The six black SUVs stopped so hard that dust swallowed the entire yard.

Their doors flew open at once.

Not farmers.

Not warehouse workers.

Men in expensive boots and tactical vests climbed out carrying rifles.

The man with the wooden club smiled for the first time.

“I told you,” he said. “They won’t let you leave with that book.”

Boone stepped beside my Harley.

“Jax…”

“…this just became a war.”

---

The little girl tugged on my sleeve.

“They’re not my family.”

“They buy children.”

Her tiny voice barely carried over the idling engines.

“They made my mom disappear.”

“They said I’d disappear next.”

Silence settled over our club.

Silas slowly removed his sunglasses.

Dex clenched his fists.

Nobody laughed anymore.

---

One of the armed men walked forward.

Perfect haircut.

Clean shirt.

Expensive watch.

Nothing about him looked like a criminal.

He smiled politely.

“I’m Richard Kane.”

“I represent the people who own that ledger.”

“Return it…”

“…and everyone goes home.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

His smile disappeared.

“You haven’t read enough of it.”

“I’ve read enough.”

---

I opened the first few pages.

Names.

Birth dates.

Small photographs.

Beside every child…

there was another column.

Paid.

Transferred.

Delivered.

Amounts ranged from five thousand dollars…

…to nearly fifty thousand.

Boone looked over my shoulder.

His face turned white.

“These aren’t business records.”

“No.”

“They’re sales.”

---

Behind me, the little girl whispered,

“My name is on the last page.”

My heart stopped.

I flipped to the back.

There she was.

Lily Harper — Pending Transfer.

Delivery scheduled…

for tomorrow morning.

---

Richard saw me reading.

“Close the book.”

“You don’t understand what you’re holding.”

“I understand enough.”

He slowly raised one hand.

Instantly…

every armed man aimed his rifle.

“Last chance.”

“Give me the ledger.”

---

Before anyone could move…

Sirens echoed across the highway.

The armed men smiled.

I almost smiled too…

until the first sheriff’s cruiser rolled into the yard.

Deputy Miller climbed out.

Looked at Richard.

Then looked at me.

He didn’t point his gun at the traffickers.

He pointed it at us.

“The Iron Hounds are under arrest.”

“For kidnapping a minor.”

The little girl began crying.

“They work together…”

“I told you…”

“They always come.”