KEIFER POV
We went to the place the monster told us to go.
Every mile closer, the rage inside me grew hotter, sharper, until it was the only thing keeping me steady.
This time… I will kill him.
If he hurt my brothers… if he laid a single hand on my son… Kaizer won't walk away alive.
Percy glanced at me from the passenger seat, his jaw tight, his eyes flickering with the same fear I carried.
But he didn't speak.
He knew words wouldn't help now.
The location was isolated, just like I expected.
A warehouse, its walls looming in the shadows, the kind of place where nightmares were born.
I parked, my grip on the wheel so tight my knuckles burned.
My chest was heavy, but my mind was clear.
This ends tonight.
I turned to Percy, my voice low, dangerous. "Stay sharp. We don't know what traps he's set."
Percy nodded, his face pale but determined.
I stepped out of the car, the cold air biting at my skin, but all I felt was fire.
Every step toward that door was a promise:
I will bring them back.
And if Kaizer thinks he can take them from me…
He's about to learn what happens when a father is pushed too far.
"Let's go," I said to Percy, my voice sharp, leaving no room for hesitation.
He nodded once, his face pale but determined, and fell into step beside me.
The warehouse loomed ahead, its rusted doors like the mouth of a beast waiting to swallow us whole.
Every instinct screamed that this was a trap, but I didn't care.
Kaizer had my son.
He had my brothers.
I clenched my fists, the rage boiling inside me.
This ends tonight.
Percy glanced at me, his voice low. "Keifer… whatever happens, we fight together."
I gave him a quick nod, my jaw tight. "Together."
The air grew colder as we approached, silence pressing down on us like a weight.
My heart hammered, but my mind was clear.
I wasn't walking in as Kaizer's son anymore.
I was walking in as a father, a brother, and a man ready to burn the world down if it meant saving them.
I reached for the door, my voice steady but dangerous. "Stay close. No matter what we see inside… we don't stop until we get them out."
And with that, I pushed the door open.
The sight hit me like a blade to the chest. Keth was crying, his small body trembling, tears streaking down his cheeks. Kaizer towered over him, his voice sharp and venomous.
"I swear to god, if you cry one more time, I will hurt you," he snarled.
"Let him go!" Keiran shouted, his voice breaking with desperation.
Kaizer whipped his head toward him, eyes blazing. "Shut the fuck up!" he barked, his words echoing through the warehouse.
My blood boiled, fury surging through me like fire. I stepped forward, fists clenched, my voice shaking with rage. "What the fuck are you doing?" I demanded, my tone low but dangerous.
Kaizer turned slowly, his smirk curling like poison. "Ah… my son finally arrives. Just in time to watch me teach your heir what fear really means."
I felt Percy tense beside me, but all I could see was Keth—my boy, terrified, trapped under the shadow of a monster.
"Papa!" Keth cried, his little feet pounding against the floor as he tried to run into my arms.
But Kaizer's hand shot out, stopping him cold.
My son froze, his tears spilling, his tiny body trembling under the weight of that monster's shadow.
Kaizer tilted his head, his smirk curling with venom. "You know… he has my looks. If you look carefully, that face resembles you. And you… you look like me."
The words hit me like acid.
My blood boiled, fury surging through me.
He dares to claim my son.
He dares to twist this into some sick reflection of himself.
I stepped forward, my voice low, dangerous, every syllable dripping with rage. "Don't you ever say that again. He is nothing like you. He's mine. He's loved. And you will never touch him again."
Kaizer chuckled, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Oh, but blood runs deep, son. You can't erase me from him. No matter how hard you try."
Percy's fists clenched beside me, his voice sharp. "You're wrong, Kaizer. Keth has Keifer's heart, not yours. And that's what makes him stronger than you'll ever be."
I locked eyes with Kaizer, my fury burning hotter than ever.
This ends here.
He will never claim my son.
Not while I'm alive.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice sharp, every muscle in my body coiled tight.
"I want your company… and your money," Kaizer sneered, his tone dripping with greed.
"Never," I spat, my chest burning with rage. "That was my mother's hard work. Her blood, her sweat. You'll never touch it."
Kaizer's smirk twisted into venom. "Fuck your mother, Keifer."
The words snapped something inside me.
I didn't think.
I didn't hesitate.
I ran forward, my fist flying, and slammed it square into his face.
The impact echoed through the warehouse, Kaizer stumbling back with a snarl, blood at the corner of his mouth.
Keth cried out, Keigan and Keiran straining against their ropes, their voices breaking. "Kuya!"
Percy rushed forward, ready to back me up, but my eyes never left Kaizer.
My chest heaved, fury boiling through me.
He insulted her.
He threatened my son.
He will pay.
