Relatives
Keifer's POV
I woke up feeling so much pain in my body. Last night, Clyde and his man attacked me. Good thing he had no clue that the password he was looking for was not like the usual passwords in vaults.
I walk toward the shower and switch it on. Warm water runs down my body.
I still can't think of a solution to my problem with Clyde and Jay-jay. My movements are still limited because my inheritance hasn't come to me yet. I can only protect Jay-jay if I'm nearby.
After taking a shower, I got dressed. I have to meet the Elders again, whether I like it or not.
I heard a knock on my room door.
"Ready Keifer?" It was Honey.
I walk toward it and open. "Ready."
I followed Honey as she walked toward the elevator. I didn't tell them about Clyde's visit to me.
"What are you going to discuss with those old people?" She asked.
"Nothing new... Still about the money in the Watson bank."
But there's no money in there. It's all files of treasure and gold.
I thought for a moment. Do they know what's inside that bank? I bet they know, they wouldn't be causing a ruckus trying to take it from me if they didn't.
When we got out of the elevator, I saw Mr. Ryder standing near the car. I immediately walked toward him.
"You're not telling us something." He said.
I frowned. "Excuse me?"
"Clyde visited you last night. What did you talk about?"
"Same old, same old."
"What else?"
I shook my head. I don't want to talk about it. I still haven't figured out a solution.
"Keifer, you have to tell us more about it. What did he do to you? What did he say to you?"
I took a deep breath. I really don't want to talk about it because it's my personal problem. But maybe they can really help me.
"He's targeting Jay-jay."
Honey put her hand over her mouth. "Oh my God... He targeted the wrong person."
I looked at her like I was about to kill her. Her words weren't helping.
"What?!" She asked innocently. "I'm telling the truth. Only an idiot would fight against your girlfriend."
One of these days, I'm going to fire this woman. I feel like my headache is getting worse because of her.
I know Jay-jay can fight back, but not all the time. Her rebellious nature won't save her either. It might just get her in trouble.
"Shut your mouth, Honey, or I will make you." I said and got inside the car.
They followed me after. The car started, and our conversation continued.
"What's your plan with Jay-jay?" Mr. Ryder asked.
"I have to get back home soon to make sure that no one will hurt her."
I also need to talk to Yuri. He's the only one, along with the others, that I can rely on right now. I also need to talk to Angelo and his mom.
I couldn't sleep because of that thought. What if it's him? But it's really impossible.
I used to idolize him before. I even copied his actions thinking that I would be like him or even better than him. I know I'm not the only one. Aries, Yuri, and Percy are doing the same thing.
I also remember the times we hung out that no one else knew about. That's why I know Angelo's friends better than Aries, whom he calls his brother. Maybe that's also why people used to mistake us for siblings.
But the idea of being real brothers? I don't think so. That looks awful to me.
Suddenly, the car we were riding in stopped. Mr. Ryder and I almost hit each other while Honey fell straight to the floor.
"The hell!" She shouted.
"Someone blocked our driveway." One of my bodyguards said.
"Can't you find another way?!" Honey asked irritably while fixing her messed-up hair.
The driver tried to reverse the car, but before we could get far, someone shot at our driver. Honey screamed loudly, and Mr. Ryder and I ducked.
One of the bodyguards with us got out and aimed a gun at the car that had blocked us earlier.
The other bodyguards who followed us did the same.
"What the hell! What the hell!" Honey kept shouting.
"Shut up!" I shouted at her.
I peeked outside to see what was happening. The door to the driver's seat opened, and the driver's hands were raised as he stepped out. A man wearing a black suit.
The man looked familiar to me. I knew I had faced him before, but I couldn't remember where. I kept staring at him until he walked toward the backseat door.
"Don't move! Get down!" One of my bodyguards shouted.
"Relax! Someone wants to talk to Mr. Keifer!" He answered.
I arch a brow. If that someone wants to talk to me, they should have said so. They don't need to shoot my driver—if they are really the shooter.
The car door in front of the driver's seat opened. One of my bodyguards pulled the dead driver out of the car.
"Let's get out of here!" I command.
"We can't, Sir. We're still checking the perimeter." He answers before leaving.
"Hey! You can't leave us here!" Honey shouted.
The bodyguards didn't actually leave us. Most of them were in front of our car, protecting us from any possible danger.
I looked back at the man who got out of the car. He reached the back seat and opened the door. Slowly, the person inside began to step out.
My eyes widened when I recognized who the person in the back seat was. It was Dylan, my father's hitman. And as soon as he fully stepped out of the car, he aimed an Armalite at us.
