"You know, Taehyung, I really thought you were the one. I loved you," Chanyeol began, tying Taehyung's wrists to the bedpost.
Taehyung squirmed against the makeshift restraints, but they were tight, offering no wiggle room.
"Chanyeol, please..." Taehyung tried.
"I bought you everything: cars, clothes, jewelry, food," the man continued as he reached in his pocket to pull out a knife. "I took you on trips, showered you with gifts."
Chanyeol kicked off his shoes, climbing onto the bed and hovering over Taehyung. "I even divorced my wife for you."
Taehyung squirmed as Chanyeol plopped his weight on his stomach, tensing at the rough material of his pants on his exposed skin.
Chanyeol fiddled with the knife in his hand, twirling it between his fingers. "And what'd you do?"
Taehyung whined as the knife neared closer, tracing his jawline until it stopped at his throat. "C-Chanyeol, ple—"
"You took everything. You drained me of everything!" The knife pressed into Taehyung's throat making Taehyung press further into the bed. He turned stiff, every gulp he took brushed against the pressure of the blade.
"No! I'm sorry, please! I'm sorry!" Taehyung begged, pulling at the restraint.
"You're sorry?!" Chanyeol snapped. With his free hand, he fisted the blonde's hair, yanking it sharply to the side to expose his neck. Taehyung cried out at the movement, the hand in his hair tugging at his roots.
"What're you sorry for, huh? Sorry you got caught or for being nothing more than a pathetic slut!" He yelled.
Taehyung didn't stop the tears — not like he could anyway — letting them flow freely to show how scared he was. He hoped it would get through to the former CEO.
Chanyeol had never been a violent person, and it's painful to think that he's like this now because of Taehyung. He knew what he did to the man was wrong, but he never expected this.
"Answer me!" Chanyeol bellowed into Taehyung's ear, not caring how it made the blonde recoil.
"For e-everything...I'm sorry, Chanyeol. I'm s-sorry," Taehyung pleaded. "I d-didn't...I-I didn't mea—"
"You didn't mean to? Seriously?" Chanyeol scoffed, forcing the knife further into the blonde's skin, drawing a little blood. "After everything happened, I did my research on you. And what do I find? A whole track record of CEOs you fucked over!"
Taehyung closed his eyes in shame, embarrassed by his infamy.
"So tell me, is that the plan for Jeon?"
Taehyung's eyes snapped open. He turned his head as best he could in the hold and looked at Chanyeol, shock on his face.
Chanyeol dryly chuckled. "What, didn't think we knew that you wormed you're way into Jeon's bed?"
Taehyung could only stare. The man laughed at Taehyung's inability to speak.
"Looks like I'm saving him trouble and a shit ton of money," Chanyeol smirked, watching the blonde's reaction. He watched how his eyes glazed over, worry flashing across his features. Something clicked.
"Oooo, what's this...you like him don't you?"
At that, Taehyung's eyes refocused, settling on Chanyeol, glaring.
"That's cute. You've got a little crush," the man teased. "I doubt he'd ever fall in love with you, not with your reputation."
"Screw you," Taehyung spat, biting his tongue.
"You already did, remember?" Chanyeol retorted. "Which is why I'm doing the world a favor. One less gold digger on the street."
Chanyeol released his grip from Taehyung's hair and moved the knife away from his throat. He reached lower, lifting Taehyung's shirt until it gathered at his chest. The knife raised, Chanyeol dug into his stomach slowly, drawing out a thin stream of liquid.
Taehyung cried out, attempting to squirm away from the pain, but the man's weight on his stomach kept him in place. Each drag drew deeper until it reached his pelvis.
Chanyeol lifted the blade, admiring the red color coating the blonde's flawless skin. "You know what? I think I've got something better we can use."
The man lifted himself off Taehyung, giving the blonde a chance to breathe, and headed out the room in search of something.
Taehyung stared down at the fresh wound, each exhale thrusting out a little more blood each time. But he couldn't think about that. Now was his chance.
He looked at his restraints and then the room, seeing if there was anything that could get him out.
He saw a pair of scissors on the nightstand next to him. Maybe I could use my feet to grab it, he thought. He didn't know how he'd be able to cut with his feet, but he could try.
Taehyung twisted his body, painfully groaning with each graze to his stomach. But he kept going. He used his right leg, extending it to the side, and reached for the scissors.
His big toe brushed against the handle, delicately drawing it forward. Slowly and carefully, he mimicked the movement. It was close to the edge now. Just a few more tugs and he had it.
But the abrupt sight of Chanyeol stepping back into the room killed all hope.
The man entered back into the room holding a gun, finger teasing the trigger, instantly making the blonde tense up. He settled his leg back on the bed, watching as the man circled the bed, almost like Taehyung was prey.
