The tension from the "Opera Incident" had finally settled, leaving the penthouse in a rare state of quiet. The boys had long since fled—Ci-N was likely hiding in a bunker, and Felix was probably halfway across the city.
In the master bedroom, the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city lights. Jay-jay stood by the glass, her reflection looking small against the vast skyline. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist, and the familiar scent of sandalwood and expensive coffee enveloped her.
Keifer pulled her back against his chest, resting his chin in the crook of her neck. "You're thinking too loud again," he whispered, his voice vibrating through her.
"I'm just worried, Keifer. Yuri's name... it always feels like a storm is coming."
Keifer turned her around in his arms, his gaze intense but filled with a tenderness that still made Jay-jay's heart skip a beat. "Let it rain, Jay. I've spent my whole life building a roof over us. No one is taking this away from me."
He leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a slow, lingering kiss that tasted of promise and protection. For a moment, the Black Ledger, the Elders, and the Hanamitchi threats didn't exist. It was just the King and his Mutya, finally finding a second of peace in their chaotic kingdom.
The moment was perfect—until the doorbell rang.
Keifer stiffened. It was 11:30 PM. No one—not even the Section E boys—dared to ring the doorbell this late without a warning.
"Stay behind me," Keifer commanded, his romantic softness vanishing as he shifted into combat mode. He checked the security monitor by the door.
He froze. His hand hovered over the door handle, his knuckles whitening.
"Who is it?" Jay-jay whispered, her heart hammering.
Keifer didn't answer. He simply opened the door.
Standing in the hallway, looking remarkably pale under the LED lights, was Yuri Hanamitchi. He wasn't wearing his usual sharp, villainous suits. He wore a simple black hoodie, and his signature smirk was nowhere to be found. In its place was a look of utter exhaustion.
"Long time no see keifer" Yuri said, his voice raspy. "I'd ask if I'm welcome, but we both know the answer is 'no.'"
Keifer's hand was already at Yuri's throat, pinning him against the doorframe in a split second. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't throw you off this balcony right now, Yuri. After what your brother did? After that 'Checkmate' message?"
Yuri didn't fight back. He just looked at Keifer with hollow eyes. "Because I'm the one who sent the 'Checkmate' message, Keifer. But it wasn't a threat to you
Keifer's grip loosened slightly. "What are you talking about?"
"It was a warning," Yuri coughed, sliding down the wall as Keifer let go. He looked over at Jay-jay, a flicker of the old Yuri appearing for a second. "Hello, jay. You look... well. Marriage suits you."
"Yuri, what's going on?" Jay-jay asked, stepping forward despite Keifer's protective arm. "Why are you here if you're not here to fight?"
Yuri reached into his hoodie and pulled out a small, blood-stained flash drive. "My brother Ryuuichi is a fool. He thinks he's in charge. But he's just a distraction. The Elders... they've moved beyond the Hanamitchis. They've activated the Executioner's Protocol."
Yuri leaned his head back against the wall, looking like a man who had been running for days. "They didn't just want the Watson Group. They wanted to erase the 'Section E' generation entirely. They see us as a glitch in their system—a bunch of nobodies who became too powerful."
"And why tell us?" Keifer asked suspiciously. "You've spent years trying to ruin us."
Yuri let out a bitter laugh. "Because they took him, Keifer. They took Ci-N's brother. And they're coming for the rest of the families tonight."
Jay-jay's blood ran cold. "Ci-N's brother? But he's just a kid..."
"To them, he's leverage," Yuri said, struggling to stand. "I'm not here to fight you, Keifer. I'm here because I have nowhere else to go, and you're the only person who hates the Elders more than I do."
Keifer looked at the flash drive, then at Yuri, then at Jay-jay. The "After Marriage" life had just hit a wall.
"Jay, call the boys," Keifer said, his voice sounding like a general preparing for the final battle. "Tell them to get to the safe house. Now."
Yuri looked at Keifer. "Are we really doing this? The King and the Ghost working together?"
Keifer grabbed Yuri by the collar, but this time, he helped him up. "Only until we get the kid back. After that? I'm still throwing you off the balcony."
"Fair enough," Yuri smirked.