Chapter 10 - The Second Key
The realization struck Jax like a hammer blow to the chest. Elena hadn't just sent Toby to find his father for protection; she had split the truth between them. One key to locate the vault, and one key to open it. She knew Reyes would tear the world apart to find either of them, but together, they were the only ones who could dismantle him.
"You're wasting your time, Reyes," Jax said, his voice flat and steady. "The box is empty. Elena burned the papers before she died."
Reyes chuckled, taking a slow step down the wooden aisle, the floorboards groaning under his weight. "Elena was many things, Jax, but she was never stupid. She wouldn't burn her only leverage. And she wouldn't send that brat across three states without the key to her insurance policy."
He gestured with two fingers. One of the gunmen stepped forward, leveling a 12-gauge shotgun at Jax’s heart.
"Call the boy out, Jax. Make it easy. I take the lockbox, I take the kid back to the compound, and you get to die quick in the same place we built our names."
"He's six years old, Reyes," Jax growled, his hand tightening around the grip of his hidden pistol. "He's your nephew."
"He's a loose end," Reyes snapped, his smile vanishing, replaced by a venomous sneer. "Just like his mother. Now bring him out, or I have these boys turn this church into a slaughterhouse."
From behind the pulpit, a small, quiet voice broke the silence.
"I have it."
Toby stepped out from behind the crumbling timber. His oversized jacket hung loose around his shoulders, his face pale, but his jaw was set with an impossible, frightening resolve. In his right hand, resting on his small palm, was a silver crucifix pendant hanging from a broken leather cord.
Jax’s breath hitched. That wasn't just a cross. The base of the crucifix was squared and notched—the second key.
"Toby, get back!" Jax shouted.
Reyes’s eyes lit up with ravenous greed. "Good boy," he murmured, taking a stride forward, reaching out a gloved hand. "Bring it here, Toby. Come to Uncle Reyes."
Toby didn't look at Reyes. He looked straight at Jax, his hazel eyes locking onto his father's.
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"Mom said you would know what to do," Toby whispered.
With a sudden, violent jerk of his arm, Toby didn't run toward Reyes. He hurled the silver cross straight down into the black abyss of the open floorboards behind the altar, letting it vanish into the deep foundation rubble beneath the church.
