"Then he'll regret it." I swing my leg over the bike, waiting for her to climb on behind me. "But right now, let's just get back to the motel. We can figure out next steps from there."
She wraps her arms around my waist, holding tighter than before. I feel her press her face against my back, seeking comfort or reassurance. Despite the situation, despite the adrenaline still coursing through my system, the feeling of her holding on to me grounds me somehow.
I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot, leaving Brady's and Devin behind us. But as we ride, I can't shake the certainty that this isn't over. The look in Devin's eyes wasn't just anger or humiliation. It was the look of a man who wasn't going to let this go.
Which means I can't either. Because if there's one thing my time in combat taught me, it's that you never leave an enemy with the means and motivation to strike back.
And Devin Mercer now has both.
As we head back to the motel, I'm already planning my next move. The predator in me, the part honed by war and sharpened by life in the club, knows this confrontation was just the opening salvo in what could become a much uglier fight.
If Devin wants war, I'll give him war. And unlike him, I know exactly how to win one.
Chapter 6 - Olivia
We pull into the motel parking lot, and I can still feel the adrenaline coursing through Tyler's body as I hold onto him. His muscles are taut beneath my arms, the tension radiating off him in waves. My own heart hasn't stopped racing since we left Brady's, the confrontation with Devin playing on repeat in my mind.
I did it. I actually stood my ground and told him it was over.
Tyler kills the engine and helps me off the bike. Neither of us speaks as we walk to the room, the weight of what just happened hanging between us. Once inside, I sink onto the edge of the bed, my legs suddenly too weak to hold me. My hands won't stop trembling.
Tyler paces the small room like a caged animal, his movements precise and controlled but with an underlying energy that's almost frightening. His eyes keep darting to the door, the windows, back to me, then repeating the pattern, like he's constantly assessing for threats.
"Are you okay?" I finally ask, breaking the tense silence.
He pauses his pacing, rolling his shoulders as if trying to shed something invisible. "I'm fine. Just need to cool down. Still in war mode." His jaw tightens. "Don't want to... I don't want that energy directed at you."
"You could never hurt me," I say with absolute certainty.
I rise from the bed on shaky legs and walk toward him, drawn by something I can't name. Perhaps it's gratitude for his protection, or maybe it's something deeper that's been there all along.
When I reach him, I place my hands on his cheeks, feeling the stubble beneath my palms. His skin is hot, almost feverish. His eyes, bloodshot from adrenaline, widen in surprise.
"What are you doing?" he asks, his voice rough.
"I don't know," I admit, my thumbs tracing his cheekbones. "I just know that I let you go once before, and I don't want you to leave again."
His teeth gnash, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "You didn't let me go, Liv. I had to leave. I couldn't deal with... everything."
"Everything?" I press, not letting him look away. "What's everything?"
"This isn't the best time to talk about this." He tries to step back, but I follow, maintaining contact.
"It's the perfect time," I insist. "No more secrets, Tyler. No more running."
He sighs, a deep, bone-weary sound. "I left because I couldn't deal with having to see you with another man. It was too fucking hard, Liv. I was already barely hanging on with the PTSD, the nightmares. Watching you with him—" He breaks off, shaking his head. "I couldn't do it."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" I shove his chest with one hand, but he doesn't even budge. "Why, Tyler? All those years, and you never said a word!"
"Because I never had the guts." His voice rises to match mine. "You were already with Devin. You were happy, or I thought you were. I wasn't willing to risk our friendship for feelings that might fade if I just... left."
"Did they?" I demand, pounding my fist against his chest now. "Did the feelings fade?"
He hesitates, looking away.
"Don't you dare," I say, pressing harder against his chest. He takes one step back, and I follow, determined. "Don't you dare shut me out again. Tell me the truth. Did those feelings go away?"
He looks down at me, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "You haven't changed at all, have you? Still stubborn as hell."
