Chapter 5: The Message From the Missing Sister
Cole didn’t say another word.
He just stared at the phone.
Like the device in his hand had become something dangerous.
I stood up.
“What is it?””
He didn’t answer.
“Cole.””
Slowly, he lowered the phone.
“It’s a video.””
My stomach tightened.
“From who?””
His eyes moved toward Eli.
“Nia.””
The diner suddenly felt too quiet.
Even the sounds from the kitchen disappeared behind the pounding in my ears.
Eli jumped from the booth.
“My mom?””
Cole nodded.
“She sent it to me.””
My anger returned instantly.
“To you?””
Cole looked down.
“I don’t know how.””
I walked toward him.
“You have a message from my missing sister, and you’re standing here acting surprised?””
“I am surprised.””
“Why?””
“Because she told me she would never contact me again.””
The words landed.
I looked at the phone.
“Play it.””
Cole hesitated.
“No.””
My eyebrows lowered.
“No?””
“She might have sent it because she was desperate.””
“That’s exactly why we need to see it.””
Cole looked at Eli.
The boy was already standing beside me.
His face was pale.
“Is she okay?””
Nobody answered.
That was the worst answer.
I took the phone from Cole.
He didn’t stop me.
The screen showed one video file.
No name.
No explanation.
Just a timestamp from that morning.
I pressed play.
For a second, there was only darkness.
Then a woman appeared.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
Nia.
My breath caught.
She was sitting somewhere dimly lit.
Her face looked thinner than I remembered.
But her eyes were the same.
The exact same eyes.
“Bear…”
Hearing my name from her mouth after fifteen years almost broke me.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
Nia looked directly into the camera.
“If you’re seeing this, then Eli found you.””
Eli covered his mouth.
My heart raced.
She knew.
She planned this.
Nia continued.
“I’m sorry.””
Two words.
But they carried fifteen years of pain.
“I wanted to come back. I wanted to tell you everything.””
She paused.
Her breathing became shaky.
“But I couldn’t.””
I watched every movement.
Every expression.
Trying to find my little sister behind the years.
“Bear, listen carefully.””
Her voice became stronger.
“Do not trust anyone who tells you I left because I wanted to.””
My eyes moved to Cole.
He looked away.
Nia continued.
“I left because I found out someone close to you was selling information.””
The room went still.
Cole whispered, “No…”
Nia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I thought I could handle it myself.””
She looked down.
“I was wrong.””
A noise came from somewhere outside her recording.
Nia suddenly turned.
Fear crossed her face.
Then she looked back.
“If Eli reaches you, protect him.””
The video glitched.
“Nia?”” I whispered.
Her voice became distorted.
But one sentence came through clearly.
“The person who betrayed you…”
Static.
Then—
“…is still beside you.””
The screen went black.
Nobody moved.
Eli looked at me.
Then at Cole.
Cole looked like he had been punched.
I replayed the final seconds.
Again.
And again.
Still beside you.
The words echoed.
I turned slowly.
There were only a few people who had been beside me all these years.
My brothers.
My closest friends.
My family.
Cole spoke quietly.
“She thinks it’s me.””
I didn’t answer.
Because part of me wondered if he thought that too.
The front door of the diner opened.
A young waitress walked out holding something.
“Sir?””
I looked over.
She held a small envelope.
“This was left on your motorcycle.””
My eyes narrowed.
“By who?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
I took the envelope.
No name.
No address.
Just three words written on the front.
FOR BEAR CARTER.
My hands tightened.
I opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Not of Nia.
Not of Eli.
A photograph of the Iron Saints clubhouse.
Taken from outside.
At night.
On the back was a message.
My blood ran cold.
Because it wasn’t a threat.
It was a warning.
“Your enemy has been sitting at your table for years.””
I looked up.
Everyone around me was silent.
May you like
Then my eyes stopped on one person.
Cole.
