"Our faces have been marked. No one is safe," Elena said, her voice low.
"Daniel," Tan turned to him, clearly irritated, "what's our business with your father? He wants Damian—why kill us?"
"Bait, I guess," Daniel replied quietly. "But he's after Janaya and Damian more than anyone."
"Why am I involved?" Janaya asked, stunned. "This isn't about my parents, right?"
"It is," Jason said.
"Because you're my brother's favorite girl."
"As much as I hate to say this…" Damian started.
Then he paused.
His gaze fixed on the window.
"You all have to move in. Until this is settled."
"What?!" Maya screamed.
"I agree," Daniel added immediately.
"My father already has everyone marked. Until we take him down, none of us are free."
"I'm sorry, but I work too," Tan said, frustrated.
"What happens to my businesses?"
"Most of them are linked to Aureum," Damian replied calmly.
"I'm the right-hand man. I'll handle it. You can leave if you don't agree."
"My firm…" Elena added, worried.
"I have a court case in two weeks. My client could be jailed if I don't show up."
"You'll be escorted," Jason said immediately, walking up to her and holding her hand.
"Just move in. For your safety."
"This is… a lot," Timothy sighed.
"I'm sorry, everyone," Maya said, breaking down again.
"I shouldn't have planned the date…"
"No," Janaya said quickly, pulling her into a hug.
"I don't blame you—and I'm sure no one here does."
She looked around.
"This brought us together. If anything, it made us a real family. Now that this has happened… we fight it together."
"I can't be a family with a Kane."
Damian's voice cut through the room.
"Not again…" Tan sighed.
"Damian!" Janaya called.
Daniel stepped forward slightly.
"I understand how he feels. Maybe I should leave. That way, no one else gets hurt."
"Step outside," Damian said coldly, not even turning,
"and they'll have your head before you take five steps."
Silence.
"Do we at least have separate rooms?" Timothy asked, stepping closer.
"Or are we all sleeping together too?"
"I should break the other arm," Damian replied instantly.
The room burst into laughter.
Tension cracked—just a little.
"Timothy, what are you saying?" Maya said, wiping her tears as she laughed.
"What about Janaya that sleeps naked?"
"I'm not the only one!" Janaya fired back immediately.
"Boys together, girls together," Tan suggested.
"No!" Jason cut in quickly.
"I refuse to witness whatever Daniel and Timothy have going on."
"Who do you think my babe is?" Janaya scoffed.
"Some poor man? We have enough rooms."
"Do I get to stay with my man though?" Elena asked, raising a brow.
"I mean… chaos or not, I still deserve sweet nights."
Everyone stared at her.
Then laughed.
"You're thinking about that at a time like this?" Tan said, shaking his head.
"I didn't cause this mess," Elena fired back.
"I deserve happiness."
"I keep wondering," Damian said, trying not to laugh,
"do you have another man… or is it Jason?"
"What do you mean?" Jason snapped.
"I'm not man enough?"
"I used to bathe you when you were five… six… seven…" Damian said casually.
"Even ten. I'm just curious what we're working with now."
"I don't like them big anyway," Elena said immediately.
Jason froze.
"Wait—you think I'm not big?"
"Jesus Christ," Timothy groaned.
"Can we focus?"
"How do we even leave here without being seen?" Maya asked.
"First of all," Damian said,
"you all were terrible at acting. So we're not doing that again."
"Can't we just use a car or something?" Timothy asked.
"I genuinely thought we'd use a horse," Jason replied with a smirk.
"We can't move together," Tan said, stepping in.
"We go in pairs. One officer car at a time. Drop the first pair, come back, repeat."
"So now we have to act like officers too?" Janaya groaned.
"No," Damian said.
"You just need to dress like one," Jason added.
"Acting is clearly not your strength."
"I don't know about you guys," Timothy grinned,
"but I'm actually enjoying this."
Everyone hissed at him.
"Elena and Janaya go first," Damian ordered.
"I can't drive!" Janaya said immediately.
"I can," Elena replied.
Then paused.
"Just remind me where the brake is."
"Abort mission," Damian said instantly.
"Maya… please tell me you can drive," he added.
"I can… try?" she said.
"Plan B," Jason stepped in quickly.
"You all can't drive?" Timothy said in disbelief.
"…I mean, I can't too, so it's fine."
Damian stared at all of them.
"A bunch of useless individuals," he muttered.
"You're all friends and none of you can start a car?"
"Jason can!" Janaya said quickly.
"Good," Damian nodded.
"Jason and Maya—firefighters."
"Janaya and Timothy—police."
"Tan and Elena—paramedics."
"Me and Daniel—military."
"Your uniforms will be ready in the morning."
He paused.
"If you get caught… die quietly. Don't drag others down."
"Why can't I go with my babe?" Jason complained.
"Because you'll be distracted," Janaya replied instantly.
"I mean… seeing me in uniform might distract you," Elena added with a teasing look.
"You both realize we're in danger, right?" Maya snapped.
