* * *
The clubhouse is quiet when we emerge.Early still.Most brothers probably sleeping off last night.
But Pyro's at the bar, coffee in hand.He looks up when we enter.Nods once.
"Tank.Enya."
"Morning," I say.
Enya just nods, still nervous around the brothers.Still not sure where she fits.
"Everything alright?"Pyro asks, looking at me.Meaning something else entirely.
"Yeah.We're good."
"Good."He takes a sip of coffee."Enya, the women are in the kitchen if you want to join them.Tank, a word?"
She glances at me.I squeeze her hand."Go ahead.I'll be right there."
She hesitates, then nods and heads toward the kitchen.
Once she's gone, Pyro gestures for me to follow him outside.We stand in the car park.Cold morning air.Gray sky threatening rain.
"Everything from last night is handled," Pyro says quietly."No trace.No body.No questions."
I nod, unable to speak yet.
"You did what needed doing," he continues."Protecting her.Protecting her kid.That's what brothers do."
"I know."
"Do you?"He studies my face."Because you look like you're carrying weight you shouldn't be."
"I killed a man, Pyro."It was my first kill.I know there’s going to be more that I do, but fuck, I hadn’t expected it to be so soon.
"You ended a threat.There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Yeah.There is."He crosses his arms."Look, I'm not gonna lie and say it'll be easy.Trauma recovery isn't linear.She's gonna have good days and bad days.Moments where she's fine and moments where she's not.You need to be patient."
"I will be."
"And you need to take care of yourself too.Can't pour from an empty cup."
I nod again, not trusting my voice.
"Enya and Warren are under club protection now," Pyro says."Which means they're family.You understand what that means?"
"Yeah."
"Good.Because it's a big responsibility taking on a woman with a kid, making sure they're both safe and provided for.You ready for that?"
Am I?I barely know.But I nod anyway."Yeah.I'm ready."
"Alright then."He claps me on the shoulder."Go take care of your woman.And Tank?"
"Yeah?"
