✦ CHAPTER — "Wrong Time" ✦
Keifer's POV
The mansion was finally quiet.
No meetings.
No calls.
No men walking through hallways every five minutes.
Just rain outside and Jay half asleep on top of me.
---
She was wearing my hoodie again.
Of course she was.
The oversized fabric swallowed her completely while she rested against my chest, legs tangled with mine beneath the blanket.
One of my hands stayed under the hoodie against her waist.
Warm skin.
Slow breathing.
Soft weight resting against me like she trusted me enough to fall asleep anywhere now.
---
I looked down slightly.
Her cheek pressed against my chest.
Eyes closed.
Still holding onto my shirt loosely even in sleep.
---
At some point, this became normal.
Her sleeping on me.
My arms around her automatically.
My body adjusting around hers without thinking.
---
I brushed my fingers slowly against her back.
She shifted slightly in response, moving closer instinctively.
That small movement almost made me smile.
Almost.
---
Then my phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
---
My expression changed immediately.
Jay stirred faintly.
"…mm?"
"Sleep," I murmured quietly.
---
I answered the call carefully without moving her too much.
"…what."
The voice on the other end sounded urgent.
> "Boss. We have movement around the east perimeter. Possible breach. We need relocation."
---
Every muscle in my body tightened instantly.
I looked down at Jay again.
Still sleepy.
Still safe.
For now.
---
"…how bad."
> "Not confirmed yet. But we shouldn't risk keeping her there."
Her.
Not you.
Her.
Even my men prioritized her safety first now.
---
I ended the call immediately.
Then looked back at the girl sleeping against me like the world outside didn't exist.
For one second—
I hated this life.
---
"…Jay."
She whined softly when I shifted her slightly.
Too sleepy to properly wake up.
"Come on."
---
I carried her to the bathroom while she clung to my neck weakly.
Still half asleep.
Still trusting me without question.
That made the pressure in my chest worse somehow.
---
I turned on the shower gently.
Warm water.
Steam filling the room.
"Wake up a little."
"…why," she mumbled softly.
"No questions right now."
---
While she stood there trying to process reality, I moved quickly through the room.
Weapons.
Documents.
Clothes.
A week minimum.
Maybe longer.
---
Jay walked out of the bathroom slowly afterward, hair damp and eyes heavy with sleep.
"…Keifer?"
I was shoving clothes into a bag too quickly to answer properly.
---
"Where are we going?"
"Safe house."
"…why?"
"Jay—"
"I don't understand."
Neither did I.
Not fully.
Not enough to explain calmly.
And time was disappearing too fast.
---
"Just get dressed."
My voice came out sharper than intended.
---
She flinched.
Tiny movement.
But I saw it.
And I immediately hated myself for it.
---
Jay went quiet after that.
Completely quiet.
No more questions.
No more sleepy whining.
Just silence.
---
My men entered the room quickly after that.
Tension filled everything instantly.
One of them took the bags.
Another checked exits.
And then—
Keira walked in.
---
Jay looked up immediately.
And for the first time tonight, something painful crossed her face.
---
Keira looked completely calm.
Already dressed for movement.
Gun holster secured.
Focused.
Comfortable in this chaos in a way Jay wasn't.
---
"She's ready?" Keira asked me directly.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Like she already understood this world better than Jay ever could.
---
I nodded once.
"Car's outside?"
"Already prepared."
---
Jay stayed near the bed quietly while we talked.
And suddenly I realized what this looked like.
---
Keira understood my world instantly.
Jay didn't.
Keira moved naturally through danger.
Jay looked lost inside it.
---
And somehow…
that thought made me angry.
Not at Jay.
At myself.
Because Jay was never supposed to carry this life.
---
"…let's go," I said quietly.
---
Jay followed silently this time.
No questions.
No complaints.
Just small quiet steps behind me.
---
Jay's POV
The car ride felt cold.
Not physically.
Just… inside me.
---
I sat near the window wrapped in Keifer's hoodie while rain blurred across the glass outside.
Everything still felt confusing.
Fast.
Heavy.
---
But the thing replaying in my head wasn't the danger.
It was the room.
The way Keira understood everything immediately.
The way Keifer spoke to her normally.
Naturally.
No frustration.
No sharp tone.
---
Maybe because she fit this world better.
---
I looked down at my hands quietly.
