Chapter 40: Quiet Recovery, Dark Plans
(Jay Jay's POV)
The hospital discharge papers felt strangely heavy in my hands.
Not physically.
Just… symbolically.
Three days ago I was bleeding out on a warehouse floor.
Now I was walking out of the hospital like nothing happened.
Well.
Not exactly walking.
More like limping with dignity.
Amy was holding the door open like an overly dramatic bodyguard.
Amy:
"Careful."
Jay:
"I'm not fragile."
Amy:
"You literally got shot."
Jay:
"Details."
Aries leaned against the black SUV waiting outside.
Aries:
"If she faints again I'm not carrying her."
Amy glared at him.
Amy:
"You carried a mini fridge last week."
Aries:
"That was different."
Jay:
"How?"
Aries:
"The fridge didn't argue."
I rolled my eyes and carefully climbed into the car.
My side throbbed slightly but the doctor had already warned me that would happen for a while.
Sophia slid into the seat beside me.
Sophia:
"You're supposed to rest."
Jay:
"I will."
Sophia gave me a very skeptical look.
Sophia:
"You say that every time."
Jay:
"And every time I survive."
Sophia sighed.
Sophia:
"That's not the point."
Keifer sat in the driver's seat.
He hadn't said much since we left the hospital.
But I noticed the way his eyes kept checking the mirror.
Checking on me.
Every few seconds.
Jay:
"You're staring."
Keifer:
"I'm driving."
Jay:
"You're staring while driving."
Keifer:
"That's multitasking."
Amy laughed from the back seat.
Amy:
"He's paranoid now."
Jay:
"I noticed."
Keifer didn't argue.
He just kept driving.
The Watson Mansion gates slowly opened as we pulled inside.
The place looked the same as always.
Huge.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
And somehow it felt even more like home now.
Kuya Angelo was waiting on the front steps when we arrived.
He crossed his arms when he saw me.
Kuya Angelo:
"You should still be in bed."
Jay:
"Hi to you too."
Kuya Angelo:
"I'm serious."
Jay:
"So am I."
Amy leaned toward him and whispered loudly.
Amy:
"She's been like this all morning."
Kuya Angelo sighed.
Kuya Angelo:
"Of course she has."
Keifer came around the car and gently helped me out.
Jay:
"I can walk."
Keifer:
"I know."
But he didn't let go.
Not until we reached the door.
Inside the mansion everything felt strangely calm.
No alarms.
No chaos.
Just quiet.
Savannah and Olivia were already in the living room with laptops open.
Savannah looked up first.
Savannah:
"Well look who survived."
Jay:
"Barely."
Olivia stood up immediately.
Olivia:
"You shouldn't be walking yet."
Jay:
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Sophia:
"Because it's true."
Keifer guided me toward the couch.
Keifer:
"Sit."
Jay:
"Yes sir."
Keifer:
"Don't start."
I sat down carefully.
My side protested slightly but it was manageable.
Amy dropped onto the armchair across from me.
Amy:
"So."
Jay:
"So."
Amy leaned forward excitedly.
Amy:
"When do we deal with Yuri?"
The room instantly went quiet.
Savannah closed her laptop slowly.
Savannah:
"He's still locked up."
Olivia nodded.
Olivia:
"We moved him to the underground safehouse."
Sophia added calmly.
Sophia:
"Three guards at all times."
Amy grinned.
Amy:
"I volunteer."
Kuya Angelo raised an eyebrow.
Kuya Angelo:
"You volunteer for everything violent."
Amy:
"That's because I'm good at it."
I leaned back slightly.
Jay:
"How's he behaving?"
Savannah smirked faintly.
Savannah:
"Not well."
Jay:
"Good."
Keifer was watching me carefully now.
Too carefully.
Keifer:
"You're already thinking about revenge."
Jay:
"I'm thinking about consequences."
Keifer:
"That's a fancy word."
Jay:
"It's accurate."
Amy leaned forward.
Amy:
"He tried to kill you."
Jay:
"And you."
Amy:
"And Keifer."
Aries shrugged from the doorway.
Aries:
"And technically me."
I folded my arms.
Jay:
"He made a mistake."
Savannah raised an eyebrow.
Savannah:
"What kind of mistake?"
I smiled slightly.
Jay:
"The kind he's going to regret for the rest of his life."
Keifer sighed quietly.
Keifer:
"You just got discharged."
Jay:
"I'm not going tonight."
Keifer:
"Good."
Jay:
"I'm planning."
Keifer groaned.
Keifer:
"That's worse."
Everyone in the room laughed except him.
The next few days passed slowly.
Painfully slowly.
Recovery was boring.
Doctors said I needed at least a week before doing anything "physically intense."
Which apparently included fighting, running, or chasing traitors through warehouses.
Ridiculous.
But that didn't mean I was idle.
Not even close.
Every afternoon the Obsidian Circle met in the study.
Savannah monitored Yuri's movements through security cameras.
Sophia analyzed his communication history.
Olivia reviewed potential allies he might still have.
Amy mostly suggested creative ways to make him regret breathing.
The large screen displayed Yuri's cell.
A concrete room.
Metal chair.
Hands chained.
He looked angry.
But also nervous.
Good.
Savannah zoomed in on the screen.
Savannah:
"He's barely sleeping."
Amy grinned.
Amy:
"Fear does that."
Sophia tapped her tablet.
Sophia:
"He's been asking for Keifer."
The room fell silent again.
I leaned forward slowly.
Jay:
"Interesting."
Olivia looked thoughtful.
Olivia:
"Guilt?"
Amy scoffed.
Amy:
"Doubt it."
Savannah nodded.
Savannah:
"He's probably trying to manipulate him."
I stared at the screen.
At the boy who used to be Keifer's best friend.
Jay:
"He wants forgiveness."
Amy laughed.
Amy:
"Good luck with that."
Sophia looked at me carefully.
Sophia:
"What's your plan?"
I leaned back.
Jay:
"We don't rush."
Savannah nodded.
Savannah:
"Psychological pressure."
Sophia agreed.
Sophia:
"Isolation works."
Amy tilted her head.
Amy:
"So we don't hit him?"
Jay:
"Not yet."
Amy sighed dramatically.
Amy:
"You're no fun."
I smiled faintly.
Jay:
"Oh we'll have fun."
That evening Keifer found me in the study.
Everyone else had already left.
Only the glow of the monitors filled the room.
Keifer leaned against the doorway.
Keifer:
"You're planning something dangerous."
Jay:
"That's my brand."
He walked closer.
His eyes moved to the screen.
Yuri.
Alone in the cell.
Keifer exhaled slowly.
Keifer:
"I never thought it would end like this."
Jay:
"Neither did he."
Keifer looked at me again.
Keifer:
"Just promise me something."
Jay:
"What?"
Keifer's voice softened.
Keifer:
"Don't lose yourself in revenge."
I studied his face.
The concern there was real.
Deep.
Jay:
"I'm not doing this for revenge."
Keifer:
"Then why?"
I turned back to the screen.
Jay:
"For protection."
My voice was quiet.
But steady.
Jay:
"He tried to kill you."
I looked at Keifer.
Jay:
"And that means he's already crossed a line."
Keifer didn't answer.
But his expression told me he understood.
Even if he didn't like it.
Outside the mansion night had fallen again.
Dark.
Quiet.
Dangerous.
And somewhere beneath the city…
Yuri waited.
But not for long.
Because very soon—
He was going to learn exactly why crossing Jay Jay Watson was the worst mistake of his life.