At the fear on Lyse’s face, Babydoll roared in laughter.

"This is rich." She said between wiping her tears. "We risked our lives and came all the way for a woman who is carrying another man’s child."

Brandon shook his head, refusing to accept Babydoll’s words.

"It’s not possible, Lyse cannot not pregnant." He objected.

Babydoll rolled her eyes and pointed at Lyse’s hands covering her stomach.

"She is literarily protecting her baby, can’t you see that?"

Brandon stared at the stomach and looked up at Lyse’s ashen face.

"Tell me that is not true." He groaned, "Please tell me you are not carrying that man’s child."

All the senses in him, every single cell in his body protested. Lyse was supposd to be his, she was supposed to have their own babies.

Right then at that moment, it felt like all his dreams were slipping, like he was losing her and he could not bear the thought.

He took a step closer to her, forcing Lyse to walk backward into the bed.

"That’s okay Lyse." He said, his voice soft, his eyes filled with an eerie calm. "You don’t have to keep the baby, I’ll take care of it."

The tight rein on Levi’s control cracked and he prepared to spring at Brandon but Babydoll pointed her gun at him.

"Tsk tsk tsk." She said, "I said, no sudden moves."

Brandon reached out and touched Lyse’s hair tenderly and she swatted his hand away, causing him to look hurt.

"How dare you threaten to harm my baby!" Lyse glared at him. "You had all the time in the world to choose me, but you chose to play games with Brooke instead."

"Lyse, I swear that was all a mistake." Brandon begged. "I regret every single minute of it."

"And so are you." Lyse retorted. "You were a huge mistake. But unlike you, I don’t regret it."

"Because it brought me the most amazing man who will be the most amazing father of my babies." She continued, her tone softer as she looked at Levi, reassuring him with her words of her love.

Brandon stared at Lyse, at her hand splayed protectively over her belly, all he could see was his sweet kind Lyse. She had loved him until Levi came into the picture and ruined everything.

Levi was the problem.

Levi had to go.

If he was gone, Lyse would go back to him.

His mind went into an overdrive.

The sirens, the flashing lights, the chaos, the screams and Babydoll.

All he could see was Levi.

He didn’t even realize what he was doing until it was already done.

In one fluid movement, he lunged for the gun.

The metal was cold against his palm as he wrapped his fingers around it and twisted Babydoll’s arm behind her back.

She cried out in pain and shock.

The world seemed to slow down.

Levi’s face registered pure fury as he started toward them.

Lyse screamed, a raw, terrified sound.

And then Brandon wasn’t thinking anymore.

He was acting.

The gun he’d just wrenched from Babydoll’s grasp was now pointed at Levi.

"Stay back!" Brandon yelled, his voice cracking.

Levi froze.

His hands were still in his pockets, but every muscle in his body was coiled, a predator ready to strike.

"Brandon, don’t," Lyse pleaded, her tears flowing freely. "Please, don’t do this."

The gun trembled in Brandon’s hand.

His eyes darted between Lyse’s terrified face and Levi’s cold, calculating stare.

"This is all your fault!" he shouted at Levi, his accusation echoing in the small room.

"You stole my girl."

While everyone’s attention was on brandon, Lyse slipped a hand under her pillow.

For once, she was glad that Levi had insisted on leaving her with a gun. If not, how else would she protect the man she loved.

Her fingers closed around the familiar, cold steel of the small pistol Levi had hidden for her.

She pulled it out slowly, her movements hidden by the bed and the chaotic flurry of the confrontation.

"Let her go!" Brandon demanded, gesturing wildly with the gun. "Let her come with me, and I’ll let you all walk out of here."

Lyse’s knuckles were white around the grip of her own weapon.

She took a slow, steadying breath, the way Levi had taught her.

Safety off.

Aim.

Her arm rose from behind the bed.

The small pistol leveled itself at Brandon’s chest.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Lyse... what are you doing?"

Tears streamed down her face, but her gaze was like steel.

"Get away from him, Brandon," she said, her voice shaking but clear. "Get away from my family."

A flicker of disbelief crossed Brandon’s face, quickly replaced by a storm of rage.

"Your family?" he spat. "He’s using you! Can’t you see that? I’m the one who loves you!"

"You don’t know the meaning of the word," she choked out. "You love the idea of me. You love winning. But you don’t love me."

Her finger tightened on the trigger.

For a split second, it seemed like he might actually pull the trigger.

Like he might kill Levi right in front of her.

Then Babydoll, who had been silent and still since losing the gun, made her move.

With a sharp twist of her body, she broke Brandon’s hold on her arm.

He stumbled, caught off guard.

Lyse didn’t hesitate to fire her gun.

The sound was deafening in the confined space, a sharp crack that cut through the wail of the fire alarm.

The bullet didn’t find its mark. Instead it hit Brandon in the shoulder.

He cried out, staggering back, the gun falling from his grasp and clattering to the floor.

He clutched his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers, his face a mask of disbelief and agony.

Before he could recover, Babydoll, ever the opportunist, lunged for the fallen weapon.

But Levi was faster.

He closed the distance in two long strides, his foot coming down hard on the gun, kicking it away and sending it skidding under a medical cart.

Then he spun around and slammed a powerful punch into Brandon’s already injured shoulder.

Brandon howled in pain, collapsing to his knees.

Levi grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, hauling him up until they were face to face.

His voice was a low, dangerous growl, laced with a cold fury that was far more terrifying than any shout.

"Game over."

He slammed Brandon back against the wall, the impact rattling the medical equipment on the other side.

From the hallway, the sounds of approaching footsteps grew louder.

Security. bodyguards.

The world was about to burst into their small, blood-soaked room.

Lyse lowered her own gun, her body trembling violently now that the immediate threat was neutralized.

Babydoll watched them all, her expression unreadable.

She had been a pawn.

Then a player.

And now, she was just a witness.

She took a slow step back toward the door.

No one seemed to notice.

Lyse flew into Levi’s arms, her breath shuddering against his chest as she buried her face in the familiar warmth of his shirt. He held her, one arm wrapping securely around her waist while the other gently cupped the back of her head, shielding her.

"It’s over," Levi murmured into her hair, the words a promise. He pressed a kiss to her temple, then guided her carefully to the bed. "Sit. Breathe."

His gaze was fierce as it swept back to Brandon, who was slumped against the wall, clutching his bleeding shoulder. But Levi’s attention quickly shifted to the empty doorway.

Babydoll was gone.

His jaw tightened. He’d deal with her later. Right now, the approaching sirens were their most pressing concern.

"We have to go," he said, turning back to Lyse. He scanned her, his eyes lingering on her stomach before meeting her gaze. "Are you hurt? The baby...?"

Lyse shook her head, her own hand moving to rest protectively over her belly. "No. We’re fine."

"Good." He held out a hand. "Let’s get you out of here."

The sirens were screaming outside now, the cacophony a promise of the chaos to come.

As Levi helped her to her feet, Brandon stirred, a low groan escaping his lips.