JAY-JAY POV
"Percy, tell me what happened," Keifer asked, his voice low but firm.
Percy shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flicking between us. "Keifer… I want to talk to you alone."
My heart lurched. Alone? That was never a good sign.
"No," I snapped, stepping forward before Keifer could respond. My voice trembled, but I forced it louder. "No, you don't get to hide something about my own child. Tell me where Keth is!"
Percy froze, his usual easygoing nature nowhere to be found. His lips pressed into a tight line, and for a moment, the silence was unbearable.
Keifer's hand brushed against mine, steadying me, but his jaw was clenched tight. "Percy. Say it. Now."
Percy's eyes flickered with hesitation, his voice low. "Jay… please brace yourself."
My chest tightened, fear clawing at me. "Percy, I swear to god, if you don't tell me what happened to my son, I will punch you," I snapped, my voice trembling with both anger and desperation.
Percy flinched, his usual easygoing nature nowhere to be found. He looked at Keifer, then back at me, his face pale.
Finally, he exhaled, his words heavy.
"Jay… this morning Kegian, Kerian, and Keth went for a morning walk and didn't come back. I think… they've been kidnapped," Percy said, his voice trembling.
The world seemed to stop. My breath caught in my throat, my knees threatening to give way. Kidnapped? The word echoed in my head like a nightmare I couldn't wake from.
"What?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "No… no, Percy, don't say that. Please don't say that."
Keifer's jaw clenched, his hand tightening around mine as if to keep me from falling apart. His voice was sharp, controlled, but I could hear the fury beneath it. "Percy, tell me everything. Who saw them last? What do you know?"
Percy shook his head, guilt clouding his eyes. "Mom called me when they didn't come back. I searched everywhere, Jay. The park, the streets… nothing. And then I found Keth's little shoe near the trail."
My heart shattered.
Tears blurred my vision as I clutched Keifer's arm desperately. "No… no, Keifer, we have to find them. We have to!"
Keifer pulled me close, his voice low but steady. "We will. I swear to you, Jay. We'll bring them back."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Keifer POV
The moment Percy said they'd been kidnapped, my chest tightened like someone had ripped the air out of me.
I didn't know what to do.
My first instinct was to break down, to let the fear swallow me whole.
I wanted to cry, to scream, to demand answers that Percy didn't have.
But then I looked at Jay‑Jay.
Her eyes wide, her voice trembling, her whole body shaking with panic.
And I knew—I couldn't fall apart. Not now. Not in front of her.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay steady.
She needs me strong.
If I lose it, she'll shatter.
"Jay," I whispered, pulling her into a hug, my voice low but firm. "We'll find them. I promise you. I won't stop until Keth is back in your arms."
Inside, my heart was breaking.
But outside, I had to be the anchor—the one who wouldn't let her drown in fear.
Just then, my phone rang.
The sound cut through the heavy silence like a blade.
We pulled apart from the hug, both of us staring at the screen.
An unknown number.
My stomach twisted.
Could it be…?
Yes… it was him.
"Hi, son," the monster said, his voice dripping with mock affection.
My blood ran cold. "Kaizer," I whispered, the name tasting like poison on my tongue.
Percy and Jay both looked at me, their eyes wide with confusion and fear.
"Son, you didn't tell me I had a grandson," Kaizer continued, his tone almost playful, but I could hear the malice beneath it.
My grip on the phone tightened, rage boiling in my chest.
He knows about Keth.
"Here," he said, his voice twisting into something darker. "Let me video‑call you… so you can see your brothers… and your son."
Jay gasped beside me, clutching my arm. Percy's face went pale, his fists clenched.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Kaizer… if you hurt them—"
He cut me off with a chilling laugh. "Oh, don't worry, son. They're alive. For now. But whether they stay that way… depends on you."
The screen lit up, and my heart nearly stopped.
Keth sat on a chair, his little body trembling, eyes wide with fear. Keigan and Keiran were behind him, tied up, their faces pale but defiant.
"Kuya…" Keigan whispered, his voice breaking as he looked straight at me.
"Papa…" Keth's small voice cut through me like a blade.
Before I could speak, Jay snatched the phone from my hand, her eyes blazing. "Kaizer, let them go!" she demanded, her voice shaking with fury.
On the other end, Kaizer smirked, his tone dripping with mock affection. "Oh, my soon‑to‑be daughter‑in‑law," he said, his words twisting like poison.
Jay's grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles white.
Jay's voice cracked as she clutched the phone tighter. "Please… just let them go. He's only four years old."
Kaizer's smirk widened, his tone dripping with cruelty. "Four years old… and already more valuable than you realize. Do you think the world will ignore the heir of Watson once I reveal him?"
My blood boiled, but I forced myself to stay steady. "Kaizer, if you hurt them—"
He cut me off with a chilling laugh. "Hurt them? Oh no, son. I don't need to hurt them… not yet. But you will do exactly as I say, or your precious heir and your brothers will pay the price."
Jay's tears spilled, her voice trembling. "You're a monster."
Kaizer tilted his head, almost amused. "Monster? No. I'm a father reclaiming what's mine. And now… I hold the future of Watson in my hands."
I clenched my fists, rage burning through me, but I knew I couldn't lose control.
For Jay.
For Keth.
For my brothers.
"What do you want, Kaizer?" I asked, my voice low, steady, though inside I was burning with rage.
"We will talk about that when you come here," he said smoothly, his tone dripping with control. "I sent you the location. Come as fast as you can."
The call ended abruptly, the screen going black.
For a moment, the silence in the room was deafening. My hand shook as I lowered the phone, the weight of his words pressing down on me.
Jay's eyes were wide, her voice trembling. "Keifer… he has them. He has our son."
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight even though my own chest felt like it was caving in. "I know. And we're going to get him back. I swear it."
Percy stepped forward, his face pale but determined. "Where's the location? Show me."
I opened the message, the coordinates glaring back at me. My stomach twisted. It wasn't far—but it was isolated. Exactly the kind of place Kaizer would choose.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay strong. This is it. No matter what trap he's set, I'll walk into it. For Keth. For my brothers. For Jay.
"Jay, please stay here," I said firmly, my voice low but steady.
"I'm coming," she shot back, her eyes blazing with determination.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "Please understand… do you think Keth would want to see his mother like this?"
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, her fire dimmed. She shook her head slowly, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Please… come back safe, with all of them," she whispered, her voice breaking.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Leaning forward, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I promise," I said, though inside my chest felt like it was caving in.
As I pulled away, her hand lingered on mine, desperate, unwilling to let go.
But I had to.
For Keth.
For my brothers.
For her.
I turned to Percy, my voice sharp now, the softness gone. "Let's move. We don't have time to waste."
He nodded