Chapter 7: The Guardian Nobody Knew About
The paper shook in my hands.
Not because of the wind.
Not because I was scared.
Because every word felt impossible.
*There is someone else who has been protecting you your entire life.*
I read it again.
And again.
Like the sentence might change if I stared long enough.
It didn’t.
My father had left me another mystery.
Another secret.
Another person I didn’t know existed.
“Who?”” I whispered.
Nobody answered.
I looked at my mother.
She looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
Because she knew.
She had always known.
“Mom.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Caleb…”
“Who is it?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Reaper stepped closer.
“Angela.””
She looked at him.
“You knew about this?””
Her silence was enough.
The room changed instantly.
The bikers who had been standing around us weren’t looking at the mystery anymore.
They were looking at each other.
Suspicion.
Fear.
The same thing Victor Kane wanted.
A group divided.
A family broken apart.
“Everyone stop.””
Reaper’s voice cut through the room.
Nobody moved.
“We don’t start accusing people because we don’t understand something.””
Marcus looked at him.
“But someone has been hiding things.””
Reaper nodded.
“Yes.””
Then he looked at my mother.
“And she’s going to explain.””
My mother sat down slowly.
She looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like she had been carrying this moment for eleven years.
“I never wanted you involved in this.””
I stared at her.
“I was already involved.””
The words hurt her.
I could see it.
But they were true.
“My whole life was a lie.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You got to know my dad.””
Her eyes lifted.
“You got to love him.””
Silence.
“You got memories.””
I held up the letter.
“All I have is a piece of paper.””
Nobody spoke.
My mother wiped her tears.
“You’re right.””
The answer surprised me.
“I’m sorry.””
She took a breath.
“Your father made me promise something.””
“What?””
“That if he disappeared, I would never tell you about the person protecting you.””
“Why?””
“Because knowing would put you in danger.””
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“Mom, I’m already in danger.””
She looked at me.
“I know.””
“Then tell me.””
She closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she didn’t speak.
Then she whispered:
“His name is Daniel.””
The room went quiet.
Reaper’s expression changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“You know him?””
My mother nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
She looked at me.
“He was your father’s closest friend.””
Marcus frowned.
“Another friend?””
My mother nodded.
“Before the Dust Reapers.””
Reaper stepped closer.
“Angela, Michael never mentioned anyone named Daniel.””
“He wouldn’t.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel was the reason Michael survived.””
Everyone stared.
I felt lost.
“How can someone save him and still disappear?””
My mother looked at the letter.
“Because Daniel made a sacrifice.””
“What sacrifice?””
She hesitated.
Then:
“He took the blame.””
The room became colder.
“For what?””
“For something Michael was accused of.””
Reaper’s face darkened.
“What accusation?””
My mother looked at him.
“The attack on Victor Kane’s warehouse.””
Several bikers reacted.
I looked around.
Nobody looked surprised.
Everyone knew this story except me.
“What happened?””
Reaper answered quietly.
“Twenty years ago, Kane’s warehouse burned down.””
I waited.
“Evidence disappeared.””
“What kind of evidence?””
“Evidence against Kane.””
I frowned.
“So my dad helped stop him?””
“Yes.””
“Then why would Daniel take the blame?””
Reaper looked at me.
“Because Kane wanted Michael.””
My stomach tightened.
“And Daniel gave himself up?””
My mother nodded.
“He knew if Kane caught Michael, Michael wouldn’t survive.””
The pieces started connecting.
My father.
The flash drive.
The secrets.
The missing years.
But one thing didn’t make sense.
“Where is Daniel now?””
My mother looked away.
“I don’t know.””
That answer again.
I hated it.
“How do you not know?””
“Because after Michael disappeared, Daniel disappeared too.””
Reaper looked at the letter.
“Did Michael know where he went?””
My mother nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because he didn’t trust anyone.””
The words hit hard.
Even Reaper looked affected.
My mother continued.
“Michael believed there was someone watching the Dust Reapers.””
Marcus crossed his arms.
“And Daniel was protecting Caleb from them?””
“Yes.””
“From who?””
My mother looked at the broken window.
Then at the flash drive.
Then at me.
“From Victor Kane.””
Nobody moved.
A sudden sound came from outside.
Engines.
Multiple engines.
Everyone turned.
The bikers reacted instantly.
Reaper looked toward the door.
“Everyone away from the windows.””
The command was immediate.
I felt my heart race.
Not again.
Not another person coming with answers and leaving with more questions.
The bikers moved into position.
Marcus checked outside.
Then froze.
“What?””
Reaper looked at him.
Marcus turned.
“It’s not Kane.””
“Then who?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
He just stared.
A moment later, the clubhouse door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Maybe around sixty.
Gray hair.
A weathered face.
Not wearing a leather vest.
Not carrying a weapon.
He looked tired.
Like he had spent years running.
The room went completely silent.
Reaper stared.
“No.””
The man looked at him.
“Hello, Reaper.””
Nobody breathed.
I looked at my mother.
Her face had gone pale.
“Daniel.””
The stranger looked at her.
Then at me.
And his eyes filled with emotion.
I had never met him.
But somehow, he looked at me like he had known me forever.
“Caleb.””
Hearing my name from him made my skin crawl.
“How do you know me?””
He looked down.
“Because I’ve been watching over you since the day you were born.””
The room exploded.
“What?””
“You were protecting him?””
“You knew where he was?””
The man raised his hands.
“Not like that.””
Reaper stepped forward.
“You have a lot to explain.””
Daniel nodded.
“I know.””
His eyes returned to me.
“Your father wanted me to find you when the time was right.””
I tightened my grip on the letter.
“And now?””
Daniel looked at the flash drive.
“The time is wrong.””
Nobody understood.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel’s expression became serious.
“It means Victor Kane knows you exist.””
The room went silent.
“He’s always known.””
My blood went cold.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
My mother whispered:
“How?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Because someone told him.””
Everyone looked around.
Again.
The same fear.
The same question.
Who?
Daniel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“My father gave me this,” I said.
Daniel looked at the letter in my hand.
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Michael gave me this.””
He handed it to Reaper.
“It was supposed to be opened only if Caleb found the flash drive.””
Reaper stared.
“Why?””
“Because Michael knew the second file would lead here.””
Daniel looked at me.
“And he knew if you ever found the truth…”
He paused.
“…you would need to know who the real enemy was.””
Reaper opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
His face changed immediately.
I moved closer.
“What is it?””
Reaper didn’t answer.
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
Then stepped back.
Because the photograph showed my father.
Daniel.
Reaper.
And one more person.
A person standing beside them.
A person I recognized.
Not from memory.
From today.
From the clubhouse.
My heart stopped.
Because the fourth person in the photograph was wearing a Dust Reapers vest.
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And beneath the picture, my father had written one sentence:
*The traitor has been beside us all along.*