I didn't see what happened next. Mr. Ryder suddenly pulled me and Honey down. He covered us using his own body. I could hear the multiple gunshots, but I didn't know whose gun it was exactly.
Honey kept shouting every time a bullet hit our car. I was getting deafened by the noise around us.
Is this the end of my life?
I haven't celebrated my 18th birthday yet. I haven't graduated from high school. I haven't even stepped into college. And I still haven't asked Jay-jay to marry me.
It can't be! I can't die here! I can't die without a fight.
The sound of gunshots slowly decreased. I tried to peek outside, but Mr. Ryder stopped me. I heard the sound of a speeding car and occasional gunshots.
The door to the car we were in opened, and that's when Mr. Ryder finally let go of us.
"Sir! Are you alright?" One of them asked.
"Yes, we're—."
Honey's shout made me stop. She was crying while looking at her Uncle. My eyes grew wider when I realized why.
"My Uncle is bleeding! He needs help!" She said.
He got hit... and it's because of me. He tried to protect me even if it meant his life could be the price.
One of the bodyguards pulled me out of the car and forced me into another car they were using. They did the same to Honey, who was still crying.
It was only then that I noticed the bodies lying on the road. Most of them were my bodyguards, and one unfamiliar person.
I know he's not Dylan. Maybe one of the people he's with.
"We have to save my Uncle!" Honey shouted while crying.
"We will rush him to the nearest hospital!" Again, one of them answered before closing the car door.
They started the car and immediately drove away.
I'm still speechless. Unable to say a thing. Completely shocked by what happened to Mr. Ryder.
"Stop the car! I want to be with my Uncle!" Honey said while begging the driver. "Please! I want to be with him!"
I had no choice but to hug Honey to stop her from causing a scene.
She kept crying. I can't blame her; I know exactly how she feels.
Her Uncle raised her after her parents died in an accident.
"Keifer... Please! I want to be with my Uncle. I want to be with him. Please..."
I looked at the driver. "Drive to the hospital—."
He cut me off. "But we have to move you to a safer place."
"Just do what I said! We want to see Mr. Ryder now!"
He didn't answer and continued driving. Honey kept crying, but unlike before, she calmed down now.
I can't get what happened earlier out of my mind. Dylan is here, which means Dad is also here. Sooner or later, he will show up himself to us, and I'm not ready.
I can't face him yet. I'm sure he'll also come after the password from me. Dammit! He will surely use my brothers to make me say it.
I don't know what to do!
My cousin and other relatives are using Jay-jay. They're using my weakness against me. And now, Mr. Ryder is in the hospital because of me.
I'm not sure if I want to keep my inheritance. How will I protect those gold and treasures when I can't even protect my loved ones? Especially Jay-jay.
Does it mean I have to give up and give away those gold? But if I do that, it feels like my mother's death was for nothing.
I have to think wisely.
If I let go of my inheritance, my monstrous father and my relatives will stop chasing me. But my capabilities will also shrink. I can only protect the people around me when I'm close to them.
If I accept the inheritance, I'll have more power to do things. I can hunt down those who threaten us. There's a bigger chance that I can protect them, even from afar.
I'm starting to feel headaches.
Although I still have a month to think about this, I already feel too much pressure. This is exhausting. I haven't done much yet, but it feels like my body is giving up from fatigue.
We arrived at the hospital where Mr. Ryder was brought. Honey didn't wait for someone to open the door for her. She did it herself and quickly ran inside the hospital.
I followed her immediately. I caught up with her at the receptionist's desk, where she was talking to one of the nurses. One of the bodyguards who brought her Uncle here was with her.
"He's still inside the Operating Room. I suggest you wait for a while." The nurse told Honey.
"You don't understand. I want to know if he's alright!" She almost shouted.
"Our doctors are trying their best to save him."
Before Honey could start a scene, I put my arm around her and gently pulled her away.
I sat her down on one of the empty benches in the waiting area.
"Get her some water." I ordered the bodyguard who was following us.
It was clear that Honey was trying to stop herself from crying. She kept tugging at her hair several times and exhaled deeply.
"He will be alright." I finally said.
I didn't want to say anything to her. I know that she blames me for what happened. Who else could they target? I'm the only one they could go after.
"I am blaming you for this." She said without looking at me. "If something happens to Uncle, I will never forgive you."
I'm already expecting this. I feel more than guilty right now. Her Uncle is the one who helped me with many things since Mom passed away. He's not just a lawyer to me. He's also a friend.
"I think it's better if you go see the Elders. It's not good to keep them waiting. I'll wait for the doctor and what he has to say."
I know she doesn't want me here. She wants me to leave. Who would want to be with the person who caused the one they love to be in the operating room?