Was this really happening? Was nobody coming? Was he seriously going to die like this?
Taehyung began to panic as realization dawned on him. Nobody was coming. Nobody was going to save him this time.
But sadly, it seemed kind of fitting.
He's ruined — destroyed — countless lives with his antics. Those people had businesses, families, kids...
But Taehyung never cared; he didn't bat an eye. Just took the money and jumped to the next figure.
He deserved this.
Chanyeol climbed back on top of the bed, resettling himself on Taehyung's stomach. The weight pressed into Taehyung's wound, but the blonde didn't even flinch.
Taehyung didn't want to die, but knew it wasn't fair — knew he didn't deserve the life he lived.
"I thought I wanted to torture you, but every time I look at your face, it pisses me off," Chanyeol said, gripping the gun with both hands.
Taehyung distantly watched as Chanyeol raised his arms, gun barrel pointed at his head. Taehyung closed his eyes.
"See you in hell."
Taehyung took one last inhale before Chanyeol squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The sound resonated through the room, stilling the air. Taehyung's chest was drenched in blood, spreading across his arms and face and dripping onto the bed.
But the blood wasn't his.
Taehyung slowly opened his eyes to see Chanyeol's body had completely stilled. Confused, the blonde stared at the man's blank expression, frozen actions, before he slumped over and fell next to Taehyung.
Taehyung's eyes widened, staring at Chanyeol's dead body, before he shot his head up.
There stood Jeongguk, gun in his hand, barrel still smoking from going off.
Jeongguk rushed to Taehyung's side, throwing the rest of Chanyeol's limbs off the boy and untying his wrists.
"Jeongguk..." Taehyung whispered.
"Taehyung, are you okay?" Jeongguk's eyes raked Taehyung's body, locking onto the wound on his stomach. "Hoseok, get me the first aid kit!"
Suddenly, Hoseok appeared, Yoongi right behind him, with a clear box. He handed it to the Boss, leaving him to scout the penthouse while Jeongguk fixed Taehyung.
Taehyung was in a daze, incredulous. Just a moment ago, he was ready to die. Maybe he did die. Because there's no way Jeongguk was in front of him right now.
Taehyung warily lifted his hand, reaching up to touch the tatted man's face. Still as smooth as before. He slid his hand down to the man's arm. Still as strong as I remember. Jeongguk stayed focused on patching the wound.
When Jeongguk finished, he threw the kit to the side and helped Taehyung sit up, the boy wincing.
"Are you okay?" Jeongguk repeated, watching the blonde.
Taehyung stared blankly at the man kneeling in front of him. He reached out again, this time with both hands, and cupped the man's face. He squished his cheeks together before pulling them apart, repeating the action. Jeongguk was not amused.
"You're...You're really here?" Taehyung wondered, baffled.
Jeongguk removed Taehyung's prying hands from his face, grabbing them with his own. "Yes, I'm really here. Are you okay?"
Are you okay? The question played on a loop in Taehyung's head.
Was he okay? He was almost killed just a second ago because he ruined a man's life and he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't even do anything to stop Johnny from taking Jungkook to God knows—
Taehyung gasped.
Jungkook.
"No, no, no, no, no," Taehyung panicked, the ordeal crashing back into him. He began to hyperventilate. "Jeongguk, Jeongguk! They t—They took Jungkook! I-I'm so sorry! H-He had me and they had guns and I couldn't...I couldn't d-do anything! He's g-gone! I-I—!"
"Hey, hey, calm down, breathe," Jeongguk soothed, rubbing his back. Taehyung had to force himself to slow his breathing, his heart racing a mile a minute. But eventually, he calmed down. "We know Jungkook's not here."
"You...You know?" Taehyung asked.
"Yup, NCT sent us a message implying they were gonna pay you both a visit, said they're taking Jungkook with them. Didn't have time to question it before the alarm went off," Yoongi explained, examining the room.
"And we saw the surveillance feed," Hoseok added, rummaging through the unkempt room.
The blonde watched the pair pace back and forth through the space, searching. Yoongi must have found something because he leaned down and picked something off the floor before showing it to Hoseok, both of them exiting the room after.
"I don't understand," Taehyung muttered, dazed, looking to Jeongguk.
The CEO was already looking back at him. "What?"
"If you knew Jungkook wasn't here...why'd you come?" Taehyung whispered, meekly staring down.
Jeongguk's eyes softened, taking in the blonde's vulnerable state, knowing exactly what Taehyung was getting at. He put his finger under the blonde's chin, raising his head.
One glance at Taehyung was enough to see the insecurity in his eyes, potent as ever.
"Still thought I was gonna leave you?" Jeongguk asked, teasing undertone.
Mouth dropping, Taehyung's eyes grew, so much emotion burning in his pupils, ready to explode.
