Chapter 8: The Secret Beneath The Leather
The first thing I noticed was that Daniel wasn’t afraid.
That bothered me.
A man surrounded by angry bikers should have been nervous.
Should have been looking for an escape.
But Daniel stood there like he had planned every second.
Like he had been waiting twelve years for this exact moment.
I hated that.
Because it meant he was ready.
And I wasn’t.
“Everyone stay back,” I said.
My riders looked at me.
Marcus shook his head.
“Bear, you don’t have to do this alone.””
I looked at him.
“I know.””
Then I looked at Daniel.
“But I need answers.””
Daniel smiled.
“Still the leader.””
“Still the liar?””
The smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw something behind his eyes.
Anger.
Good.
I wanted him angry.
I wanted him to stop pretending.
“Tell them,” I said.
Daniel glanced at the others.
“Tell them what?””
“The truth.””
He looked amused.
“You really think Caroline gave you the truth?””
I didn’t respond.
Daniel stepped closer.
“She never told you why she had to disappear.””
“Then tell me.””
He looked at the van.
“Because she found the ledger.””
The word meant nothing.
Until I saw Caroline’s reaction.
Her hand froze.
I noticed.
“What ledger?””
Daniel looked back at me.
“The one that proves everything.””
“Everything about what?””
He didn’t answer.
Caroline did.
“Daniel.””
Her voice was different.
Afraid.
“Stop.””
Daniel smiled.
“Still protecting him.””
I turned toward the van.
“What is he talking about?””
Caroline stayed quiet.
I walked closer.
“Caroline.””
The door opened a little.
“I found evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“Of what Daniel was doing.””
Daniel laughed.
“You see? She says it like she’s innocent.””
I turned.
“You used the club.””
His eyes narrowed.
“I built the club.””
That sentence changed the mood.
Marcus stepped forward.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.””
The others stared.
Daniel continued.
“You all think Bear built this.””
He pointed at me.
“He gave you a family.””
A pause.
“But I gave you power.””
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone remembered.
The early days.
The struggles.
The fights.
The moments where Daniel seemed like the strongest person in the room.
He wasn’t lying about everything.
That was what made him dangerous.
He mixed truth with poison.
I looked at him.
“And what did that power cost?””
Daniel shrugged.
“Everything costs something.””
I felt my hands tighten.
“You don’t get to decide what people pay.””
He smiled.
“You always were different from me.””
“Thank God.””
A few riders exchanged looks.
Daniel looked toward Eli.
“Interesting.””
My body immediately moved.
I stepped between them.
“Don’t look at him.””
Daniel stopped.
“You don’t even know why you’re protecting him.””
“He’s a child.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice became colder.
“He’s proof.””
Caroline shouted:
“Daniel!””
Everyone turned.
Her fear was real.
Not an act.
Not a lie.
Real.
Daniel smiled.
“There it is.””
He looked at me.
“She finally understands.””
I stared.
“Proof of what?””
Nobody answered.
The wind moved across the parking lot.
Then Eli spoke.
“My dad?””
Everyone looked at him.
The boy’s voice shook.
“Is this about my dad?””
Caroline went still.
My heart dropped.
She had never told him.
Daniel looked almost satisfied.
“Your mother never told you?””
Eli looked at the van.
“Mom?””
Caroline whispered:
“Eli…”
The boy took a step back.
“No.””
Pain crossed his face.
“Who is my dad?””
I looked at Caroline.
I wanted to protect him.
But I also needed the truth.
She slowly stepped out of the van.
For the first time in twelve years, I saw her face.
Older.
Tired.
But still Caroline.
The woman I thought I lost.
She looked at Eli.
Then at me.
“I wanted to tell you both.””
Daniel interrupted.
“But you didn’t.””
Caroline ignored him.
Her eyes stayed on me.
“Bear…”
My heart broke at the sound of my name.
“Eli’s father…”
She stopped.
A vehicle door slammed nearby.
Everyone turned.
One of the strangers from the SUV stepped forward.
“Daniel.””
His voice was sharp.
“You’re wasting time.””
Daniel looked annoyed.
The man continued.
“We need the boy.””
My blood went cold.
I stepped in front of Eli.
“No.””
The man looked at me.
“You don’t understand.””
I stared.
“Then explain.””
He smiled slightly.
“You really want the truth?””
A pause.
“Ask Bear why his old club bracelet is around Caroline’s wrist.””
I looked down.
The bracelet.
The one she wore twelve years ago.
The one she never removed.
The stranger continued:
“Because that bracelet was never hers.””
Caroline’s face changed.
Daniel looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“It was yours.””
