Page 50 of Thor

I grunted, aiming for nonchalance and missing by a mile. "Just making sure everything's in order."

Duke wasn't fooled. He could read me too damn well after all our years together. "Relax. This should be the easy part—it's living up to it afterwards that takes work."

The advice carried the weight of experience. Duke and Mia had been together for over a year, their relationship strengthening the club in ways none of us had anticipated. Where Duke had once been all business and cold calculation, Mia had brought out something warmer, more human. The loyalty he inspired had transformed from fear to genuine respect.

I wanted that. Not just the submission Mandy offered, but the partnership that came with truly knowing someone.

"He's right," Mia said, her voice gentle as she settled into one of the leather chairs. Diesel immediately sprawled at her feet with a contented sigh. "The contract is just a beginning. It gives you both structure, but it's how you honor it that matters."

Her hand found Duke's automatically, their fingers intertwining in a gesture so natural it seemed like they'd been doing it forever rather than months. Something in my chest tightened at the sight—a longing I hadn't let myself feel until Mandy crashed into my life.

"You've set everything up perfectly," Duke said, gesturing to the papers. "Good call using the conference room instead of my office."

I nodded. Duke's office, with its wall of security monitors and locked weapons cabinet, wouldn't have set the right tone. This space, with its polished wood and comfortable chairs, struck the balance between serious and welcoming.

"I put together the tea service Mandy likes," Mia said, drawing my attention. "And some of those little sandwich things without crusts. Fancy. For after."

This was club family at its best—supporting each other beyond business, beyond the road. My throat tightened unexpectedly.

"She likes the cucumber ones," I said gruffly. "And anything with cream cheese."

Mia smiled. "I remembered from what you said. There's a plate of just those."

Duke squeezed her hand, pride evident in his expression. Then his focus returned to me, his gaze sharpening. "You sure about this, Thor? Once you start down this road—"

"I'm sure," I cut him off, knowing where the question led. "More sure than I've been about anything."

Duke nodded, satisfied. "Good. Because she deserves your absolute commitment. This isn't casual—not with what she's trusting you with."

"I know that," I said, bristling slightly at the implication.

The tension eased as quickly as it had risen. Duke and I had butted heads enough over the years to know when to back down.

"She'll be here soon," Mia continued, changing the subject smoothly. "I've set up tea and snacks in the lounge for us girls to chat first. Give her a chance to ask questions without you two intimidating bears hovering."

I frowned. "I don't hover."

Duke's laugh was short and genuine. "Like hell you don't. You've been circling that girl like a hawk since day one."

He wasn't wrong, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of admitting it. Instead, I moved back to the window, scanning the parking lot for Mandy's car. Not there yet.

My phone buzzed with a text message. Mandy, letting me know she was five minutes out. My heart rate kicked up another notch.

"She's almost here," I said, pocketing the phone and doing one final check of the documents.

Duke moved to the bar in the corner, pouring three fingers of whiskey into a glass and bringing it to me. "Liquid courage. Just one."

I accepted the glass, our fingers briefly connecting in the brotherhood grip that said more than words. I tossed back the whiskey, welcoming the burn down my throat.

"Remember," Mia said as she stood, smoothing down her dress, "this is supposed to be a good experience for both of you. Not an interrogation or a test."

I nodded, setting down the empty glass. "Thanks. For all of this."

"That's what family does," Duke said simply, and in those four words was everything the Heavy Kings meant at their core.

A few minutes later, I watched Mandy's borrowed Dodge Challenger pull into the reserved parking space behind Crowns. She cut the engine but didn't get out right away. Even from three stories up, I could see the rise and fall of her chest as she took several deep breaths. Something fierce and protective coiled inside me—not the familiar rage that served me in fights, but something warmer and equally powerful.

"Is that her?" Duke asked, appearing at my shoulder.

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