Chapter 18
1442 Words
Chapter 18
The Grave That Wasn’t His
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Jax stared at Elizabeth.
“My biological father?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Yes.”
Jax’s face was pale.
“You told me my father was Richard.”
“I know.”
“You told me he was my father.”
“I was wrong.”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“You weren’t wrong. You lied.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Jax laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
He turned away.
“Everyone keeps destroying my life and calling it protection.”
I stepped closer.
“Jax…”
He looked at me.
“I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
I took his hand.
“You’re still you.”
He squeezed my fingers.
“That might be the only thing I’m sure of.”
⸻
The old church sat at the edge of town.
It had been abandoned for years.
Broken stained-glass windows covered the walls.
Weeds grew through cracks in the steps.
Jax stood outside for a moment.
“I remember this place.”
Luke looked at him.
“You were here before the fire.”
“With my mother.”
Jax touched the old wooden door.
“She used to bring me here when things got bad.”
He pushed it open.
The church smelled like dust and rain.
Rows of empty pews stretched toward the altar.
At the very front stood a small wooden cross.
And beneath it—
A grave.
Inside the church.
Jax walked toward it.
The name carved into the stone was almost impossible to read.
He brushed away the dust.
Then froze.
MICHAEL REED
Jax stared at the name.
“That’s not my father’s name.”
Elizabeth nodded.
“No.”
“Who was he?”
“Your mother’s first husband.”
Jax looked at her.
“My father.”
“Yes.”
He crouched beside the grave.
“How did he die?”
Elizabeth didn’t answer.
Jax stood.
“How did he die?”
She finally whispered:
“Daniel killed him.”
⸻
Jax stepped away from the grave.
“Why?”
“Because Michael discovered the organization.”
“And my mother?”
“She was going to leave Daniel.”
Jax frowned.
“Daniel wasn’t her husband.”
“No.”
“Then why would he care?”
Elizabeth looked at him.
“Because Daniel wanted control of everything.”
Luke stepped forward.
“Your biological father wasn’t just a member of the organization.”
Jax looked at him.
“He created the original club.”
“What?”
“Before your father’s empire.”
Luke pointed toward the grave.
“Michael built the Iron Vultures as a legitimate motorcycle club.”
Jax stared at the name.
“Then what happened?”
“Daniel took it over.”
“And Richard?”
“Richard helped him.”
Jax’s face hardened.
“So my entire life was built on a lie.”
“Yes.”
⸻
A sound echoed through the church.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped out from the shadows.
Daniel.
Jax immediately moved in front of me.
Daniel smiled.
“You finally found the grave.”
Jax stared at him.
“You killed him.”
Daniel didn’t deny it.
“He was weak.”
“He was my father.”
“He was a fool.”
Jax stepped forward.
“You stole my life.”
Daniel laughed.
“I saved you.”
“You kidnapped me.”
“I raised you.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you from the truth.”
Jax’s voice shook.
“Why?”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“Because your mother was going to destroy everything.”
“She was trying to save me.”
“She was trying to take you away.”
Jax shook his head.
“She was my mother.”
“And I was the man who made sure you survived.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Until she found another reason to risk everything.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Daniel’s eyes settled on me.
“Your mother.”
My heart stopped.
“Sarah?”
Daniel nodded.
“She knew Michael had another child.”
Jax looked at me.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“That’s why Sarah protected her.”
⸻
I stepped forward.
“Michael was my father too?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who was?”
Daniel looked toward the back of the church.
Someone stepped out of the shadows.
My breath caught.
The woman looked older.
Tired.
But I knew those eyes.
I knew that face.
My heart stopped.
“Mom?”
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.
“Bella.”
I couldn’t move.
Jax stared at her.
“Sarah?”
She nodded.
“I’ve been trying to get back to you.”
I ran toward her.
She caught me in her arms.
For the first time in my entire life, I knew what it felt like to hug my mother.
She held me tightly.
“I’m sorry.”
I cried against her shoulder.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“I didn’t.”
She pulled back.
“Daniel took you.”
I looked at Daniel.
He said nothing.
Sarah continued.
“He told me if I tried to find you, he’d kill you.”
Jax stepped closer.
“Then why are you here now?”
Sarah looked at him.
“Because Daniel no longer has the power he once had.”
Daniel laughed.
“You really believe that?”
Sarah looked at him.
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“I know it.”
⸻
Daniel suddenly pulled a gun.
Jax moved instantly.
“DOWN!”
The church erupted into chaos.
Mason tackled Daniel from the side.
The gun flew across the floor.
Luke grabbed it.
Daniel fought back.
Jax pulled me behind a pew.
Sarah stayed beside me.
“Don’t leave me,” I whispered.
“I won’t.”
Daniel broke free.
He ran toward the back door.
Jax chased him.
“Jax!”
He didn’t stop.
I followed.
We burst outside.
Daniel was running toward an old truck.
Jax caught him before he reached it.
They collided.
Daniel swung.
Jax ducked.
Then struck him.
Daniel fell.
Jax stood over him.
“You took twenty years from me.”
Daniel looked up.
“I gave you twenty years.”
“You gave me lies.”
Daniel smiled.
“You still don’t know the truth.”
Jax grabbed his collar.
“Then tell me.”
Daniel’s smile faded.
“Your father wasn’t Michael.”
Jax froze.
Daniel whispered:
“Michael was your mother’s husband.”
“Then who was my father?”
Daniel looked past him.
Toward me.
“He was someone Sarah never told you about.”
Jax’s face changed.
“Who?”
Daniel smiled.
“Ask Sarah.”
⸻
Back inside the church, Sarah was waiting.
Jax walked toward her.
“Who is my father?”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“Then tell me now.”
She looked at me.
Then back at Jax.
“Your father was…”
Her voice broke.
“…Daniel’s younger brother.”
Jax froze.
“What?”
Sarah nodded.
“His name was James.”
Daniel’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Jax turned toward him.
“You killed your own brother?”
Daniel said nothing.
Sarah stepped closer.
“James discovered what Daniel was doing.”
She looked at Jax.
“And when he tried to stop him…”
Her voice cracked.
“Daniel killed him.”
Jax stared at his uncle.
The man who had raised him.
The man who had stolen his childhood.
The man who had murdered his father.
Daniel slowly smiled.
“You finally remember.”
Jax’s expression hardened.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I don’t just remember.”
He stepped toward Daniel.
“I understand.”
Outside, police sirens began approaching.
Daniel looked toward the windows.
“What did you do?”
Mason held up his phone.
“Called the police.”
Daniel’s face twisted with anger.
Jax stood beside me.
For the first time, he wasn’t afraid.
Then Sarah whispered something that made everyone turn.
“There’s still one secret left.”
Jax looked at her.
“What?”
Sarah looked at me.
“Your father didn’t die twenty years ago.”
My heart stopped.
“He’s alive.”
End of Chapter 18
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD