical account. He traced it to a private clinic. Then he found the records connecting the Reed family to that clinic.""
Caleb swallowed.
"What did he find?""
"That you weren't the only child born from that medical program.""
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
Arthur continued.
"There were three.""
Victor stepped forward.
"Three children?""
"Three pregnancies. Three births. One surviving child.""
Caleb stared at him.
"Who were the other two?""
Arthur smiled faintly.
"One died shortly after birth. The other disappeared.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Arthur turned toward her.
"Still protecting your little secret?""
Hank looked at Elizabeth.
"What secret?""
She didn't answer.
Arthur took another photograph from his pocket.
This one showed a hospital nursery.
Three bassinets.
Three newborn babies.
On each blanket was a handwritten name.
Marcus.
Daniel.
And Caleb.
Caleb felt his stomach turn.
"Why are there three names?""
Arthur placed the photograph down.
"Because your grandfather wanted to create a new generation of Reed heirs. He believed blood made men loyal. He believed family could be engineered.""
Damon stared at the photograph.
"Who was the third baby?""
Arthur looked at Frank.
"Ask your father.""
Frank's face went white.
"Don't.""
Arthur smiled.
"Your father knows exactly who the third child was.""
Frank suddenly lunged toward him.
Arthur's men rushed through the doorway.
Within seconds, Frank was pinned against the wall.
Damon grabbed a chair and swung it toward the nearest attacker.
The clubhouse erupted.
Hank tackled one man.
Victor pulled another away from Elizabeth.
Caleb ducked beneath the table as boots pounded across the wooden floor.
Then a gunshot cracked through the room.
Everyone froze.
Arthur stood with a pistol in his hand.
"Enough!""
Silence.
He looked at Caleb.
"Come with me.""
Damon stepped forward.
"Touch him and I'll kill you.""
Arthur pointed the gun at Damon's chest.
"Then perhaps I'll have to start with you.""
Caleb stood.
"Leave him alone.""
"Good boy.""
Hank moved slowly.
"Arthur, take me instead.""
Arthur laughed.
"You've already had your turn, Hank.""
He reached into his jacket and produced a small photograph.
He showed it to Elizabeth.
Her face collapsed.
It showed a young woman standing outside a hospital.
Holding a baby.
Elizabeth whispered:
"Margaret.""
Arthur nodded.
"Your sister wasn't the only woman who gave birth that night.""
Hank looked at the photograph.
"That's Margaret.""
Arthur smiled.
"And the baby she's holding isn't Daniel.""
He turned toward Caleb.
"It's your mother.""
Caleb stared.
"My mother?""
Arthur nodded.
"Your mother was the third child.""
May you like
Then he lowered his gun slightly.
"And she has been lying to you about her real name.""
