"Okay," Devin gasps. "Okay. I'll leave her alone. I swear."
Tyler holds the knife in place for one more heartbeat, then steps back, releasing him. "Good choice. Now get the fuck out of here. Take your friends with you."
Devin doesn't need to be told twice. He stumbles to his brother, who's still clutching his ruined knee, and helps him to his feet. Mike is conscious again, though dazed, and together they manage to drag the still-unconscious Drew to Devin's truck.
As they drive away, I finally step fully outside, my legs shaky. Tyler turns to me, his expression softening instantly.
"You okay?" he asks, reaching for me.
I nod, unable to find my voice as I step into his embrace. Over Tyler's shoulder, I get my first good look at Knight. He's easily six-four, with arms the size of my thighs. Despite his intimidating appearance, his eyes are surprisingly kind as they meet mine.
"So, you're the famous Olivia," he says, his deep voice gentler than I would have expected. "Hawk's talked about you."
I glance up at Tyler in confusion. "Hawk?"
Tyler looks slightly embarrassed. "My road name in the club. For my ability to see the battlefield, plan strategy."
"It fits," I say, thinking of how he'd handled three attackers by himself.
"We should get inside," Tyler says, glancing around the parking lot. "In case they decide to come back with reinforcements."
Knight nods in agreement. "I'll stand watch. Make some calls. Let Reaper know the situation."
Once back in the room, Tyler immediately checks me over, his hands gentle as they cup my face. "Are you sure you're okay? You shouldn't have opened that door."
"I thought they were going to kill you," I say, my voice finally returning. "Four against one—"
"I've had worse odds," he says with a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "But I appreciate the concern."
I look toward the door, where Knight's silhouette is visible through the thin curtains as he paces outside, phone to his ear. "Your friend... he just showed up at the perfect moment."
Tyler nods, sinking onto the edge of the bed and stretching out his bad leg with a wince. "Knight's good people. One of the best men I know."
"He looks scary," I confess.
That earns me a genuine laugh. "Yeah, he is. But he's also the gentlest soul in the club unless you threaten someone he cares about. Then..." He trails off, shrugging.
"Then he breaks people's faces against car doors," I finish for him, still processing what I witnessed.
"Something like that." Tyler's expression grows serious again. "Liv, what you saw out there—"
"You were going to kill him," I say quietly, the realization settling over me like a cold blanket. "You would have killed Devin if he hadn't backed down."
Tyler doesn't deny it. "If that's what it took to keep you safe? Yes."
I should be horrified by his admission. Instead, I find myself feeling strangely... protected. Safe in a way I haven't felt since my father died. "The things you said about killing men—"
"Were true," he finishes for me, his eyes holding mine steadily. "I'm not the same person who left Hope Peak all those years ago,Liv. You know that. I've done things... things I'm not proud of, both in the war and since. I need you to understand that."
I sit beside him on the bed, taking his hand in mine. "The core of who you are hasn't changed, Tyler. You still protect what you care about. You still put others before yourself." I squeeze his hand. "That's the man I fell in love with. That's the man… I still love."
His eyes widen slightly at my declaration. "Love?"
Heat rushes to my face, but I don't back down. "Yes. Love. I think I've loved you since we were teenagers, but I was too blind to see it. Or too afraid to admit it. And then you left to the military and I just… Had to move on, but the feeling never left."
Tyler's expression softens, years of tension seeming to melt away as he looks at me. "I've always loved you too, Liv. Always. Since we were kids and you stood up to those bullies for me in sixth grade. Since you helped me study for tests when no one else thought I was worth the effort. Since you were the only one who visited me in the hospital after that last deployment."
He takes my face in his hands, his touch impossibly gentle for someone who just took down three men without breaking a sweat.
