Chapter 8 - THE LETTER'S DIRECTIVE
Mason lifted the unfolded sheet of paper in his right hand, reading the final lines of Sarah’s desperate letter out loud, his voice carrying clearly to every corner of the bakery.
"‘If you are reading this, Mason, Daniel found out I tracked you down,’" Mason read, his dark eyes burning into Daniel's trembling frame. "‘He locked me in the basement vault at his rural property on Old Mill Road. He's coming for Emma next. He wants the club's old land deeds I hid away. Save our daughter, Mason. Please. I love you.’"
Daniel’s chest heaved with shallow, rapid gasps. His secret was completely out in the open, spoken aloud in front of six armed, dangerous men who lived by a code of absolute vengeance and brotherhood.
"She's lying!" Daniel yelled, his hand tightening around the grip of his holstered sidearm. "She's insane! I took care of that girl for seven years while you were playing outlaw!"
"You didn't take care of her," Mason barked, his voice booming through the shop like a thunderclap that shattered a glass display case on the counter. "You held my family hostage in the dark for seven years! You used your badge to hide your crimes!"
Mason took one massive, heavy step forward. His bare, tattooed feet gripped the floor as his broad shoulders locked into place. The sheer physical menace radiating from him forced Daniel to take two fast steps back until his shoulder hit the bakery doorframe.
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"Where is she, Daniel?" Mason demanded, his voice dropping into a lethal, quiet whisper. "Give me the exact key to that basement vault right now, or you won't walk out of this town on your own two feet."
Daniel’s eyes darted frantically toward his brothers surrounding him. He saw six pairs of cold, unblinking eyes staring back at him with absolute, unyielding intent. He knew that if he pulled his service weapon, he wouldn't live long enough to clear the leather holster.
