Chapter Twenty Three
*DK's POV*
Laying with my arm under my head, her resting on my shoulder still snoring gently, I smiled looking up to the sun that had started rising. Shaking her gently awake, she tried faking sleep to stay on my shoulder, but I knew she was bluffing because she pulls that cute smile when she's faking sleep.
"I know you're faking it," whispering in her ear, the smile grew on her face slightly, eyes shutting tighter. "Open your eyes for me," kissing her cheek, she finally opened her eyes. "Morning sleepy head." Moving a stray piece of hair from her eyes, I didn't think life could get any more perfect than this simple moment right now. "Look baby, the suns rising," motioning my head to the sun peeking over the hills in the distance, she didn't say anything, just smiled.
"Perfect," hearing her mumble, I smiled looking down at her again.
Last night, lets just say it wasn't planned, but it was needed. After 5 years of not having her, then getting her back and everyone wanting a piece of her... Having her all to myself all night was special.
A pang of jealousy may have also spurred it on, when I saw her and Wonwoo on the stairs hand in hand. I mean, I'm no psycho boyfriend or anything, but I just wanted to remind her she's mine, and mine alone.
"I have a lot to do today," watching her as she sat up, the happy face that was there a second ago was quickly replaced with worry. With her eyebrows furrowed, she threw off the blanket that was covering us and pulled the hoodie back on.
"How can I help?" Knowing she's in the middle of a sort of war, I would obviously do what I could to help. I might not be much help, but I will try my best.
"It's okay, I need to keep you safe. There's too many Carats out there that would have my head on a spike if any harm came to you, and I wouldn't blame them," trying to make a joke as she stood, I grabbed her hand.
"You aren't doing this alone, I'm here and I'm helping, whether you like it or not." Staring at her as I stood, I pulled her in by her waist closing the space. "So tell me where you need me and what you need me to do." Giving her a quick kiss, I smirked as she pulled away flustered, pulling the hoodie strings tight around her neck to hide evidence from last night.
"Oh don't mind us, you carry on having sex in broad daylight!" Seungkwan yelled from the window we sneaked out of last night, mug in hand, disapproving look on his face. Seeing Hyo stick her middle finger up at him, him giving it her right back, she swore jumping off the back of the truck.
"Hyolyn?" Her head snapped up when she heard the voice. Mr Jeon. Oh. Him. I might not know much of what is going on right now, and whether or not we can trust him fully (I don't), but at least he's letting us stay here. "May I borrow you a second?"
Turning to me, she gave me a kiss on the cheek before telling me to head inside and eat something. Even in the midst of all the chaos going on, she's still trying to look after everyone before herself. Something that makes me love her more.
Despite every single obstacle thrown her way, she keeps coming back stronger every time.
I just hope one day there might be an end to the madness. I love her, and I don't want her to keep going through this cycle. Fighting, getting hurt, putting herself in constant danger. And now she's in big danger, all to keep us safe.
Walking into the kitchen, everyone was gathered around the table, shoving inhumane amounts of food down their throats.
"Where's noona?" Dino asked, throwing Chewy a sausage.
"Talking to Mr Jeon," motioning my head towards the door, heads turned to try and catch what they were saying. From what I gather by her expression and how fast her hands are moving, it can't be good.
"Hyolyn, I didn't have a choice, he would have found you whether I told him or not," he shouted chasing after her as she stormed into the kitchen. Turning my head toward her, Seungcheol and Mingyu stood in front of her as he entered the room.
"Bullshit! I took the tracker out!" Noticing her tighten her fist around the back of the chair, I saw Jeonghan put her hand over hers, trying to calm her down.
"What's happened?" Jun shot Mr Jeon a dark look, going to stand next to her. Heads turned between Hyolyn and Mr Jeon as if it were a tense tennis match.
"He's a coward, all he cares about is saving his own skin," Hyo spat, a dark look on her face I'd never seen before. The stark difference between the happy Hyo I had in my arms ten minutes ago to this one... it's terrifying. It reminds me that she's not the same Hyo that I had 5 years ago. And to be truthful, that terrifies me more.
"What did you do?" Wonwoo appeared behind him, eyes narrowing towards his father.
"All I did was report to Miss Bora the situation, I don't think you understand the delicate situation that's going on. I'm trying to do the best thing for everyone," he looked around, settling on Hyo. "Hyolyn, I'm sorry. I had to," he finished in a small voice, dropping eye contact. A second later, she laughed.
"Oh this is going to be GOOD. This is something I have to see. I HAVE to see you cowering before Bora." Rolling her eyes, she wormed her way out of the slight barricade that had started around her, walking up to Mr Jeon. "If my boys get hurt because of this, I'll kill you." The room was silent as she turned back to face us. "Just as a precaution, please pack your bags, we might need to take off quickly, depending what goons show up. You," she turned back to Mr Jeon. "Panic room, where is it." Without saying anything, they both left the room, leaving us wondering what the hell is going on.
"Uh..." Seungkwan started, scanning the room. "She's scary when she's angry."
"Agreed," Dino nodded, throwing Chewy another sausage.
