Page 24 of Thor

"This came with them," Mandy said, reaching into the envelope again. She withdrew a small object wrapped in tissue paper.

I unwrapped it carefully, jaw clenching when the item was revealed. A black wooden snake, carved with meticulous detail, coiled as if ready to strike. Six inches long, polished to a dull sheen. I knew this work. Had seen these carvings before.

"There was a note too," Mandy whispered.

She handed me a small card, expensive stock with a black border. The message, written in elegant script: "The Heavy Kings' new pet accountant should be careful where she sleeps."

"Iron Serpents," I confirmed, the familiar cold rage building in my chest. The snake was Venom's calling card—he had them custom made, left them as warnings before strikes. "They're watching you."

Mandy's face paled further, freckles standing out against her skin. "Why would they care about me? I just do your books. The legal ones."

I tucked the photos and snake back into the envelope, mind racing through implications. "You make us stronger. Legitimate. That threatens them." I didn't add what I was thinking—that they might also be targeting her because they'd noticed my interest. Venom had a nose for weaknesses, and I'd been careless, picking her up at hospitals, driving her to meetings.

"What do I do?" she asked, voice small but determination flashing in her eyes. Not hysterical, not falling apart. Scared but fighting it. My respect for her ticked up another notch.

"You stay with us until we handle this." I touched her elbow, guiding her toward my bike. "First stop is Duke. He needs to see this."

Her steps faltered. "I can't just—my job, my apartment—"

"Your life's more important," I cut in. "The Serpents don't make empty threats." I gestured toward the photos. "They've been watching you for a while. Planning. The fact they sent a warning means they want you scared, but it also means we have time to respond before they move."

We reached my Harley, and I handed her my helmet. She took it automatically.

I secured her duffel and laptop to the back of the bike, then held out my hand. After a moment's hesitation, she put on the helmet and took my offered hand. Our fingers brushed, and I felt a jolt – not from static, but from the trust she was placing in me. With careful movements, she climbed onto the back of the bike, her thighs pressing against mine, hands hovering uncertainly at my sides.

"You need to hold tighter than that," I said, voice gruff. "Unless you want to fall off the first time I accelerate."

She hesitantly wrapped her arms around my waist. I could feel her trembling, whether from fear of the bike or fear of the Serpents, I wasn't sure.

"Tighter," I ordered.

Her arms locked around me, her chest pressing against my back. Despite the circumstances, I felt a wave of heat that had nothing to do with protection or club business. I pushed it aside. Now wasn't the time.

"Hold tight," I instructed. "We're going to see Duke."

I kick-started the Harley, feeling Mandy jolt behind me at the roar of the engine. She pressed closer, face buried between my shoulder blades. The helmet bumped against the back of my head, her body tense against mine. I patted her hands where they locked around my waist, a silent reassurance.

Crusher pulled up alongside us, eyebrow raised in question.

"King's Tavern," I told him. "You ride ahead, clear a path if needed."

He nodded, revving his engine before pulling away. I followed more sedately, mindful of my passenger's inexperience. As we turned onto the main road, movement caught my eye—a black sedan with tinted windows pulled out of a space near The Pines' exit. Nondescript, American-made, the kind of vehicle that blended in anywhere. Perfect for surveillance.

The car turned in the same direction we were heading. Could be coincidence. I didn't believe in coincidences.

I took the first right instead of continuing straight toward the tavern, testing. The sedan followed, maintaining a careful distance. My jaw tightened.

"Change of plans," I called over my shoulder, feeling Mandy's questioning squeeze. "We've got a tail."

I gunned the engine, weaving through traffic with smooth precision, keeping my movements predictable enough not to frighten Mandy but unpredictable enough to lose our shadow. Her arms tightened around me, her body molding more completely to my back as we leaned into a turn.

Ahead, Crusher noticed our deviation from the route and circled back, falling in behind us. I caught his eye in my side mirror and jerked my head toward the sedan. He understood immediately, dropping back to place himself between us and our tail.

Three quick turns, a straightaway where I pushed the Harley to its limits, then a sharp right into an alley I knew connected to the back entrance of a shopping center. By the time we emerged on the other side, the sedan was gone from my mirrors. Crusher pulled up beside us at the next light, giving the all-clear sign.

I circled back toward King's Tavern by a roundabout route, taking no chances. Mandy remained silent behind me, her grip never loosening, her face pressed against my cut. I could feel her heart hammering against my back, her breath coming in quick bursts against my neck.

"Almost there," I told her as the familiar outline of the tavern appeared ahead. "Duke will know what to do."

---