Jay's pov
Alex's words hung in the air.
Welcome back, MJ.
Keifer stiffened beside me.
Angelo's eyes snapped to my face.
But me?
I didn't flinch.
I looked straight at Alex.
Cold. Empty. Exactly who he remembered.
"…Don't call me that," I said quietly.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You earned the name. Might as well wear it."
"No."
My jaw flexed.
"MJ isn't a name. It's a warning."
Angelo swallowed hard.
Keifer's eyes stayed locked on me — searching, confused, hurting, amazed.
Alex clicked his tongue, unimpressed.
"You unlocked her tonight," he said bluntly. "Don't pretend otherwise."
I didn't answer.
Because he was right.
Tonight, the girl Jay died.
Tonight, the thing I buried — the thing I swore would never come out again — rose out of necessity.
Alex stepped closer, dropping his voice.
"You can hide her from your brothers. From your boyfriend."
His eyes flicked briefly to Keifer.
"But you can't hide her from me. Or from yourself."
"Alex—" I warned.
He ignored it.
"You're not normal, MJ. You were never normal. And it's time they knew."
I stepped forward, glare sharp enough to cut through steel.
"They'll know what I allow them to know."
Angelo took a small step forward, voice quiet.
"Jay… what does he mean by unlocked?"
Keifer's voice was hoarse.
Gentle.
But scared.
"Jay… what is he talking about?"
I finally looked at them.
Really looked.
Angelo — angry, scared, protective.
Keifer — aching, confused, but steady. Always steady.
I exhaled once.
Slow. Controlled.
Like the air around me was made of cracked glass.
"You…"
My voice softened — only slightly.
"…weren't supposed to see that part of me."
Keifer stepped closer.
"Then tell me. Because whatever that was back there—"
"It was her," Alex cut in. "The part of Jay that was trained to survive hell."
Angelo's eyes widened.
Keifer shook his head once, struggling to understand.
"Jay… you fought like someone who— who's done this a hundred times."
His breath hitched.
"You knew where to shoot. You didn't even look. You didn't freeze. You weren't scared—"
"Fear is a luxury," I said flatly.
Keifer swallowed.
Angelo whispered, "Jay… what happened to you?"
Silence.
Heavy. Dense. Unavoidable.
I glanced at Alex.
He nodded slightly — letting me choose.
A muscle in my jaw ticked.
Then I said it.
The truth I'd buried so deep even I pretended it didn't exist.
"…I wasn't just hiding for two years."
Their eyes sharpened.
I continued.
"I was being trained."
Alex crossed his arms. "Weaponized, more like."
My breath fogged.
"My past isn't just a past. It's a file. A profile. A threat level." My voice cracked for half a second — just enough for Keifer to feel it. "I wasn't taken in by River's group two years ago."
Angelo's heart stopped.
Keifer's lips parted.
I forced the words out.
"I was built by them."
A beat of silence.
A whole world collapsing in slow motion.
Keifer stepped forward, shaking his head.
"No… no, Jay, that's— you're not like them. You're not—"
"I was," I whispered.
Keifer froze.
Angelo covered his mouth with his hand.
Alex sighed. "She was trained by the same organization that made River. Same drills. Same conditioning. Same kill protocols."
Keifer's voice went hoarse.
"You… killed before?"
I didn't answer.
Which was answer enough.
Angelo backed up, breath shaking, trying to process the sister he thought he knew.
Angelo asked "What about you're problem with blood Jay? "
"I have it undercontrolled by a medication,no need to worry"
Keifer?
He didn't move.
Not even an inch.
His hand rose slowly.
Hesitant. Gentle. Scared.
He touched the side of my face with trembling fingers.
"Jay…"His voice cracked."…doesn't matter what you were."
My throat tightened.
He swallowed.
"I only care who you are now."
Something inside me — something vicious and armored — trembled.
But before I could answer—
Zack jogged over from the side entrance.
"Uh— hate to interrupt the emotional therapy session—"
We all turned.
"—but we have a problem."
Alex stiffened.
"What now?"
