"You're right."
Then he turned away.
"But we're going to do something."
"What?"
"Something he won't expect."
The bikers began investigating.
Not attacking.
Investigating.
They learned that Troy's father, Richard Dawson, owned several construction companies.
They learned he had connections with city officials.
They learned that employees had been pressured to falsify safety reports.
And they discovered something much worse.
Three years earlier, a worker had died at one of Richard's construction sites.
The official report said it was an accident.
But the original inspection documents told a different story.
The site had serious safety violations.
Someone had altered the paperwork.
And the inspector who originally objected had disappeared from public work shortly afterward.
Joseph stared at the documents.
"Who signed this?"
"Richard Dawson."
Joseph looked at Caleb.
"This is bigger than Troy."
Caleb swallowed.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing illegal."
Caleb smiled.
"Good."
Joseph pointed at the documents.
"We're giving all of this to investigators."
Meanwhile, Troy became desperate.
His father told him to stop.
But Troy didn't listen.
He wanted revenge.
He wanted Caleb afraid.
He wanted everyone to believe that the skinny teenager who had challenged him in the diner had finally been broken.
So Troy followed Caleb one night.
Caleb left the garage at 10:30.
He walked toward the bus stop.
A car pulled up beside him.
Troy jumped out.
Caleb immediately backed away.
"Stay away from me."
Troy grabbed his jacket.
"You think your bikers can protect you forever?"
Caleb struggled.
"Let go."
Troy shoved him against a wall.
"You embarrassed me."
Caleb looked at him.
"You did that yourself."
Troy punched him.
Caleb fell.
Troy kicked him.
Again.
And again.
Caleb covered his head.
Then he heard engines.
Lots of engines.
Troy stopped.
A motorcycle rolled into the street.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds, headlights surrounded them.
Troy looked around.
Dozens of bikers.
Joseph stepped off his motorcycle.
He didn't run.
He didn't shout.
He simply walked toward Troy.
Troy backed away.
Joseph stopped several feet from him.
"You have two choices."
Troy swallowed.
"What?"
"You walk away."
Joseph paused.