Chapter 27: The Distance Between Us
(Jay Jay's POV)
Watson Mansion had always felt large.
But lately it felt enormous.
Like the distance between rooms had doubled.
Like every hallway stretched longer than before.
And somehow…
Every time I tried to avoid Keifer…
He appeared anyway.
Three days passed.
Three days of avoiding him.
Three days of pretending everything was normal.
Three days of secretly planning how to keep him alive.
Savannah's voice came through my earpiece while I sat in the library.
Savannah:
"Update."
Jay Jay:
"Go."
Savannah:
"Your count increased."
My stomach dropped slightly.
Jay Jay:
"How many now?"
Savannah answered calmly.
Savannah:
"Ten."
Ten people.
Ten different threats.
Ten different plans to kill Keifer Watson.
And he had absolutely no idea.
Jay Jay:
"Names?"
Savannah sighed.
Savannah:
"You're really not going to like this."
She sent the file.
And when I opened it…
My blood turned cold.
Two uncles.
One cousin.
A business partner.
Three hired mercenaries.
And…
One name I didn't expect.
Keizer Watson.
Keifer's father.
Jay Jay:
"Savannah."
Savannah:
"Yes?"
Jay Jay:
"Tell me this is wrong."
Savannah was quiet for a moment.
Savannah:
"I triple checked."
Jay Jay:
"And?"
Savannah:
"keizer Watson recently updated his will."
My heart started beating faster.
Jay Jay:
"Explain."
Savannah:
"If Keifer dies before inheritance transfer…"
She paused.
Savannah:
"The estate returns to keizer Watson."
I closed my eyes slowly.
Jay Jay:
"You're telling me…"
Savannah finished the sentence.
Savannah:
"Yes."
Keifer's own father might be planning his death.
I rubbed my forehead.
Jay Jay:
"Do the others know?"
Savannah:
"Only Sophia."
Jay Jay:
"Good."
Because if Amy heard this…
She'd probably try to burn half the city down.
Sophia's calm voice joined the call.
Sophia:
"Jay."
Jay Jay:
"Yes?"
Sophia:
"You're not going to like my advice."
Jay Jay:
"Say it."
Sophia didn't hesitate.
Sophia:
"You need to stay away from Keifer."
My chest tightened.
Jay Jay:
"I know."
Sophia:
"If someone is watching him…"
Sophia continued.
Sophia:
"They'll notice you."
And if they noticed me…
They might discover the Obsidian Circle.
Sophia finished quietly.
Sophia:
"You protecting him secretly is safer."
I hated that she was right.
But before I could answer—
The library door opened.
Keifer walked in.
And he looked annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Savannah whispered through the earpiece.
Savannah:
"Boyfriend alert."
Then the call disconnected.
Keifer closed the door behind him.
Keifer:
"So this is where you've been hiding."
I closed the laptop calmly.
Jay Jay:
"I wasn't hiding."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Keifer:
"Really?"
He walked across the room slowly.
Like a predator that had found something interesting.
Keifer:
"Because I checked your room."
Keifer:
"You weren't there."
Keifer:
"I checked the garden."
Keifer:
"Still not there."
He stopped right in front of my desk.
Keifer:
"And now you're here."
His voice softened slightly.
Keifer:
"And somehow you still didn't answer my texts."
Jay Jay:
"I was busy."
Keifer laughed.
Not amused.
Keifer:
"You're avoiding me."
Jay Jay:
"No."
Keifer:
"Yes."
He leaned forward slightly.
Keifer:
"Did I do something?"
For a moment…
I almost told him everything.
The hit lists.
The assassins.
His father.
Everything.
But if I did…
He would get involved.
And that would make things worse.
Jay Jay:
"No."
Keifer studied my face.
Then suddenly…
He leaned closer.
Too close.
Keifer:
"You know something?"
Jay Jay:
"What?"
His voice dropped playfully.
Keifer:
"You're terrible at pretending."
I looked away.
Jay Jay:
"I'm not pretending."
Keifer smirked.
Keifer:
"Then explain something to me."
Jay Jay:
"What?"
He crossed his arms.
Keifer:
"Why did Yuri suddenly disappear from school?"
My heartbeat paused.
Jay Jay:
"He probably transferred."
Keifer chuckled.
Keifer:
"Transferred?"
Then he leaned down toward my ear slightly.
Keifer:
"Funny thing."
His voice lowered.
Keifer:
"I visited him in the hospital."
My eyes snapped to his.
Keifer smiled slowly.
Keifer:
"And he was terrified."
Silence filled the room.
Keifer continued.
Keifer:
"You want to know what he said?"
Jay Jay:
"No."
Keifer ignored that.
Keifer:
"He said…"
He paused dramatically.
Keifer:
"The person who did this…"
My heart pounded.
Keifer finished the sentence slowly.
Keifer:
"Was protecting me."
He stared straight into my eyes.
Watching my reaction.
Keifer:
"Now I keep thinking…"
He leaned even closer.
Keifer:
"Who would care enough to do that?"
I forced calm.
Jay Jay:
"Maybe someone hates Yuri."
Keifer laughed softly.
Keifer:
"Maybe."
But his eyes didn't leave mine.
Not for a second.
Keifer suddenly leaned back.
Keifer:
"You know what's funny though?"
Jay Jay:
"What?"
Keifer grinned mischievously.
Keifer:
"If someone did beat Yuri up for me…"
His voice turned dramatic.
Keifer:
"I'd probably fall in love with them instantly."
I rolled my eyes.
Jay Jay:
"You're ridiculous."
Keifer pointed at me.
Keifer:
"Exactly!"
Then his smile faded slightly.
Keifer:
"But seriously…"
He lowered his voice again.
Keifer:
"You're hiding something."
I stood up.
Jay Jay:
"I'm going to class."
Keifer grabbed my wrist gently.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to stop me.
Keifer:
"Jay."
His voice was softer now.
Concerned.
Keifer:
"If you're in trouble…"
He hesitated slightly.
Keifer:
"You can tell me."
That almost broke me.
But I shook my head.
Jay Jay:
"I'm fine."
Then I pulled my hand away.
And walked out of the library.
But the moment I turned the corner…
My phone buzzed again.
Sophia.
Sophia:
"Emergency."
Jay Jay:
"What happened?"
Sophia's voice was colder than usual.
Sophia:
"Someone just hired a sniper."
My heart stopped.
Jay Jay:
"For who?"
Sophia answered immediately.
Sophia:
"For Keifer."
My hands clenched into fists.
Jay Jay:
"Location."
Sophia replied.
Sophia:
"Watson Mansion."
The danger wasn't coming.
It was already here.
And Keifer…
Was still inside the house.
Completely unaware that someone nearby had a rifle pointed at him.
Which meant the Obsidian Circle had to move now.
Before the trigger was pulled.