Chapter 31: No More Masks
(Keifer's POV)
For a few seconds after Jay removed the mask, nobody spoke.
Not because we didn't have something to say.
But because our brains were still trying to catch up with reality.
The wind from the harbor moved between the rusted containers, carrying the smell of salt and old metal.
And in the middle of it all stood Jay.
My Jay.
Leader of the Obsidian Circle.
Aries was the first one to recover.
Aries:
"I knew she was scary, but not assassin organization scary."
Amy grinned proudly.
Amy:
"She's even scarier when she's angry."
Jay shot her a look.
Jay Jay:
"Amy."
Amy raised both hands.
Amy:
"What? It's true."
Kuya Angelo still looked stunned.
He stared at Jay like he was trying to solve a math problem that didn't make sense.
Kuya Angelo:
"You're telling me…"
He pointed between the girls.
Kuya Angelo:
"You six are the Obsidian Circle?"
Sophia corrected calmly.
Sophia:
"Five officially."
Then she nodded toward Jay.
Sophia:
"She leads."
Aries rubbed his forehead.
Aries:
"I'm gonna need a moment."
I folded my arms and stared at Jay.
Keifer:
"So."
Jay Jay:
"So."
Keifer:
"You've been secretly running a mafia operation while going to school with me."
Jay Jay:
"It's not a mafia."
Amy whispered loudly.
Amy:
"It's totally a mafia."
Jay elbowed her.
I shook my head slowly.
Keifer:
"You tortured Yuri."
Jay didn't deny it.
Jay Jay:
"He tried to kill you."
Keifer:
"That's not technically proof."
Amy stepped forward.
Amy:
"He admitted it."
Savannah added.
Savannah:
"Recorded confession."
Kuya Angelo sighed deeply.
Kuya Angelo:
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Jay looked at him calmly.
Jay Jay:
"Because you would have tried to stop us."
That was true.
Kuya Angelo's expression said it clearly.
I stepped closer to Jay.
Close enough to see the small scar on her eyebrow that I had always wondered about.
Suddenly it made sense.
Keifer:
"How long?"
Jay Jay:
"Years."
Aries coughed.
Aries:
"WHAT?"
Savannah answered casually.
Savannah:
"Started small."
Sophia nodded.
Sophia:
"Investigations."
Olivia continued.
Olivia:
"Then operations."
Amy smiled.
Amy:
"Then assassinations."
The Iron Vipers stared at them.
Luis whispered.
Luis:
"We are surrounded by psychopaths."
Mia spoke quietly for the first time.
Mia:
"Only when necessary."
I looked at Jay again.
Keifer:
"And you planned everything."
Jay Jay:
"Yes."
Keifer:
"Even the torture."
Jay Jay:
"Yes."
For some reason that made me smile.
I shook my head.
Keifer:
"I should have known."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
Jay Jay:
"Known what?"
Keifer:
"That the girl who beat me in chess five times in a row wasn't normal."
Amy snorted.
Amy:
"She beat a mafia boss at chess once."
Jay sighed.
Jay Jay:
"Amy."
Kuya Angelo rubbed his temples.
Kuya Angelo:
"This is insane."
Sophia replied calmly.
Sophia:
"No. This is efficient."
Savannah pulled up her tablet.
Savannah:
"Speaking of efficiency."
She turned the screen toward us.
Savannah:
"We have work."
The map appeared again.
Red markers.
Threats.
Targets.
Savannah:
"Three active enemies."
Sophia added.
Sophia:
"And one sniper."
Kuya Angelo immediately focused.
Kuya Angelo:
"Locations?"
Savannah zoomed in.
Savannah:
"Sniper building here."
Aries leaned forward.
Aries:
"That's five minutes away."
Amy grinned.
Amy:
"Perfect."
Jay turned to me.
Jay Jay:
"This is where the alliance starts."
I nodded.
Keifer:
"Works for me."
She looked at both groups.
Jay Jay:
"Strategy meeting."
Everyone moved closer to the container where Savannah placed the tablet.
The screen glowed under the moonlight.
Jay pointed to the building.
Jay Jay:
"Sniper here."
She traced the street lines.
Jay Jay:
"Two entry points."
Sophia added.
Sophia:
"Security cameras disabled."
Savannah nodded.
Savannah:
"Already done."
Aries looked impressed.
Aries:
"Damn."
Jay continued.
Jay Jay:
"Vipers approach from the west."
She pointed to the alley.
Jay Jay:
"Circle enters from the rooftop."
Kuya Angelo crossed his arms.
Kuya Angelo:
"Capture or eliminate?"
Jay looked at him.
Jay Jay:
"Capture if possible."
Amy muttered.
Amy:
"Boring."
I smirked.
Keifer:
"You like hurting people too much."
Amy shrugged.
Amy:
"They started it."
