(Jay's POV)
The smell of gunpowder and expensive cologne is not how I envisioned my homecoming. One minute I'm daydreaming about mango floats and the next, I'm ducking behind the reinforced door of a black SUV while bullets whistle past like oversized, angry mosquitoes.
"Stay down, Jay!" Aries roars, his "Horoscope" face on—stern, unyielding, and looking like he's personally offended by the stars for allowing this ambush.
I looked at Keifer. My "delicate princess" fiancé, the man who literally had to drag me out of bed back in London, was currently checking the clip of a handgun with a chillingly professional flick of his wrist.
"Don't worry, love," Keifer murmured, his voice dropping an octave into a territory that was frankly too attractive for a shootout.
"Just stay behind me."
I scoffed, kicking off my designer heels.
"Behind you? Keifer, I didn't spend year in section E and actually survived in all of you because I liked the chaos."
(Author's POV: The Dance of Death)
The safe house courtyard became a stage of absolute carnage. The Valderama Syndicate's men swarmed the perimeter, dressed in tactical gear, thinking they were up against a bunch of wealthy socialites. They couldn't have been more wrong.
As a massive henchman lunged toward Jay, she didn't flinch. She moved like liquid. She ducked under his swing, her elbow connecting with his ribs with a sickening crack.
Before he could even gasp, she delivered a whirlwind roundhouse kick to his temple. He didn't just fall; he crumpled. A few yards away, Keifer was a shadow. He moved with a lethal, calculated grace, using the environment to his advantage.
He disarmed a man with a flick of his jacket, using the heavy fabric to blind him before delivering a precise strike to the throat. But as he finished his opponent, his eyes drifted to Jay.
He paused, mid-motion, watching his fiancée.
Jay was currently holding two men by their collars. She slammed their heads together with a sound like a ripening watermelon hitting pavement.
She then swept the legs of a third attacker, catching him mid-air with a palm strike that sent him skidding across the gravel. There were no weapons in her hands—just raw, unadulterated fury and perfect technique.
Keifer swallowed hard. Note to self, he thought, a cold sweat breaking out that had nothing to do with the gunmen. Never, ever forget to do the dishes. Do not argue about the chips or snacks . This woman is a literal weapon.
Nearby, Aries and Angelo moved fast. Angelo had his arm protectively around Ion, whose baby bump was visible under her tactical vest. They guided Lola and Tita Gemma toward the secondary armored van.
"Go! Move!" Aries shouted, providing cover fire.Jay and Keifer met in the center of the fray, back-to-back.
They were a symphony of violence. Every man who approached them ended up on the floor, groaning or unconscious. By the time the dust settled, twenty Syndicate members were incapacitated.
(Jay's POV: The Aftermath)
My knuckles stung, and my breathing was heavy, but honestly? I hadn't felt that alive since the last time I successfully hidden Percy's hair wax. We scrambled into the back of the massive lead SUV. The doors slammed shut with a heavy thud, sealing out the chaos. I was breathless, my hair was a mess, and my comfy cord set was definitely ruined.
Angelo stared at me from the front seat, his jaw practically on the floor. Aries was cleaning a smudge of blood off his cheek, looking at me like I had just grown a second head.
"Jay..." Angelo finally choked out. "Since when do you fight like a John Wick extra?"
(Huh! Since the day I was born bro , you only acknowledged it today!!)
Ion, who was leaning back against the seat breathing through the adrenaline, let out a weak giggle. She nudged me with her elbow. "It's the Keifer effect, Angelo honey . Clearly, being engaged to a troublemaker has its perks."
I felt the heat creep up my neck. I tried to look tough, but I was blushing like a schoolgirl. "I just... took a few classes.(from section E) For cardio."
"Cardio?" Aries snorted. "You nearly decapitated that guy with your bare shins!" He shook his head, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips. "I'm impressed, little sis. At least I know you won't get kidnapped easily."
"Duh! I have done PhD in getting kidnapped and you say I won't get kidnapped easily? I am so better that I can even give kidnappers advise now that how can they do their job efficiently!! "
Tita Gemma and Lola were sitting in the back row. I had expected them to be crying or clutching their pearls. Instead, Lola reached out and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
"My brave girl!" Lola beamed. "I always knew you had the family fire in you. We didn't expect to meet you again in a hail of bullets, but it beat a boring dinner!"
Tita Gemma nodded, patting my hand. "And Keifer... we saw how you looked at her. A man who is terrified of his wife is a man who will stay faithful."
Keifer smirked, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me close. "Terrified? Me? I was simply... healthily respectful of her ability to end my life." (Don't worry keifer we don't know anything!)
The mood settled as we drove through the winding backroads. I looked at Aries, my heart sinking a little. "So... the engagement. Is it even happening now? With all this?"
Aries sighed, his "Horoscope" persona returning. "Yes, Jay. It's happening. But it's going to be deep underground. Private. Not even Section E can be invited. It's too dangerous."
My heart dropped. My friends, the chaos of a big Filipino wedding—it all felt out of reach. I looked down at my lap, feeling the weight of the "Syndicate" drama.
