JAY'S POV
The ride was quiet.
Keifer kept glancing at me like he knew something was off, but wasn't sure how to ask.
I forced a smile every time our eyes met.
He walked me to the doorstep, thumb brushing my wrist once.
Soft. Gentle. Worried.
"Text me when you're inside," he murmured.
"I will."
He hesitated — wanting to kiss me, hug me, hold me — but he stepped back instead.
Respecting me. Trusting me.
Worst timing ever.
Because the moment he drove off…
everything inside me hardened.
The softness vanished.
I walked inside the Fernandez house quietly.
Angelo was on the couch, doing emails.
Aries was watching some show.
Percy was upstairs.
They didn't notice the stiffness in my shoulders.
Good.
"I'm gonna study in my room," I said casually.
Angelo hummed a distracted "Okay."
I went upstairs.
Shut the door.Locked it.
Then breathed.
Zack's final message was waiting:
Zack:Sending location.
Go armed — they might not be alone.
My pulse sharpened.
MJ switched on.
Calm. Cold. Purposeful.
I changed out of my school uniform and into dark clothes —
loose hoodie, long black pants.
No jewelry.
No noise.
From the small hidden box under my dresser, I pulled out the gun Alex gave me two years ago.
Checked the magazine.
Loaded.
Quiet click.
I tucked it behind my back, hidden by the hoodie.
One breath.
Two.
I opened my window — silent — and climbed out the same way I used to sneak out years ago.
The backyard was dark.
Cool wind.
Empty silence.
Perfect.
I tightened my ponytail, pulled my hood up, and stepped onto the grass—
When something sharp hit the back of my skull.
A flash of white pain exploded behind my eyes.
My knees buckled. The gun slipped from my fingers onto the grass.
The world spun violently—darkening—
closing in.
Before it went fully black, I forced my eyes open.
Just a little.
Just enough.
A silhouette stood over me.
Tall. Confident. Familiar in a way that made my blood turn to ice.
He crouched down, fingers gripping my jaw, tilting my face up.
A smile.
A cruel, satisfied smile I hadn't seen in years.
"Long time, MJ," he whispered.
The last thing I saw was his face.
River.
And then everything went dark.
JAY'S POV — WAKING UP
My head felt like fire.
Heat pulsed behind my eyes.
My wrists ached.
My breath came shallow.
The floor beneath me was cold concrete.
I opened my eyes slowly—
—and froze.
No.
No. No. No.
The entire Section E was tied together in one corner.
All taped.
All bruised.
All terrified.
Right next to them, separated only by a few feet—
Keifer.
Bound.
Rope cutting into his wrists, jaw clenched, fury in his eyes like I'd never seen.
His brothers too.
Keigan trembling, keiren looking like he gonna burst crying any second.
And in front of them—
Aries.
Angelo.
Percy.
My brothers.
All tied.
All gagged.
All breathing hard and furious.
Angelo's eyes found me instantly — sharp, assessing, terrified.
Aries was practically shaking with rage.
Percy looked like he'd kill someone with his bare hands.
But the worst part?
The two men sitting casually in the center…
Relaxed.
Smirking.
Like this was a show and they were the audience.
Kaizer.
Leaning back on a crate, tapping a knife on his knee.
And beside him — the monster from my past.
River.
"Good morning, MJ," River said softly, almost gently.
Like greeting an old lover instead of a ghost he should fear.
My stomach dropped.
Every nerve inside me screamed.
Kaizer lifted his chin. "Rise and shine, sweetheart. We've been waiting."
I tried to sit up, but my ankles were tied too tightly.
Keifer struggled against the ropes, eyes burning into mine.
"Jay—" he choked out, voice muffled by the gag.
River flicked his eyes toward him.
"Ah yes. The boyfriend. Cute, isn't he?"
Keifer's entire body went rigid.
River smiled wider.
"But let's talk about you."
He knelt down in front of me.
Close.
Too close.
His fingers brushed my cheek, and I didn't flinch.