And just like that—
even in the middle of fear—
they were still them.
Morning came too quickly.
No one really slept.
The house was quiet—but not peaceful.
Just… waiting.
A knock came at the door.
Three short taps.
Then silence.
Fred opened it.
Outside stood a line of men—each carrying neatly packed garment bags.
"Sir," Fred said, stepping aside.
Within minutes, the living room was filled with uniforms.
Pressed. Clean. Perfect.
"Firefighters?" Jason picked his up, raising a brow.
"I look too good for this job."
"Focus," Maya said, already changing.
Janaya stared at hers.
Police uniform.
She sighed.
"I don't even know how to drive, now I'm enforcing the law."
"Relax," Timothy said beside her, already halfway into his outfit.
"I'll guide you."
"You don't know how to drive either," she snapped.
"…we'll figure it out together," he said confidently.
"God help us," she muttered.
Across the room, Damian adjusted his military jacket.
Cold.
Composed.
Back to himself.
Daniel stood near him.
Quiet.
Watching.
"Say it," Damian said without looking at him.
Daniel paused.
Then—
"I'm sorry."
Damian didn't respond.
"I know it doesn't fix anything," Daniel continued.
"But I meant what I said last night. I'll fix this. I'll help you take him down."
Still silence.
"You don't have to trust me," Daniel added.
"Just… use me."
Damian finally turned.
Eyes sharp.
"You're right," he said calmly.
"I don't trust you."
A pause.
"But you saved them."
His gaze softened—just slightly.
"And that counts for something."
Daniel nodded.
Relief—but small.
Careful.
"Don't make me regret it," Damian added.
"I won't."
"My man looks so good on that" Janaya shouted across the room
"To me he looks like he won't survive a war" Jason replied immediately
"And you look like you won't survive a fire outbreak" Janaya fired back
Outside—
Engines started.
Everyone stepped out one after the other.
And there they were—
Four official vehicles.
Engines running.
Drivers ready.
"Wow…" Maya whispered.
"This is actually happening."
"Pairs," Damian said firmly.
"No mistakes."
Jason grabbed Maya's hand.
"Firefighters, let's go save lives."
"I think we are the one that needs saving" Maya replied removing her hands from his
Tan and Elena followed next, already arguing over directions.
"Let's go left. A lady's gut feeling is always right" Elena proposed
"Maya's gut feelings have never been right. So I'll go right" Tan replied taking the wheel
Damian and Daniel entered their vehicle without another word.
That left—
Janaya and Timothy.
Janaya stared at the car.
Then at the driver's seat.
Then back at the car.
"I can't do this," she said immediately.
"You can," Timothy replied, already seated.
"I believe in you."
"That makes one of us."
She got in.
Took a deep breath.
Held the steering wheel.
"Okay… okay…"
"Start the engine," Timothy said calmly.
She pressed something.
The wipers came on.
"…that's not it," he added.
"Don't pressure me!" she snapped.
After a few wrong buttons—
The engine finally roared to life.
"Oh my God, I did it!" she screamed.
"Drive," Timothy said quickly.
The car jerked forward.
Hard.
"BRAKE!" he shouted.
"WHICH ONE IS THE BRAKE?!" she screamed back.
"THE LEFT—NO, THE OTHER LEFT!"
The car halted abruptly.
Silence.
Both of them stared straight ahead.
"…we're going to die," Timothy whispered.
"No we're not," Janaya replied, gripping the wheel tighter.
"I've got this."
And somehow—
She did.
One by one—
The vehicles pulled out.
Different routes.
Different directions.
Same destination.
The roads were quiet.
But every turn felt watched.
Every stop—
too long.
Every mirror—
suspicious.
Everyone avoided eye contacts with car owners during traffick
Inside Damian's car—
Silence.
"You hesitated," Daniel said.
Damian didn't look at him.
"When you said you don't trust me," Daniel continued,
"you hesitated."
"…don't read into things," Damian replied.
"I just want to know where I stand."
Damian finally turned slightly.
"You stand on thin ice."
A pause.
"But you're still standing."
Daniel nodded.
That was enough.
Minutes turned to an hour.
Then—
One by one—
They arrived.
Damian's house.
Safe.
Cars pulled in.
Doors opened.
Everyone stepped out—
relieved.
Breathing again.
"We made it…" Maya said softly.
"I can't believe we actually made it," Tan added.
Janaya stepped out slowly.
Still holding the wheel in her mind.
"I never want to drive again."
"You almost killed me," Timothy said.
"But you're alive," she replied proudly.
Then—
The door opened.
Not from inside.
From the front entrance.
And someone stepped out.
Elegant.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Vivian.
Silence fell instantly.
"What is she doing here?" Jason muttered.
Daniel's expression changed immediately.
Vivian smiled.
Slow.
Knowing.
"Looks like you actually betrayed dad… brother ," she said softly.
And just like that—
the calm was gone again.
"I thought you said we were safe here?" Tan moved forward and whispered to Damian in anger