Chapter 12: The Trap at Black Canyon

EMILIA POV

The entire clubhouse was placed on lockdown after the Black Wolves' message.

No one was allowed to leave without Marco's permission.

Armed guards patrolled every entrance.

Ghost stayed beside me almost every second.

He didn't trust anyone anymore.

Neither did I.

The letter my father had left behind echoed constantly in my mind.

"The traitor sits at our table."

Ryan hadn't been the mastermind.

Someone else was still feeding information to our enemies.

That meant every plan we made could already be compromised.

Late that afternoon, Marco gathered the officers inside the chapel room.

A large map of Black Canyon Mine covered the table.

"They're expecting Emilia to arrive alone," Marco said.

"She won't."

"We'll surround the canyon from three directions."

"Snipers here..."

"Backup vehicles here..."

"Ghost goes with Emilia."

"Negative," Ghost interrupted.

"If they see me, they'll kill Mama C immediately."

"Then what's your plan?"

"I'll follow from underground."

"The mine has old maintenance tunnels."

"I used them years ago during a gun run."

Marco looked surprised.

"You remember the layout?"

"Every inch."

"Good."

"Then that's what we'll do."

Everyone agreed.

Everyone except me.

Hours later, I quietly packed a small backpack.

A flashlight.

My father's pocketknife.

The silver ring Ghost had shown me.

I wasn't planning to leave it behind.

A soft knock came at my bedroom door.

"Come in."

Ghost entered carrying two mugs of coffee.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"Not even close."

He handed me one mug before sitting beside me.

"Tomorrow changes everything."

"I know."

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"If things go wrong..."

"You'll run."

"No."

"Emilia..."

"No."

"I'm done running."

"I'm done losing people."

"If we're getting out of this..."

"We're getting out together."

Ghost smiled sadly.

"You're impossible."

"You love that about me."

"More than I should."

He reached into his jacket and handed me a small pistol.

"Can you still shoot?"

"Dad taught me."

"Show me."

We walked to the empty firing range behind the clubhouse.

Ghost placed three empty bottles on a fence.

"Take your time."

I raised the pistol.

Breathed slowly.

Three shots echoed across the desert.

All three bottles shattered.

Ghost raised an eyebrow.

"Not bad."

"I had a good teacher."

"Actually..."

"Your father always said you were better than me."

"He only said that because you kept showing off."

"Fair point."

For a brief moment, everything felt normal again.

Then Marco's radio crackled.

"Movement near the eastern ridge."

"Unknown vehicles."

"Everyone to positions."

Ghost instantly became serious.

"Inside."

"Now."

Within minutes, scouts returned.

"False alarm," one of them reported.

"Just hunters."

Still, Ghost remained uneasy.

"Something feels wrong," he admitted.

"They're too quiet."

"Maybe they're waiting."

"Exactly."

The next evening arrived faster than I wanted.

Black Canyon Mine looked even more terrifying than I remembered.

Rusted machinery stood like skeletons beneath the moonlight.

The abandoned mine entrance disappeared into darkness.

Marco parked half a mile away.

"Everyone knows their positions," he whispered.

"Radio silence unless absolutely necessary."

"Ghost?"

"Already moving."

Ghost squeezed my hand one final time.

"Remember..."

"No matter what happens..."

"I will find you."

"I know."

He disappeared into the underground tunnel.

I walked alone toward the mine entrance.

Each step echoed across the empty canyon.

"I'm here!" I called.

"You wanted me."

"Show yourselves."

Floodlights suddenly switched on.

The darkness vanished instantly.

More than thirty armed men surrounded the mine.

Mama C sat tied to a wooden chair.

Alive.

Bruised.

But smiling.

"Don't you dare trade yourself for me!" she shouted.

A tall man stepped forward.

Unlike everyone else, he wasn't wearing a mask.

His silver hair contrasted sharply against his black suit.

"Miss Romano," he said politely.

"Thank you for coming."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Victor Kane."

"Leader of the Black Wolves."

"Where's Mama C?"

"Right there."

"Release her."

"Not yet."

"First..."

"I'd like to tell you who you really are."

Confusion spread through me.

"What are you talking about?"

Victor smiled calmly.

"Vincent Romano wasn't your biological father."

My entire world stopped.

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

He tossed a folder onto the ground.

"Everything you need to know is inside."

"Your real father built the Black Wolves."

"And when he died..."

"His bloodline became the rightful heir."

"Which means..."

"You."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"No..."

"That's impossible."

"Read the file."

"Then decide whether you still belong with the Iron Serpents..."

"Or with your true family."

Before I could answer, a single gunshot echoed through the canyon.

Victor smiled.

"Looks like your biker boyfriend couldn't stay hidden after all."

The trap had finally been sprung.