Maybe I really was too emotional.
Too childish.
Too soft for this life.
---
Meanwhile Keira sat in the front passenger seat speaking calmly with one of the men through the phone.
Efficient.
Focused.
Like she belonged here.
---
And beside me—
Keifer kept stealing glances toward me while driving.
Again.
And again.
And again.
---
His hand eventually moved from the wheel and rested carefully against my thigh.
Warm.
Gentle.
Trying.
---
I didn't move away.
But I didn't fully react either.
---
"…Jay."
His voice was quieter now.
Careful.
---
I hummed softly without looking at him.
---
Another glance from him.
Then his thumb brushed lightly against my leg.
Small movement.
Almost hesitant.
---
"I shouldn't have shouted."
Silence.
---
I swallowed slightly.
"It's okay."
Lie.
---
The car became quiet again.
Only rain and low engine sounds filling the space.
---
Then Keira suddenly spoke from the front.
"Safe house perimeter already secured."
Professional.
Calm.
Easy.
---
Keifer nodded once immediately.
"Good."
No tension in his voice.
No frustration.
Just understanding.
---
Something in my chest hurt quietly at that.
Because with her…
everything seemed easier for him.
---
I turned my face toward the window before anyone could notice.
But Keifer noticed anyway.
Of course he did.
---
His hand tightened softly around my thigh.
And for the rest of the drive—
he never moved it away even once. 💌🩷
✦ CHAPTER — "You Don't See It" ✦
Jay's POV
The safe house was quieter than the mansion.
Smaller too.
Still expensive.
Still guarded.
Still filled with men carrying guns and speaking in low voices.
But it didn't feel like home.
Not really.
---
I sat near the large window in one of the rooms upstairs, knees pulled slightly to my chest beneath the oversized hoodie.
Keifer's hoodie.
Still warm.
Still smelling like him.
---
But somehow—
I still felt cold inside.
---
Downstairs, voices moved through the house constantly.
Security updates.
Phone calls.
Movement.
Planning.
Everything felt sharp and controlled.
And right in the middle of all of it—
was Keira.
---
She moved through everything naturally.
Like this life belonged to her.
Like danger didn't scare her at all.
She understood their codes.
Their plans.
Their world.
---
Meanwhile I barely understood what was happening around me.
I just followed.
Asked too many questions.
Panicked.
Got emotional.
Needed comfort.
---
My chest tightened quietly.
Maybe I really didn't belong here.
---
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.
Before I could answer, the door opened.
Keifer.
---
He looked tired.
Black shirt sleeves rolled up.
Hair slightly messy from stress.
But the second his eyes landed on me—
his expression changed slightly.
Softer.
---
"You disappeared."
I looked away lightly.
"I'm here."
---
He stayed near the door for a second longer.
Watching me carefully.
Too carefully.
Like he already knew something was wrong.
---
Then he walked closer slowly.
"Jay."
Soft voice this time.
Careful.
---
I kept my eyes down.
Because if I looked at him too long right now, I'd probably say something embarrassing.
Or emotional.
Or both.
😭
---
Keifer crouched slightly in front of where I sat.
"Talk to me."
---
Silence.
---
Then quietly—
"…I think Keira fits your world more than I do."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
And the second they did—
the room went completely still.
---
Keifer stared at me.
Actually stared.
Like he couldn't believe what he just heard.
---
"She understands everything," I whispered softly.
"She knows what to do."
I laughed weakly after that.
"But me?"
I looked down at my hands.
"I just make things harder."
---
Silence.
Heavy silence.
---
Then suddenly—
Keifer moved closer.
Close enough that his hands rested firmly on either side of my legs.
Keeping my attention on him.
---
"Look at me."
Quiet.
But serious.
---
I hesitated.
Then slowly looked up.
---
His expression looked almost frustrated.
But not angry.
Hurt.
---
"You think I want someone who fits this world?"
His voice dropped lower.
Softer.
"Jay, I hate this world."
😭🩷
---
I froze slightly.
---
Keifer's hand moved up gently, brushing hair away from my face.
And the way he touched me now felt so careful it hurt.
---
"Keira understands danger," he said quietly.
"But you…"
A pause.
His thumb brushed softly against my cheek.
"…you make me forget it exists for a while."
---
My chest ached instantly.
---
"You think I carried you out of there because you're weak?"
