Page 26 of Thor

"Until we handle this," Duke replied firmly. "We don't leave our people exposed."

"But I'm not—" she began.

"You are," Duke cut her off. "You work for us. You're under Heavy Kings protection now."

I watched Mandy absorb this, saw her fighting an internal battle between her need for independence and her very real fear of what the Serpents might do. Her fingers twisted in her lap, knuckles white with tension.

"We need to discuss practical matters," Duke continued, turning to me. "Communications, security protocols, rotation of guards."

"The cabin has satellite phones," I said. "Cell service is spotty, but that's an advantage – harder to track. I've got cameras on all approaches, motion sensors in the woods."

"I'll set up a rotating schedule," Tyson offered. "Two men at all times, positioned at the access points." He glanced at me. "Unless you think that's overkill?"

I shook my head. "Not with Venom involved."

"What about her car?" Duke asked.

"At The Pines. We were followed from there—black sedan, American-made, couldn't get plates. Lost them on the way here."

Duke's expression darkened. "I'll send Crusher with a crew to retrieve the car, sweep it for trackers before bringing it to the compound."

"And her apartment?" Tyson asked.

"Needs to be searched thoroughly," Duke decided. "If they planted cameras or bugs, we need to know."

Throughout this exchange, I watched Mandy growing increasingly pale, the freckles across her nose standing out against her skin. Her hair fell in disarray around her face, a sharp contrast to her usual meticulous appearance. The professional mask she wore was cracking under the strain, revealing glimpses of raw fear beneath.

"We should move quickly," I said, feeling a surge of protectiveness at her obvious distress. "Before dark."

Duke nodded. "Take the back roads. I'll have supplies sent out tomorrow – food, additional security equipment." He turned to Mandy. "Is there anything specific you need from your apartment?"

She blinked, looking momentarily overwhelmed by the question. "I . . . my medication. Bathroom cabinet. And there's a box in my closet . . ." She trailed off, cheeks flushing slightly. "Personal items."

I caught the hesitation, filed it away for later consideration.

"Make a list," Duke suggested, sliding a notepad toward her. "We'll have someone retrieve everything."

Mandy took the pen with trembling fingers, beginning to write in neat, precise handwriting that remained legible despite her obvious anxiety. As she wrote, Duke motioned for me to follow him to the corner of the office.

"This is escalation," he said quietly, his back to Mandy. "Venom's making a move."

"I know," I replied, keeping my voice low. "Question is why now? What's changed?"

Duke's eyes flickered briefly to Mandy before returning to me. "Maybe he's noticed your interest in our accountant."

Heat flared in my chest – anger mixed with something defensive. "That's not—"

"Save it," Duke cut me off. "I've known you too long, brother. Just be careful. Don't let this become personal in a way that clouds your judgment."

"It became personal the moment they targeted her," I growled.

Duke sighed. "That's exactly what I'm talking about." He clasped my shoulder. "Protect her, but remember the bigger picture. We can't afford a full-scale war with the Serpents right now."

I nodded reluctantly, knowing he was right. The club had other vulnerabilities, other operations that needed protection. My focus needed to be on Mandy's safety, not revenge. Not yet, anyway.

Duke stepped out to make arrangements, taking Tyson with him and leaving me alone with Mandy. She finished her list and set the pen down carefully, staring at her hands. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken fears.

I crossed the room and crouched beside her chair, bringing myself to her eye level. Up close, I could see the faint constellation of freckles across her cheekbones, the tiny flecks of gold in her green eyes.

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