Chapter 8: The Recording Nia Never Wanted Heard
We didn’t open the flash drive at the warehouse.
Not because we didn’t want answers.
Because we knew answers could be dangerous.
I had spent my entire life learning one thing:
Information could kill.
The wrong person knowing the wrong secret at the wrong time could destroy everything.
So we went back to the diner.
Not because it was safe.
Because it was public.
Because whoever was watching us would think twice before making a move with witnesses nearby.
Eli sat in the corner booth.
A plate of untouched food sat in front of him.
“You need to eat,” I said.
He shook his head.
“I’m not hungry.””
I looked at him.
“You’ve had a long night.””
He stared at the table.
“My mom always says being scared makes people forget to take care of themselves.””
I smiled sadly.
“That sounds like her.””
“You remember her?””
The question caught me.
I nodded.
“I remember everything.””
Eli looked up.
“Then why didn’t you find us?””
There was no anger in his voice.
That made it worse.
He was just asking.
A child trying to understand why adults failed him.
I looked down.
“I tried.””
“But you stopped?””
The truth hurt.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Because I got tired.
Because every year without answers felt like losing her again.
Because people told me to move on.
Because grief changes shape.
But I couldn’t say all of that.
Not to him.
“I should have tried harder.””
Eli looked at me for a long moment.
Then quietly said:
“My mom knew you would say that.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“She said you always blamed yourself.””
I looked away.
Because she was right.
Cole connected the flash drive to a laptop.
The screen loaded.
One file.
NO TITLE.
Just a date.
Fifteen years earlier.
I clicked it.
The recording began.
Static.
Then Nia’s voice.
“Bear, if you’re hearing this, something went wrong.””
My hand gripped the table.
She sounded younger.
The way she sounded before everything changed.
“I need you to understand something. I didn’t leave because I stopped loving you.””
I closed my eyes.
A thousand memories came rushing back.
“I left because I found out someone close to you was feeding information to people who wanted control of the club.””
Cole stared at the screen.
Nia continued.
“At first, I thought it was money.””
A pause.
“Then I realized it was personal.””
The audio crackled.
“They didn’t just want the Iron Saints.””
My eyes opened.
“They wanted Bear.””
The room felt smaller.
I looked at Cole.
He was listening carefully.
Nia continued.
“Cole helped me leave.””
Cole closed his eyes.
My heart stopped.
“He was the only person I trusted.””
I looked at him.
For the first time all night, I saw pain on his face.
Real pain.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
Pain.
“But I couldn’t tell Bear the truth.””
Nia’s voice shook.
“Because if Bear knew I was alive, he would come looking.””
The recording paused.
Then she whispered:
“And they were watching him.””
Nobody spoke.
The waitress walked by.
A motorcycle passed outside.
The world kept moving.
But inside that booth, everything stopped.
Nia continued.
“The person who betrayed us wasn’t just selling information.””
Her voice lowered.
“They were controlling what information Bear received.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
The recording continued.
“They made sure Bear believed certain people were enemies.””
My stomach tightened.
“They created fights.””
Static.
“They created fear.””
Then Nia said the words that changed everything.
“They made Bear think he was surrounded by threats, so he would never look close enough to see the real one.””
The recording ended.
Silence.
Cole looked at me.
“She knew.””
I stared at the laptop.
“She knew someone was manipulating me.””
Cole nodded slowly.
“And she knew it was someone you trusted.””
I stood.
My chair scraped against the floor.
“Who had access?””
Cole didn’t answer.
I looked at him.
“Who had access to everything?””
His face changed.
Slowly.
Like a memory had just returned.
“Bear…”
“Who?””
Cole swallowed.
“There was only one person.””
My heart started pounding.
“Who?””
Cole looked toward the window.
Toward the parking lot.
Toward the motorcycles.
Then he whispered:
“The person who handled all the club’s private communications.””
I waited.
Cole’s voice became barely audible.
“Your vice president.””
I froze.
My vice president.
My closest brother.
The man who stood beside me for years.
The man who knew every decision.
Every meeting.
Every weakness.
I looked at Cole.
“You’re saying Marcus betrayed me?””
Before Cole could answer, the diner lights suddenly flickered.
Everyone looked up.
Then every phone in the room buzzed at the same time.
Mine.
Cole’s.
Even Eli’s.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
May you like
From an unknown number.
“Ask Cole what he promised me.””