His eyes stayed locked on mine.
"No."
---
His voice softened even more after that.
Almost tired.
Almost honest in a way he usually avoided.
---
"I carried you because the thought of something happening to you makes me lose my mind."
😭💔🩷
---
I stared at him quietly.
Heart hurting in the softest way possible.
---
"And stop comparing yourself to Keira."
Immediate.
Certain.
"She's important to me."
A small pause.
"But she's not the person I look for first in every room."
---
Silence.
---
Then quietly—
"You are."
---
Something inside me cracked completely after that.
---
Before I could even think properly, I leaned forward and buried my face against him.
And instantly—
his arms wrapped around me tightly.
Like reflex.
Like relief.
---
He held the back of my head gently against his chest.
One hand under the hoodie against my waist again.
Warm.
Safe.
Home.
---
"I'm sorry," I whispered weakly.
"For overthinking."
---
Keifer exhaled softly above me.
"You always do that."
"…I know."
"But that's my problem to deal with."
😭🩷
---
He rested his cheek lightly against my hair.
Holding me impossibly closer.
---
And downstairs—
two mafia men quietly watched from the hallway after accidentally seeing the scene 😭
One whispered softly:
> "…Boss is completely gone."
The other shook his head.
> "No."
Small smile.
> "Little Boss became his whole world. That's the problem." 💌🤍
✦ CHAPTER — "Stay Here." ✦
The safe house was silent after midnight.
Not peaceful silent.
Careful silent.
The kind where guards stayed awake downstairs and every moving shadow outside the windows mattered.
Rain tapped softly against the glass.
Dim lights glowed through the hallway.
And somewhere downstairs, Keifer's men were still speaking in low voices about security routes and patrols.
---
But upstairs—
everything was quieter.
Softer.
---
Jay's POV
I woke up alone.
And immediately hated it.
😭🩷
---
The unfamiliar room felt cold without him there.
Too big.
Too quiet.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes while the oversized hoodie slipped slightly off one shoulder.
Keifer's hoodie.
Still warm.
Still smelling like him.
---
For a moment, I considered staying in bed.
But then thunder rumbled softly outside.
And without even thinking properly—
I got up.
---
The hallway lights were dim as I walked quietly through the safe house.
And before I even reached the office room—
I saw him.
---
Keifer sat near the desk with a file open beside him and a gun resting nearby.
Black shirt sleeves rolled up.
Hair messy.
Eyes tired.
One hand pressed against his forehead while another held his phone.
Still working.
Still carrying the entire world on his shoulders even at 2 AM.
---
Then his eyes lifted.
And immediately softened when he saw me.
😭
---
"…why are you awake?"
I stood there quietly for a second.
"…couldn't sleep."
---
Something changed in his expression at those words.
Like exhaustion left him for a second.
---
He opened one arm slightly without even thinking.
"Come here."
---
That was all it took.
I walked straight toward him.
And the second I reached him—
he pulled me onto his lap immediately.
Like instinct.
Like relief.
---
His face buried against my stomach softly beneath the hoodie.
Warm breath against my skin.
Strong arms wrapping around my waist tighter than necessary.
---
I rested my hands slowly in his hair.
"…you're still working."
"Mm."
"That's not an answer."
Quiet silence.
Then:
"Couldn't sleep either."
---
My chest softened immediately.
Because somehow—
he looked more tired emotionally than physically.
---
I shifted slightly on his lap until I was fully curled against him.
And after a second—
Keifer moved too.
Without warning.
Without embarrassment.
---
He slipped his head fully beneath the oversized hoodie against my chest.
Burying himself there quietly like he was trying to disappear into my warmth.
😭🫀🤍
---
I froze slightly.
"…Keifer."
No answer.
Just his arms tightening around me.
---
The hoodie covered both of us now.
Warm.
Close.
His face resting against me while his breathing slowly steadied.
Like this was the only place he could finally relax.
---
I gently brushed my fingers through his hair.
Slow.
Careful.
And for the first time since leaving the mansion—
he looked calm.
---
Downstairs, footsteps moved quickly again.
One of the men knocked lightly on the office door.
"Boss—"
Keifer didn't even lift his head.
"Later."
Immediate.
Low.
Dangerous enough that the man instantly disappeared 😭
---
I blinked slightly.
"…you ignored him."
