(Jay's POV)
The sun was barely up, and I was already being shoved out of the "love nest" by a very caffeinated Keifer.
"Go on, baby. Your Lola will skin me alive if I keep you any longer," Keifer teased, leaning against the car while dodging a playful swat from me. We had survived 12th grade, Kaizer's ghost, and a literal hitman, but apparently, the scariest thing on earth was my Lola when she wanted her granddaughter home.
"I'll be back before you can even miss me," I stuck my tongue out.
Keifer grabbed my waist, pulling me close with a smirk that meant trouble. "Don't bet on it. When I come back from dropping Keiren and Keigan at school, I'm not leaving your side for a single second. Consider yourself warned—I'm going to be your shadow."
"Shoo, stalker!" I laughed, blushing as he kissed my forehead and drove off.
Walking inside, the house was a chaotic mess of baby talk and teasing. Ion was glowing—or sweating, it was hard to tell—as she rubbed her pregnant belly.
"So," Ion began, wiggling her eyebrows. "Is the live-in life as scandalous as Lola thinks? Does Keifer actually cook, or do you live on air and kisses?"
"He's the greatest husband in the world", I muttered blushing.
Tita and Lola joined in immediately. "Oh, look at her blushing! One year out of school and already acting like a veteran wife," Tita teased, poking my side. "Does he still follow you around like a lost puppy?"
"Worse," I sighed dramatically, though I was beaming. "He's a golden retriever in a human suit."
The laughter was cut short by the silence from the upstairs office where Angelo was buried in work. I went to check on him, but before I could even knock, the world turned into a nightmare.
The front door didn't just open; it exploded. Smoke, shouting, and the cold grip of a hand on my throat. My vision blurred as I saw Angelo scrambling from his room, but a heavy blow sent him down. The last thing I saw was Yuri's twisted grin. "Missed me, Jay?"
(Keifer's POV)
My phone didn't just ring; it screamed. When I heard Lola's hysterical sobbing on the other end, the steering wheel nearly snapped under my grip.
"They took her, Keifer! They took Jay!"
I didn't drive home; I flew. I stormed into the house, the scent of gunpowder still hanging in the air. Angelo was sitting on the floor, blood trickling down his temple, looking dazed.
"You were here!" I roared, my voice breaking as I grabbed his collar, shaking him with a strength born of pure terror. "I left her here for an hour! ONE HOUR, Angelo! How could you let them take her? You were supposed to be the wall between her and the world!"
I let him go, my legs giving out as I hit the floor. The image of Jay—my Jay, who had just been laughing about me being stalker —being in Yuri's hands made the oxygen vanish from the room. I didn't just cry; I broke.
But then, the coldness took over. I tracked her phone—a tiny, flickering red dot at a luxury hotel across town.
I didn't wait for backup. I didn't care about the law. I kicked the hotel's double doors so hard the marble chipped. I was a man possessed. Every door I passed was a barrier between me and my life.
When I reached the penthouse suite, I didn't knock. I broke the lock with my shoulder.
The sight inside stopped my heart. Jay was sprawled on the bed, unconscious, her skin pale against the silk. Yuri was hovering over her, his hands on the hem of her shirt.
"Get. Away. From. Her."
I didn't use a gun. I used my bare hands. Every strike was for the trauma she'd endured, for every tear she'd shed since Kaizer first ruined our lives. I didn't stop until Yuri was a heap of broken teeth and unconsciousness on the floor.
I rushed to the bed, my hands shaking so violently I could barely touch her. "Jay? Jay, baby, look at me."
Her eyes fluttered open, glassy and terrified. When she saw the room, then me, then the bruises on her own arms, she let out a sound that will haunt me forever—a high, thin wail of absolute brokenness. She lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck with such force we both tumbled to the floor.
"Don't go, don't go, don't go," she chanted, her voice a ragged whisper.
When we got home, the silence was louder than the attack. She wouldn't speak. She just sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the bruises blooming on her wrists.
"Jay," I whispered, kneeling between her knees. "Take a warm bath. It'll help the shaking."
She walked into the bathroom like a ghost. I stood outside the door, my forehead pressed against the wood, until I heard a shattered glass and a scream. I burst in. She was huddled in the corner of the shower, water spraying over her clothes, her eyes wide and seeing things that weren't there.
"He's coming back, Keifer, he's going to take me again," she sobbed, her fingernails digging into my arms as I reached for her. "Don't leave. Don't even let go of my hand. Please."
I didn't care that my clothes were soaking. I sat in the tub with her, pulling her small, trembling body into my lap. I washed the grime of that hotel off her skin, but I couldn't wash away the fear.
