Conflicted

Chapter 1

She knew it was a terrible idea to come to one of these things with her cousin, Robbie. She knew it the second she stepped out of his vintage sports car, when the smell of the blazing ten-foot bonfire, tinged with the smell of weed, alcohol, and sex made her scrunch her nose slightly in distaste.

This wasn't her scene. Not at all. She would have much rather been curled up in the window seat of her and Robbie's apartment, with a good book, and an ice cold wine cooler beside her.

An apartment she'd moved into five years prior after her mother, and only worthwhile parent had passed away. Leaving her to fly all the way to Korea from the States and become a permanent roommate to her now only living relative.

But instead she'd let him talk her into coming with him to this party. A meet up he'd called it.

A meet up of what, she didn't know. He'd been scarce with the details when she'd asked what or who it was for. He always was.

He'd been leaving once a month, driving the few hours from Seoul to get to these meetups in Ilsan, never having invited her until this one.

When she'd asked why he wanted her to come this time, he'd been vague with his answer, instead redirecting and making fun of her literary addiction as he often did.
Going to his typical jab that a 27 year old single woman should be spending more time under a man than under a throw blanket, book in hand. Asshole, she thought with annoyance, but a smirk played on her lips at the memory because his teasing could never dull the love they had for one another.

She walked to the front of the car and waited while Robbie grabbed something from the glove box, her eyes scanning the large crowd in front of her.

She turned when she heard a loud scream, her instinct to run from danger at an all time high thanks to the nerves she felt being in a place so foreign.
When she watched a young woman, barely cresting over the 20 year threshold, get thrown over one of the party goers shoulders, the scream coming from her lips again a second before a shrilly giggle, she let out a sigh. Danger averted. At least for now, she thought, looking around more.

The level of danger she instinctively felt the more she did, rose. The way the men stood looking around at all times, always seeming to be on guard. The tense way some stood just outside of the small little groupings of people talking or laughing as if they were bodyguards ready to intervene if needed.
The tattoos. All similar, all on the men in attendance she noticed, some of the females donning them as well although she could have counted the number on both hands. The tattoos were all some variation of letters. Letters she'd seen before. On her cousin's shoulder.

"Robbie what is this??" Aria questioned when he finally joined her, "Who are these people? Are you in a fucking gang??"

Robbie just laughed, not answering. Again.

"I'm serious, Robbie. Where are we?" Aria asked again, following him when he started forward.

"Let's go get a drink." Robbie said instead.

"I'm not drinking." Aria stated, "I have a feeling I want to be completely aware of my surroundings here."

Robbie sent her a sideways glance but continued forward to where the row of ice chests were on one side of the bonfire.
"Here." He shoved an open beer bottle into his cousin's hand, taking a long drink of his own before gesturing for her to drink hers.

He let out a sigh when she still held it in front of her.
"One beer isn't going to get you drunk, but it might help you relax and lighten up a little. "

Aria sent him a look of insult.
"You're an asshole."

"And you're a prude." Robbie retorted.

"I am not a prude. I'm just selective with the company I keep and I'm not interested in drinking with a bunch of matching tattooed thug wannabes." Aria said to him, watching his eyes shoot over her shoulder, a look of panic and.... fear?