KEIFER ‘s POV
The heavy steel door of my headquarters groaned shut behind me, the sound echoing through the cavernous space like a death knell.
The guards stationed at the entrance didn’t flinch.
They didn’t dare.
Their heads bowed in unison—not out of obligation, but out of respect and something far more primal: fear.
And they had every reason to fear me.
In this world, I wasn’t just Mark Keifer Watson, the polished CEO, the dutiful son, the charming playboy.
No.
Here, in the shadows where the law didn’t dare tread, I was something else entirely.
The Shadow Reaper.
A name whispered in back alleys, hissed in underground auctions, screamed in the final moments of those foolish enough to cross me.
Weapons clattered to the ground at the sound of my footsteps.
Deals dissolved into silence when my presence was sensed.
Men twice my size paled when my name was uttered.
And yet, for the past two days, my mind hadn’t been on the empire I’d built with blood and bullets.
It hadn’t been on the shipments moving through the docks or the informants feeding me secrets from rival syndicates.
No.
It had been stuck in the Mariano Estate’s living room, replaying the way Jay’s voice had trembled when she’d asked for an early wedding.
The way her fingers had twisted in her lap, her knuckles white.
Her image was crystal clear in the back of my eyes , which refused to leave.
My office was a monstrosity—larger than most houses, lined with reinforced steel and bulletproof glass, the air thick with the hum of servers and the low murmur of my tech team.
They’d been working nonstop since I’d given the order: Dig.
Deeper.
And for once, they hadn’t disappointed.
They actually manage to find enough information to dismantle Liam’s good boy reputation.
But I didn’t stop, I told them to continue the search.
I sat behind the obsidian table, my fingers drumming against the stack of files my team had delivered.
Each one was a bomb, waiting to detonate Liam’s carefully constructed facade.
Today I even called Aries and Percy here, only they knew behind the mask of family man and CEO of Watson Enterprises.
They were also involved in underground world’s dark secret.
I called them here because they need to know this, what that bastard is hiding.
The door creaked open.
Aries and Percy stepped inside, their expressions grim.
They knew the drill.
This wasn’t a social call.
This was war.
Aries dropped onto the leather couch with a scowl.
“This better be worth dragging me out here.”
“Yeah, I was in the middle of a very intense beauty sleep. You owe me, Keifer.”
“I got something regarding Liam.” I said walking with the files towards couch across them.
I slid the files across the table toward them.
The smirk vanished from Percy’s face.
Aries’ grip on the file tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Inside were photos.
Reports.
Proof.
Liam William—golden boy, doting fiancé, perfect gentleman—was a goddamn monster.
Aries flipped through the pages first, his jaw clenching with every revelation.
“School bully?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
I leaned forward, my voice a blade.
“He wasn’t just a bully. He was a tyrant. Teachers turned a blind eye because they were terrified of him. Kids who crossed him ended up in the hospital. One transferred schools after Liam broke his arm for ‘looking at him wrong.’ He was addicted to drugs in highschool.”
Percy’s fingers tightened around the edge of the file.
“And this is just high school?”
I nodded.
“Oh, it gets better.”
The next page was a dossier on Liam’s current operations.
Not the legitimate ones—the ones he flaunted in boardrooms and charity galas.
No, these were the ones that festered in the dark.
“Sex trafficking?” Aries’ voice was a growl, his body vibrating with barely contained rage.
“He’s selling women?”
“Among other things,” I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
“Drugs. Weapons. He’s got his fingers in every filthy pie this city has to offer. And he’s good at hiding it. Until now. ”
Percy’s face was a mask of cold fury.
“He’s been grooming Jay. All this time, he’s been—”
“Using her,” I finished.
“But the question is why? What does he want with her?”
Aries slammed shut the files.
Hold tightening around it.
The look on their face was completely mirroring mine, the killer look, we want to burn the world.
“He was hiding all this behind his innocent mask.” Aries voice trembling due to rage.
Even Percy looked like he want to bury someone — actually Liam, 6 feet down the earth.
Aries immediately got up from couch nearly knowing the table, as he stormed towards the door, his entire body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash hell.
“I don’t care what he wants. I’m going to kill him. After knowing all this , I am going to burn his world into ash.”
Percy and I moved at the same time, grabbing his arms before he could reach the exit.
Aries whirled on me, his eyes wild.
“After everything we just saw, you’re telling me no?” He shoved against my grip, but I didn’t budge.
“He’s hurting her, Keifer! He’s manipulating her, and you want me to wait?”
I didn’t flinch.
“If you go in half-cocked, you’ll lose her.”
That stopped him.
Aries’ chest heaved, his breath coming in sharp, angry bursts.
But he listened.
I released him slowly, my voice low.
“Jay’s already under his thumb. If we make a move now, without proof, he’ll turn her against us. He’ll paint us as the villains. And she’ll believe him.”
I look at both , letting my words settle deep into them before continuing.
“And trust me it would be more complicated and harder for us to expose him.
I ordered my team to continue digging more.” I added “We need to know why he is behind Jay.”
Percy crossed his arms, his usual smirk nowhere in sight.
“Keifer’s right. We need leverage. Something so undeniable that even Jay can’t rationalize it away.”
“So what? We just sit here while that bastard sinks his claws deeper into her?” Aries’ hands clenched into fists , pacing around.
” How?
How I am supposed to sit , when that manipulative bastard has got over Jay’s mind.
I am losing my mind thinking me , her brother, is not able to do anything but watch.”
“Believe me , Aries . I am also on the edge of losing my fucking mind, but for the sake of Jay, just calm yourself.” Percy added stepping infront of Aries to stop him from pacing around.
To lighten the heavy mood, Percy added.
” Besides, if you are facing a problem to calm yourself, just look at my handsome face man, it’s the best modal I discovered.”
Aries stared at him for a beat and then made his most iconic annoyed face, ” You are not even handsome, Percy.” He shoved Percy aside before sitting back on couch and continued, ” Rather than that, it gives me more stress.”
I simply shook my head, despite the heavy tension looming over room.
Percy somehow managed to break free the tension.
We all sat on the couch across from each other, discussing the strategy and plans .
I smirked.
Liam wanted a wedding?
He was going to get a war instead.
Here’s your new chapter.
Sorry for the wait…
Sooo….now that the truth is unfold…
Do you think the hunt will begin….?
Your next chapter will be today or not ….I also don’t know….but for you I will try.
So pls comment below your opinion, your theories, your thoughts in those little JAYFER coded mind of yours.
Bye bye see yaaaaaaaa….ʘ‿ʘ