She gripped my hand so tight her knuckles turned white. "I'm right here," I choked out, the tears finally spilling over, landing in her wet hair. "I'm never letting go again. I failed you once today, Jay. Never again. I swear on my life."
Under the spray of the water, we both broke down. Two souls, barely out of school, carrying the weight of a hundred tragedies, clinging to each other because the rest of the world felt like a trap.
I held her until the water ran cold, and even then, she wouldn't let my hand go. Not for a second.
After the cold spray of the shower, I gently lifted Jay out of the tub. She was like a porcelain doll—fragile and silent. Her eyes never left my face, tracking my every move as if I might vanish into thin air if she blinked.
I didn't ask her to dress herself. I picked out her softest oversized hoodie and some warm leggings. As I pulled the fabric over her head and guided her arms through the sleeves, she kept one hand firmly hooked into the belt loop of my jeans. Even the few seconds it took to change her felt like an eternity of panic for her.
"I've got you, Jay. I'm right here," I whispered, brushing her damp hair back.
When we finally crawled into bed, she didn't just lie next to me; she tried to crawl into my very skin. She gripped my hand against her chest, her fingers interlaced with mine so tightly it restricted my circulation, but I didn't care. I wrapped my other arm around her in a firm, protective cocoon, pulling her back against my chest. Every time she jolted in her sleep—dreaming of Yuri's hands or the hotel room—I would tighten my hold and hum softly until her breathing leveled out. I didn't sleep. I stayed awake, guarding her peace.
The next morning, the "shadow" promise I made as a joke became a literal lifeline.
I didn't let her feet touch the cold floor. I carried her to the bathroom, sitting her on the counter while I brushed her teeth for her. When it was time for breakfast, I brought her into the kitchen, keeping her tucked under my arm while I flipped pancakes with one hand.
Lola and Tita watched us from the doorway, their eyes misty. Angelo tried to approach to apologize again, but the moment Jay saw a shadow move too quickly, she whimpered and hid her face in my neck. I gave Angelo a sharp look—not of anger, but of warning. She wasn't ready.
"Keifer, you need to eat too," Lola whispered, placing a plate down.
"I'm fine, Lola," I said, my voice raspy. I picked up a piece of fruit and held it to Jay's lips. "Just a bite, baby. For me?"
She ate only because I was the one feeding her. Every time I had to reach for something, she would gasp and grab my wrist. "Don't go."
"I'm just reaching for the juice, Jay. My hand is right here. See? I'm not going anywhere. Not for a second."
I spent the entire day doing everything for her—brushing her hair, lacing her shoes, even carrying her phone so she wouldn't have to reach for it. I was her hands, her feet, and her shield. The trauma had stripped her of her independence, and I was more than willing to give up mine to make her feel safe again.
(Few days later)
Watching Jay smile for the first time in days was like seeing the sun break through a storm. We were sitting on the terrace, and for a split second, she wasn't looking over her shoulder. She was just laughing at a bird landing on the railing, her hand still tucked firmly into mine.
"You look beautiful when you're happy, Jay," I whispered, squeezing her fingers.
She leaned her head on my shoulder, a genuine, soft sigh escaping her. "I'm starting to feel like myself again, Keifer. Because you're here."
But as much as she was healing, the fire in my chest hadn't died down. I couldn't let it go. Every time I saw the faint yellowing of a bruise on her arm, I saw Yuri's face. I waited until midnight, making sure she was deeply asleep. I didn't want to leave her side, so I called Angelo into the room.
"Watch her boss," I said, my voice like ice. "If she so much as flinches, call me. I'm going to end this."
Angelo looked at Jay's sleeping form, then back at me with a cold, hard stare. "Don't leave a single bone working in that bastard's body, Keifer. For what he did to our sister... make him scream. This is your fight and make sure victory belongs to you only."
I met the rest of Section E at the old shipyard. They were already there, the air thick with the same dark energy we had when we dealt with Kiko. Yuri was tied to a steel pillar, his face already bloodied from their "warm-up."
"You crossed the line, Yuri," I said, stepping into the circle. "The 'One Hit Rule' is usually enough, but for you? We're making an exception. We're making it hurt."
The "One Hit Rule" was simple: everyone gets one strike. But this time, no one held back. One by one, the boys delivered blows that echoed like gunshots in the empty warehouse. When it was my turn, I didn't use a weapon. I channeled every ounce of the terror I felt when I thought I'd lost Jay into my fist. I heard the sickening crack of his jaw, followed by the snap of his ribs. We left him a broken heap on the cold concrete—alive, but destroyed.