I singled Percy to take care of Keth and my brothers, and it seemed like he got the idea.
He moved quickly, slipping behind Kaizer's line of sight, untying Keigan and Keiran while whispering reassurance to my son.
Kaizer wiped the blood from his lip, his grin returning, darker than before. "Finally," he hissed. "Now I get to see the monster in you."
I clenched my fists, stepping closer, my voice low and dangerous. "No, Kaizer. You're the monster. And tonight… I end you."
His laugh echoed through the warehouse, sharp and cruel. "End me? You've always been too weak, Keifer. That's why I took everything from you. That's why I'll take him too."
My rage boiled over.
I lunged, my fist connecting with his jaw again, the impact reverberating through my arm.
He staggered back, but his grin never faded.
Kaizer swung at me, his blow grazing my cheek, the sting igniting my fury even more.
I grabbed his collar, slamming him against the wall, my voice a growl. "You will never touch my son again. You will never call yourself his blood."
Behind me, I heard Keth's sobs quieting as Percy freed him, Keigan and Keiran pulling him close. Their voices gave me strength.
Kaizer's eyes gleamed with malice even as I held him pinned. "You think you can protect them forever? You'll fail, Keifer. Just like your mother did."
The mention of her name snapped something inside me.
My grip tightened, my vision narrowing.
This ends here.
No more games.
No more taunts.
"Percy, take them out of here," I ordered, my voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
"But—" Percy started, his voice tight with worry.
"Now. Take them," I snapped, my eyes locked on Kaizer, my fists clenched.
Percy hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Fine. But I'll wait outside. If you don't come in the next twenty minutes… then I'm coming back in."
I nodded, my chest heavy but resolute. "Go. Keep them safe."
Percy moved quickly, guiding Keth and my brothers toward the exit.
Keth's tearful eyes clung to me, his small voice breaking. "Papa…"
I forced a steady smile, even though my heart was shattering. "I'll be right behind you, son. Be brave."
The door creaked shut behind them, leaving me alone with Kaizer.
The silence was suffocating, broken only by Kaizer's low chuckle.
He wiped the blood from his lip, his grin curling like poison. "So… just you and me now, son."
I stepped forward, my voice low, dangerous. "Exactly how I want it."
Kaizer lunged at me, his fist swinging wild.
I ducked low, driving my shoulder into his ribs and slamming him back against the wall.
The impact rattled the warehouse, dust falling from the rafters.
He snarled, grabbing my arm and twisting hard, pain shooting through my shoulder.
I gritted my teeth, countering with a headbutt that split his lip open.
Blood sprayed, but his grin only widened.
"You've got her fire," he hissed, spitting red onto the floor. "But you'll never win."
I roared, hammering my fist into his jaw, then his gut, each strike fueled by years of rage.
He staggered, but swung back, his knuckles cracking against my cheek.
My vision blurred, but I refused to fall.
We grappled, bodies crashing into crates, wood splintering under the force.
He shoved me down, straddling me, his hands clawing for my throat.
I gasped for air, stars dancing in my vision.
But then I thought of Keth.
His little voice crying "Papa." His terrified eyes.
I surged upward with everything I had, slamming my knee into Kaizer's chest.
He reeled back, coughing, and I rolled to my feet.
My fists clenched, my body trembling, but my resolve sharper than steel.
"This ends now," I growled, charging forward.
I tackled him, driving him to the ground.
My fists rained down, one after another, until his grin finally faltered.
His face was bloodied, his breath ragged, but his eyes still gleamed with malice.
"You think killing me will save them?" he rasped, laughing weakly. "You'll just become me."
I froze, my fist hovering inches from his face.
My chest heaved, fury and pain colliding inside me.
Do I end him here?
Do I cross that line?
Kaizer chuckled, blood dripping from his mouth. "Go on, son. Be the monster. Show them who you really are."
My hand trembled.
Every instinct screamed to finish it.
To silence him forever.
But then I heard Keth's voice echo in my mind.
Papa…
I lowered my fist, my voice sharp, steady, dangerous. "No. I'm not you. I'll never be you."
I pressed my forearm against his throat, pinning him hard. "But if you ever come near my family again… I swear, Kaizer, I'll end you without hesitation."
His grin faltered, his breath shallow.
For the first time, I saw fear flicker in his eyes.
The fight was over.
I had won.
Not by becoming the monster… but by refusing to.
Kaizer's breath rasped beneath my arm, his body pinned, his eyes finally stripped of arrogance. For the first time, I saw fear in him—raw, unmasked.
I leaned closer, my voice a low growl. "You'll never break me. You'll never own my son. And you'll never wear my mother's name again."
He tried to laugh, but it came out as a weak, broken cough.
His strength was gone.
His power—shattered.