Before Jeongguk could speak, Taehyung launched himself at the CEO, arms wrapping around his neck and squeezing. He buried his face in the man's neck, happily sobbing.
Jeongguk softly chuckled at the blonde's reaction, wrapping his arm around Taehyung's waist to give him a reassuring squeeze. Taehyung only sobbed harder at the reassurance, arms now suffocating Jeongguk.
A pat to the back eased Taehyung's grip before he slowly pulled away. He wiped his soaked cheeks with his hands before curling them at his chest. His eyes then locked on Jeongguk.
"Everything's gonna be alright, okay?" Jeongguk spoke, wiping away the leftover tear streaks on Taehyung's cheek. The blonde nodded, eyes never leaving Jeongguk.
"Boss, we got something!" They heard from the other room.
Jeongguk glanced over his shoulder before turning back to Taehyung.
"Let's go find my brother."
𖣘
Jungkook sat at the back of the SUV, shoved between two men.
He had stopped screaming after the first half-hour; his vocal cords couldn't take it anymore. His throat was dry and hoarse, and it was apparent that these men weren't going to let him go. So he stopped talking altogether.
Jungkook had no idea how long they had been driving, but he wasn't given too much time to ponder it because the SUV was stopping. Hastily, Jungkook was grabbed by his arm and dragged out of the vehicle.
They stood outside a massive run-down building — a warehouse. Jungkook would've thought it was abandoned if it hadn't been for the platoon of security guards guarding the entrance.
He did his best to take in his surroundings, trying to memorize every little detail. He noticed the single road, the dusty terrain, and the rusty street sign reading TONGIL.
His sightseeing was cut short, however, as the brawny man holding him yanked him forward.
Jungkook was led into the hideout and was stunned by how beautiful and expensive it was on the inside. The complete opposite of its exterior.
Chandeliers decorated the ceiling, glass cages housed priceless artifacts, furniture plump like it's never been sat on before.
"Put him back there," Johnny instructed, pointing to a hallway. The man did as told, escorting Jungkook down the narrow hallway until they stood in front of a single gold-trimmed door.
The man kicked the door open, throwing Jungkook inside. Jungkook landed on the floor, wincing at the impact. Before he could say anything, the door was being slammed shut, locking the younger inside.
Jungkook frantically surveyed the room. There was a bed, a bathroom, and a table. It wasn't as decorated as the rest of the building, but it was decent — almost like a cheap hotel room.
But he couldn't help but notice the lack of windows and technology. There wasn't a TV, let alone a single visible outlet, nor was there any way for natural light to shine through. This was basically a prison cell.
Jungkook wondered how long he was going to be kept. He knew without a doubt his brother was looking for him, but he couldn't help but worry how long that would take. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew it wasn't good, especially with Johnny being involved.
"What would Ggukie do?" Jungkook asked himself. If Jeongguk were here, he'd probably set this entire building ablaze along with everyone in it.
Unfortunately, Jungkook's not his brother, something he's regretting at the moment, and he didn't even know how to set a building ablaze even if he wanted to.
Jungkook tugged at his hair, stressed and scared.
Don't panic, Jungkook, he told himself, just breathe. Ggukie and The Order are looking for you, there's nothing to be afraid of. They'll be here any second.
"So it's true then," a voice echoed.
Jungkook snapped his head up, shrieking when he found Jaehyun standing behind him. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door opening.
"You don't get involved in the business," Jaehyun emphasized.
"So..." Jungkook mumbled, shrinking back. He'd never been alone with Jaehyun. Johnny had scarcely mentioned him when they were together — but he knew Jeongguk hated him.
"You are an interesting one, Jungkook. I admit," Jaehyun teased, intrigued. "I've never met a mafia born son who wanted nothing to do with the business."
Jungkook didn't like the way Jaehyun was eyeing him — like he was scrutinizing him, trying to assess him.
"Let me go or Ggukie's gonna kill you," Jungkook warned, trying to sound threatening. But his curled up figure leaning against the far wall in the room had the opposite effect.
"He can try," Jaehyun chuckled, stepping closer. "But there is one thing that's going to kill me. Perhaps you can help me, I just can't seem to understand."
Jungkook glared but kept silent, prompting Jaehyun to continue.
"How could you love him — your brother —after everything he's done?"
"What're you talking about? Of course, I love him. Nice try." Jungkook glowered. Those lessons with Hoseok were finally starting to pay off.
He remembered how the older told him that enemies will always try to turn friends and even family against each other. Part of their tactic. No way that was ever happening.
"So you're fine with everything, everything he did to you and your family."
Jungkook frowned. "My family...?"
Jaehyun's eyebrow raised curiously before a smirk spread over his face. "You don't know, do you?"
"K-Know what?"
"He never told you what happened to your parents, did he?"