Chapter: Promises in Shadows
Jay's POV
It didn't take long for Aries to drag me to the living room. Angelo was already there, arms crossed, waiting like he somehow knew we had a bomb to drop.
"Explain," Angelo demanded.
Aries didn't hesitate. "It's Yuri. He has a kill list. Keifer's on it."
My stomach twisted hearing it out loud.
Angelo's eyes narrowed, his whole body stiffening. "What the hell do you mean kill list?"
"It's exactly what it sounds like," Aries said. "And Jay's been losing her mind because she knows how serious it might be."
I swallowed hard, whispering, "He's unstable, Angelo. You know it. I just… I can't let anything happen to Keifer."
For a moment, silence. Then Angelo swore under his breath, running a hand down his face.
"Goddammit, Yuri."
Before I could say anything, Aries had already dialed his phone. Percy's loud voice filled the air on speaker.
"Hellooo? Aries? Oh don't tell me Jay got a boyfriend and you're still crying about it—"
"Shut up," Aries barked. "We need you. Now. It's Yuri."
Something in Percy's tone shifted instantly. "I'm on my way."
Twenty minutes later, Percy was pacing the room like it was a board meeting, throwing around plans. "Okay. I'll keep my ear out for Yuri's movements. Angelo, you watch him in class. Aries, you're backup. If he so much as breathes wrong around Watson, we shut it down."
"Percy," I hissed. "Don't you dare—"
"Jay," Percy cut in, his usual dramatics stripped away, his eyes sharp. "This isn't about you. It's about keeping you safe. Keeping Watson safe. You want to protect him? Then let us help."
It hurt. God, it hurt. But when Angelo placed a hand on my shoulder and said firmly, "We've got this," I finally nodded.
They promised. All three of them.
And I clung to that promise like it was the only thing keeping me from breaking apart completely.
Chapter: The Weight Between Us
Later that night, Keifer called.
"Jay." His voice was warm, but beneath it I heard something else. Worry. "You've been quiet all day. What's wrong?"
I curled up tighter on my bed, clutching the phone like a lifeline. "Nothing. Just… tired."
"Don't lie to me."
The command in his voice made my chest ache. He knew me too well.
"Jay." Softer this time. Almost a plea. "If something's hurting you, I want to carry it too."
My throat tightened. I wanted to tell him. About Yuri. About the fear that clawed at me every time I looked at him. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not when it would only paint a bigger target on his back.
So I whispered the safest half-truth I could. "I'm just scared. Of how much I love you."
Silence. Then—his breath hitched.
"Jay…" His voice cracked. "Don't ever be scared of that. Please."
"I can't help it."
There was a pause, then the faint sound of movement. "Open your window."
Confused, I hurried to my window—and almost burst into tears when I saw him standing outside, phone pressed to his ear, eyes locked on mine.
He looked up at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
"I'll keep showing up," he said, voice steady despite the tears glistening in his eyes. "Every time. Until you believe me. Until you believe I'm not leaving. Not ever."
And in that moment, even with fear still clawing at me, I wanted to believe him.
I really did.