I froze.
Because the MJ in me…
Was waking up.
River's voice dropped to a whisper meant only for me.
"You thought you could run from us? From me?"
Kaizer chuckled darkly. "And now look — everyone you care about in one room. Saves us time."
Jay's heart didn't race.
It slowed.
Cold.
Calm.
Killing-zone calm.
River smirked when he saw the shift.
"Oh there she is," he whispered.
"The real you."
My eyes cut toward Keifer.
He was shaking his head.
Begging me silently not to react.
Not to break.
But he didn't know.
No one here did.
The moment River touched me…
MJ came alive like a loaded gun.
River leaned closer, lips at my ear.
"Welcome home."
I raised my head—
stared him dead in the eyes—
And smiled.
A slow, dark, deadly smile.
Because they made one mistake.
They didn't kill me first....
Kaizer stood up slowly, stretching his neck like he was about to begin a workout.
Then he walked straight toward Keifer.
Keifer tensed, jaw locked, shoulders rigid.
He didn't look afraid — he looked ready to rip someone's throat out despite being tied.
Kaizer crouched in front of him, waving a folded contract like it was a birthday card.
"Sign it," he said casually.
"Transfer all your Watson assets to me.
And I might let you and your little brothers leave with only one or two broken bones."
Keifer spat at his feet.
Kaizer's smile sharpened. "Wrong answer."
He snapped his fingers once.
Dylan — tall, scarred, dead-eyed — stepped forward.
"No—" Keifer's voice was muffled by the gag, but the fury bled through.
Dylan didn't wait.
His fist slammed into Keifer's jaw.
The crack echoed.
Keigan screamed through his gag.
Angelo surged forward violently only to be yanked back by ropes.
Aries looked like he'd burst a blood vessel.
Percy cursed so violently even River raised an eyebrow.
Section E collectively gasped.
Keifer's head snapped to the side, blood slipping from the corner of his mouth.
Kaizer sighed dramatically.
"Let's try this again. Sign—"
Another punch.
Harder.
This time Keifer's temple hit the crate behind him.
He groaned, dizzy.
Jay didn't breathe.
Didn't blink.
Didn't react.
On the outside, she looked frozen.
On the inside—
MJ was already counting seconds.
While River and Kaizer focused on Keifer, Jay lowered her hand just slightly…
Thumb brushing the inside of her wrist…
Click.
A silent vibration.
Her watch sent the alert.
Coordinates.
Emergency code.
Zack and Alex were already coming.
She exhaled once.
Quiet.
Slow.
Controlled.
Then she twisted her wrists.
The rope loosened.
Because she hadn't been tied like the others.
She'd bent her thumb, relaxed her joints, given Kaizer's men the illusion of restraint.
Her hands slipped out soundlessly.
No one saw.
Not River.
Not Kaizer.
Not Dylan.
They were too busy hitting Keifer again.
Jay reached under her shirt.
Her fingers wrapped around cold metal.
Her gun.
She raised it.
Smooth.
Silent.
MJ didn't shake.
She didn't hesitate.
She aimed straight at Kaizer's head.
Kaizer paused mid-step, sensing the shift.
He turned.
And froze.
Jay stood there, hands steady, eyes dark.
The barrel aimed perfectly between his eyes.
Her voice was low.
Dead calm.
"Touch him again," she said, "and I'll paint this floor with your skull."
Everyone went silent.
Keifer's dazed eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice.
River's smile vanished.
Kaizer…actually blinked.
Because for the first time tonight—
The predator in the room wasn't him.
It was her.
MJ.
And she was done playing.
MJ UNLEASHED
Jay's gun stayed pointed between Kaizer's eyes.
Silence strangled the room.
Until…
River chuckled.
A slow, sarcastic, mocking sound.
"Well, well, well…" he drawled, leaning back in his chair.
"Look who finally woke up."
Jay didn't blink.
River tilted his head.
"Two years hiding and you think pointing one little gun scares us?"
Jay smiled.
