Chapter 8: The People Who Came Looking
The clubhouse lights flickered as the motorcycles outside went silent.
That silence was worse than the engines.
Because everyone knew what it meant.
They weren’t visitors.
Visitors knocked.
These people waited.
I moved toward the window.
The parking lot outside was filled with black vehicles.
Not motorcycles.
Cars.
Four of them.
A group of men stood near the entrance.
Watching.
Waiting.
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“Turn off the lights.””
I pulled away.
“No.””
“Bear.””
“No more hiding.””
My voice echoed through the room.
“For twelve years, everyone decided what I could know.””
I looked at the door.
“That ends tonight.””
Amara stood behind me.
I could feel her shaking.
I turned around.
“Are you scared?””
She nodded.
“But my mom said you would come.””
That sentence gave me more strength than I expected.
I walked to the door.
Marcus stepped in front of me.
“Don’t.””
I stared at him.
“Move.””
“Bear.””
“Move.””
For a moment, we just looked at each other.
Two brothers.
Two people who had shared everything.
Except the truth.
Finally, Marcus stepped aside.
I opened the door.
A man stood outside.
Older.
Gray hair.
Calm eyes.
He looked at my vest first.
Then my face.
“Benjamin.””
I froze.
Nobody called me that.
Not anymore.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled slightly.
“My name is Richard Vale.””
The name meant nothing.
But the reaction behind me did.
Marcus went pale.
“You.””
Richard looked past me.
“Where is the girl?””
I stepped forward.
“She has a name.””
His eyes moved to mine.
“Amara.””
The way he said it bothered me.
Not like he knew her.
Like he owned information about her.
“You’re not taking her.””
Richard sighed.
“This isn’t personal.””
I laughed.
“Everyone says that right before making something personal.””
He looked at the vest.
“You really don’t remember.””
Again.
Those words.
I was tired of hearing them.
“What am I supposed to remember?””
Richard studied me.
“The night you almost destroyed everything.””
My jaw tightened.
“I’m listening.””
Marcus stepped outside.
“Richard, leave.””
Richard looked at him.
“You failed.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
Marcus’s face changed.
“What?””
“You were supposed to keep him away.””
I looked at Marcus.
My stomach dropped.
“Keep me away from what?””
Richard smiled.
“The truth.””
Before I could respond, Amara suddenly stepped outside.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
I immediately moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.””
Richard looked at her.
And something changed in his expression.
For the first time, he looked human.
Sad.
“Your mother was right.””
Amara stared.
“About what?””
Richard lowered his voice.
“She always protected you.””
I felt anger rise.
“You knew her.””
Richard looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
He didn’t answer.
“Where is she?””
His eyes moved toward the road.
Then back to me.
“She’s closer than you think.””
My heart jumped.
“Take me to her.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because she doesn’t want you to find her.””
The words hit like a punch.
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“You need to understand something. She didn’t leave because she stopped loving you.””
“Then why?””
“Because the moment you remembered everything, they would come for you.””
I stepped closer.
“Who are they?””
Richard looked at Marcus.
Then at me.
“The people who know what you found.””
Again.
The secret.
The thing everyone protected except me.
“What did I find?””
Richard hesitated.
Then said:
“You found proof that one of the most powerful men in this city built his entire empire on something illegal.””
Nobody spoke.
My mind raced.
“What does that have to do with Amara?””
Richard looked at the little girl.
“Because her mother was the only person who could expose him.””
“And I helped her?””
“Yes.””
“Then why forget?””
Richard’s expression changed.
“Because you were captured.””
I froze.
“Captured?””
“Yes.””
The world shifted.
“You weren’t injured in an accident.””
My breathing slowed.
“You were drugged.””
My hands curled into fists.
“By who?””
Richard looked directly at me.
Then whispered:
“By someone you trusted.””
Everyone looked at Marcus.
Marcus closed his eyes.
And that was enough.
I felt something break inside me.
“Marcus.””
He didn’t answer.
“Tell me he’s lying.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I can’t.””
The pain of those words was worse than any betrayal.
Then a sound came from behind us.
A phone ringing.
Not mine.
Not Marcus’s.
Amara’s.
Everyone froze.
The little girl slowly reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small old phone.
A phone that should not have existed.
She looked at the screen.
May you like
Then whispered:
“It’s my mom.””
