KEIFER POV
Ci‑N kept working on my daughter, focused, steady, refusing to panic even though I was falling apart.
"Ci‑N, what is happening to her?" I asked again, my voice cracking.
He didn't look up.
"Since she's a premie, her breathing is unstable. It happens. We're supporting her until the equipment arrives. She's going to be okay."
I nodded, but my chest felt like it was collapsing.
Then —
the sound of sirens outside.
The ambulance.
Doctors rushed in with a small portable machine, and the lead doctor looked older, experienced, like he'd seen everything.
A nurse stepped forward.
"Where is the mother?"
I snapped.
"Right there — are you blind? She's the only woman in the room!"
The nurse didn't argue. She hurried to Jay and started checking her, cleaning the marks on her neck, stabilizing her.
And then it hit me.
Yuri.
He was still in my house.
My blood boiled.
I stormed out of the room.
My vision tunneled.
All I saw was Yuri in the hallway —
held down by Edrix and Josh, both of them gripping his arms so tight he couldn't move an inch.
Section E stood around him in a tight circle, their faces dark, serious, and deadly calm.
They were doing the one‑hit rule —
the rule they made years ago:
My knuckles were shredded, slick with a cocktail of my own sweat and his blood. I didn't stop. Each blow was a jagged response to what he'd done—the way he'd touched her, the way he'd tried to take her from me forever.
"Keifer!" Edrix said placing his hand on my shoulder
"No!" I roared, throwing an elbow back to keep my space. "I'm going to kill this bastard! He kissed my wife—then he tried to murder her!"
I expected them to shrink back or try to reason with me.
Instead, the tension in the room snapped.
The hands on my shoulders didn't pull me away; they shoved me aside to get a better angle.
"Step back and let us finish it, then," Josh said
Yuri was on his knees now, coughing up thick, dark ropes of blood that splattered against the floor.
He looked up, his eyes swollen shut, reaching out a trembling hand for mercy he wouldn't find.
The first boot caught him in the ribs with a sickening, wet crunch.
Then another caught his jaw.
I lunged back in, my rage finding a second wind as a dozen hands joined the fray. We were a swarm, a collective shadow of vengeance.
Yuri's gasps turned into gurgles, his body jerking under the weight of the boots and fists.
I landed one final, heavy blow to his temple just as he slumped forward.
The retching stopped.
The frantic movement of the crowd slowed as the realization set in.
Yuri lay broken in the center of the circle, his eyes vacant and staring at nothing. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, and for the first time, the room was deathly silent.
He was gone. We had torn the life out of him together.
"KEIFER, COME! SHE'S CRYING AGAIN!" Ci‑N yelled from upstairs.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I sprinted up the stairs so fast I nearly slipped, burst into the room, and saw her —
my tiny daughter, crying softly now, her little chest rising and falling.
I scooped her into my arms immediately.
"My princess…" I whispered, kissing her tiny forehead.
She grabbed my thumb with her whole hand —
and instead of crying…
She laughed.
A tiny, breathy, newborn laugh.
My heart melted.
My knees almost gave out.
Tears just fell — no stopping them.
I held her close, breathing her in, feeling her warmth, feeling her life.
I stepped out of the room, still holding her, and saw Section E standing in the hallway.
Yuri was gone — dragged out by the boys, exactly like I told them.
"Clear everything," I said, voice low but firm. "Jay doesn't need to see anything that will stress her."
They nodded instantly and moved.
I walked toward the kids.
Kevin, Kade, and Keira were huddled together, eyes red from crying, waiting for news.
I knelt down, still holding the baby, and kissed each of their foreheads.
"You guys were so good," I said, my voice thick. "You protected your mom. You protected your sister. I'm proud of you."
I kissed Kevin's forehead again.
"Especially you, Kev. You stood in front of your siblings. You kept them safe. You kept Mama safe. And now your sister too."
Kevin's eyes filled with tears, but he stood taller, proud.
Keira tugged my sleeve.
"Papa… is it a girl?"
I smiled, wiping my face.
"Yeah. Your baby sister."
Kade gasped softly, eyes wide with wonder.
Kevin looked up at me.
"What about Mama?"
"She's fine now," I said, steady and sure. "She's resting. She's safe."
All three kids exhaled at the same time —
relief washing over their little faces.
I held my daughter closer.
My family was safe.
"Papa, why does her eyes look like Grandma Serian's eyes?" Kade asked, squinting at his baby sister.
I looked down at her tiny face.
Hazel eyes
Exactly like my mom's.
A soft smile pulled at my lips.
"Because your grandma wanted to come and stay with us again," I said quietly.
The kids' eyes widened like it was magic.
Then Ci‑N appeared in the doorway, breathless.
"Keifer, Jay's awake."
I didn't waste a second.
I rushed inside.
Jay was trying to sit up, still weak, still pale.
