The safehouse no longer felt like a place to rest.
It felt like a battlefield.
Percy stood in the middle of the living room, clapping his hands.
"Alright. Enough romance. We are officially in protection mode."
Jay immediately rolled her eyes. "Wow. Ruined the moment."
Jane smirked. "Oh please, Sugar, you've had enough moments for today."
Keigan leaned against the wall, grinning. "Ate Jay is glowing."
Keiren added dramatically, "Glowing because of love."
Keifer shot them all a look. "Focus."
Aries stepped forward, calm but serious. "They're organized. That means they'll attack smart. Not head-on."
Percy nodded. "So we outsmart them first."
They quickly split tasks:
Percy & Aries → Security and patrol routes
Keifer → Strategy and response plan
Jane → Inside coordination and communication
Keigan & Keiren → Cameras and surveillance
Jay → …supposedly resting
Jay crossed her arms. "Why am I resting?"
Keifer didn't even look at her. "Because you're the target."
"I'm also a lawyer who can think—"
"You're also the one they want," Keifer cut in, his tone firm. "So for once, listen."
Jay frowned but stayed quiet.
Later, Jay found Keifer alone near the balcony, staring outside.
She walked up to him. "You're overdoing it."
He didn't turn. "And you're underestimating this."
Jay stepped closer. "You don't trust me to handle myself?"
Keifer finally faced her, his jaw tight.
"I trust you," he said quietly. "I don't trust them."
The air between them shifted again.
Jay softened slightly. "You've been like this since last night…"
Keifer ran a hand through his hair.
"I almost lost you," he admitted.
Jay froze.
"You didn't," she said softly.
"But I could have," he replied, voice low. "And I'm not taking that risk again."
Jay's heart pounded.
She stepped closer.
"You don't have to carry this alone," she whispered.
Keifer looked at her, something unspoken in his eyes.
"Then don't make it harder," he murmured.
Jay blinked. "What?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Don't walk into danger like it's nothing… because it's not nothing to me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Jay looked away first.
"…you're being annoying again," she muttered.
Keifer smirked faintly. "And you're avoiding the point."
Inside, Jane peeked through the curtain.
"Oh my God, they're about to confess."
Keigan whispered, "This is better than any drama."
Keiren nodded. "I give it two days before they explode."
Percy crossed his arms. "If he hurts her, I'm ending him."
Aries added calmly, "Same."
Suddenly—
Keiren's voice rang out from the tech table.
"Guys."
Everyone turned.
His playful tone was gone.
"There's movement."
Keigan leaned over the screen. "Multiple figures… not just one or two."
Percy's face hardened. "How many?"
"…At least six."
Silence filled the room.
Aries stepped forward slowly. "This isn't random anymore."
Keifer's expression darkened instantly.
"They're moving as a unit," he said. "This is planned."
Jay felt a chill run down her spine.
"Six people… just for me?" she whispered.
Keifer looked at her.
"Not just for you," he said quietly.
"For whatever you're involved in."
Jay frowned. "But I don't—"
A loud thud echoed from outside.
Everyone froze.
Percy grabbed a metal rod. "Positions."
Aries cracked his knuckles slightly. "Stay sharp."
Keigan and Keiren focused on the screens.
Jane pulled Jay slightly back.
But Keifer?
He stepped in front of Jay instantly.
Protective.
Unmoving.
"Stay behind me," he said firmly.
Jay looked at his back… then at his clenched fists.
Her chest tightened.
"…always acting like I need saving," she whispered.
But this time—
She didn't argue.
She stayed.
Right behind him.