A tiny, lethal curve.
"Who said I brought one?"
Before anyone processed—
She reached behind her back and pulled out a second gun.
Both aimed.
One at Kaizer.
One at River.
The entire warehouse exhaled one terrified breath.
Section E froze like statues.
Keifer's eyes widened despite the blood on his face.
Angelo whispered, "What the hell…"
Aries physically stopped Percy from passing out.
Jay didn't move her head.
Didn't look away from Kaizer and River.
But her ear twitched.
A soft click.
The rooftop sniper pulled his trigger.
She didn't look.
She just lifted her left hand and fired one bullet at the ceiling—
BANG.
A body dropped from the rafters.
Perfect shot.
Without turning.
Without blinking.
River's smirk vanished.
Kaizer's jaw dropped.
Jay crackled her neck.
"Try that again."
River didn't breathe.
And then—
MJ moved.
She dove sideways, rolled, fired twice.
Two more of Kaizer's men hit the floor.
Before they even realized they'd been shot.
Dylan tried to charge at her—
Two bullets in his knees.
He collapsed with a scream.
Section E screamed louder.
"BRO WHAT IS SHE?!"
"IT'S NOT OUR JAY JAY?!"
"KEIFER ARE YOU SEEING THIS?!"
Keifer didn't say a word.
He just stared, bruised and stunned, as she dismantled every single threat in under sixty seconds.
Kaizer yelled, "SHOOT HER—"
They tried.
They missed.
She didn't.
Another two down.
The last one tried to run—
Jay shot the lights above him.
Glass fell.
The man hit the ground.
Silence.
Every single one of Kaizer and River's men…
Dead or incapacitated.
Jay stood in the middle of the warehouse, breathing steady, blood on her cheek, both guns up.
She turned—
Both barrels aimed now directly at Kaizer and River.
No hesitation.
No fear.
A slow, wicked smirk curled on her lips.
"Round two?"
River swallowed.
Kaizer actually stepped back.
Behind them, Section E, Keifer, Percy, Aries, even Angelo—
Held their breath.
MJ sauntered forward like she was on a runway of corpses.
Her boots stopped in front of Dylan, who was kneeling, shaking from the shot to his legs.
She tilted her head at him.
"Miss me, bbd?"
Dylan's throat bobbed.
His voice cracked.
"MJ…? W-what the hell—"
Jay leaned down, brushing the barrel of her gun along his jaw.
A deadly smile carved across her face.
"Good."
She tapped his cheek twice.
"You remember me."
Dylan's entire world collapsed.
And this?
This was just the beginning.
MJ — FULL DOMINANCE
Dylan knelt there, shaking, breath stuttering in terror as Jay's gun grazed his jaw.
His eyes flicked to Kaizer.
Kaizer didn't move.
River didn't breathe.
No one did.
Jay straightened slowly, wiping a smear of someone else's blood off her cheek with her thumb.
Then she casually kicked Dylan's gun further away.
CLINK.
The sound echoed through the warehouse like a death toll.
She turned her back on him — the greatest insult — and walked toward the center, dragging a chair behind her.
SCREEEEEECH.
Metal scraping cement.
Each inch made Kaizer's spine fold.
Jay placed the chair directly in front of the three men — Kaizer, River, Dylan — who were all on their knees now.
She spun the chair around and straddled it backwards, resting her arms on the backrest.
Both guns rested lazily in her hands. Relaxed. But ready.
She started polishing one with her sleeve.
Slow.
Casual.
Chilling.
Then she looked up.
That smirk returning like death itself was smiling.
"Let's talk," she said softly. "Since you boys seem confused."
Behind her, Section E stayed glued in horror.
David whispered, "This is not Jay… this— this is—"
Cin whispered back, voice trembling, "This is MJ. Whoever MJ is."
Aries couldn't speak. Percy looked seconds from throwing up. Angelo stared like he was seeing a stranger.
And Keifer…
Keifer couldn't take his eyes off her.
Not out of fear.