Keifer noticed instantly. He leaned into my ear. "Hey. Don't look so sad. On the bright side, with a smaller guest list, there's a 100% lower chance of Percy accidentally setting the buffet on fire with his hairspray."
I snorted, a small laugh escaping me."And," Keifer continued, loudly enough for the car to hear, "I've already decided that for our wedding, I'm hiring a literal army so you can wear the heaviest gown in existence without worrying about having to kick anyone in the face."
"You better," I muttered, leaning my head on his shoulder.
Lola and Tita Gemma watched his moves making me happy and gave a satisfactory smile, knowing I was in good hands.
Finally, we reached a massive estate. Keifer punched a complex code into the gate, and it hissed open. I stared at the mansion. "You... you had a house in Manila? This whole time?"
Keifer just smirked at me. "A King always has a fallback castle, Jay wifey."
Aries snapped from behind," My sister is not anyone's wife!"
Keifer quickly snapped back saying," Oh sorry for your loss Aries but now she is and she's clearly mine, I think I saw you clearly on our engagement , you were there to completely know that she's my soon to be wife now !"
This time even demon in angel's body laughed listening Keifer's response that's one in a million year moment, I wish I had a camera at spot!
Inside, the house was buzzing. Keifer took charge immediately. "Prepare rooms for everyone. The best linens. Tita, Lola, Angelo , Ion , Ella and Aries follow the maids. They'll show you to the guest wing."
He turned to me, his eyes dark and playful. "Our room is the master suite. It's significantly larger than everyone else's."
"Why do we get the big one?" I asked, suspicious.
He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. "Because the King and Queen should get special treatment."
We got into the room. He leaned in, his lips inches from mine, and we were just about to kiss when—
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
"JAY! OPEN UP!"
I groaned, burying my face in Keifer's chest. "The Horoscopic behavior has started." Aries was standing there, looking impatient. "Ella needs your help with something. Move it, Jay." I pulled away, signaling Keifer that I would be back in a few minutes. As I walked away, I heard Keifer pull out his phone. His voice went cold and serious.
"Get the team. Bring Keigan and Keiren to the safe house safely. Secure transport. Now." I smiled to myself.
My "delicate princess" was a lion when he needed to be. This trip was definitely not the vacation I planned, but as long as I had my crazy family and my terrifying fiancé, the Syndicate didn't stand a chance.
The smell of gunpowder had finally faded, replaced by the scent of expensive floor wax and whatever sandalwood-scented air freshener Keifer used in his secret "castle."
I dragged my exhausted feet toward Ella's room, my muscles screaming from that impromptu wrestling match with the Syndicate's finest losers.
I pushed the door open, expecting a crisis. Maybe a leaked location? A threat written in lipstick?
"Jay! Oh, thank God," Ella gasped, holding up two different shades of lipstick and looking like she was facing a life-or-death decision. "I need you to help me style my entire engagement look. Hair, makeup, the vibe—everything!"
I stood there, blinking. I looked down at my bruised knuckles and my dusty cord set. Then I looked at her.
"Ella, are you serious?" I snapped, my voice going up an octave. "You're asking me for style advice? You've known me for years. Everyone—and I mean literally everyone—calls me a tomboy. I spent the last hour roundhouse kicking men into the pavement, and you want me to pick a blush shade?"
I threw my hands up. "Are you mocking me? Is this a joke? Because if it is, it's a very coordinated one!"
Ella didn't even flinch. She just pouted, looking at me with those big "I'm-marrying-your-brother" eyes. "But you have such a unique eye! Come on, Jay. Just give me something."
She paused, eyeing me up and down. "Actually... what are you wearing to the engagement? If it's a suit, I need to know so we don't clash."
I smirked, crossing my arms. The exhaustion was making me feel a bit mischievous. "Surprise! You'll see it when I walk in."
"Jay! Please!" she begged, practically falling to her knees. "Just a hint? Is it pants? Is it a dress? Give me a color!"
I sighed, giving in just a tiny bit because she looked like she was about to have a meltdown. "Fine. Here's your one and only clue: it's green. Now, stop begging before I change my mind and show up in a dinosaur onesie."
Ella finally settled down, satisfied with the color hint. We spent the next hour sorting through piles of jewelry and accessories that cost more than my first car. We debated over pearls versus diamonds until my brain felt like mush.
Just as I was about to fall asleep standing up, Tita Gemma walked in, looking like an angel of mercy. "Jay, sweetie," she said softly, "look at your eyes. You're exhausted from that long flight from London and, well... everything else. Go to your room and rest. I'll help Ella with the rest of these trinkets."
I didn't even hesitate. I threw my arms around Tita Gemma, hugging her so dramatically I probably looked like a soap opera actress. "Oh, Tita! I knew it! Only you truly understand the struggle of my soul!"
"Go, sweetie, I have got you," she laughed, shooing me out.
I stumbled toward the master suite, my feet practically on autopilot. I pushed the door open and stopped. The room was huge—seriously, you could fit a small village in here—and Keifer was already there.
