JAY-JAY POV
It started like any ordinary day.
Kerian, Keigan, Keth, Mama, and Papa had decided to go out together. They said they needed bonding time without parents around — just them, just family.
I stayed behind. I thought it would be simple. I'd go to the market, pick up some snacks, and be back before Keifer even noticed.
He was in the shower when I left, so I told the maid, "Please let Keifer know I'll be back soon."
The market was crowded, full of voices and smells — roasted peanuts, fresh bread, vendors calling out their prices. I moved quickly, picking up what I needed.
But when I stepped outside, something felt wrong. The street was quieter than usual. Too quiet.
Then it happened.
A hand clamped down on my arm. Another pressed something against my mouth.
The bitter taste of chemicals filled my throat. My vision blurred.
"Oh God… not again," I thought, panic surging through me.
I tried to fight, tried to scream, but my strength slipped away. The world tilted, spinning out of control.
The last thing I saw was the bag of snacks falling to the ground, scattering across the pavement.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
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KEIFER POV
I came out of the shower, towel still around my shoulders. The maid told me Jay had gone to the store to grab some snacks.
She couldn't have just asked me? I would've bought her the whole damn store if she wanted.
Then my phone rang.
"Hey, Keifer."
I froze. I knew that voice. Ram.
"What the hell do you want, Ram?" I snapped, my grip tightening on the phone. This was the first time he'd called me in years.
"Nothing, man. I just heard you reunited with your girlfriend," he said casually, like we were old friends catching up.
My blood boiled. "Ram, stay the fuck away from Jay."
He chuckled, low and mocking. "Oh, I wish I could. But I can't. She got more sexy."
My jaw clenched, rage flooding through me. "If you touch her—"
He cut me off, his tone sharp. "Relax, Keifer. I'm just saying hi. But you know me… I don't let go of what I want."
My heart pounded. Jay was out there, alone. And Ram calling now? That wasn't coincidence.
I grabbed my keys, already moving toward the door. "If you've done anything to her, I swear, Ram, I'll end you."
His laugh echoed in my ear, chilling. "Guess we'll see how much you care, Keifer. Tick-tock."
The line went dead.
I stood there, phone shaking in my hand, fury and fear twisting together.
Jay.
She was in danger. Again.
And this time, Ram was behind it.
I dialed Edrix, my hands shaking. He picked up almost immediately.
"What, Keif?" he said, his voice casual at first.
"Track Jay's location," I ordered, my tone sharp.
There was a pause. Then his voice rose, shocked. "Bro… she went missing again?"
I clenched my jaw. "No. I think she got kidnapped. By Ram."
Silence. Then Edrix swore under his breath. "Bro… she just got back. And now she wants to get kidnapped again?" His voice cracked, disbelief mixing with anger.
My grip tightened on the phone. "She doesn't want this, Edrix. Ram's playing games. He called me. He knows where she is. He's taunting me."
Edrix's tone shifted, serious now. "Alright. Send me her last ping. I'll trace it. But Keif… if Ram's involved, this isn't just a kidnapping. It's personal."
I closed my eyes, rage boiling inside me. "Exactly. That's why we can't waste time. Jay's out there, scared, and I won't let Ram touch her."
Edrix exhaled sharply. "Got it. I'll hack into the grid, pull traffic cams, anything. We'll find her."
I nodded, gripping the wheel as I headed out. "Do it fast. Because if Ram thinks he can take her from me again… he's dead wrong."
"Keif, she's at an abandoned hotel at the end of the store. It's ten minutes away if you drive fast," Edrix said, his voice clipped, urgent.
"Thanks," I muttered, already grabbing my keys.
I didn't waste another second. I slammed the door behind me, heart pounding, and started the car.
The engine roared to life, tires screeching against the pavement as I pulled out. My grip on the wheel was tight, knuckles white. Every second felt like an eternity.
Jay.
Images of her flashed in my mind — her laugh, her smile, the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn't paying attention. And now, the thought of her tied up, scared, in Ram's hands… it made my blood boil.
I pressed harder on the gas. Ten minutes. I could make it in eight.
Hold on, Jay. I'm coming.
I clenched my jaw, eyes locked on the road ahead. The abandoned hotel loomed in the distance, dark and silent, like a predator waiting.
I whispered under my breath, a promise only she would ever hear. "You're not alone. Not anymore."
And with that, I drove faster, ready to tear the world apart if it meant bringing her back.
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JAY-JAY POV
When I woke, the air was damp and heavy. My wrists ached from the ropes, and the faint smell of mold clung to the walls.
I blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light. Broken windows, peeling wallpaper, dust everywhere — the place looked like it hadn't been touched in years. An abandoned hotel.
My heart pounded. Edrix must have found me. Keifer must be on his way.
But then I heard it — footsteps. Slow, deliberate.
Ram.
He stepped into the room, smirking like he owned it. His eyes gleamed with malice. "You know, Jay… last time we met, you gave me a gift that made me stay in the hospital for two fucking months."
My stomach twisted. I remembered — the fight, the desperation, the way I had clawed my way out of his grip.
Ram's grin widened, cruel. "Now it's time to give it back to you. Harder."
My heart pounded, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "If you think I'm afraid of you, you're wrong."
He laughed, the sound echoing against the cracked walls. "Afraid? No, Jay. You should be terrified. Because this time, Keifer isn't here to save you."
I clenched my fists, even though they were bound. "You don't know Keifer. He's already coming."
Ram's smirk faltered for a moment, then returned sharper. "We'll see if your hero makes it in time."
The air grew heavier, every second stretching like an eternity. My pulse raced, but I held onto one thought, one lifeline: Keifer was out there. He was coming.
And I had to survive long enough for him to find me.
Ram's fist hovered in the air, his eyes burning with rage. My heart stopped — I braced myself for the blow.
But then, a hand caught his wrist mid‑swing.
Keifer.
He stood there, eyes blazing, grip iron‑tight around Ram's arm. "Touch her, and you'll regret it."
Ram's smirk faltered, surprise flashing across his face. "Keifer… you actually came."
Keifer shoved him back, stepping between us like a wall. "Of course I came. Did you really think I'd let you hurt her again?"
I gasped, tears stinging my eyes. "Keifer…"
He glanced back at me, just for a second, his voice softer. "I've got you, Jay. You're safe now."
Ram laughed bitterly, shaking off the shock. His voice dripped with venom. "Safe? You think you can protect her forever?"
Keifer's grip tightened on Ram's wrist, his eyes blazing. "Yes," he said, his voice low, steady, unshakable.
The single word cut through the air like steel.
Ram's smirk faltered, his confidence cracking for the first time. "You think you're stronger than me? You think you can keep her from me?"
Keifer shoved him back, standing firm between us. "I don't think. I know. Because she's mine to protect. And you'll never touch her again."
My breath caught, tears stinging my eyes. The way he said it — not just a promise, but a vow.
Ram snarled, his fists clenching. "We'll see about that."
Keifer's jaw tightened, his voice sharp as a blade. "No, Ram. You've already lost."
The tension in the abandoned hotel was suffocating — Ram's rage, Keifer's determination, my fear. But in that moment, with Keifer standing in front of me, I felt something stronger than fear.
Hope.