But out of something far deeper — a mix of awe and agony and disbelief.
Jay tapped the polished gun against the chair.
Tap… tap… tap.
Each tap made Kaizer flinch.
"Two years," she said quietly.
"Two years I let you all think I disappeared. Two years I played dead so the rats would come out."
Her eyes darkened.
"And now you try kidnapping my Friends along with my brothers?"
Her smile thinned.
"Cute."
Kaizer tried to speak but choked on his breath.
River finally snapped, voice trembling:
"You— you weren't supposed to— MJ, STOP—"
She fired a bullet past his ear.
PSSSH.
The wall behind him exploded.
Everyone jumped.
River froze mid-sentence.
Jay tilted her head, voice eerily calm.
"Interrupt me again."
She clicked her safety off.
"I dare you."
River shut his mouth so fast he bit his tongue.
Blood pooled on his lip — he didn't wipe it.
Jay slowly leaned forward.
Eyes locked on Kaizer.
"You tied up my people."
Her gaze flicked to Section E.
"And that pisses me off."
Cin squeaked.
"I feel honored and terrified—"
David slapped a hand over her mouth.
Jay continued:
"And you—"
She pointed the gun at Kaizer's forehead, perfectly steady.
"You tried to make Keifer sign over his assets?"
Kaizer swallowed.
Jay's voice dropped to ice.
"You tried to make my person kneel?"
Keifer's breath caught sharply.
Kaizer stuttered, "He— he refused—"
"I know," Jay whispered."That's why you're still alive."
She stood up, guns dangling loosely at her sides.
"Because he didn't kneel to you."
She stepped forward—
Boot pressing against Kaizer's already bleeding knee.
He screamed.
Jay leaned in, voice serpentine.
"But you? You kneel to me."
Kaizer's head hit the floor.
River's breathing turned frantic.
Dylan sobbed.
Jay smiled.
"Good boys."
She lifted her chin toward the corner where Zack and Alex suddenly burst in — alerted by her watch.
Black tactical gear. Guns raised.
Zack took one look at the room.
"Jesus Christ, MJ— we said ALERT us, not kill everyone before we got here!"
Alex sighed.
"She got bored, clearly."
Jay shrugged.
"What took you so long?"
Keifer stared at her like he was seeing a ghost and a goddess at the same time.
Zack looked at him, then the others tied up.
"Untie them," he ordered his men.
"Before MJ kills someone else out of impatience."
Jay smirked and holstered her guns.
"Now," she said, cracking her knuckles, stepping toward Kaizer, River, and Dylan—
"Where were we?"
Everyone in the room swallowed.
At the same time.
AFTERMATH — MJ STILL IN CONTROL
Jay flicked her wrists, both guns clicking safely as she holstered them.
The warehouse was silent except for the groans of Kaizer, River, and Dylan — all kneeling, bleeding, terrified.
Zack's jaw dropped.
Alex whispered, "Holy. Shit."
Section E, Keifer, Aries, Percy, and Angelo were still tied, pale, staring at Jay like she was a walking apocalypse.
Jay exhaled and finally walked toward them.
One by one, she cut their ropes.
The moment Keifer was free, he reached for her — but stopped himself, unsure, staring at her like he didn't recognize the girl in front of him.
Jay didn't react.
Instead, she walked past everyone, toward the two little boys trembling in the corner.
Keiren first.
His eyes were red, face wet with silent tears.
Jay knelt in front of him, the murderous aura gone — replaced with something heartbreakingly soft.
She brushed his hair back gently.
"Hey," she whispered. "You okay, baby?"
Keiren launched into her arms, sobbing quietly into her shoulder.
Jay hugged him tight, hand smoothing his hair, whispering, "Shh… You're safe now. I got you. Always."
Keigan crawled closer, and she pulled him into the hug too, holding both brothers close to her chest.
For the first time, Section E understood:
MJ wasn't a monster.
She was their protector.
She stood, wiped their tears, then turned sharply.