"He'll survive."
---
I almost smiled at that.
---
Silence wrapped around us again after that.
Only rain outside.
Only warmth beneath the hoodie.
Only him holding me like he needed the contact more than sleep itself.
---
After a long moment, I whispered softly:
"…do you always get this clingy when you're stressed?"
A small pause.
Then his voice came muffled against my chest.
"…only with you."
😭💌
---
My heart hurt in the softest way possible.
---
Keifer finally lifted his head slightly after a while.
Eyes heavy with exhaustion.
But calmer now.
Safer somehow.
---
Then quietly—
almost like admitting something he normally wouldn't—
he murmured:
"…I sleep better when I can hear your heartbeat."
And honestly?
I think my heart stopped for a second after that. 🤍🫀
✦ CHAPTER — "Where Were You?" ✦
Rain hit softly against the safe house windows.
The entire place was awake even at 3 AM.
Men walking through hallways.
Low voices downstairs.
Phones ringing every few minutes.
Danger still lingering somewhere outside these walls.
---
And in the middle of all that—
Keifer was exhausted.
---
Jay's POV
I woke up slowly beneath warm blankets.
The room was dim.
Only a small lamp glowing near the bed.
And beside me—
empty space.
---
I blinked sleepily.
"…Keifer?"
No answer.
---
A quiet sigh left me.
He was probably working again.
---
I slipped out of bed carefully, still wearing the oversized hoodie we'd both fallen asleep in earlier.
It almost reached my knees.
Still warm from him.
---
The hallway outside was quiet.
I could hear voices downstairs faintly.
So I followed them.
Still half asleep.
Still not thinking properly.
😭
---
Meanwhile downstairs—
---
Keifer's POV
"…double security near the east side," I said coldly into the phone.
One hand pressed against my forehead.
Another holding files open across the table.
I hadn't slept properly in almost two days.
---
But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was that even exhausted—
my body kept expecting warmth beside me.
Her warmth.
---
I leaned back slightly in the chair, rubbing tiredly at my eyes.
Then instinctively reached beside me.
Empty.
---
My head lifted immediately.
---
Empty.
---
The room suddenly felt too cold.
---
"…Boss?"
One of the men paused mid-sentence.
Because my entire expression changed instantly.
---
"Where is she?"
Immediate.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
---
Silence.
No one answered fast enough.
And suddenly every bad possibility hit my mind at once.
---
I stood so quickly the chair nearly fell backward.
"Where is Jay?"
---
The room tensed instantly.
Phones stopped.
Movement stopped.
Everyone knew.
Boss was panicking.
😭🖤
---
One of the men immediately spoke: "She was upstairs—"
"She's not upstairs."
---
That came out harsher than intended.
Because I had checked.
And she wasn't there.
---
My chest tightened violently.
Not fear for myself.
Never that.
Fear for her.
Always her.
---
I moved through the hallway quickly.
Heart beating harder than it should.
Every second feeling wrong.
---
Then—
I saw her.
---
Standing near the kitchen doorway.
Sleepy.
Confused.
Holding a cup of water with both hands.
😭💌
---
The second I saw her—
every ounce of tension left my body so fast it almost made me angry.
---
Jay blinked softly at me.
"…why do you look mad?"
---
I crossed the room immediately.
No hesitation.
No caring who watched.
---
My hand grabbed her waist firmly and pulled her straight against me.
Like I needed physical proof she was actually there.
---
"Keifer—"
"Why did you leave the room?"
Low voice.
Too tight.
Still affected.
---
"I just wanted water…"
---
I exhaled shakily against her hair.
Because logically?
I knew that.
But my mind had already imagined worse.
---
One of the mafia men quietly whispered to another:
> "…he lost his mind for five minutes."
The other nodded immediately.
> "Little Boss disappeared."
Like that explained everything 😭
---
Jay slowly looked up at me.
Then finally noticed how tense I still was.
"…you panicked?"
No answer.
---
Instead—
I just pulled her even closer.
One hand sliding beneath the oversized hoodie automatically, resting warm against her waist.
Grounding myself.
Again.
---
My phone rang suddenly.
I answered without moving away from her.
Still holding her tightly against me.
---
"Yes."
Cold voice returned instantly.
Dangerous.
Controlled.
Mafia boss again.
---
But while talking—
my other hand stayed against Jay's waist beneath the hoodie.
