The Snake Bites MC

Chapter Five - Duke

I listened to Snake and Hammer whispering about how they felt around Spirit and I was right there with them. Most of the time, since she left, I'd just felt pissed off at her but seeing her now, all grown up but still vulnerable to predators it brought out every protective instinct in me. The fact that she'd hidden her marriage had been a bit of a shock since we considered her family and I was a little hurt that she didn't seem to trust us with this information. Now however her husband was dead and might have been lying to her about having money stashed away somewhere.

I curled my tall body around her trying to make myself into a safe cocoon.

I looked down at her sleeping face and it was replaced with a memory. The early morning after her 21st birthday romp, with all four of us, I'd watched her sleeping and knew she was the woman for me.

That was until she was not the woman for me because she was being deployed abroad the next day with the fucking army. When she was discharged she lived a few states over and it seemed easier for Doc to visit her and we were never invited.

Doc's intermittent updates helped a little as at least we knew she was ok but sometimes I just wanted to roar into her life and drag her back to ours.

For some it might seem fucked up that the three of us had fallen for the same woman but we were tight and that fact brought us closer rather than pushing us apart. We'd tried to find some relief with the club sluts and even considered dating separately to see if we could find someone to spend our lives with but nothing stuck.

Basically, we were screwed.

A frown creased Spirit's forehead and her breathing began to shorten, her eyes shifting back and forth under her closed lids.

I stroked her hair.

"It's ok baby. It's just a bad dream. You're home with us, safe and sound."

She settled and I sighed. 'Home'? Would she ever consider this her home?

Back then she was full of life but also totally undisciplined, something I'm sure the army fixed and quickly, but nothing had happened in that way until Rev's funeral. I didn't care that I'd lived alongside her, watching her grow up almost like a brother or cousin.

While Doc was her legal guardian after her mother split, we all looked after her. The original members of the MC Doc, Reverend and Wolf founded, the Wolf's Paws took her under their wing.

The night she'd snuck back in was one I remembered for many reasons. Snake, Duke and I had our first ride out but Snake had been hurt and so had his father. The two people besides Hammer that I loved beyond anything and considered my only family.

The guys had manhandled her when Grizzler first found her and I guessed Hammer and I could have intervened but it was more entertaining the way it went down as well as being a reflection of how concerned they were that she'd put herself at risk.

The light was fading outside the windows again when Spirit opened her eyes. She started slightly against me.

"It's just Duke, babe."

She let me help her to sit up.

"For a second there I thought..." she looked down at her hands where she was fiddling with her wedding ring.

I put my hand over hers and she gave me a weak smile.

"Give yourself time, hun. You've a lot of healing to do both inside and out."

I could only guess she was feeling conflicted about being with us and staying loyal to Mac.

"What's the time?"

"Six"

"What? I thought I went to bed at six."

"Yeh, that was six this morning, now it's six in the evening."

"Wow, I've never slept for 12 hours straight before."

"You hungry?"

She nodded.

"But I need to pee, first."

Slowly she got her body moving but by the time she reached the bathroom door she was gripping the frame for support.

"Let me help you," I offered but she waved me off.

"I'll get food and painkillers," I offered as I swung off the bed and she gave me a weak wave.

I grabbed my phone and fired a message to Doc who'd asked to know when she woke. I moved into the sitting room, finding Hammer cleaning one of his guns, it's parts spread on the low table. A second one sat on the table and I nudged it with my finger.

"That for Spirit?"

"Thought she might feel more secure with her own defence to hand."

We heard the toilet flush in the bathroom and I was just about to suggest ordering some food when Snake arrived laden with takeout bags.

"My hero," I growled as I grabbed his head and kissed his shiny black locks, shoving him away.

"Fuck off."

We had everything spread out when Spirit appeared in the doorway. She frowned at the expanse ahead of her.

"Help," she squeaked and Snake and I were at her sides in seconds.

We walked her slowly to the table, sat her in a chair and I pushed the packet of pain killers and a glass of water towards her. She swallowed two more tablets and I hoped they gave her some relief. She was wearing a fresh track suit and I guessed the effort of changing had almost killed her. Stubborn, independent, that was our Spirit. She pulled a tray of fries over.