Her voice switched — soft for the the boys, iron for everyone else.
"ZACK."
Zack straightened instantly. "Yes?"
Jay jerked her head toward Section E and her brothers.
"Take them all to the safe house. Now."
They all started talking at once.
David: "NO WAY—" Cin: "Jay, we're not leaving you—" Eren: "Are you crazy—" Aries: "Try dragging me—" Percy: "Over my dead body—" Angelo: "Jay—"
Jay turned.
Just one glare.
Cold. Sharp. Commanding.
Silence.
Immediate silence.
Even Percy shut up.
Even Aries.
Even Keifer.
Jay's voice dropped to something deadly and calm.
"This isn't up for debate. You're going."
Zack nodded. "All right. Move."
Section E grumbled but followed.
The boys clung to Jay until Alex gently guided them away.
Jay whispered to Keiren, "I'll be right behind you."
When they left the warehouse, only three people stayed behind:
Angelo.
Keifer.
And Jay.
Angelo stepped forward, voice low.
"Jay… whoever MJ is… it doesn't change that you're my sister."
He set a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not leaving you alone with them."
Jay's eyes softened for a blink — then shifted to Keifer.
Keifer didn't speak.
He just stared at her like his world had shifted.
Like the girl he wanted…
was far more dangerous, far more powerful, far more broken…than he ever imagined.
And yet…
He stepped forward anyway.
Silent.
Steady.
Unmoving.
"I'm staying," he said quietly.
Jay held his gaze for a long moment.
Then nodded — once.
The three of them turned to face River, Kaizer, and Dylan again.
Jay's smile returned — slow, sharp, lethal.
"Let's finish this."
THE INTERROGATION
Zack and the boys didn't wait for instructions.
They started beating.
Kaizer's nose broke first.
River's ribs cracked next.
Dylan screamed the loudest.
Keifer winced.
Angelo swallowed hard.
They both looked at Jay.
And froze.
She didn't flinch.
Didn't blink.
Didn't react.
She watched the torture like someone watching raindrops slide down a window.
Expression empty.
Cold.
Unbothered.
This was MJ.
Not Jay.
---
THE EXECUTIONS
When Zack finally stepped back, Jay walked forward like she was walking to pick up something she dropped.
She bent down in front of River.
Her voice was quiet.
Almost gentle.
"This," she whispered, "is for tormenting Cole."
River didn't even get to answer.
BANG.
River's head dropped.
Dead.
Keifer inhaled sharply.
Jay stood, turning to Kaizer.
Her eyes flicked to Keifer.
"What do you want to do with him?" she asked calmly.
"He's your father.The one who killed your mom."
Kaizer stiffened, fear crawling into his eyes for the first time.
Keifer stepped forward slowly.
His fist slammed into Kaizer's face.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then he took the gun Jay handed him.
His voice broke but stayed steady.
"This is for my brothers…"
He cocked the gun.
"…and my mom."
BAM.
Kaizer fell limp.
Dead.
Jay didn't stop him.
Didn't judge.
Just stood there.
Silent support.
Deadly calm.
AS FOR DYLAN…
Jay turned to him last.
Dylan tried crawling back, eyes wide.
"MJ— please— I— I didn't—"
She crouched in front of him, tapping the muzzle of her gun against his forehead lightly.
"You're too useful to kill," she said simply.
Her smile was terrifying.
"Lock him up."
Zack's men dragged him away screaming.
Keifer and Angelo watched her, silent, shaken, unsure what scared them more:
Her skills…
Or how comfortably she used them.
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
The sun hit her face as she stepped out, wiping blood from her cheek with her thumb.
Zack walked behind her.
Angelo stayed a few feet back, trying to process what he just witnessed.
Keifer stayed closest — not scared, but shaken.
Jay stopped.
Alex approached her.
He looked at her like someone who had been waiting for this version of her to return.
He crossed his arms.
"Welcome back, MJ."
Jay didn't smile, because she knew now she was about to reveal something darker about herself, something she kept from almost every other person...