Thumb brushing slowly against her skin unconsciously.
Making sure she was still there.
---
Jay stared at me quietly during the call.
Because the contrast always shocked her.
Cold voice on the phone.
Soft hands on her.
😭🩷
---
I ended the call shortly after.
Then immediately rested my forehead against hers tiredly.
"…don't disappear like that again."
---
Jay blinked slowly.
"…I was gone for five minutes."
"That was enough."
Immediate answer.
---
Silence.
Then she softened completely.
---
"…you're tired."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Mm."
---
She gently held my face for a second.
And somehow that tiny touch almost destroyed the last bit of control I had left tonight.
---
Without thinking—
I buried my face into the front of the oversized hoodie against her chest again.
Arms wrapping around her tightly.
Not inappropriate.
Just exhausted.
Seeking comfort.
Seeking warmth.
Seeking her.
😭🫀
---
Jay froze slightly before relaxing instantly, fingers slipping softly through my hair.
And the worst part?
The second I heard her heartbeat again—
my body finally started calming down.
---
One of the men quietly looked away.
Another muttered:
> "…Boss only breathes properly near her now."
Honestly?
They weren't wrong. 🤍
---
✦ CHAPTER — "Only You." ✦
The safe house felt tense again.
Too many voices.
Too many phones ringing.
Too many problems stacking one after another.
And in the middle of it—
Keifer was angry.
---
Jay's POV
I heard his voice before I saw him.
Low.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
The kind of voice that made the entire room freeze.
---
"Fix it," Keifer said coldly.
One of the men immediately nodded nervously.
Another stayed silent, clearly terrified of saying the wrong thing.
---
I stepped into the office quietly.
And the second Keifer saw me—
his expression flickered.
Just slightly.
But enough.
---
Still angry.
Still tense.
But softer around the edges now.
---
One of the men noticed immediately and practically escaped the room 😭
---
Keifer pressed a hand against the bridge of his nose tiredly.
Eyes closed.
Jaw tight.
Like the stress was physically hurting him now.
---
I walked closer slowly.
Carefully.
Then reached for the sleeve of his black shirt.
Small touch.
Soft pull.
---
"…Keifer."
He opened his eyes immediately.
---
"Calm down," I whispered gently.
Silence.
---
For a second I thought he wouldn't listen.
Then slowly—
his shoulders lowered.
Just a little.
---
The room changed instantly.
Like the storm inside him quieted the second I touched him.
---
He looked at me for a long moment before finally muttering low:
"…I'm tired."
😭🫀
---
My chest softened immediately.
"I know."
Another small tug on his sleeve.
"Come home."
---
Something in his expression broke after that.
Not weakness.
Just exhaustion.
The kind only I ever got to see.
---
Without another word, he stood up.
Ignored the men.
Ignored the unfinished work.
And followed me upstairs like he trusted me to carry the weight for a little while.
---
Later…
Warm steam filled the bathroom softly.
The lights were dim.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
---
Keifer sat on the edge of the counter while I gently dried his damp hair with a towel.
He looked calmer now.
Still tired.
But no longer carrying that dangerous edge from earlier.
---
His hands rested around my waist loosely while his forehead pressed lightly against my stomach.
Close.
Always close.
---
"You work too much," I murmured softly.
A tired hum left him.
"Mm."
"That wasn't an answer."
"…still tired."
😭💌
---
I laughed quietly at that.
Then brushed my fingers through his hair gently.
And somehow—
the powerful mafia boss who terrified everyone downstairs looked completely harmless right now.
Only with me.
---
That night, the rain started again outside.
Soft against the windows.
---
We ended up under the same oversized hoodie again in bed.
Somehow we always did.
---
Keifer was half asleep already, arms wrapped tightly around my waist while he buried himself against my breasts beneath the warm fabric.
Listening to my heartbeat again.
Like it had become his favorite sound 🩷
He started sucking my breasts slowly 🤍
Like it comforted him .
" slowly " I whispered into him
---
He hummed softly
My fingers moved slowly through his hair.
And every few minutes, I felt him pull me closer in his sleep.
Still not letting go of my breast
Instinct.
Comfort.
Home.
---
"…better?" I whispered softly 🥺💌
A quiet pause.
Then sleepy and muffled against my breasts
"…only because it's you."
😭🤍