Page 105 of Thor

"The club's legitimate operations are thriving," Duke began without preamble. "Auto shop revenue is up thirty percent from last quarter. Tattoo parlor's booked solid for the next two months. Even the bar's showing increased profits. And the nightclub, too."

I nodded, unsurprised. "Mandy's financial guidance?"

"Partially. She identified tax advantages we weren't leveraging, streamlined some processes." Duke's expression remained neutral, but I caught the hint of approval in his voice. "But it's more than that. Having solid, above-board business ventures gives us options. Flexibility. Less dependence on the other revenue streams."

I understood what he wasn't saying directly. The more legitimate income the club generated, the less risk they needed to take with arms deals and protection rackets. It was a long-term strategy for sustainability—something Duke had been pushing for years.

"Good to hear," I said, genuinely meaning it. A stable club meant a safer environment for my future wife. For our eventual family, though we hadn't discussed children explicitly yet.

Duke's voice dropped lower, his expression hardening slightly. "We've narrowed down the suspects for the photo leak. Three names, all with connections to both clubs."

My grip tightened on the whiskey glass, knuckles whitening. Despite the months that had passed, the violation still felt raw—strangers viewing intimate moments between Mandy and me, moments that were sacred, private. The thought sent familiar rage coursing through my veins, hot and demanding.

"Who?" The word came out like gravel, my voice roughened by anger.

Duke didn’t utter a word, but instead, passed me a piece of paper with three names on it. When I saw them, my blood ran cold.

“But these—”

“Not a word now. We’ll talk later. There will be an investigation. And justice. But we need to keep this to ourselves.”

I nodded, brain on fire with the implications of the names on the paper.

"Those photos..." I started, struggling to articulate what the violation had cost us. "They exposed the most private part of her. Of us. Made her lose her job, her reputation. Made her run from me."

"I know." Duke's voice softened marginally. "And whoever is responsible will pay. But not tonight." He placed a steadying hand on my shoulder, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Tonight isn't about revenge. It's about Mandy. About her triumph."

I closed my eyes briefly, working to channel the rage into something more controlled. When I opened them again, I sought out Mandy in the crowd. She was smiling, radiant in her success, confidently exchanging business cards with a potential client.

"She's won," Duke continued, following my gaze. "Don't let anyone take this moment from her. Or from you."

The wisdom in his words penetrated the red haze of my anger. Duke was right.

"You've both earned this happiness," Duke added quietly, the words carrying more weight coming from him—a man not given to sentimental pronouncements.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the rage recede to a manageable simmer rather than a boiling point. It wasn't gone—wouldn't be until justice was served—but it was contained. Controlled.

"Yeah," I agreed, draining the last of my whiskey. "We have."

"Besides," he added with the ghost of a smile, "killing a traitor the week before your wedding would really fuck up the seating arrangements."

The unexpected humor broke through my darkness, startling a rough laugh from me. "Mandy would never forgive me."

"Smart man." Duke lifted his whiskey in a silent toast. "You're learning."

A gentle tapping on glass cut through the conversation, drawing everyone's attention to the small podium set up at the front of the room. Mandy stood there, champagne flute in one hand, the other arm extended in a gesture for quiet. This was it—the moment she would publicly declare her new path, embracing what others had tried to use to destroy her.

I straightened instinctively, my body responding to her presence like a compass finding north.

"Good evening, everyone," Mandy began, her voice clear and steady. "Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate the launch of Wright Financial Solutions."

I watched her scan the crowd, professional and poised, her eyes briefly meeting mine before continuing their circuit.

"Many of you know parts of my story," she continued. "Three months ago, my professional life imploded rather spectacularly." A ripple of uncomfortable laughter moved through the crowd. She smiled, acknowledging the awkwardness but refusing to hide from it. "Private photos were leaked. My previous employer terminated me. My professional reputation was in tatters."

My hands clenched at my sides, the familiar anger flickering to life at the memory. But Mandy wasn't dwelling in that pain. Her voice remained strong, her posture confident.

"Conventional wisdom said I should leave town. Start over somewhere new. Hide who I really am." She shook her head, copper strands catching the light. "But I'm done hiding."

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