The clubhouse is mostly dark—just security lights and a few members still up in the common room.
"Get some sleep," Fenrir tells us as we climb out of the truck. "Church is in six hours. We need to be sharp."
Hakon and Ulf head inside.
I start to follow, but Fenrir's voice stops me.
"Gunnar."
I turn.
He's leaning against the truck, arms crossed, studying me in the dim light.
"Yeah?"
"What you did tonight—going rogue, taking that girl—it was reckless. Emotional. Everything we're not supposed to be on an op."
"I know."
"But it was also right. And if you hadn't done it, I would've." He pauses. "That little girl's alive because you couldn't walk away. That matters."
"But the investigation?—"
"Fuck the investigation. We'll adapt. We always do." He pushes off the truck, comes closer. "I'm telling you this because you need to hear it. You did good tonight. Don't second-guess it."
Relief crashes through me.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We still have to explain to Runes why we blew our cover and potentially scattered a trafficking network." A slight smile. "But I'll back your play. What you did was right, even if it wasn't smart."
He starts to head inside, then pauses.
"And Gunnar? About my daughter."
Here it comes.
"I saw how she looked at you when we left. How you looked at her." His expression is serious. "She's been hurt. By men in this club. Men I should've protected her from better."
"I'm not them."
"I know. That's why I'm not breaking your jaw right now." He meets my eyes. "But she's fragile. More than she shows. You need to be patient. You need to be sure. Because if you're not—if this is just something casual for you—I need to know now before she gets in any deeper."
"It's not casual," I say firmly. "I'm in love with her. Have been for years. I'm not going anywhere."
Fenrir studies me for a long moment.
Then nods.
"Good. Because she deserves someone who stays. Someone who sees past the walls and the damage and loves her anyway." He claps a hand on my shoulder. "Be that man, and we won't have problems."
"I will be. I am."
"Then welcome to the family, son. Officially." A slight smile. "Even if I did want to shoot you when I walked in on you two earlier."
Despite everything—the tension, the trafficking ring, the danger ahead—I laugh.
"Fair enough."