"He won't be touching anyone ever again," I muttered, turning my back on his groans.
I drove home like a man possessed, scrubbing the scent of the shipyard off me before I even stepped back into our room. I slipped under the covers, and Jay immediately stirred, her body instinctively seeking my warmth. She didn't wake up, but she reached out, her small hand clutching my shirt as she buried her face in my chest.
I pulled her into a protective, firm hug, my heart finally slowing down. She was safe. We were together. And now I could definitely sleep peacefully.
The morning after the shipyard confrontation was heavy with a different kind of tension. I was sitting at the dining table, my hand still resting over Jay's, when a sharp, insistent knocking echoed through the house. I knew exactly who it was.
Yuri's parents stood at the door, their faces twisted in a mix of fury and confusion. "What did you do to our son, Keifer?" his father demanded, his voice trembling with rage. "He's in a hospital bed with half his bones broken!"
I felt Jay's hand tighten around mine, her body starting to shake. I leaned in, whispering softly against her hair. "Go to our room, baby. Keigan and keiren are there. I'll handle this. I promise."
She hesitated, her eyes wide with lingering fear, but she nodded and hurried upstairs. Once the door clicked shut, I turned to the Hanamitchis. The warmth I had for Jay vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp edge.
"You want to know what I did?" I stepped closer, my voice low and dangerous. "I did what a protector does. I dismantled the monster you raised."
Yuri's mother gasped, but I didn't stop. I laid it all out. "Your son didn't just 'make a mistake.' He manipulated Jay for months, feeding her lies about Section E and about my feelings for her just to drive a wedge between us. He used her trauma as a weapon."
I watched them flinch as I detailed the two kidnappings—the terror he put her through twice, thinking he could own her by force.
"And the latest incident? He took her to a hotel, drugged her, and was trying to strip her when I broke that door down. Jay just spent days unable to even let go of my hand because she was so terrified of the world your son created for her."
The room went silent. Yuri's mother began to sob, her hands covering her face as the weight of her son's depravity finally sank in. "I... I had no idea," she choked out. "We thought they were just in love..."
"Love doesn't leave bruises and night terrors," I snapped.
Yuri's father looked at me, his shoulders sagging, the fire in his eyes completely extinguished. He looked toward the stairs where Jay had disappeared and then back at me, bowing his head in a deep, heavy apology. "There is no excuse for what he has done. None. To you, to Jay, and to your friends... we are deeply, deeply sorry."
He straightened up, his face set with a grim resolve. "We are taking him to Japan the moment he is stable enough to travel. He will never return to this country. I will personally ensure he never crosses paths with Jay or anyone in your life again. He will be under constant watch."
After they left, the silence in the house felt lighter. I walked upstairs and found Jay sitting on the edge of the bed, Keigan standing guard by the window and keiren consoling Jay. When she saw me, she didn't say a word; she just opened her arms.
I slid into bed beside her, pulling her close and feeling her heartbeat steady against mine. "They're gone, Jay," I whispered. "They're taking him away forever. He's never coming back."
Keigan and keiren also let a sigh in relief and I signaled them to leave Jay for while.
She let out a long, shaky breath, her grip on my shirt finally softening as she drifted into the first peaceful sleep she'd had in weeks. I held her firm, finally knowing the shadow was truly gone.
(Jay's POV)
The threat of Yuri being shipped off to Japan was like a giant reset button for my brain. For the first time in weeks, I didn't feel like a shivering Chihuahua hiding in Keifer's armpit. I actually felt... hungry.
"Keifer," I said, poking his cheek as he hovered over me for the five-hundredth time that morning. "I love you, I really do. But if you try to feed me one more spoonful of yogurt like I'm a high-maintenance toddler, I'm going to bite your finger."
He froze, spoon halfway to my mouth, looking like a stunned golden retriever. "I'm just making sure you're nourished, Jay! You've had a traumatic—"
"I've had a traumatic week, not a lobotomy," I laughed, snatching the spoon. "Look! My hand isn't shaking! I can feed myself! It's a miracle!"
I decided it was time for a victory lap. I dragged a very reluctant, very "bodyguard-mode" Keifer to the mall. It was hilarious. He walked two inches behind me, head swivelling like a paranoid owl, looking like he was ready to tackle a mannequin if it looked at me wrong.
"Keifer, honey, that's a Zara display. It's not going to kidnap me," I teased, pulling him into a clothing store.
"It has a suspicious vibe, Jay. Stay close," he muttered, eyes narrowed at a plastic model wearing a sun hat.
