"He said... she should stop digging if she wanted me to stay safe."

The room became silent.

Cole cursed under his breath.

Jax looked at the shipping document.

Sarah hadn't simply witnessed something.

She had discovered something dangerous enough that Kane was willing to threaten her child.

Jax's phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

"Jax Carter."

A calm voice replied.

"Mr. Carter. You have involved yourself in a private matter."

Victor Kane.

Jax's face hardened.

"Where's Sarah?"

A brief silence.

"Return what belongs to me."

"Your men came for a nine-year-old girl."

"You don't understand the consequences."

Jax glanced toward Emily.

"No. I understand them perfectly."

Kane's voice became colder.

"Leave the girl at the old Riverside motel at midnight. Bring the document. Walk away, and perhaps her mother can still be found."

The call ended.

Cole looked at Jax.

"It's a trap."

"Obviously."

Emily stood up.

"You know where Mom is?"

Jax looked at her.

He could lie.

Tell her they would handle everything.

But she had already spent eleven days being treated like a child who didn't deserve the truth.

"I think Kane wants us to believe he has her."

Emily's eyes filled with tears again.

"Then we have to go."

Jax shook his head.

"No."

"But you promised!"

"I promised I'd find her. I didn't promise to walk you into a trap."

Emily looked furious.

"You don't get it!"

Jax stopped.

The girl grabbed her ninety-three dollars.

"Everyone keeps saying they'll help! Then they leave!"

Her voice cracked.

"You're going to leave too."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Jax slowly knelt beside her.

"I had a little sister."

Emily looked at him.

"She was scared once too. And I wasn't there when she needed me."

His voice became rough.

"I don't get a second chance with her."

Jax took the crumpled money and gently placed it back in Emily's hands.

"But I'm here now."

He stood.

"Nobody leaves."

Cole smiled slightly.

"What's the plan?"

Jax looked toward the dark windows.

"First, we find out where Kane is hiding Sarah."

"And then?"

Jax's eyes turned cold.

"Then we bring her daughter home."

Chapter 4

The Riverside motel was exactly what Jax expected.

Half the rooms were empty.

The sign outside flickered.

Rain began falling just before midnight.

Jax didn't bring Emily.

He brought six bikers.

The others stayed at the clubhouse to protect her.

Jax walked into Room 17 carrying a leather folder containing copies of Sarah's documents.

Victor Kane was waiting.

He wore an expensive black coat and looked completely out of place among the peeling wallpaper.

"Where is Sarah?" Jax asked.

Kane smiled.