Olivia checked her watch.
Olivia:
"We should move."
The two groups split instantly.
Iron Vipers went toward the alley.
Obsidian Circle disappeared toward the fire escape ladders.
I stayed behind for a second.
Jay noticed.
Jay Jay:
"What?"
Keifer:
"I'm still processing."
She crossed her arms.
Jay Jay:
"Processing what?"
Keifer:
"You."
She frowned slightly.
Jay Jay:
"You're still here instead of running."
Keifer:
"Why would I run?"
Jay Jay:
"Most people don't like finding out their girlfriend runs an assassin network."
I laughed quietly.
Keifer:
"I think it's impressive."
Jay blinked.
Jay Jay:
"Impressive?"
Keifer:
"You secretly saved my life."
I stepped closer.
Keifer:
"Multiple times."
Her expression softened for a moment.
But only slightly.
Jay Jay:
"You're still in danger."
Keifer:
"I know."
Jay Jay:
"And now you know my secret."
Keifer:
"I do."
Jay Jay:
"That makes things complicated."
I grinned.
Keifer:
"My life has always been complicated."
Amy's voice echoed from the stairwell.
Amy:
"LOVE BIRDS!"
Amy:
"SNIPER!"
Jay sighed.
Jay Jay:
"Conversation later."
Keifer:
"Definitely later."
We ran.
The building interior smelled like dust and cigarettes.
Our footsteps echoed up the stairwell.
Kuya Angelo signaled silently.
Three floors.
Four.
Five.
Meanwhile above us the Obsidian Circle moved across the rooftop.
Savannah's voice came through our earpieces.
Savannah:
"Target confirmed."
Sophia added.
Sophia:
"He's setting up."
Amy's excited whisper followed.
Amy:
"Permission to dropkick?"
Jay's voice answered immediately.
Jay Jay:
"No."
We reached the top floor hallway.
Kuya Angelo raised his fist.
Stop.
A shadow moved under the rooftop door.
The sniper.
Savannah whispered.
Savannah:
"Three… two…"
The rooftop door burst open.
Amy tackled the sniper from behind.
Olivia disarmed the rifle in one smooth motion.
Mia pinned his arm.
Sophia secured his wrists.
The entire operation took less than four seconds.
Aries blinked.
Aries:
"What the hell."
Luis laughed quietly.
Luis:
"They're terrifying."
Jay walked forward calmly.
Jay Jay:
"Interrogate."
The sniper struggled.
Sniper:
"You're dead if you touch me."
Amy punched him lightly.
Amy:
"Relax."
Jay crouched in front of him.
Jay Jay:
"Who hired you?"
Sniper:
"I'm not talking."
Amy cracked her knuckles.
Amy:
"I can fix that."
The sniper looked nervous now.
Jay held up a small photo.
Keifer.
Jay Jay:
"You were going to kill him."
She leaned closer.
Jay Jay:
"So I'm going to ask again."
Her voice dropped.
Jay Jay:
"Who hired you?"
The sniper hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
Sniper:
"keizer Watson."
Silence exploded across the rooftop.
My chest tightened.
Even though I already suspected it.
Hearing it confirmed felt different.
Kuya Angelo cursed quietly.
Aries looked furious.
Jay stood slowly.
Jay Jay:
"Record that."
Savannah:
"Already done."
I looked out toward the city lights.
My father.
Actually trying to have me killed.
Jay walked beside me.
Jay Jay:
"I'm sorry."
Keifer:
"Don't be."
Jay Jay:
"You expected it?"
Keifer:
"I hoped I was wrong."
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Just the wind around us.
Then I looked at her again.
Keifer:
"So."
Jay Jay:
"So?"
Keifer:
"What now, boss?"
She smirked slightly.
Jay Jay:
"Now we finish the rest."
Behind us Amy dragged the sniper toward the stairs.
Amy:
"Interrogation room time!"
Aries followed.
Aries:
"I want popcorn."
Kuya Angelo looked at Jay again.
Still amazed.
Kuya Angelo:
"You're dangerous."
Jay shrugged.
Jay Jay:
"I prefer efficient."
And standing there on that rooftop…
The alliance between Iron Vipers and Obsidian Circle officially began.
But deep inside my mind one thought remained.
Jay had kept this secret for years.
Protected me from the shadows.
Planned everything.
Controlled everything.
Which meant one thing was certain.
The girl I thought I knew…
Was far more powerful than I ever imagined.
And somehow…
That only made me like her more.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hey everyone!!
I am thinking to stop posting on this book, cause I am losing motivation please atleast can you comment 10 comments to make me happy cause i consider you all as my friends because my school friends are all fake🐍🐍 they spread rumours about me, talk behind my back, and make fun of my body and many more so please comment on my chapters please🙏🏻😔
Bye bye!! 🫶🏻🌷