Tyler's POV
my voice echoing off the walls. My head was spinning. I couldn't believe what my mother had just said.
Declan—that man—was in our house.
And she wanted to go with him?
I turned to her, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I tried to process the insanity of it all. "What the hell is he doing here, Mom?" My voice was rough, filled with anger, disbelief—betrayal. "I thought he left! Why did you let him in? And now you're telling I need to go with him? Are you serious?"
My mother's expression was strained, guilt and worry clouding her eyes. "Tyler, listen to —"
"No! No, I'm not listening to this." I took a step back, shaking my head as I let out a bitter laugh. "You let him in, Mom. After everything. And now you expect to just follow him like so lost dog?"
"Tyler, please," she begged, her voice cracking. "You said it yourself. You were ambushed. If you had proper protection, that wouldn't have happened." Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she looked at . "I can't lose you to those n. Please, son, you need to go with your father."
A dry laugh escaped , and I rubbed a hand over my face in frustration. "I don't need to go with him! Our lives were fine until he showed up again. We were fine, Mom!" My voice cracked with emotion, but I didn't care.
Declan had always been nothing but bad news. A storm that destroyed everything in his path. And now, just like before, his presence had brought danger to our doorstep.
"Do you not see the pattern?" I asked, my voice raw. "Every ti he cos into our lives, bad things happen. Every. Single. Ti." I let out a sharp breath and pointed at Declan, who stood there, arms crossed, his cold gaze watching us like a spectator to so twisted show.
I turned back to my mother. "Now that he's back, suddenly, I'm being ambushed? Suddenly, eyes are on ? Or are you really not seeing it, Mom?"
She looked away, but I saw the hesitation in her face. She knew I was right.
But before she could say anything, Declan finally spoke, his deep, controlled voice cutting through the room. "Son, listen to . You need to co with . I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
I turned on him so fast I nearly saw red. My whole body tensed as I took a step forward.
"I am NOT your son."
The words ca out sharp, biting, filled with all the anger I had buried over the years.
"You are not part of our family," I hissed, my hands clenching into fists. "So don't you ever—ever—call your son."
Declan didn't even flinch. He just stared at , unbothered, like I was so angry child throwing a tantrum.
"And save your shitty excuses." I scoffed. "You caused this, and now you wanna act like you're the hero? If you never ca back into our lives, I wouldn't have been ambushed." I gestured around the room. "Yet barely 48 hours since you showed up, everything is falling apart! Forty-eight!"
My voice cracked again, but I kept going.
"Why can't you just leave? Leave us alone!"
My mother gasped. "Tyler! That's no way to talk to your father."
I let out a cold laugh, looking between her and Declan. "Wow. Wow. So that's it? You're on his side now?" I took a step closer to her. "He's finally brainwashed you, hasn't he?"
My mom's face twisted in hurt. "Of course not—"
"Oh, no, wait. He didn't brainwash you." My breath was uneven as I whispered, "He bullied you, didn't he?"
She looked away.
My stomach clenched.
I turned and marched toward her, my eyes scanning her body for any bruises, any marks—anything that would tell Declan had hurt her.
"Tyler, what are you doing?" she asked, confused.
"I'm checking," I said, my voice tight, my hands trembling as I tried to keep myself from completely losing it. "Because that's the only way you would ever agree with him. He must've done sothing to you—"
"I'm not hurt, Tyler." She grabbed my hands, forcing to look at her. "I promise."
I searched her eyes. There was no lie there. No hidden pain. Just exhaustion.
I swallowed hard.
"I only suggested this because I've thought of every other option," she continued, "but this is the only way to keep you safe."
I stepped back, shaking my head. "No. No, it's not."
She frowned.
"Have you ever thought about the fact that if Declan left our lives for good, I wouldn't be in danger?" I let the words sink in. "Or did he not even let you think of that option?"
My mother looked away again.
I clenched my jaw. "He's manipulating you."
"I don't care if he is," she whispered. "I just want you safe."
I closed my eyes, exhaling through my nose.
Declan took a step forward. "Tyler, whether you like it or not, you are in danger. And I'm the only one who can keep you alive."
I glared at him. "The only person I want to be with is my mom." I turned to her. "And if he tries to take away from you..." My voice dropped, my throat tight. "I'll give you sothing to actually be sad about."
"Tyler," my mom whispered in fear.
"I'll kill myself," I said flatly, staring directly at Declan. "And that's not a threat. It's a promise."
Silence.
My mother gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Baby, no—"
Declan's eyes darkened, his jaw ticking. "Don't be stupid."
"I'm not being stupid." My voice was ice. "I'd rather die than go with you."
My mom grabbed my hands. "Tyler, please, just consider it." Her voice was shaking. "I swear I will co get you when everything calms down."
I clenched my fists, my resolve slipping. I couldn't take seeing her cry.
But I couldn't leave her.
"You're so focused on keeping safe," I whispered, "but have you ever thought that you might not be safe either?"
Her lips parted slightly.
Declan let out an annoyed breath. "They don't care about her."
I whipped my head toward him. "What?"
Declan shrugged. "They know your mother ans nothing to . So they won't bother with her."
My blood ran cold.
I took a slow step toward him. "What an odd thing to say." My voice was quiet. Deadly. "Do you think the people who ambushed care about that?"
I shook my head, stepping back.
"You caused all of this," I muttered, my stomach twisting.
"I can assure you," Declan said, "that nothing will happen to your mother. Those people know we aren't together, so hurting her would be a waste."
I scoffed. "How do you know that? Unless... you were involved."
Declan's eyes darkened. "I would never."
I turned back to my mom. "I don't care what he says. I'm not going with him."
I looked Declan straight in the eyes.
"If you really want safe, then let Mom and leave. Sowhere far away."
I took a deep breath.
"We'll be safer without him!!"
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