Guardian Bears: Marcus by Leslie Chase Page B

him. “Didn’t know the Army sent you out to bring back our pledges.”
    Lewis and his friend shrank back from the big man’s approach, but Marcus just grinned. “Hey, there’s a recruiting shortage just now, we need every good man we can get.”
    Big Jack’s laughter boomed loud across the yard, and everyone turned to him. “Well, if a couple of years in the service’ll take Danny here and teach him how to put Cal on his ass like you did, it might be worth a shot.”
    Cal’s supporters glowered at that and turned away. Big Jack shook his head, clapped Marcus on the shoulder, and steered him towards the door.
    “You boys can get your sign-up papers from our friend here later,” he said to Lewis and Danny. “Right now, Marcus is late for a meeting.”
    “I didn’t know I was expected,” Marcus said as he stepped inside, feeling a little on edge as Big Jack followed him in.
    The bar room beyond was dark, and with the big man between him and the way out, he kept a careful eye out for an ambush. But there was no one inside, and Jack simply guided him through to the back of the building, and a small door there.
    “Well, you might have made a bit of an impression on the boss,” Big Jack said, sounding amused. He picked up a hand-held metal detector from the bar and gestured to Marcus, who pulled out his phone and dropped it in a basket. Spreading his arms, he let Jack check him for wires and weapons.
    “Cal’s a pretty tough customer, so beating him pushed up the meeting,” Jack continued, waving the wand cautiously over Marcus. He was careful and thorough, which Marcus had to respect. The Serpents weren’t taking any chances of this conversation being recorded. “And I figured, hey, you’ll roll up here today sometime, see how we’re taking that.
    “Either that, or you’d have fucked off and we’d never see you again. Lots of folk would figure that the smart move, if they’d kicked a Serpent’s ass. We look after our own.”
    “So would that have been the smart move, Jack?” Marcus said, letting a little menace into his voice.
    “Don’t ask me, ask the boss,” Jack replied, throwing open the door with a theatrical flourish.
    Inside, the Serpents’ meeting room was surprisingly neat, the walls lined with posters and banners celebrating the club. In the center of the floor was wooden table with a long coiling snake carved down the center. Its eyes looked disconcertingly alive, and Marcus almost thought it was watching him as he entered.
    “Marcus! Welcome, come in.” The man at the head of the table called out, standing and offering his hand. His grip was strong, punishingly tight, enough to make most men wince.
    Marcus wasn’t most men. Smiling, he squeezed back, and was rewarded with a surprised look in the eyes of the other man.
    “Pleased to meet you,” he growled.
    His host was a tall man, nearly as tall as Marcus, and almost as broad too. Older, hair going gray to match his cold, piercing eyes. There was a nasty intelligence to his gaze, a cunning Marcus didn’t trust one bit. Looking into his eyes, he let his bear taste the air again. The man stank of the darkness, of corruption and sin, but still not strong enough to be the source.
    He’s closer to it than the rest, though. Careful.
    “Name’s Vance,” the big man said, taking back his hand and smiling what almost looked like a friendly smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Come on in and take a seat. We’ve got business to discuss.”
    “That’s what I’m here for,” Marcus agreed easily, sitting down with a casual slouch. The door was behind him, he noticed, and Big Jack hadn’t gone far. Vance wasn’t taking any chances.
    Of course, that wouldn’t matter a bit if he decided to make a move. However prepared the Serpents thought they were, they’d have a hard time facing down a sudden bear attack in their midst. But that wouldn’t help with the real problem he was here to face, even if he did break everyone in the damned