Keifer's POV
I stepped out onto the balcony quietly.
Careful not to let the door click too loudly.
Inside, I could still hear their voices.
Jay.
Eces.
Keiren.
Keigan.
Mom's house was full again.
Full of warmth.
Full of life.
Full of things Kaizer had already tried to destroy once.
My jaw tightened.
The night air was cold, but it did nothing to calm the fire inside me.
My phone was still in my hand.
Still open.
Still showing the message.
Unknown Number:
Enjoy your visit. Family reunions are fragile things.
No name.
No signature.
He didn't need one.
I knew him.
I had known him my entire life.
"Kaizer?" Aries' voice came from behind me.
I didn't turn.
"Yes."
Angelo stepped out next.
He didn't ask.
He already knew.
He always knew.
"What did he say?" Angelo asked.
I handed him the phone.
His expression didn't change as he read it.
But his silence said enough.
Aries cursed under his breath.
"That bastard."
I leaned against the railing, staring into the dark street below.
Every parked car.
Every shadow.
Every movement.
A potential threat.
"He knows we're here," Aries said.
"Yes."
Angelo handed the phone back.
"He's watching."
Not a question.
A fact.
I nodded once.
"He's escalating," Angelo said calmly.
"He always does," I replied.
Silence settled between us.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Aries ran a hand through his hair.
"His target is still Jay."
My chest tightened instantly at her name.
"Yes," I said.
"But not only her."
I turned to face them now.
"Jay," I said first.
Because she was my heart.
"My wife."
The word still carried weight every time I said it.
"Then Eces."
Because she was brave.
Because she fought back.
Because Kaizer would want to break that strength.
"Keiren."
Because he was innocent.
Because he was defenseless.
Because he was mine.
"And Keigan."
Because he was my brother.
Because he carried my blood.
Because Kaizer hated everything that belonged to me.
Aries' expression hardened.
"He'll use any of them to get to you."
"Yes."
Angelo crossed his arms.
"He already tried with Eces."
My jaw clenched.
The image of her tied to that chair still burned in my mind.
The fear.
The anger.
The helplessness.
And Jay—
Sitting alone on that bench that night.
Crying.
Shaking.
Because of him.
Because of Kaizer.
"He won't get another chance," I said quietly.
Not anger.
Not emotion.
A promise.
Aries stepped closer.
"We need tighter security."
"It's already in place," I replied.
"Not enough," Angelo said calmly.
He was right.
It would never be enough.
Not while Kaizer was alive.
Not while he was free.
Not while he was breathing.
"I'll double the night rotation," Aries said.
"I'll assign internal guards too."
Angelo nodded.
"No one moves alone."
I agreed immediately.
"No one."
Jay wouldn't step outside without me.
Without Aries.
Without protection.
Even inside this house—
I didn't trust safety.
Safety was an illusion Kaizer destroyed years ago.
Aries looked toward the balcony door.
Through the glass.
Jay was inside.
Talking to Mom.
Smiling.
Alive.
Unaware of how close danger always was.
Aries spoke quietly.
"She's the center of it."
My chest tightened again.
"Yes."
Angelo looked at me carefully.
"He wants to break you."
I met his eyes.
Cold.
Steady.
"He already tried."
He killed my mother.
He tried to kill my brothers.
He tried to destroy everything.
But I was still here.
Still standing.
Still stronger than him.
Aries exhaled slowly.
"We'll protect them."
Not a promise.
A vow.
I nodded once.
"Yes."
Not just protect.
I would end it.
End him.
Before he ever touched them again.
Behind me, the balcony door opened softly.
I turned instantly.
Jay stood there.
Her eyes went to me first.
Always me.
"Keifer?" she asked softly.
Concern in her voice.
Fear she didn't say out loud.
I walked to her immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without distance.
My hand moved to her waist.
Pulling her close.
She relaxed instantly.
Because she trusted me.
Because she believed I could keep her safe.
Even when I wasn't sure I could.
"Everything okay?" she asked quietly.
I looked into her eyes.
Dark.
Beautiful.
Mine.
"Yes," I said softly.
A lie.
But also a promise.
Because no matter what Kaizer did—
No matter how far he went—
I would burn the world before I let him take her from me.
Third Person POV
The living room was warm.
Not just from the lights—but from the people in it.
Jay sat beside Keifer on the large sofa, her shoulder resting lightly against his arm. His hand rested on her thigh, calm on the surface, but protective underneath. His thumb moved slowly, unconsciously, as if reassuring himself that she was truly there.
Across from them, Keigan and Keiren sat on the floor.
Keiren grabbed a glass from the table the moment Jay's mother placed it there.
"Thank you, Auntie," he said politely, smiling at her.
Jay's mother smiled back warmly.
"You're welcome, Keiren."
He didn't call her Mom.
He never had.
But there was still respect in his voice.
Still warmth.
Still acceptance.
Jay watched the small interaction quietly, her chest feeling unexpectedly full.
Beside her, Keifer noticed too.
He noticed everything.
Even the smallest things.
Eces sat at the far end of the couch, beside Jay's mother, holding her glass carefully in both hands.
Aries leaned against the wall, silent and observant.
Angelo stood near the window, his sharp eyes scanning the outside occasionally.
Ion sat beside him, calm but thoughtful.
Everything looked peaceful.
Normal.
But it wasn't.
Not completely.
Because beneath the quiet—
Eces could hear them.
Not their voices.
Their minds.
—
Keifer's mind
No matter what happens…
I'll protect her.
Jay is my wife.
She's my responsibility.
My life.
His hand pressed slightly more firmly against Jay's thigh.
Grounding himself.
—
Jay's mind
He looks calm…
But he's not.
He's hiding the fear.
For me.
Her head leaned slightly against his shoulder.
Trusting him.
Without hesitation.
—
Keigan's mind
Kaizer won't win.
Not this time.
Not ever again.
—
Keiren's mind
Everyone feels serious today.
Something is wrong.
I need to get stronger too.
So I can protect Ate Jay.
Pure.
Innocent.
But determined.
—
Aries' mind
Security must stay tight.
No mistakes.
No openings.
—
Angelo's mind
We must stay ahead of him.
One mistake… and he will strike.
—
Ion's mind
Keifer carries too much pain.
But he doesn't show it.
—
And then—
Jay's mother.
Her mind
They've suffered enough.
Please let them be safe.
Eces' fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
Her breathing remained steady.
Her face calm.
But inside—
She heard everything.
Their fear.
Their love.
Their silent promises.
Her eyes slowly lifted.
She looked at Keifer.
He wasn't looking at anyone else.
Only Jay.
Like she was the only person that mattered.
And in that moment—
Eces understood something deeply.
Kaizer wasn't just threatening Keifer.
He was threatening their peace.
Their family.
Their future.
Eces leaned back quietly.
Silent.
Observing.
Listening.
Waiting.
Because when the time came—
She wouldn't hesitate.
Not anymore.
+++++++++++++++++++
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