I didn't say a thing. I stood up and left her, just as she wanted. I spoke to one of the bodyguards and asked them to look after Honey for me and make sure she's safe.
They nodded, and I walked out of the hospital. I got into the car and instructed the driver to take me to the old mansion.
I need to face the Elders. I have to talk to them as they requested. As a sign of respect—even though I'd love to disrespect them—I will face them.
And it didn't take long before we reached the Old Mansion of the Watsons.
I immediately got out when the car stopped. One of the butlers of the house greeted me.
"Keifer... They're waiting for you." He said and started walking.
I followed him. I straightened myself as we walked. I brushed off my coat and combed my hair.
We stopped in front of the large door on the ground floor of the house. The butler opened it and quickly stepped aside for me to pass.
The Elders greeted me with raised eyebrows as they looked at me.
"You keep us waiting, Keifer. What took you so long?" One of them said.
"We encountered a problem while we were on our way."
I heard the oldest one sigh. The one who always carries a cane, even though he could still walk straight without it.
"Let's get straight to the point. We want to know what you have seen in the Watson bank." The youngest said.
There are five Elders left in the Watson family. Four of them are in front of me now, while one is sitting on his soft sofa, reading a book. He's also the one who gave me the key to the bank.
It was from him that I found out that none of our relatives knew that the key was with him. My grandfather purposely left it with him because, of all our relatives, he was the only one who had no interest in the wealth of the Watsons.
I walked toward the empty seat in front of the oldest Elder. He was sitting on a long leather couch, while the three others stood not far from him.
"Can I sit first?" I asked permission from them.
He just gestured with his hand. I sat down and adjusted my coat.
The truth is, I've been wanting to collapse on the floor for a while now. What I've gone through today weighs heavily on me.
"Answer our question." One of them commanded.
Can't you wait?
"What do you expect to see in a bank?" I answered sarcastically.
They obviously didn't like my answer, but they tried their best to remain calm and expressionless.
"Bastard." One of them whispered, but I still heard it.
"It's exactly what you expected."
I can't give them a direct answer. It's possible they still don't know what's inside the bank. But they might already know, and they're trying to play games with me.
I noticed the three of them exchanging smiles as they stood.
"Keifer..." The oldest spoke. "I would like to ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
He took something from inside his coat. He casually placed two pictures on the coffee table.
I tried my best not to react. The oldest really knows how to play a damn game.
"That girl is your girlfriend. Is that right?"
I almost clenched my fist. I could say 'no,' but they obviously wouldn't believe that.
"And that man is named Michael Angelo." He added.
It's like I already know what they want to say. I didn't expect this.
"Isn't it great, that your girlfriend and that man are related to each other? What a coincidence!" He said and laughed. "...and you know what the most amazing part?"
I didn't answer, and he continued talking.
He smirked like he won a game. "That Michael Angelo is a candidate as the missing child of your father."
Dammit!
I knew it! They know something I don't yet. But he said "candidate," which means they don't have any proof yet.
"Amazing indeed." I said, trying not to sound sarcastic.
"You knew it, didn't you? You knew that he could be your missing 'older' brother. You took a chance to investigate him by being in a relationship with her cousin."
Wow, just... wow.
I suddenly burst out laughing because of what the oldest said. I didn't know they were so good at imagining things, even coming up with scenarios like this.
They should meet Ci-N, they would probably enjoy each other's company.
I saw them get serious, as if they didn't like my reaction. I stopped laughing after a while.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to laugh. It's just that..." I tried to hold my laughter. "... everything that you said doesn't make sense."
"Is that so?" The youngest Elder said sarcastically. "...then explain to us who is this girl in your life and how did you meet Michael Angelo."
So they haven't been keeping track of everything happening to me.
That's a relief, at least I can still move around without them knowing.
"Angelo and his brother used to be my friends, but things got fvcked up and we went separate ways. Unfortunately, his brother and I became rivals. Which means I met him first before that girl." I explained, and they looked at each other.
The oldest one picked up the picture of Jay-jay. I wanted to snatch it away from his hand. I know the Elders have a plan, and that's why they showed me Jay-jay's picture.
She has nothing to do with this!
"What is your exact relationship with this girl?" He said while playing with the picture in his hand.
Think, Keifer!
They will use Jay-jay against me. I have to think faster. She can't get involved in this. What if what happened to me earlier happens to her?
"She's... s-she's—."
"She's your what?" The oldest asked, as if he couldn't wait for my answer.
Think! I have to be careful with what I say.
I looked at the picture of Angelo on the coffee table. Aries's face was also caught in the picture.
Jay-jay...
"She's nothing... I'm just using her for my revenge."