I slid an arm behind her back and helped her gently.
"Easy now," I murmured.
Her eyes landed on our daughter.
And instantly—
"Gimeee," she said, reaching out like a toddler asking for candy.
Ci‑N snorted.
"Wow. Jay just had a kid and now she's asking to hold her daughter like a kid."
Jay glared at him.
"I will kick you."
Ci‑N crossed his arms dramatically.
"I just helped deliver your baby. Be nice to me."
I shook my head, smiling despite everything.
"Thanks, Ci‑N. You really helped us."
He waved it off.
"Nah. No need to thank me. Besides—" he grinned, "now I can finally go be a pilot. The two‑year deal is complete."
I laughed under my breath.
Percy walked in, rolling his eyes.
"Wow. If this punk becomes a pilot, I'm never riding a plane again."
Ci‑N opened his mouth to argue, but Kuya Angelo cut them both off.
"Enough. Jay just had a baby. Lower your voices."
He walked to Jay, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.
"You did good," he said softly.
"Thanks, Kuya," Jay whispered.
I gently placed our daughter into her arms.
Jay's whole face softened instantly.
"See?" I teased, brushing Jay's hair back. "I told you we were having a daughter."
Jay rolled her eyes at me, but she was smiling — that soft, tired smile that always made my chest feel warm.
"Kaya Mariano Watson… how does that sound to you?" I asked, looking at our tiny girl.
Jay blinked, then shook her head.
"No."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Jay looked at our daughter again, her eyes softening.
"I like the name Serina Kaya Mariano Watson."
For a second, I couldn't speak.
Serina.
My mom's name.
I leaned in and kissed Jay's temple, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Perfect."
And like she understood her own name, our daughter giggled — a tiny, breathy sound that made everyone in the room melt.
Jay laughed softly and tickled her tiny belly.
"Do you like your name, Kaya?" she asked in a playful tone.
Kaya kicked her little feet and made another tiny giggle, like she was answering.
Jay's whole face lit up.
I swear my heart grew three sizes.
And right then—
BANG!
The door slammed open like someone kicked it.
Section E poured into the room again, louder than before.
But this time, two people pushed their way to the front:
Percy
and
Aries.
Percy practically shoved Calix aside.
"MOVE. Uncle coming through."
Aries followed behind him, calmer but still wide‑eyed, staring at the baby like he'd never seen something so small.
Percy pointed at Kaya dramatically, chest puffed out like he was announcing a royal decree.
"I AM THE UNCLE. I CLAIM THIS POSITION BY BLOOD, CHAOS, AND PERSONALITY."
Aries rolled his eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck.
"Well duh, you're the uncle," he said, crossing his arms. "But I know I'm gonna be her favorite uncle."
Percy gasped like Aries had personally insulted his entire bloodline.
"EXCUSE ME?" Percy snapped. "I am literally the fun uncle. The dramatic uncle. The emotional support uncle. The rich uncle. The uncle who buys unnecessary gifts. I AM THE FAVORITE."
Aries smirked.
"Yeah, and I'm the calm uncle. The responsible uncle. The uncle who actually knows how to hold a baby without dropping her."
Percy clutched his chest.
"HOW DARE YOU."
Jay laughed, adjusting Kaya in her arms.
"Guys… she's one hour old. She doesn't even know you exist yet."
Felix popped his head in.
"She knows me. I'm her favorite."
"NO ONE ASKED YOU," Percy and Aries said at the same time.
Blaster leaned against the wall.
"Honestly, I'm voting Aries. Percy's too loud."
Percy pointed at him.
"TRAITOR."
Aries shrugged, smug.
"See? Even the boys know."
Percy stomped his foot like a toddler.
"I WILL PROVE I'M THE FAVORITE. I WILL BUY HER A PONY."
Jay blinked.
"She can't even hold her own head yet."
"THEN I WILL HOLD HER HEAD AND THE PONY," Percy declared proudly.
Aries facepalmed.
"Oh my God."
Aries leaned over Jay's shoulder, staring at Kaya with soft eyes he tried to hide.
"She's tiny," he whispered.
Jay smiled.
"Want to hold her?"
Aries froze like someone hit pause on him.
"Me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
"Yes, you," Jay laughed.
Percy pushed him aside.
"NO. I GO FIRST. I CALLED IT."
Aries shoved him back.
"You call everything. Sit down."
"YOU sit down!"
"YOU sit down!"
"BOTH OF YOU SIT DOWN," Angelo snapped
They both froze instantly like scolded toddlers.
Section E burst out laughing.
Jay shook her head.
"You two are worse than the kids."
Percy puffed his chest.
"I'm the fun uncle. It's my job."
Aries smirked.
"And I'm the responsible uncle. It's my job to stop him."
I looked at both of them —
my brothers, my chaos, my family —
and for the first time in hours…
I laughed.