He wasn't lounging, though. He was actually humping our heavy bags onto the bed and neatly arranging our clothes in the massive walk-in wardrobe.
Seeing him handle my laundry after he'd handled a Glock earlier was... a lot for my heart to take. I crept up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his back.
"Is my wifey back?" he asked, his voice vibrating through his chest as he laughed.
"No," I muffled into his shirt. "It's not Jay. It's just my ghost. The real Jay died somewhere between the jewelry boxes and the third pair of earrings."
He turned around in my arms, pulling me into a proper hug. "Well, this ghost feels pretty warm to me." He kissed my forehead briefly, and I let out a long, shaky sigh. "Keifer, I'm so tired. My brain is fried, my legs are jelly, and if I see another sparkly thing, I might scream."
"I've got you," he whispered. "Stay here." He headed downstairs for a moment. I could hear his "King" voice echoing through the hallway, informing the entire household—Aries, Angelo, and the maids included—that we were sleeping, we were exhausted, and if anyone so much as breathed too loudly near our door, there would be consequences.
A few minutes later, he came back with a glass of water, made me take a sip, and then helped me face-plant into the giant, cloud-like bed. I was out the second my head hit the pillow.
I felt the bed dip behind me as Keifer climbed in. He didn't just lie there; he pulled me back against him, wrapping his arms around me in a firm, protective grip. He left absolutely no gap between us, like he was shielding me from the rest of the world.
In that big, secret house, surrounded by guards and Syndicate drama, I finally felt safe. I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, tucked away in the arms of my "delicate princess" who was actually the strongest man I knew.
I thought I was going to sleep for three business days, but apparently, the universe—and my family—had other plans.
Exactly one hour into my glorious, drool-worthy nap, a wall of noise hit my ears. It wasn't the sound of gunshots or Syndicate tires screeching this time; it was something much more terrifying: Filipino family laughter.
It was loud, chaotic, and sounded like a dozen people were having the time of their lives right outside our door.
I groaned into the pillow, but Keifer was already stirring. We both sat up, looking like two electrified owls with messy hair.
"If that's Percy coming back for his hair gel, I'm going to actually lose it," I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
"Only one way to find out, love," Keifer said, sounding surprisingly awake for someone who had just been in a shootout.
We dragged ourselves out of the massive bed and headed toward the stairs. As we descended, the scene in the living room looked like a high-end furniture commercial gone wrong.
Ion and Tita Gemma were sprawled out comfortably on the plush sofas, looking like they hadn't a care in the world. Angelo was nursing a coffee, and Lola was in her element, presiding over the room like a queen.
The second my foot hit the last step, Aries bolted upright as if he'd been rescued from a desert island.
"Thank God! Jay! You're here!" he shouted, throwing his hands up in a total 'Horoscope' drama-queen move. "Finally! Now they can leave me alone and start roasting you! It's your turn now, please, take the heat!"
I blinked, totally confused. I shuffled over to the couch, and Keifer was right behind me. He sat down and immediately claimed his territory, draping one heavy arm over my shoulder while his other hand settled firmly on my waist, pulling me into his side.
I didn't mind; I just leaned into him like a tired cat."What is happening?" I asked, yawning. "Why is Aries acting like he just escaped a trial?"
Tita Gemma chuckled, adjusting a cushion. "Oh, Jay, we were just having a very... detailed discussion about the future. Specifically, how many kids Aries and Ella are going to have. We were thinking at least five."
I looked at Ella. Poor Ella was sitting there looking like a human strawberry—she was blushing so hard I thought her face might actually catch fire. She was staring intensely at her own shoes, trying to disappear into the upholstery.
"Five?" I snickered. "Aries can barely handle a seating chart without a tantrum. Imagine five mini-Horoscopes running around."
Aries glared at me, but before he could retort, Lola turned her gaze toward us. She had that specific twinkle in her eye—the one that meant trouble for whoever she was looking at.
"Anyway," Lola said, smoothing out her skirt with a satisfied smirk. "Aries is old news now. Now that the King and Queen have finally graced us with their presence, Keifer and Jay are the new gossip topic."
I stiffened. My sleepy brain suddenly went on high alert. "Wait, what? No. Absolutely not. We were just sleeping! We are tired! We are victims of a long flight!"
"Nonsense," Tita Gemma teased, eyeing the way Keifer was holding me. "We were just wondering... since you two are already acting like a married couple and Keifer is clearly obsessed with you, what's the timeline for our great-grandchildren?"
Keifer just squeezed my waist and let out a low, amused chuckle. He didn't even look flustered. He actually looked like he was enjoying this.
I, on the other hand, felt the blush creeping up from my neck to my ears."Lola, we literally just got here!" I protested, grabbing a throw pillow to hide my face. "Can we at least finish the engagement before we start planning my nursery?"
The whole room erupted in laughter. It was a bizarre feeling—one hour ago we were fighting for our lives, and now I was being bullied by my own grandmother about baby names.
But looking at everyone—Ion laughing, Angelo smiling, and even the "Horoscope" looking relieved that the spotlight was off him—I realized this was the weird, loud, and slightly intrusive home I had missed.