We ate in silence. One of those comfortable silences when no-one feels any pressure.

Doc arrived just as we were clearing up but we'd kept him some food he could have later.

"What have you got yourself mixed up in, girl?" he asked but she shook her head and he relented.

"Let's check you out again, see how your body's doing?"

This time we let them go to the medical room alone.

When they emerged, Spirit looked pale and drawn and I thought she'd just want her bed but she asked instead to sit out in the common room with us.

It wasn't very busy but there were enough people around to give a slight buzz to the place. Doc automatically steered her to the Wolf's Paws spread out over a few couches in their usual corner. Doc, Grizzler, Sniper, Switchblade, Knockout, Zen, Glider and Knight. I carried back a tray of beers from the bar and handed them around.

"So it's true, you're back and looking the worst for wear, I have ta say," Grizzler leaned closer to inspect her face.

"Would love to see the other guy," Sniper added.

"The other five guys," I informed them.

"Jesus, five?" Zen sat forward and glared from Snake to me to Hammer. "They'd better be dead already..."

Snake laughed and held up his hands.

"They were dead before we arrived, we just brought the disposal crew."

"I think you woulda been proud, Sniper," she said softly and he cocked his head.

"Five bullets, five head shots, five dead assholes. Clean and efficient -- you always liked that, right?"

There was a pause and then Sniper smacked himself in the forehead with the heel of his hand, glancing at Switchblade.

"You're White Spirit, aren't you?" he asked and she stiffened.

"Of course you are. Christ we should have known. Our contacts in the intelligence community say they keep a close eye on you but once you stick to taking out bad guys, they leave you alone," Switchblade added and raised his bottle to her and took a swig. It seemed that Sniper and Switchblade were serious. What the fuck? I watched her face closely and saw the moment when she decided to tell the truth.

"Well that was a bit scary. I've spent years keeping this secret and you blow my cover in one conversation. The other reason they'll leave me alone is because I also pick up contracts for them." She raised her beer bottle back.

"Did you get into it after the army?" Grizzler, ex-military himself, guessed and she nodded.

"The private stuff came after the army coz the pay and the job satisfaction is second to none. I'd already been put through the sniper program before we deployed for the first time. Apparently they saw a skill they could utilise and they did."

I drank my beer, keeping quiet. Part of me felt like I'd dropped into an alternate fucking universe. Our Spirit was some sort of avenging contract killer and the 'intelligence community' whoever the fuck they were didn't mind? It did explain a lot though and I realised we could stop worrying about her losing her shit when what she'd done hit home. She'd had her first kill...and her second...been there, done that.

"Actually I've a lot to thank you guys for. Doc and Grizzler taking me in hand, giving me a bit of discipline, Sniper teaching me to shoot and guiding me with all things gun related, Switchblade skilling me up in the art of the blade, Knockout teaching me how to box and fight, Zen with guidance in martial arts and last but by no means least Knight, for teaching me about speed and how to handle it, I bought a Nightster in your honour and Glider for giving me my love of all things motorcycle related, I bought a Harley Road Glider to remind me of you. And I suppose above all that you men, well except Doc because it would just be too weird, starred in this eighteen year old's first sexual fantasies, so thank you, you made me what I am today."

I glanced around the old guys' faces, when I say old they ranged in ages from 59 down to 55 but life spans could be short in an MC. Were they actually blushing?

A prospect approached and gestured to Snake.

"Prez, front gate told me to tell ya that some guy wants a word with Spirit."

"That was fast," Spirit commented and we all frowned at her. She stood up slowly and went to leave but Snake rose too and as a group we all went out to the gate.

"Tyler, what can I do for you?" Spirit asked.

The other man who was about the same age as us was dressed in a black suit, crisp white shirt, black tie and shiny black shoes. He wore sun glasses even though it was past sunset. He was standing in front of a large black SUV and we could just make out another person inside through the tinted windows.

"My boss would like a word," Tyler replied.

Spirit went to step outside the gate but Snake caught her arm.

"Who are these fuckers?"

"Tyler's my direct contact with....the intelligence community," she replied.

