Chapter 26: Shadows in the Watson Mansion
(Jay Jay's POV)
The Watson Mansion was quiet that night.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that makes the walls feel like they're listening.
I stood on the balcony outside my room, watching the garden below.
The fountain water moved slowly under the moonlight.
But my mind wasn't there.
It was still in the warehouse.
Still replaying the look on Keifer's face when he arrived.
Keifer didn't see me.
But he felt something.
I could tell.
And that was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Five months ago I discovered Yuri's hit list.
But tonight proved something worse.
Yuri wasn't the only one who wanted Keifer dead.
Not even close.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Savannah.
Savannah:
"Jay."
Jay Jay:
"Yes?"
Savannah sounded serious.
Savannah:
"You need to see this."
A file appeared on my screen.
Names.
Addresses.
Transactions.
And every single one of them had one thing in common.
Keifer Watson.
My stomach tightened.
Jay Jay:
"What is this?"
Savannah exhaled slowly.
Savannah:
"A second hit list."
I felt the cold air hit my face harder.
Jay Jay:
"From who?"
Savannah paused.
Savannah:
"You're not going to like the answer."
She sent another file.
Family records.
Inheritance papers.
Trust funds.
And then the final name appeared.
Watson family inheritance beneficiary.
Keifer Watson.
And under that…
A long list of relatives.
Uncles.
Cousins.
Even business partners.
All with one motive.
Money.
Savannah spoke quietly.
Savannah:
"If Keifer dies…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence.
I already understood.
Jay Jay:
"They get everything."
Savannah:
"Yes."
My grip tightened around the phone.
Jay Jay:
"How many?"
Savannah answered.
Savannah:
"Seven confirmed threats."
Then she added quietly.
Savannah:
"Maybe more."
Seven people planning to kill Keifer.
Seven.
And Yuri was just the beginning.
I ran a hand through my hair.
Jay Jay:
"Tell Sophia to start mapping everyone."
Savannah:
"Already did."
Jay Jay:
"Olivia tracks movements."
Savannah:
"Done."
Jay Jay:
"Amy handles defense."
Savannah chuckled softly.
Savannah:
"She's already excited."
Of course she was.
Amy loved chaos.
But this wasn't chaos.
This was war.
And Keifer didn't even know he was standing in the middle of it.
Footsteps echoed behind me.
I froze slightly.
Then I heard the voice.
Keifer.
Keifer:
"You're out here alone again."
I turned slowly.
He leaned against the balcony door.
Arms crossed.
Watching me.
And his eyes…
His eyes were searching.
Jay Jay:
"I like the quiet."
Keifer tilted his head.
Keifer:
"You hate quiet."
I forced a small smile.
Jay Jay:
"People change."
He didn't smile back.
Keifer walked closer.
Slowly.
Like he was studying a puzzle.
Keifer:
"Where were you tonight?"
My heartbeat stayed steady.
Jay Jay:
"Studying with friends."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Keifer:
"Friends."
Jay Jay:
"Yes."
Silence stretched between us.
Then he sighed.
Keifer:
"You know what's weird?"
Jay Jay:
"What?"
Keifer leaned on the balcony railing beside me.
Looking out at the dark garden.
Keifer:
"I went to an abandoned warehouse tonight."
My heart skipped once.
But my face stayed calm.
Jay Jay:
"Why?"
Keifer looked at me.
Really looked.
Keifer:
"I got a message."
Jay Jay:
"From who?"
Keifer shrugged.
Keifer:
"Anonymous."
Of course.
Savannah probably triggered it accidentally.
Keifer continued.
Keifer:
"When I got there…"
He paused.
Keifer:
"Yuri was tied to a chair."
I stayed silent.
Keifer looked back at the garden.
Keifer:
"Someone beat him up pretty badly."
Jay Jay:
"That's terrible."
He turned toward me again.
Keifer:
"But here's the strange part."
Jay Jay:
"What?"
His voice lowered slightly.
Keifer:
"It felt organized."
My fingers tightened on the railing.
Keifer continued.
Keifer:
"Like whoever did it…"
He paused.
Keifer:
"Was sending a message."
I forced a quiet laugh.
Jay Jay:
"Maybe someone hates Yuri."
Keifer stared at me.
Long.
Carefully.
Then he suddenly smiled.
But the smile wasn't normal.
It was suspicious.
Keifer:
"Maybe."
Then he leaned closer.
Keifer:
"Or maybe someone was protecting me."
My heart pounded.
Jay Jay:
"You're imagining things."
Keifer smirked slightly.
Keifer:
"Am I?"
He stepped even closer.
Now we were barely inches apart.
Keifer:
"You've been acting strange lately."
Jay Jay:
"I haven't."
Keifer:
"You have."
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
Slowly.
Keifer:
"You disappear."
Keifer:
"You get mysterious calls."
Keifer:
"You come back late."
His voice dropped playfully.
Keifer:
"And suddenly Yuri ends up half dead."
I crossed my arms.
Jay Jay:
"You think I did it?"
Keifer stared at me.
Then suddenly laughed.
Keifer:
"You?"
He shook his head dramatically.
Keifer:
"Please."
He leaned back against the railing again.
Keifer:
"You're too sweet for that."
Guilt twisted inside my chest.
If he only knew.
But he wasn't finished.
Keifer looked at me again.
And this time…
His eyes were sharper.
Keifer:
"Still…"
He shrugged slightly.
Keifer:
"You're hiding something."
I forced calm.
Jay Jay:
"Everyone hides something."
He chuckled.
Keifer:
"Fair point."
But he didn't stop watching me.
Not even for a second.
That was the moment I understood something.
Keifer wasn't convinced.
Not even close.
And if he kept digging…
He might actually find the truth.
The Obsidian Circle.
The revenge.
The torture.
Everything.
Which meant I had to do something.
Something painful.
I had to distance myself from him.
The next morning the mansion felt colder.
Breakfast table.
Silver plates.
Expensive silence.
Kuya Angelo was reading the newspaper.
Aries scrolling through his phone.
Sir Alvin talking to a business partner.
And Keifer…
Watching me.
Keifer:
"You didn't answer my messages last night."
Jay Jay:
"I was tired."
He frowned.
Keifer:
"You usually spam me at 2 AM."
Aries laughed.
Aries:
"That's true."
I looked down at my plate.
Jay Jay:
"I just wanted to sleep."
Keifer leaned back in his chair.
Still staring.
Still thinking.
Keifer:
"You're avoiding me."
Jay Jay:
"I'm not."
He smirked.
Keifer:
"You're terrible at lying."
My chest tightened slightly.
But I didn't respond.
Because every second I spent close to him…
Put him in more danger.
Seven people wanted him dead.
And I was the only one who knew.
Which meant I had to control everything.
Every movement.
Every threat.
Every shadow.
Even if it meant pushing him away.
Across the table…
Keifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
And I could practically hear his thoughts.
Something is wrong.
Jay is hiding something.
And I'm going to find out what.
Because Keifer Watson was many things.
Dramatic.
Annoying.
Flirty.
Dangerously charming.
But one thing he was not…
Was stupid.
And now…
He was officially suspicious.
Very suspicious.