"Let him try."
"I'm serious, Tank.This could blow back on the club.On all of us."
"I know.And I'll handle it."
"Will you?"Rush leans back and crosses his arms."Because from where I'm sitting, you're already in deep.Already making this personal.And personal means emotional.Emotional means mistakes."
He's not wrong.I know he's not wrong.But I can't walk away.Won't walk away.
"I'm not asking the club to get involved," I say."This is on me."
"Too late for that."Rush closes his laptop."You're my brother.She matters to you, which means she matters to us.We'll back you.But you need to be smart about this."
"I will be."
"Good.Because Pyro's already asking questions."
Fuck."What'd you tell him?"
"That you're helping someone who's in trouble.That it might get complicated."Rush stands."He wants to talk to you.Church at noon."
I nod, stomach sinking slightly.Pyro's not going to be happy about this, about me bringing club attention to a woman who's not even an old lady or hang-around.
But I can't worry about that right now.I can only focus on keeping Enya safe.
* * *
Church starts exactly at noon.I'm already in my seat when Pyro walks in, followed by Raptor, Cowboy, Preacher, and a few others.The room goes quiet.
Pyro sits at the head of the table."Heard we've got a situation."
All eyes turn to me.I keep my face neutral."Yeah.A woman I know is being stalked by her ex.Violent history.He's escalating."
"This the blonde from O'Hara's?"Pyro asks.
"Yeah.Enya."
"And she is what to you?"
The question hangs in the air.I could lie.Could say she's just someone I'm helping out of principle.But Pyro would see through it immediately.
"She matters," I say simply.
Pyro's expression doesn't change."How much?"
"Enough that I'm asking for the club's help keeping her safe."
Silence.The brothers exchange glances.Pyro leans back in his chair, studying me.
"This ex.He dangerous?"
"Yeah.Multiple assault charges.Suspected crew connections.He's been watching her building, her work, her kid's school."
"Her kid?"Pyro repeats.
"Five years old.His son."
More silence.This is the complication.Kids make everything more complicated.