I shoved him back against the concrete, leaving him gasping, and rose to my feet.
My chest heaved, blood dripping from my lip, but my resolve was iron.
The locked door rattled.
Percy's voice echoed from outside, urgent. "Keifer! Time's up—are you alive?"
I glanced at Kaizer one last time, my fists still trembling.
I could end him here.
I could silence him forever.
But then I thought of Keth waiting outside.
Of Jay's trembling voice begging me to come back safe.
Of my brothers, bruised but alive.
I turned away. "This fight is over," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
I kicked the door open, the cold night air rushing in.
Percy stood there, Keth clinging to his side, Keigan and Keiran behind him.
"Papa!" Keth cried, breaking free and running into my arms.
I dropped to my knees, scooping him up, holding him tight against my chest.
His warmth, his heartbeat—it was everything.
"I told you I'd come back," I whispered into his hair, my voice breaking.
Behind me, Kaizer's cough echoed faintly in the warehouse, but I didn't look back.
My family was safe.
That was all that mattered.
"Kuya Kaizer…" Keigan's voice trembled, fear still etched in his eyes.
"He's still alive," I said firmly, my chest heaving, "but he will never mess with our family again."
They nodded, relief washing over their faces, though the fear hadn't fully left.
"Come on," I whispered, pulling them close, wrapping my arms around Keigan, Keiran, and Keth. Their bodies pressed against mine, fragile but safe.
"Family hug!" Percy called out, his voice breaking the tension as he stepped in, wrapping his arms around all of us.
For a moment, the warehouse, the blood, the fight—all of it faded.
All that mattered was this: my son in my arms, my brothers safe, Percy standing strong beside me.
I closed my eyes, holding them tighter.
This is what Kaizer can never take from me.
This is what makes us stronger than him.
Keth's small voice whispered against my chest, "Papa… we're safe now."
I swallowed hard, pressing a kiss to his hair. "Yes, son. We're safe. And we'll always be… as long as we stay together."
"Now let's go see your mama, she was scared," I said, my voice softer now, the fury of the fight replaced by warmth.
"Mama… I miss Mama," Keth whispered, clutching my hand tightly.
"Papa," he called out again, his little voice tugging at my heart.
"Hmm?" I answered, leaning down to meet his eyes.
"I'm hungry," he said, his pout so serious it broke the tension like glass.
We all burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the night, washing away the heaviness that had clung to us.
"It's not funny! I'm hungry!" Keth protested, puffing his cheeks and turning his back with a dramatic pout.
"Oh god," I muttered under my breath, watching him turn his back dramatically.
Jay does the exact same thing.
Percy chuckled, shaking his head. "Like mother, like son."
"Okay, everyone stop laughing," I said, trying to keep a straight face, though my shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
"Kuya, I'm also hungry," Keiran chimed in, his voice shy but insistent.
I sighed, shaking my head, but my lips curved into a smile. "Fine. Then it's settled—we go eat, and then we go home."
They all nodded eagerly, their faces lighting up, the fear finally replaced by joy.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself breathe.
My family was safe.
My son was in my arms.
And laughter—our laughter—was louder than Kaizer's shadow.
We went to a restaurant and ate.
For the first time in hours, the tension in my chest eased.
The clatter of plates, the hum of voices around us—it all felt strangely comforting, like the world had returned to normal.
Keth sat beside me, stuffing food into his mouth with both hands, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. His pout from earlier was gone, replaced by pure joy.
"Mama's going to scold you for eating like that," I teased, ruffling his hair.
He looked up at me with wide eyes, his mouth full. "But I'm hungry!" he mumbled, crumbs spilling onto the table.
Keigan and Keiran laughed, their voices lighter now, no trace of fear.
Percy leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a grin. "After everything, this is what saves us—food."
I smiled, watching them all.
My brothers.
My son.
My family.
For a moment, I let myself breathe.
The monster was behind us, at least for now.
And here, in this small restaurant, surrounded by laughter and warmth, I remembered exactly what I was fighting for.
We went home after eating, and Jay was there by the door, waiting—like she hadn't moved since we left.
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🌹✨ Author's Note ✨🌹
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well 💙🔥.
I'm so sorry for the late update—I had some shopping to take care of 🛍️.
Hope you understand 💫.
To make it up to you, I wrote a longer chapter today 📝🔥.
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I can't wait to hear what you think! 🌹✨
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Please drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to see 10+ comments on each chapter 💫.
I'm not here to force anyone, but your feedback means the world to me 📝✨.
Even today, after all the shopping and running around I did, I still uploaded this chapter because I couldn't keep you waiting 🌹💥.
So please, please comment—it keeps me motivated and helps me bring you even more chaos and longer updates 💫🔥.