“Daddy, please help her!” — In a quiet parking lot, a retired Navy SEAL makes a split-second decision that changes everything. By the next morning, there’s a knock on his door… and a Navy Admiral is standing on the other side.

Ryan pivoted, used the man’s own momentum, and drove his knee hard into the side of his leg. Bone buckled. The man collapsed, his head slamming into the side panel of the truck with a dull, sickening thud.

He didn’t get back up.

Time elapsed: three seconds.

Threat Two reacted faster than Ryan expected. He released the woman and charged, arms outstretched, aiming for Ryan’s throat.

Ryan stepped offline, caught the incoming arm, and executed a clean osoto gari, sweeping the man’s leg while driving his upper body backward.

The man slammed into the asphalt, the air blasting from his lungs. Ryan dropped a knee into his solar plexus, crushing what little fight he had left. The man’s eyes rolled back.

Time elapsed: eight seconds total.

Threat One finally understood what was happening.

He shoved the woman aside. She stumbled and fell to her knees. He turned toward Ryan, knife held low in a prison grip, blade angled up.

“Big mistake, hero,” he growled.

Ryan said nothing. He watched the knife.

The attack came fast—a straight thrust aimed at Ryan’s abdomen.

Ryan caught the wrist mid-thrust, twisting sharply. The joint lock forced the knife free; it clattered across the pavement. Before the man could react, Ryan drove his elbow into his face.

There was a wet crack as the man’s nose broke.

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