Zack tossed a blood-soaked phone into Alex's hand.
"It's Kaizer's," Zack said grimly.
"And one of the messages came through."
Alex lit up the screen.
His face turned to stone.
I stepped forward.
"What message?"
He turned the screen toward us.
One sentence.
From an unknown number.
"If Kaizer fails, activate Subject-09."
My blood ran cold.
Angelo whispered, "What is… Subject-09?"
I stared at the screen.
Jaw clenched.
Heart dropping.
Because I knew that code.
I knew exactly what Subject-09 meant.
And it wasn't a what.
It was a who.
Alex looked at me sharply.
"You know him, don't you?"
I nodded once.
"Jay?" Keifer asked quietly. "Who's Subject-09?"
My voice dropped to a whisper.
"Someone worse than River."
Keifer's eyes widened.
Angelo tensed.
"And someone," I whispered,
"who was trained with me."
Silence.
Breathless.
Horrified.
Deadly.
Alex exhaled.
"Well then…"
He cracked his knuckles.
"…I guess MJ's return wasn't just a comeback."
He met my eyes.
"It was a warning."
I lifted my chin.
Face cold. Heart steady. Walls rising again.
"Let him come."
Keifer felt the shift — my aura turning lethal again.
His breath hitched.
Angelo backed up a step.
Alex smirked.
"To be clear…" he said, "Subject-09 is not coming for us."
He pointed at me.
"He's coming for her."
Keifer grabbed my wrist on instinct.
"No," he said — firm, shaking.
"They're not taking you again. I don't care who this guy is—"
I didn't let him finish.
I looked at him.
Really looked.
Softening — just for him.
"They can try."
But I wasn't done.
I took one step toward Keifer.
Close.
Too close.
He stopped breathing.
My voice dropped to a whisper against his ear.
"Just don't stand in front of me."
His heart stuttered.
And before he could speak—
My phone buzzed.
One new message.
Unknown number.
But I recognized the pattern.
The code.
The signature.
My blood iced.
Message:"Hello, MJ.
Did you miss your partner?"
Subject-09.
And he just found me.
SAFE HOUSE — POWER WALKS WITH HER
Jay stepped out of the car, adrenaline still simmering under her skin like electricity.
Keifer walked beside her, silent. Angelo on her other side, confused and tense.
The safe house wasn't a house.
It was a building — tall, glass, modern, a skyscraper turned fortress. Black SUVs lined the driveway, men in tactical gear stationed like shadows.
The moment Jay entered—
Dozens of members straightened.
And then—
They bowed.
A human corridor formed instantly.
A rampwalk of respect.
Her name echoed through whispers:
"MJ."
"She's back."
"Boss."
"Finally."
Keifer stared, speechless.
Angelo blinked like he'd walked into an alternate universe.
Jay didn't react — didn't smile, didn't nod, didn't acknowledge.
She walked through them like a queen whose throne had been waiting.
Every member lowered their head deeper as she passed.
One whispered, "Orders, Boss?"
Jay didn't stop walking.
"Stand by. No one moves unless I say."
"Yes, Boss."
Keifer swallowed hard.
Angelo was frozen.
They reached the elevator — gold, reinforced, fingerprint-only access.
Jay placed her hand.
The doors opened instantly.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick.
Angelo finally exhaled.
"So… this is your 'crew'?"
Jay's voice was calm.
"No. This is my empire."
Keifer stared at her profile. At her calm eyes. At the power she wore like second skin.
"Jay…" he whispered. "You're… different here."
She didn't deny it.
---
The doors opened into a large lounge — leather couches, multiple screens, a tactical table, med kits, weapons racks.
Everyone from Section E, Percy, and Aries were sitting there — injured, exhausted, terrified.
The moment they saw Jay…
Silence.
Absolute silence.
No one knew what to say.
Jay walked in, unbothered, her footsteps echoing.
Zack and Alex weren't there — they'd taken the bodies and disappeared per her orders.
She looked around.
Aries looked like he saw a demon.
Percy had his jaw clenched so tight it might crack.
