The teasing slowly died down, though Percy and Keigan were still chuckling under their breath. Jay had retreated to the edge of the bed with her arms crossed, trying to recover from the embarrassment of being caught.
Keifer stood beside her, pretending to be calm, but the faint smile on his face refused to disappear.
Aries finally clapped his hands once, breaking the last of the laughter.
"Alright," he said seriously. "Fun's over."
The room immediately quieted.
Jay looked up.
"What's wrong?"
Percy pulled out his phone and walked toward them.
"We checked the hotel cameras," he said.
Jay's stomach tightened instantly.
"And?" Keifer asked.
Percy turned the screen toward them.
The video showed the hotel hallway from the night before.
The same man Jay and Keifer had seen standing near their door appeared clearly on camera. He was tall, wearing a dark jacket and a cap pulled low over his face.
Jay leaned closer.
"That's him," she whispered.
The footage continued.
The man slowly walked past Jay's room door… paused… then looked around like he was checking if anyone was watching.
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"He knew exactly where to go," he muttered.
Percy nodded. "That's the problem."
Jay looked between them.
"What do you mean?"
Aries leaned forward slightly.
"It means he didn't randomly come to this floor."
Jay felt a chill run down her spine.
"He came looking for you."
Jane stepped closer, her expression serious now.
"This isn't just some random stalker, Jay."
Keigan crossed his arms.
"Someone either told him where you were…"
Keiren finished the sentence quietly.
"…or he's been following you longer than we thought."
Jay swallowed.
Her mind raced through the last few days.
The letters.The motorcycle attack.The man in the hallway.
"Why me?" she asked softly.
No one answered immediately.
Then Aries spoke.
"You've testified in court before, right?"
Jay nodded slowly.
"Yes… plenty of times."
Aries exchanged a look with Percy.
"That's what we're thinking," Percy said.
Jay frowned. "Thinking what?"
"That someone you testified against might be behind this."
The words hung heavy in the room.
Jay's heart started beating faster.
"That's… that's impossible," she said. "There were dozens of cases."
"Exactly," Keifer said quietly.
Jay looked at him.
"And that's why we need to be careful," he continued.
Keifer stepped slightly closer to Jay, his posture shifting into that protective stance she had started recognizing.
"From now on," he said firmly, "you don't go anywhere alone."
Jay sighed. "Keifer—"
"No arguments."
His tone wasn't angry.
Just determined.
Jay looked at him for a moment… then nodded.
"Fine."
Percy smirked slightly. "Wow. That was easy."
Jay shot him a look. "Don't push it."
As the others began discussing possible suspects, Jay glanced sideways at Keifer.
He was still watching the phone footage carefully, his jaw tight, his eyes focused.
Protective.
Determined.
Ready to fight for her again if he had to.
Jay's chest warmed slightly.
She nudged his arm gently.
"You're doing the serious hero face again," she whispered.
Keifer glanced down at her.
"Someone has to."
Jay smiled faintly.
"Good thing it's you then."
For a second, they just looked at each other again.
And Percy immediately noticed.
"Oh my god," he groaned dramatically. "They're doing the eye thing again."
Jay grabbed another pillow and threw it at him.
The investigation might have started…
But the teasing definitely wasn't ending anytime soon.