Chapter 28 – The Watson Estate
Morning started normally.
Which honestly should've been the first warning.
JJ walked out of the house between Percy and Aries while trying to eat toast at the same time.
"WHY DO MORNINGS EXIST," she complained dramatically.
Percy pointed proudly. "Baby sistah inherited my hatred for responsibility."
"You are responsibility's biggest enemy," Aries muttered.
JJ was still half asleep, backpack hanging lazily from one shoulder.
Then—
a black van stopped directly in front of them.
All three paused instantly.
The windows were tinted dark.
Too dark.
Aries' expression hardened first.
Percy subtly moved closer to JJ.
The van door slid open.
And JJ's stomach dropped immediately.
Inside—
Section E boys.
Cin.
Felix.
Rory.
Calix.
David.
Denzel.
Endrix.
Eman.
All sitting unusually quiet.
And beside them—
two terrified children.
Keigan Watson.
Keiren Watson.
Keigan's face immediately lifted the second he saw JJ.
"ATE JJ—"
Keiren looked seconds away from crying.
JJ didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't ask questions.
She immediately climbed inside the van.
"JJ—" Aries snapped.
But Percy already followed her.
Then Aries too.
The door slammed shut behind them.
And the van started moving.
---
Inside The Van
"What the hell is happening?" Percy demanded instantly.
Cin looked traumatized. "WE GOT KIDNAPPED BEFORE BREAKFAST."
Felix pointed angrily. "I DIDN'T EVEN BRUSH MY HAIR."
Denzel sighed. "Some men came to my house and told me Keifer's father invited us somewhere."
JJ immediately looked toward Keigan and Keiren.
The younger boys looked terrified.
Keiren instantly grabbed her sleeve tightly.
JJ softened immediately.
"Hey," she said quietly. "Look at me."
Keiren's eyes were watery now.
JJ gently held his hand.
"You're okay."
Keigan tried acting braver than he felt.
"…Dad's angry again."
That sentence alone made the entire van quieter.
JJ's jaw tightened slightly.
Aries noticed immediately.
Percy too.
Nobody spoke for a few seconds after that.
Only the sound of the van moving.
Then Rory whispered dramatically:
"If we die today I'm haunting all of you."
Cin slapped him instantly. "SHUT UP."
---
The Estate
An hour later—
the van gates opened slowly.
And everyone froze slightly.
The estate was massive.
Cold.
Expensive.
The kind of place that looked beautiful while still feeling wrong.
JJ hated it immediately.
The van stopped.
Doors opened.
And standing near the entrance—
was Kaizer Watson.
Tall.
Sharp suit.
Dangerous smile.
The kind of man who looked powerful without needing to raise his voice.
JJ instantly understood one thing:
This man and Keifer were nothing alike.
Kaizer smiled calmly.
"Welcome."
Nobody answered.
Because honestly?
Everyone was uncomfortable already.
Then Kaizer's eyes landed on Keigan and Keiren.
The younger boys visibly stiffened.
JJ immediately moved slightly in front of them.
Tiny movement.
But protective.
Kaizer noticed.
Of course he did.
Interesting amusement flickered across his face briefly.
Then—
engine sounds echoed behind them.
Everyone turned.
And a black sports car entered the estate fast.
Too fast.
The car stopped sharply.
Door opened.
Keifer stepped out.
And the entire atmosphere changed instantly.
His expression wasn't calm.
Wasn't teasing.
Wasn't playful.
It was dangerous.
JJ had never seen him look at someone with that much cold anger before.
Keifer walked straight toward Kaizer.
"Why are they here."
No greeting.
No respect.
Nothing.
Kaizer smiled lightly. "Language, son."
"Answer me."
The air became tense immediately.
Even Percy stopped joking.
Kaizer adjusted his cuffs calmly.
"I invited your friends for dinner."
Keifer laughed once.
Cold.
"That's funny."
Kaizer finally looked directly at him.
"You should be grateful I'm trying."
Keifer stepped closer slightly.
"And you should stop involving people who have nothing to do with this."
Silence.
Kaizer's eyes darkened faintly.
Then suddenly—
he smiled again.
Like nothing happened.
"Everyone," he said smoothly, "go inside. Dinner is ready."
Nobody moved immediately.
Because honestly?
Nobody trusted this situation.
Then Keifer suddenly grabbed JJ's wrist lightly.
"Come with me."
He looked at Percy and Aries too.
"And bring my brothers."
---
The Room Upstairs
The moment the door shut behind them—
Keifer's calm cracked slightly.
He crouched in front of Keiren immediately.
"You okay?"
Keiren nodded quickly but still looked shaken.
Keigan looked angry more than scared now.
"He lied," Keigan muttered. "He said it was important."
Keifer closed his eyes briefly.
JJ watched quietly.
And suddenly understood something painful.
Keifer wasn't scared for himself.
He was scared for them.
For his brothers.
Always his brothers first.
Keifer stood up slowly.
Then looked directly at JJ.
And for once—
there was no teasing in his eyes.
Only trust.
"Protect them first if something happens."
JJ blinked slightly.
"What?"
Keifer stepped closer.
"My father won't touch Section E publicly. And he won't touch you."
A pause.
"But me?"
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I can't guarantee that."
JJ's chest hurt suddenly.
Because the way he said it—
like he already accepted danger as normal—
felt wrong.
Keifer continued quietly:
"If anything happens to me, take Keigan and Keiren and leave immediat—"
JJ kissed him before he could finish.
Soft.
Quick.
Desperate enough to silence him completely.
Keifer froze instantly.
So did Percy.
Aries looked personally betrayed by existence.
JJ pulled back slightly and glared at Keifer.
"Nothing is happening to anyone."
Silence.
Then quieter:
"Stop talking like that."
For the first time since arriving—
Keifer smiled slightly.
Small.
Real.
He rested his forehead lightly against hers for one second.
"…yes, wifey."
JJ immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Wrong timing, gago."
Percy whispered emotionally from the back:
"They're so in love."
Aries grabbed Percy by the collar instantly. "Shut up."
Even Keigan laughed slightly now.
And Keiren finally smiled too.
Which honestly mattered most.
---
The Dining Hall
By the time all four returned downstairs—
everyone was already seated.
Section E boys looked deeply uncomfortable in expensive chairs.
Cin whispered loudly:
"I feel like rich people poison soup for entertainment."
Felix nodded seriously. "Same."
Kaizer sat at the end of the massive table calmly.
Watching everything.
Watching everyone.
His gaze landed briefly on JJ and Keifer returning together.
Then on Keigan and Keiren beside them.
Something unreadable crossed his expression.
But it disappeared too fast.
Dinner began quietly.
Too quietly.
And JJ realized something dangerous then—
this wasn't just a dinner.
It felt like a chess game.
And everyone at this table—
was already part of it.