"Oh my god," Mingyu sat at the table, threw his head back and groaned. Snapping his head up as everyone stared at him, wondering what was wrong. "Bora is probably going to turn up." A series of groans went around the kitchen as I locked eyes with Wonwoo, who looked down.
"Great," hearing him mumble slightly, he left the room heading back upstairs.
Whatever happens, if she says she doesn't need help, we have to try and help her. She's going to say she doesn't need help and we will get in the way, but we have to try. I'm not losing her again. Standing as I was about to leave the room to find her, it made me realise how important time together was. And I didn't want to be far away from her, I can't bear it.
I need her more than she needs me, and that's the thing that's running through my mind constantly, scaring me. One day I might wake up and she's gone, and it's not something I think I can cope with.
So come on Seokmin, man up.
Man up and help your girl win her war and be free.
*Hyolyn's POV*
Watching Mr Jeon open a door under the staircase, another staircase heading downward appeared.
"The panic room is down there," he mumbled, almost inaudible.
"After you then," nodding down the stairs, I had to check everything was safe, and I sure as hell am not going down first. I've been in the middle of too many traps to take the bait on this one. As he nodded and walked down the stairs, I saw Wonwoo at the top of the other staircase. Giving him a small smile to somewhat try and comfort him, I knew it was pointless. It's a shit situation, one they'd have never been in if I'd had just stayed dead.
"The code is 170796," he mumbled again, avoiding eye contact. A second later, his eyes snapped up meeting mine. "You don't understand, Hyolyn, I did not have a choice. I'm only alive because JiEun allows it. If I don't tell her everything, I die. I'm sure you of all people will understand what it's like living with an uncertain death sentence over your head."
Pausing a second, I sighed. I do understand what it is like to not own your own life.
"You did what you had to," scanning the room, it made me feel a little better had had this to fall back on. "But I mean it. If anything happens to any of those boys upstairs, it won't be JiEun that kills you, it will be me. Understand?" Watching him nod, fear in his eyes, I heard cars arrive upstairs. Fuck, that was fast.
"Noona!" Running upstairs as I heard feet running around in the kitchen, everyone was in front of the kitchen window.
"Get back, idiots," pulling them away from the window, scared faces looked back at me. "Everything is fine. Trust me, okay?" Everyone nodded, but there were a few unsure faces staring back. Pulling the gun from the side, flicking the emotion switch off inside me, I began heading to the door. Feeling a hand grab mine, I saw Hansol looking back with worry plastered on his face. "Quit scowling, you'll get wrinkles." Pulling my hand away, I looked back as everyone tried following me. Giving them a look, they took that as 'stay put'.
Exiting the building, a few SUV's were parked outside.
"Hyolyn!" Jungkook shouted, hopping out of the car. "What the fuck is going on?"
"What's going on? What's GOING ON?" I shouted back. This, all this mess was his fault. "You ruined my plan. I know I don't usually have a plan, but I'd started to make one. All you had to do was give me a few months, Dimitri would have no longer been a problem. But you had to be greedy, Jungkook, as usual." The anger boiling inside me was abut to erupt, something I didn't really want the boys seeing. Knowing they're watching through the window, I tried to reign it in, but when I'm angry... I can't hold it in.
"Where's Sungho?" Watching Jungkook look behind me into the house, he raised a brow.
"Dimitri has him. I have one month to find him before he kills him, thanks to you ," giving him a look back, I could strangle him here and now. But that would be a bad idea. I don't want a fight right now, I can't be bothered.
"Figures," another voice came from the van. Seeing Bora step out, pained look on her face as she held her back, she held a paper out to me. "This appeared at your apartment this morning. I kept it on me, just in case I saw you again," she said the last part in a small voice.
Grabbing the paper, faces looked at me confused. Ripping Dimitri's seal off, I prepared for the worst.
'One month to find your friend Hyolyn! Find him, he lives and you're both free of me. You know I keep my word. But if you lose, he dies, those boys you hold so dear dies, and the best part? I'll save you for last.
There is a full moon tonight, your time starts then. You have until the next full moon in 30 days to complete your task.
But, you know me! I don't want this to be boring for you, let's have some fun. In order to find him, you'll have to complete a few tasks. Trust me, you'll have a whale of a time.
Keep an eye out for you next letter, it will instruct you on your first task.
All my love, Dimitri'
Great. I have absolutely nothing to go on until these stupid tasks start. Until then, I have to gather people who owe me favours, get eyes around the city to make sure nothing happens to the boys.
"Bora will be staying with you, it's not safe in the city and she's 8 months pregnant. You're the only person I trust, Hyolyn. I might be a dick, but I actually do care about her. Keep her safe," before I could argue, he'd got in the van, the cars speeding off.
Great. Just great.
So not only do I have to keep 13 men and a dog to keep safe, I also have to look for clues to try and find my partner who's been taken hostage because of mistakes I've made, try and stay alive from an absolute lunatic... and now I have to look after a heavily pregnant woman who I sometimes like and sometimes I hate.
Please, God, if you're real, give me a break.
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