Chapter 11: The Betrayal Nobody Expected
The darkness swallowed the room.
Nobody moved.
Vincent’s mind raced.
The voice.
The accusation.
The words.
The person sitting beside you.
His eyes slowly moved.
Marcus.
Clara.
Elias.
Adrian.
Someone was lying.
Maybe everyone was.
The lights suddenly returned.
The basement was empty.
No attacker.
No voice.
Only the sound of Vincent’s breathing.
Adrian smiled.
“You see the problem with secrets?””
Vincent looked at him.
“What?””
“They never stay buried.””
Vincent ignored him.
He turned to Marcus.
“Who killed my mother?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Vincent grabbed him by the jacket.
“Tell me.””
Marcus looked tired.
“Let go.””
“No.””
“Vincent.””
“No.””
His voice echoed through the basement.
“You don’t get to protect me anymore.””
Marcus looked into his eyes.
Then quietly said:
“Your mother wasn’t killed by the club.””
Vincent released him.
“Then who?””
Marcus looked at Adrian.
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“That’s enough.””
Vincent turned.
“Answer me.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I spent years trying to keep you away from this.””
“And now?””
Marcus looked around the hidden room.
“Now I know I failed.””
Elias picked up the journal.
“There’s something else.””
He opened a page.
Vincent walked closer.
The handwriting was his father’s.
The entry was dated three days before Daniel disappeared.
I finally discovered who is behind everything.
It isn’t Marcus.
Vincent stopped.
The room went silent.
He read the next line.
Marcus was manipulated.
He thought he was controlling the operation, but someone above him has been moving every piece.
Vincent looked at Marcus.
The older man looked away.
Adrian stepped back.
“No.””
Vincent continued reading.
The person responsible is someone who has been close to our family for decades.
Someone who knows every weakness.
Someone we trusted.
Then the page ended.
The next page had been ripped out.
Vincent looked up.
“Who tore this?””
Everyone looked at Adrian.
He said nothing.
That was the answer.
Vincent walked toward him.
“You knew.””
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“I knew enough.””
“What happened to my mother?””
Adrian smiled coldly.
“Your mother made choices.””
Vincent’s anger exploded.
“She was murdered.””
“She got involved in things she didn’t understand.””
Clara stepped forward.
“You’re talking about a woman who exposed criminals.””
Adrian looked at her.
“You sound like your father.””
“Good.””
Adrian’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
Vincent noticed.
And understood.
Adrian didn’t hate Daniel because Daniel was weak.
He hated Daniel because Daniel refused to be controlled.
A loud crash came from above.
Then shouting.
The attackers had found them.
Vincent grabbed the journal.
“We leave now.””
Marcus nodded.
Nobody questioned him.
Not even Vincent.
They moved through the basement exit into the backyard.
The night air hit them.
Motorcycles waited nearby.
But not Iron Wolves motorcycles.
Different ones.
Older.
Rougher.
A group of riders stood in the darkness.
Vincent recognized the symbol on their jackets.
A symbol from the old photographs.
His father’s original crew.
The first Iron Wolves.
A man stepped forward.
He looked at Vincent.
“You’re Daniel’s son.””
Vincent tightened his grip.
“Who are you?””
The man removed his helmet.
“My name is Jack Reynolds.””
Marcus looked shocked.
“Jack?””
The older man smiled.
“Still alive, Marcus?””
Vincent looked between them.
“You know him?””
Jack laughed.
“We all knew each other before the lies began.””
Vincent stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth.””
Jack nodded.
“That’s why I’m here.””
He looked at Marcus.
Then Adrian.
“Because the person who destroyed your family is finally making his move.””
Vincent narrowed his eyes.
“Who?””
Jack reached into his jacket.
And pulled out an old photograph.
He handed it to Vincent.
The picture showed a group of people.
His parents.
Marcus.
Adrian.
Jack.
And one more person.
Someone Vincent had seen before.
Someone whose name made his blood run cold.
Because it was written on the back.
May you like
The person who started everything.
*Daniel Maddox.*
