When the email fell in his inbox and rattled his phone, he’d felt his stomach flip. Years spent as a marine had calmed his nerves to almost paralysis, but seeing the confirmation come through on his suspicions sent a bolt of excitement through his body like an electric shock.

After sending out the image of Jonathan Cooper’s passport to a number of contacts, he’d seen it as a hail Mary. The nagging suspicion of the man’s reasoning for being in Dillon, along with how handily he dismantled the Riders in New York had stoked a suspicion within him that he wasn’t ‘just an old friend.’ Although there were guidelines and numerous hoops to dive through, Alan’s standing within numerous agencies was high. As a highly decorated marine, he’d earnt a respect beyond his six years as an agent and the responses were almost instant. While nearly all of his contacts reiterated Cooper’s backstory, it was a CIA contact, Jack Baker, who came through. After cross referencing the ID Alan had sent through, Baker was able to match it to an old, defunct file for Blackridge.

Cooper wasn’t who he said he was.

He was far worse.

As soon as the files landed in his inbox, Alan was up, his phone drawing him from an anxious slumber, and a few cups of coffee later he was clear who he was dealing with.

A soldier with a terrifyingly efficient penchant for war.

A man who had single-handedly taken down numerous crime syndicates and shady government agencies.

Jonathan Cooper was Sam Pope.

And Sam Pope was a one-man army.

Alan had tried to contact Sinclair, but he couldn’t get through. Although he trusted Sinclair completely, the man’s obsession with bringing down the Riders had become all-encompassing. It even outweighed Alan’s own quest to bring down Sykes for the deaths of his comrades. Although Sinclair had clear contact with someone within the Riders, he kept his cards close to his chest, so much so that Alan hadn’t met them.

He didn’t even know the name.

But they were close. Sinclair had assured him that within the next few days, they would have everything they needed to bring them down, and Alan would be able to look Sykes in the eye and take away his liberty.

Sam Pope arriving was the biggest wrench anyone could throw in their plans, and Alan knew he needed to take action. While Sinclair was meeting with his insider, Alan watched as Sam and Alex Stone went for a walk, keeping his distance as they caught up. Judging by the fresh markings on his face and the cast on his wrist, Sam had been visited by the Riders during the night.

But having read Sam’s file, Alan knew that wouldn’t be a deterrent.

It would be a reason.

A reason to stay and to fight back.