Keifer POV:
The message was only there for a second.
Maybe less.
But I saw it. A text—
From Yuri.
"Jay isn't safe from me either. Make careful moves, Keifer Watson."
And then—
Gone.
Unsent.
Like it had never existed.
I stared at the screen a moment longer, thumb hovering where the notification had been, like it might come back if I waited.
It didn't.
Of course it didn't.
"…So that's how you're playing it," I muttered.
Not subtle.
Not anymore.
Yuri wasn't just watching.
He was interfering.
And Jay—
My jaw tightened slightly.
If he had reached her, then this wasn't contained anymore.
This wasn't controlled.
This was spreading.
I slipped my phone into my pocket, already moving.
Because if Yuri had made a move—
Then I needed to know how far it went.
And how much she knew.
By the time she stepped out of the building, I was already there.
Waiting.
Hidden just enough to not be noticed.
She looked normal.
Composed.
Like nothing had changed.
But I knew better.
I watched her adjust her bag slightly, her pace steady as she stepped onto the sidewalk.
She was heading somewhere.
A café, maybe.
Something routine.
Something safe.
Not happening.
I moved before she could take another step.
My hand closed around her wrist—firm, precise—and I pulled.
Fast.
No hesitation.
No warning.
She barely had time to react before I guided her into the alley beside the building, out of sight, out of reach.
Quiet.
Empty.
Perfect.
Her back hit the wall.
I held both her wrists, keeping her there, making sure she couldn't move away.
Her eyes widened—
And then she recognized me.
Good.
"You."
My voice came out low.
Direct.
She blinked, still catching up. "H-huh?"
"Did Yuri set you up too?" I asked. "Tell me."
Her confusion looked real.
Too real.
"Set me up to… to what?"
I didn't like that answer.
"Did he or did he not blackmail you?" I asked again, firmer this time.
She started, instinct kicking in. "I can't give out any in—"
I stepped closer.
Closed the space between us completely.
Close enough to feel her breath.
Close enough that she couldn't avoid the question.
"Answer me."
Quiet.
Controlled.
Final.
She broke.
"Okay!" she said quickly. "Yuri did blackmail me!"
There it was.
Confirmation.
A small exhale left me as I leaned back slightly.
"Good."
Not relief.
Not exactly.
Just… clarity.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice tighter now.
I looked at her for a moment.
Really looked at her.
At the tension in her expression.
At the way she was holding herself together despite everything.
And for a second—
Something in my chest shifted.
"I just want you, detective."
The words came out quieter than I expected.
I paused, then added, "I won't do anything reckless… not here, at least."
Her expression hardened immediately.
Suspicion.
Smart.
"Let me give you my number," I said.
"If I get caught messaging a suspect, do you know how bad that would look on me?" she shot back. "They're already suspecting it's you—and you could murder me right now! And they're also tracking your phone, anyways! Yo—"
"Enough."
The word cut through her completely.
She went still.
Good.
"If you keep your mouth shut," I continued, calmer now, "I have another phone. Registered under a different name."
I held her gaze.
Waiting.
Measuring.
"Write this number in your contacts."
I pulled my phone out, turning the screen toward her.
The number was already there.
Prepared.
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
I saw it.
The calculation.
The risk.
Then slowly, she reached for her phone.
Typed it in.
Every movement careful.
Deliberate.
She didn't look at me while she did it.
I didn't look away from her. I couldn't.
When she finished, her hand lowered slightly, grip tightening around her phone.
"I have to get going," I said.
"Bye, detective."
I leaned in before she could react.
Brief.
Controlled.
A soft peck on her lips.
Just enough to leave an impact.
Then I pulled away immediately.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
I stepped back, already turning, already walking.
Because staying longer would complicate things.
And I couldn't afford that.
Not now.
Not when Yuri was moving.
Not when Jay was already caught in the middle.
And not when I was starting to lose control of something I shouldn't have let get this far.
My hand brushed against my pocket briefly, feeling the weight of my phone.
The empty screen.
The message that wasn't there anymore.
But didn't need to be.
Because I had already read it.
And now—
I knew.
Yuri wasn't just watching Jay.
He was using her.
And that meant one thing.
This wasn't just about the past anymore.
It was about what came next.
And I wasn't going to let him decide that.
💛🤎💛🤎💛🤎💛🤎💛🤎💛🤎💛
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