The man Keifer had punched was still on the ground, groaning and holding his face.
Percy crouched down beside him.
"Well," Percy said casually, "that didn't go how you planned, did it?"
Aries stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching the man carefully.
Keifer stayed beside Jay, his eyes never leaving the attacker.
Jay's heart was still racing, but she forced herself to stay calm.
"Who sent you?" Aries asked coldly.
The man didn't answer.
Instead… he suddenly pushed Percy away and scrambled to his feet.
"Hey!" Percy shouted.
Before anyone could grab him, the man bolted down the street.
"Stop!" Keifer yelled.
Keigan and Keiren started running after him.
But the man was fast.
He turned the corner and disappeared into the dark alley.
Percy cursed under his breath.
"Great."
Aries shook his head.
"He planned an escape route."
Jay frowned slightly.
"Or he knew someone would help him."
At that exact moment…
A car engine roared loudly from the end of the street.
Headlights flashed toward them suddenly.
Jay turned instinctively toward the sound.
The car was speeding directly toward the sidewalk.
And inside the open window…
Someone held a knife.
Everything happened in one second.
Keifer's eyes widened.
"JAY!"
Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and pulled her hard against his chest.
Their bodies collided as he spun her away from the street.
Jay gasped as the force pushed her backward.
The car sped past them, the person inside clearly aiming toward where Jay had been standing seconds earlier.
Then the car disappeared down the road just as quickly as it had appeared.
Silence filled the street.
Jay was still pressed tightly against Keifer.
Her hands had instinctively grabbed his shirt.
And when she looked up—
Their lips accidentally brushed together.
Both of them froze.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Jay's eyes widened slightly.
Keifer's breath caught.
Then Percy's voice broke the moment.
"Oh my god."
Jay and Keifer immediately stepped apart.
Keigan was staring at them with the biggest grin ever.
"Did they just—"
Keiren clapped his hands dramatically.
"They definitely just—"
Jane laughed loudly.
"You two almost died and still found time to kiss?"
Jay turned bright red.
"We did not kiss!"
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Looked like a kiss."
Keifer rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"It was an accident."
Keigan nodded slowly.
"Best accident ever."
Jay grabbed Percy's arm and pulled him away.
"Focus!" she snapped.
"The guy tried to kill me!"
Everyone went quiet again.
Aries looked down the street where the car had disappeared.
Then he spoke slowly.
"That wasn't the same guy."
Percy nodded.
"The man who grabbed Jay ran away."
Keigan added quietly,
"But the car attack came from somewhere else."
Keifer's expression darkened instantly.
Jay understood what they were realizing.
"This wasn't one person," she said quietly.
Aries shook his head.
"No."
Percy sighed heavily.
"This is bigger than we thought."
Keifer looked at Jay again, his protective instincts immediately rising.
"A lot bigger."
Jay swallowed.
Because now the truth was clear.
This wasn't just a stalker.
It was a group.
A gang.
And they were all coming for her.