"If they wanna talk they can do it inside the compound where we can protect you," at his words the Wolf's Paws moved to form a wall between her and the gate.

She stared up at him and them the war going on inside was evident in her changing expressions.

"Sorry Tyler. It's inside or not at all, apparently."

The window of the SUV cracked a little and Tyler spoke to the person inside. After a few moments the door opened and a leg appeared.

That was not a man.

An elderly woman stood clear of the SUV. She was as tall as Tyler, of slim build and her long grey hair was stark against her black suit.

The far side door opened as well and a uniformed woman stalked around the car. The site of an army general standing outside our compound elicited growls from some of our ex-military members. We turned and led the way into the clubhouse and they followed.

Beside Snake's office there was a small meeting room and so Snake led us there.

Snake took the president's chair at the head of the table but the rest of us propped ourselves along the far wall allowing Spirit, Tyler and the two mystery women to sit opposite each other.

"Sorry Connie," Spirit addressed the woman in black, "but since the attack at my home the guys are bound to be a bit protective."

Connie waved off her apology.

"Is there any chance this room could be less crowded?" was her response.

"There are only three people in this room I wouldn't entrust my life to and that's you three," Spirit quipped and Tyler chuckled.

"Smart woman. I'd be more worried if you did trust us."

It was easy to see that Tyler had a crush on our girl and from Connie's frowning she didn't appreciate it.

"Firstly thank you for keeping us out of that shit show. Explaining the removal of five known bounty hunters from an operative's house would have been exasperating at the least. Tell me what they wanted," Connie instructed, her tone revealing that she didn't expect the request not to be fulfilled.

Spirit told her everything and the more detail she gave the more the Wolf's Paws began to shift and grumble around me.

"Thank you for being so frank. Your account matches the footage we have..."

"What?" Spirit asked and Connie frowned at her.

"You knew we had eyes on you, White Spirit, why so surprised?"

"Not inside my house. How long and why?"

"Six months and because you insisted on telling Mac everything before you married, you made him a liability."

"A liability? Oh god....the accident....you didn't?" Spirit was leaning forward her brow creased and her breath ragged.

"No, no, no, but..." Connie replied without an ounce of fucking feeling for the fact that the woman facing her had just lost her husband, a man she loved.

"But what?" Hammer asked, "but his death might have been a happy accident for you?"

Spirit slumped back into her seat, bent her head and then pressed her hand into her side. Glider grabbed a bottle of water from the stash on a side table and handed it to Doc.

Doc stepped forward and held her shoulder.

"You ok? Can't you see she's in pain, how much longer will this take?" he directed his question to Connie.

"She's tougher than you think Bill. We won't be much longer."

Doc reared back at the use of his Christian name.

Silence settled.

"Perhaps I can help clarify some things," the army general finally spoke, "General Richards, Army Intelligence. Lieutenant McGregor was murdered," she stated baldly. Jesus what was it with these fuckers?

"It's unclear at present who exactly was behind his death and the attack on you. We believe the man on the phone was part of McGregor's unit but there appears to be another player in the mix that we weren't able to identify. The Lieutenant appears to have been killed because he was working for Army Intelligence."

"What?" Spirit asked, shaking her head.

I could understand her distress. The life she thought she had and the man she thought she loved seemed to be falling apart before her eyes.

"We recruited him after he was involved in the theft with the offer of one million dollars and immunity from prosecution if, when we charged the other men, he would turn state's evidence against them. He agreed but as insurance for himself he hid the other four million dollars somewhere. We suspect he turned it into cryptocurrency but we haven't been able to trace an account so far."

"But hold on," Snake interjected, "if you knew who the men were and were ready to arrest them how come they're out there attacking Spirit?"

"We were hoping to keep eyes on them and trace back to the background player but as soon as they were allowed them to disperse they began to disappear and with that much money at their disposal it has been impossible to find them," she explained a look of disgust on her face at having to admit they'd failed.

"So, why are you here," Snake asked, "disturbing my MC, instead of chasing them down?"

"Ok, here it is. According to Connie's superiors this is a sign off meeting where they and you, White Spirit, part ways. And according to my superiors the chances of finding the group and the money now that Lieutenant McGregor is dead are slim to none. Authorisation for both programmes has been revoked but..."