David had tears in his eyes.
Cin looked terrified and proud at the same time.
Keifer's brothers clung to him, still shaking.
Jay stood in front of all of them.
Expression unreadable.
Voice calm.
"You're safe here," she said. "No one will touch you under my watch."
No one spoke for a long moment.
Then Kit blurted:
"Jay… who the hell ARE you?"
Jay gave him a small, cold smile.
"Someone you should have never crossed paths with."
The room fell silent again.
Jay took a breath and turned to Keifer and Angelo.
"Come. We need to talk."
The three of them walked to the glass balcony overlooking the entire base floor.
Below them — dozens of members moved with precision, discipline, and reverence.
Keifer finally whispered:
"How much… haven't you told me?"
Jay looked at him, eyes softer now.
"Everything."
He swallowed.
"And this? All of this? You command them?"
Jay didn't blink.
"Yes."
Angelo looked at her slowly.
"Jay… you're not just in the crew.right? "
Jay turned her head.
"I am the crew."
---
KEIFER'S POV — THE SAFEHOUSE
I'd seen mansions. I'd seen power.
But nothing prepared me for this.
The moment Jay stepped inside the safehouse—
A long hallway of people dressed in black bowed.
Straight spine.
Eyes down.
Hands folded.
A human rampwalk.
Like she was royalty.
Like she owned the world.
Angelo stiffened beside me. I swallowed hard.
Jay didn't flinch. Didn't act surprised. Didn't even slow down.
She walked through the center like this was her normal.
Like she'd been doing this her whole life.
And the scariest part?
It fit her.
Too well.
We reached the living area—huge, modern, floor-to-ceiling windows.
Section E was there. Keigan, David, Felix, Calix, Cin, Denzel, Josh, Edrix, Kit, Blaster, Yuri, Mayo, Eren, Rory—all patched up, confused, shaken.
The moment Jay entered, they shot up straight.
But before they could bombard her, she held up a hand.
"Give me ten minutes," she said calmly.
Her voice was soft, but everyone obeyed like she issued a command.
She, Angelo, and Zack stepped out of the room.
The door closed.
And Section E…
Exploded.
Blaster didn't even wait one second.
"BRO WHAT THE ACTUAL—WHAT IS SHE?!"
Cin grabbed my shoulders like she was about to perform an exorcism.
"Keifer. Watson. You like her, you date her, and you don't tell us she's JOHN WICK'S SPIRIT ANIMAL?!"
Felix blinked aggressively.
"She killed twelve men in 60 seconds."
David punched my arm.
"WHY ARE YOU SO CALM RIGHT NOW?"
Calix—
"The way she shot that sniper without LOOKING? My soul left my body."
Eman—
"Did you know? Tell me you didn't know. If you knew and didn't tell us—"
Yuri dramatically lay on the couch.
"Guys, I think I'm in love—"
"SHUT UP!" Felix screamed.
They all turned to me.
Felix pointed.
"Keifer. Talk. Who is Jay?"
Everyone leaned in.
I exhaled slowly.
Choosing my words carefully.
"I can't tell you who she is."
"OH MY GOD—" Blaster threw a pillow at me.
Cin grabbed another.
"Bro. We almost died. We saw her kill a sniper without turning her head. We deserve answers."
Edrix crossed his arms.
"Keifer. She called off an entire hit squad like she was ordering takeout."
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"She's… not who you think she is."
"That's what we're TRYING TO FIGURE OUT," Kit snapped.
I continued, voice low, careful:
"She can handle herself.
She's trained.
She's dangerous to enemies, not to us.
And whatever you saw today—
Keep it to yourselves."
Silence.
Then Denzel:
"You didn't answer the question."
I met his eyes.
"I'm not allowed to."
The entire group:
"BROOOO—"
I raised a hand.
"I can tell you one thing."
They leaned again.
"She saved all of us today.
So whatever she is…we'll support her silently "
They quieted.
David nodded slowly.
"Okay. Fine. We won't push. But just know… when she shot those guys—"
Cin cut in:
"I got goosebumps. LIKE FULL BODY GOOSEBUMPS."
