"I tried to stop loving you," he admits. "When I left. When I joined the club. I thought distance would make it easier, but it only made everything worse. You were always there, in the back of my mind. The one good thing I had to hold onto."
I cover his hands with mine, tears gathering in my eyes. "Then stay," I whisper. "Stay here. With me."
A knock at the door interrupts us. Tyler rises, checking the peephole before opening it to admit Knight.
The man ducks slightly to enter the room. "Reaper wants to talk to you," he says, handing Tyler a phone.
Tyler takes it, giving me an apologetic look before stepping into the bathroom for privacy. I'm left alone with Knight, who offers me an awkward smile.
"So," he says, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "You teach elementary school?"
I can't help but laugh at the incongruity of small talk with this intimidating man after everything that's happened. "Third grade," I confirm. "Do you have kids?"
"Not really, but I hope one day I’ll. First, I must find a woman for that. Finding love in this life is complicated, you know?”
This glimpse of normalcy from someone who just brutally disabled two men minutes ago is strangely comforting. There's more to these men than their cuts and capacity for violence.
Tyler emerges from the bathroom, his expression unreadable as he hands the phone back to Knight.
"Everything okay?" I ask hesitantly.
Tyler nods slowly. "Yeah. Actually, better than okay." He looks at Knight. "Can you give us a minute?"
Knight claps a massive hand on Tyler's shoulder. "Take all the time you need. I'll be outside keeping watch." He nods respectfully to me before ducking back out the door.
Once we're alone, Tyler takes both my hands in his. "I just had a difficult conversation with Reaper."
My heart sinks. "They need you to come back?"
"Actually, no." A smile breaks across his face. "He gave me his blessing to stay. Said they're expanding territory anyway and could use a trusted man in Hope Peak."
I blink, not quite processing his words. "You mean...?"
"I mean I'm staying, Liv. If you'll have me." His thumbs trace circles on the backs of my hands. "I can set up here, maybe open a security business. The club would back it, use it as a legitimate front for some of their operations. Nothing illegal happening in Hope Peak," he clarifies quickly. "Just a home base. A foothold."
"You'd do that? Give up the life you've built with them?"
"I'm not giving up anything," he says. "I'm gaining everything I've ever wanted. The club, a purpose, and you. All at once." His expression grows serious. "But you have to be sure, Liv. Being with me means being connected to the club. They're my family now, just like you are. It won't always be easy."
I consider his words. The Tyler who left Hope Peak was lost, broken by war and unrequited love. The man before me now is different—stronger, more confident, with a sense of belonging he never had before. The club has given him that, along with the backup that probably saved his life tonight.
"I'm sure," I tell him. "I want you, Tyler. All of you. The soldier, the biker, all of it." I squeeze his hands. "I just want you to promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"No more running. No more secrets. Whatever happens, we face it together."
He nods solemnly. "I promise." Then he smiles, that rare, genuine smile that transforms his whole face. "Besides, I'm done running. This is where I belong. With you."
He seals the promise with a kiss, and I melt into him, knowing that whatever challenges come our way, we'll face them together.
Six Months Later
The bell above the door of Jackson Security jingles as I step into the air-conditioned office, a welcome relief from the summer heat. Tyler looks up from his desk, his face breaking into a smile when he sees me.
"Hey, beautiful," he says, rising to greet me with a kiss. "How were the monsters today?"
"Energetic," I laugh, setting down my teacher's bag. "End of year excitement. Two more days until summer break."