I spent the next hour making him hold my bags while I tried on the most ridiculous outfits I could find. Every time I came out of the fitting room, he'd give me this look—half 'I'd die for you' and half 'Please don't make me carry another pink shopping bag.'
At the food court, I purposely let go of his hand to go grab napkins. He practically levitated off his chair.
"Jay! Where are you going? Tactical retreat?"
"I'm getting a napkin, you dork!" I yelled back, waving the paper square at him while people stared.
By the time we got home, my ribs hurt from laughing at his over-protectiveness. I felt light. The shadows were gone, replaced by the ridiculous, beautiful reality of my fiancé being a total stage-five clinger—but in the best way possible.
"Okay, shadow," I said, flopping onto the couch and pulling him down with me. "You win. You can hold my hand for the next five hours. But only if you order pizza."
He grinned, finally relaxing as he tucked me into his side. "Deal. But I'm choosing the toppings. No pineapple, Jay. I've been through enough trauma this week."
I couldn't let Keifer keep all the credit for my recovery, so I told him to call the rest of the Section E idiots over. If I was going to be "back," I needed a proper audience for my sarcasm.
The moment the door opened, it was like a dam broke. "The Queen has returned!" Keiren yelled, nearly tackling me before Keifer's arm shot out like a security gate to block him.
"Easy, tiger. One foot of distance at all times," Keifer warned, looking like a grumpy bodyguard outside a VIP club.
"Oh, please," I laughed, ducking under Keifer's arm to give Keiren a quick hug. "I'm fine! Look, no bandages, no shaking, and I even managed to survive the mall with 'Captain Overprotective' over here."
The house immediately transformed into a chaotic mess. Angelo was actually smiling, looking ten years younger now that the guilt wasn't eating him alive. Ion was lounging on the sofa, using her pregnant belly as a tray for snacks.
"So, Jay," Ion teased, tossing a grape into her mouth. "Now that you're not glued to Keifer's side 24/7, do you realize he's been wearing the same shirt for three days because he was too busy hovering over you to do laundry?"
I sniffed Keifer's shoulder and made a face. "Ugh, you're right. He smells like devotion and... old gym socks."
"Hey!" Keifer protested, blushing furiously while the whole group erupted in laughter. "I was busy saving you from 'suspicious' mannequins!"
The night was filled with the kind of loud, messy joy we hadn't felt in forever. We ate way too much pizza, and Keifer finally—finally—relaxed his grip on my hand, though he still kept his foot hooked over mine under the table. Seeing everyone together, laughing until our stomachs hurt, made me realize that Yuri didn't just lose—he completely failed to break us.
As the guys started a loud debate over a video game, Keifer leaned in and whispered, "You really are okay, aren't you?"
I looked at my rowdy, crazy family and then back at my fiancé. "Better than okay. I'm home."
After the chaos of Section E finally cleared out—leaving behind a mountain of pizza boxes and a very sleepy Ion—the house fell into that sweet, heavy silence that only comes late at night.
Keifer didn't even wait for me to walk upstairs. He just scooped me up, carrying me bridal-style while I tiredly giggled and tucked my face into the crook of his neck. He laid me down on the bed but stayed hovering over me, his arms braced on either side of my head, just looking at me with those soft, "I'm-so-in-love-with-you" eyes.
"What?" I whispered, reaching up to trail my fingers along his jawline.
"I'm just thinking about the wedding," he murmured, his voice low and raspy. "About the day I get to see you walk down the aisle and know that I never have to worry about anyone trying to take you away again. You'll be mine, officially. Permanently."
I smiled, pulling him down until our foreheads rested against each other. "I'm already yours, Keifer. But I have to ask... are you going to stand at the altar with a headset on, coordinating Section E like a SWAT team?"
He let out a short, breathy laugh. "Maybe. Angelo on the roof, Keiren at the buffet... just to be safe."
"You're impossible," I teased, but I felt my eyes tearing up—this time, from pure happiness. "I want a big garden wedding. Lots of white flowers, a huge cake that you'll definitely try to smash into my face, and no drama. Just us. And maybe a very small, very secret security detail."
"Done," he promised, kissing me softly—a kiss that tasted like a fresh start. "Whatever you want, Jay. From now on, your only job is to be happy. I'll handle the rest."
We lay there for a long time, tangled in the sheets, whispering about the names of our future kids (caretaker and watcher iykyk ) and where we'd travel next. For the first time, the future didn't look like a series of hurdles to survive; it looked like a wide-open road. As I drifted off to sleep, tucked firmly into his chest, I knew that no matter what happened tomorrow, I was exactly where I was meant to be.