"You want the investigation to continue but you also want plausible deniability," Spirit finished for her, "and when the shit hits the fan we'll be on our own." Richards nodded.

"You want us to take on a search that the government with all its resources couldn't complete? A situation that has already killed one man and put Spirit in danger? What if we refuse?" I asked and her blue eyes flashed at me.

"The footage we have of that night will accidentally fall into the hands of authorities that have a different view on self-defence to the rest of us."

"Fuck, yeah, forgot we're dealing with the fucking establishment. Bastards," Grizzler growled.

"We have the names of who was involved, you come up with their locations and any money that remains and the five deaths at your house will never be investigated. If you've come up empty in six months we'll cut our losses and you'll need to serve some kind of custodial sentence for the deaths but it won't be murder charges. A plea bargain for confirming McGregor's involvement and giving back his four million will likely be on the table but only in six months, not before and not if you make no effort to investigate on your own."

"You can use your normal encrypted communication to Tyler to keep him informed and if any relevant information comes our way Tyler will share it," Connie added.

"I don't have Mac's four million," Spirit stated.

"Of course you do. You don't know where yet, but I'm sure you'll find it.

Silence fell as we all absorbed what had just happened. They were threatening Spirit with jail time no matter what unless we succeeded.

"You promise that no action will be taken against this MC if we don't succeed, that I'll be the only one paying?" Spirit confirmed and she nodded.

Spirit looked to Snake.

"All those in favour of supporting Spirit and taking on this task?" he asked and every hand in the room shot up.

"You have a deal," Spirit confirmed.

"Well, that's it. Good luck," Richards said as she stood and offered Spirit her hand. Spirit shook it, then Connie's and then Tyler's.

"Oh and I want a copy of the footage," Spirit said and after a slight pause Richards nodded.

"Hammer, can you and your men see our guests off our property, please?" Snake asked and Hammer shoved away from the wall, herding them to the door.

We all took seats around the table once Hammer returned. Spirit stared into the middle distance, her body rocking ever so slightly forward and back. Zen placed a hand on her head and she took a few deep breaths in sync with him and instantly calmed.

"You're all angry with me," Spirit stated.

"I can only speak for myself when I say more hurt than angry," Doc said softly and she turned to him, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"The secrecy is designed to keep everyone safe. That's why I'd no idea about Mac."

"Look what's done is done, there's no undoing it," Zen spoke as he ran his hand down over his face.

"I agree. Recriminations won't change the past nor help with the future," Grizzler added.

"Look Doc's her only actual family here and so he's the only one she had any obligation to let into the details of her life. They'll have to work that out between them. As to what we learned about Mac today, that's something for Spirit to work through herself. We have a task at hand to keep Spirit out of jail and I say that's what we should focus on."

Hammer and I agreed vocally with Snake.

"Duke, make sure Grinder and Hydrogen are up to speed that way full High Church will be clued in. We'll have us three, the leadership, the senior council being you old gits and the junior officers all on board for whatever comes next -- oh and Keys -- we'll definitely need Keys."

Spirit looked around the men at the table.

"So you're going to help me do this, then?"

"Jesus fucking Christ, woman, what the hell else would we do for family, MC family, daughter of our founder, legacy of Wolf?" Knight suddenly exploded but he couldn't have said it better.

"That's a yes, then," she said with a hint of a smile earning her the middle finger from Knight as he stalked out of the room.

Chapter Six - Spirit

Over the next few weeks we settled into an uneasy holding pattern. The revelations about Mac had sent me into a spin initially, questioning everything I knew about him and our life together. I finally came to the conclusion that none of it mattered. I'd lied to him for years also so I couldn't exactly judge harshly.

Since the truth about my own other profession was out I'd told the guys about my arsenal and Hammer, Switchblade and Sniper had come with me to pick up my supplies. To say that they were impressed with the volume and variety of fire arms and other weapons I had at my disposal would be an understatement. While all of them were mine, bought and paid for, some of the items I'd laid my hands on wouldn't have been possible without the connections Tyler provided.