Kit pointed at Yuri.
"He fainted standing up. Just dropped like an NPC."
"LIES," Yuri protested. "I tripped."
"You were standing still," Rory deadpanned.
They continued bickering, but the fear had faded.
Replaced by awe.
Respect.
Shock.
And a little bit of worship.
I leaned back, exhaling.
Because even I…
didn't fully understand the girl I'd fallen for.
But one thing was certain—
She wasn't just Jay.
Not anymore.She was MJ.
And the entire world needed to pray she stayed on our side.
SECRET BASE — ANGEO & JAY
JAY'S POV
The elevator doors slid open with a heavy metallic hiss.
Kuya Angelo stepped out first.
I followed… feeling the old concrete under my shoes, the cold blue lights flickering on as the sensors recognized him.
A secret base.
Of course we had one.
We walked in silence until we reached a glass-walled briefing room.
Only then did Angelo turn to me.
No anger.
No softness.
Just… a storm he was choking back.
"Sit," he said quietly.
I did.
He didn't sit.
He just stared at me, chest rising and falling, like he was trying to keep himself from breaking the table in half.
"Jay," he finally spoke, voice low, "why didn't you tell me?"
My heart dipped.
"About what?"
He gave a humorless laugh.
"Don't do that. Not with me. Not after what I saw today."
I closed my eyes.
Of course he'd bring that up.
He took a step closer.
"I saw you shoot twenty men like it was NOTHING. I saw you walk through gunfire like you were born in it. I saw you order those people—"
his jaw clenched,
"—and they obeyed. Like you were their leader."
I swallowed.
Silence stretched.
Finally, Angelo whispered — the question he was holding back since the warehouse:
"What is Subject 09?"
My breath hitched.
Kuya knew.
Kuya always knew more than he pretended.
I raised my head slowly.
"You first," I said softly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were part of this world, Kuya?"
He went still.
Then he sighed through his nose and sat across from me, elbows on his knees.
"Because you were never supposed to see that part of me," he said. "You were supposed to have a normal life. A soft one."
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
"But I should've known. Nothing about you is soft."
His eyes softened — just barely.
"Now your turn."
My throat tightened.
This was the moment I tried so hard to avoid.
Slowly, I placed my hands on the table.
"Subject 09…"
the words tasted like corrosion,
"…is me."
Angelo's entire body froze.
I kept speaking.
"When I was ten, they took a group of kids—orphans, runaways, children no one would miss—who wanted to run away from their families..."
I swallowed the memory, forcing the words out.
"—and they turned us into weapons. Nine of us survived. I was the ninth one."
Angelo's fists curled.
"Jay…"
"I didn't want you to look at me different," I whispered. "I didn't want you scared of me."
"I'm NOT scared of you!" Angelo slammed his hand on the table.
"I'm scared of what you've been carrying ALONE."
My breath shook.
He leaned closer, voice cracking,
"You're my cousin,more like my own child, You think any version of you could ever make me love you less?"
Tears stung my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.
He exhaled, softer now.
"Jay… who else knows?"
I hesitated.
"Zack. Alex. And now… you."
"And Keifer?" he asked, tone sharpening.
I shook my head.
"He knows I can fight. He doesn't know… this."
Angelo nodded slowly, tension settling along his shoulders like armor.
"Good. Keep it that way."
I blinked.
"What?"
"Jay, listen to me — Keifer may care about you, but he's still tied to the Watson empire. People will try to use you against him. Or him against you. The less he knows, the safer he is."
My chest twisted.
"He'll be angry."
"He'll be alive," Angelo countered.
"That's the priority."
Silence grew between us again, heavy but honest.
Then Angelo moved to me, kneeling down just like I did to Keifer earlier.
He cupped the back of my head gently.
"You shouldn't have had to become Subject 09,you could have told me back then"
he murmured.
"But if that's who you are… then I'm damn glad you're on our side."
A single tear escaped my eye.
I hated it.
But Angelo wiped it away before I could.
