Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Gone
Nobody recognized the stranger at first.
Not because he was unfamiliar.
Because nobody expected him to exist.
The man stood in the doorway soaked from the rain, wearing an old leather jacket and a tired expression.
His eyes moved across the room.
Stopped on Bear.
And filled with something impossible.
Regret.
Bear didn’t breathe.
The entire world narrowed.
“Elias.””
The name left his mouth like a memory.
Like a prayer.
Like something he had buried years ago.
The man lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.””
Nobody moved.
Darius looked between them.
“Bear…”
Bear didn’t hear him.
His brother was standing ten feet away.
Alive.
Older.
Different.
But alive.
Then Bear walked forward.
Fast.
The emotion on his face changed.
Relief disappeared.
Anger replaced it.
“You let me think you were dead.””
Elias accepted it.
“I know.””
“You disappeared.””
“I know.””
“You watched us search for you.””
“I know.””
Bear grabbed his jacket.
“Then explain.””
Elias looked around the diner.
At the bikers.
At Nia.
At the broken glass.
Then at the vest sitting on the counter.
His face changed.
“You shouldn’t have found that.””
Bear released him.
“Found what?””
Elias looked at Nia.
She looked away.
“You.””
The answer shocked everyone.
Bear frowned.
“What?””
Elias stepped inside and closed the door.
“The moment Marcus realized she was connected to me, he knew you would get involved.””
Nia shook her head.
“I didn’t know who you were.””
Elias nodded.
“I believe you.””
Bear stared.
“Then why did you disappear?””
Elias looked down.
“Because someone in the club wanted me gone.””
Darius stepped forward.
“Who?””
Elias looked at him.
Not with suspicion.
With sadness.
“That’s what I spent years trying to figure out.””
Bear’s expression hardened.
“You said in the video someone betrayed you.””
Elias nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Elias didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at the computer.
“The video wasn’t supposed to play.””
Everyone froze.
Bear turned.
“What?””
Elias walked closer.
“That file was encrypted.””
Darius frowned.
“Then how did it open?””
Elias looked at the screen.
“Because someone wanted you to see it.””
Bear understood.
Marcus.
Elias looked at the memory card.
“He knew you’d find this.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus doesn’t want to destroy you.””
Bear laughed once.
A cold sound.
“Then what does he want?””
Elias looked directly at him.
“He wants you to break the club yourself.””
Silence.
The words landed.
Bear looked around.
At his brothers.
At the people who had stood beside him.
The doubt was already spreading.
Elias saw it.
“That’s exactly what he wants.””
Nia stepped forward.
“What happened that night?””
Elias looked at her.
“You were there.””
She nodded.
“I remember.””
Elias took a deep breath.
“Marcus found out I had proof.””
“Proof of what?”” Bear asked.
Elias looked at the floor.
“Someone inside our club was selling information.””
Darius shook his head.
“No.””
Elias looked at him.
“I wish I was wrong.””
Bear noticed something.
A small movement.
Elias kept looking at Darius.
Not accusing.
But watching.
Bear saw it.
And so did Darius.
“What?””
Nobody answered.
Then the lights suddenly shut off.
The diner went black.
Nia gasped.
Someone moved.
Fast.
A chair slammed.
A glass broke.
Bear grabbed for his flashlight.
“Everybody stay where you are.””
A struggle came from the front.
Then a door opened.
Cold air rushed inside.
When the emergency lights turned on, everyone looked around.
Elias was still there.
Bear was still there.
May you like
But the memory card was gone.
And Darius was missing.