"From now on," he said, "no more secrets."
I nodded.
Even though we both knew…
In our world?
Secrets are the only thing that keep people alive....I'm sorry keifer but you can't know...
JAY'S POV — AFTER THE CONFESSION
Kuya Angelo's words still echoed in my skull.
"I'm sorry Keifer but you can't know…"
And as much as every part of me rebelled at that—
He was right.
Keifer knowing who I really was didn't just put me at risk.
It painted a neon target on him — one big enough that every enemy I ever made would notice.
So I swallowed everything burning inside me and nodded.
"No more secrets," I repeated quietly.
Lie. Truth. Both.
Angelo stood, rubbing the back of my head one last time before letting go.
"Let's go back," he said. "They'll start panicking if we're gone too long."
I inhaled slowly. Focused. Locked MJ back behind my ribs.
Then—
I walked out of the room, face clean, expression steady, heartbeat calm.
Just Jay again.
Or… the version of her I could still pretend to be.
---
SAFEHOUSE — RETURN
The moment the elevator doors slid open, all eyes snapped to us.
Keifer shot up instantly.
His breath hitched when he saw me — like he'd been holding it the entire time I was gone.
"Jay," he called softly, stepping close.
I forced a small smile.
"Sorry. Long talk."
His eyes scanned my face for any hint, any crack, any clue.
I gave him none.
He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," I lied with a softness that wasn't entirely a lie.
He exhaled in relief.
Aries and Percy glanced at Angelo, silently demanding answers.
Angelo only shook his head once — a warning.
Percy scoffed. Aries muttered something under his breath. But both shut their mouths.
Section E stared at us like we were all reality show contestants hiding secrets.
Cin whispered loudly, "I swear Jay disappears for TEN MINUTES and comes back looking like she fought GOD."
Kit elbowed him. "Shut up, she'll hear you."
"I DID hear him," I said without looking.
Kit squeaked.
The room went silent.
Everyone waited — expecting something big, explosive, dramatic.
But I only walked toward the center of the room.
Calm. Steady. Normal.
"Everyone's safe now," I said. "And you're all staying here until the perimeter is cleared."
Rory blinked. "Jay… you're talking like a general."
I forced a small laugh. "Just today."
Keifer watched me carefully. Too carefully.
Like he could see the invisible storm behind my eyes.
He stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
"If something's wrong… you know you can tell me, right?"
My throat tightened.
I nodded.
But I didn't answer.
Because if I opened my mouth — If I told Keifer anything —
I knew I wouldn't stop.
He studied me for a second longer, then gently squeezed my wrist.
A soft reassurance. A silent promise.
It hurt more than a bullet.
---
ANGELO'S POV —
Watching Keifer look at Jay was like watching someone hold fire without realizing they're burning.
He saw her differently now — softer, more human, more breakable.
But I'd just seen what she really was.
And what she was trained to be.
Keifer wasn't ready.
He wasn't allowed to be.
If he knew Subject-09 wasn't a story but a title carved into her bones, he'd lose his mind.
And Jay?
She'd break trying to keep him alive.
So I stayed silent. Like she asked. Like I promised.
---
JAY'S POV — INTERNAL
Across the room, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I already knew who it was.
One message.
From the unknown number.
Subject-09's signature.
"Tell your boyfriend I said hello."
The safehouse felt suddenly colder.
My chest tightened.
Keifer must've sensed something — he touched the small of my back, gently.
"Jay?" he whispered.
I forced a breath.
"I'm fine," I said.
Lie number two. Lie number three.
And still—
He smiled softly.
"Okay. As long as you're here."
I looked at him…
And silently decided:
He would never know.He couldn't know.
He shouldn't know.
Because Subject-09 wasn't just coming.
He was already too close.
And if Keifer stepped into this world—
My world—
I wouldn't just lose him.I would destroy him.
Why God why now!!? When everything was in its place why this now!!!
But Keifer needs to stay away....
So I whispered in my head:
I'm sorry, Keifer.
But loving me comes with a price you will never be allowed to pay....