Alpha females don't run in packs.....

The car fell into silence once more, with only the distant blare of traffic horns breaking through the stillness. Taehyung's gaze lingered on the road ahead until a police checkpoint came into view. Several vehicles were being stopped, with officers inspecting them thoroughly.

"Are you sure there are no weapons in this car?" Taehyung asked nervously, sitting up straighter.

Sri smirked knowingly. "There are."

Taehyung's eyes widened in alarm, his entire posture snapping into attention. "Jinja?! (Really?)" His voice came out louder than he intended.

"Just wait and watch," Sri replied with a wicked grin, clearly enjoying his growing unease.

Taehyung's pulse quickened as their car approached the checkpoint. A mixture of fear and hope bubbled within him. Was this his chance to escape?

When the officer motioned for them to stop, both Sri and Taehyung stepped out of the car. Several officers began inspecting the vehicle, opening the trunk and compartments. But to Taehyung's dismay, there were no female officers present, meaning Sri couldn't be searched. Instead, the officers frisked Taehyung and the driver.

Finding nothing suspicious, the police waved them through. Taehyung exhaled, a mix of disappointment and frustration sinking into his chest. For a brief moment, he had been tempted to ask the officers for help. But the memory of Sri's chilling threat about his family paralyzed him, trapping him in a silent prison. It felt as though freedom had been dangled in front of him, only to be snatched away by invisible chains. He climbed back into the car, bitterness tugging at his heart.

Before following, Sri's gaze flickered toward a particular officer among the group—a man in uniform whose presence piqued her curiosity. The officer stared back, a faint look of intrigue mirroring hers. She took in the name on his badge: Officer Jung Hoseok. A sly twitch played at the corner of her lips before she slid into the car without a word, the door shutting with a soft click.

Hoseok, on the other hand, stood at a disadvantage. He had been chasing shadows for weeks, relying only on sparse information. He knew the Titans' boss—referred to simply as "S"—was a woman, but her identity remained a well-guarded secret. The higher-ups in the police force had refused to cooperate, withholding key intel and barring female officers from participating in the raid. It frustrated him to no end.

Still, Hoseok was determined. He had set up this checkpoint at the bridge hoping to intercept at least a small piece of the Titans' operation—maybe a drug shipment or a weapons transport. To him, even the slightest clue was invaluable. Every drop of water makes an ocean, he reminded himself.

But now, as the elegant woman in the blue slit dress drove away, something gnawed at him. She seemed too composed, too collected—her gaze piercing in a way that unsettled him. She had carried the air of a powerful woman. If only he had something more to go on...

Unbeknownst to him, he had just let the Queen of the Titans and her kidnapped doctor slip through his grasp. Only if he had spotted Taehyung.

He reached for his coffee, but just as he picked up the cup, his phone buzzed in his pocket. When he pulled it out, a bright smile tugged at his lips. The name flashing on the screen made his frustration temporarily melt away.

"Yeoboseyo? (Hello?)" he greeted warmly.

"Yah! Hoba! This is the third time I've called you! Aur kitna wait karaoge?! (How long are you going to make me wait?)" A familiar voice, filled with mock annoyance and affection, rang through the phone.

It was Arshu—his girlfriend.

Hoseok chuckled softly, the sound bringing a sense of relief. "Mianhae, jagi (Sorry, babe). I got caught up with work." His tone softened, guilt lacing his words.

"Work? Mujhe kyun nahi bataya? (Why didn't you tell me?) I've been sitting here forever!"

"I'll be there soon, I promise," he assured her, glancing at his watch. "Just give me ten minutes, okay?"

Arshu huffed dramatically, though Hoseok could hear the smile in her voice. "Fine! But if you don't show up in exactly ten minutes, no more coffee dates for a month!"

Hoseok laughed, knowing she wasn't serious. "I wouldn't dare keep you waiting that long."

As the call ended, a warm sense of normalcy washed over him, momentarily dulling the weight of the chase he was on. But even as he headed to meet Arshu, the image of the woman in the blue dress lingered at the back of his mind, leaving an impression he couldn't shake.

He had no idea how close he had come to catching his prey—or how dangerous she truly was.

Name: Park Arshu

Age: 26 (Korean father and Indian mother. Can speak Hindi.)

Profession: Kindergarten teacher. Hoseok's girlfriend.

Likes: Sweet and caring. Children are delicate like flowers. Hoseok is an art.

Dislikes: Any girl near her boy. People who hate kids!

"You scared the hell out of me!" Taehyung clutched his chest as the car cruised safely past the checkpoint. "I really thought you're carrying weapons weapons!"

Sri didn't reply. Instead, she shifted slightly, pulling her dress up just enough to reveal the holster strapped to her thigh. With a sly grin, she reached up and retrieved a knife hidden neatly in her bun.

Taehyung's jaw practically hit the floor. His eyes widened in disbelief. "How... how the hell did you pull that off?" He couldn't fathom how she had fooled the officers so effortlessly. She tricked three cops at once.

Shifting to the far side of his seat, Taehyung put some distance between them, uneasily aware of the weapons—and the dangerous woman wielding them. They drove in silence for a few more minutes, but Taehyung, never one to let quiet last long, eventually broke it again. "So... when was your first kill?"

Sri rolled her eyes, exasperated. "God, do you ever shut up?"

"I talk because if I stay quiet, creepy thoughts take over," he admitted with a shrug. "And since you're the only one here, I have no choice but to annoy you."

"Shut. Your. Mouth," Sri warned through gritted teeth.

"Should I talk to the driver instead?" Taehyung teased, his mischievous grin spreading.

Sri's eyes widened slightly, both irritated and amused. Who would believe this man performs life-saving cardiac surgeries? Despite herself, she found his childishness oddly endearing.

"Just answer the question already!" Taehyung whined, like an impatient kid pestering a parent.

Sri sighed. "When I was twelve."

Taehyung blinked, stunned. "Why... why did you do it? Was your father a mafia boss too?"

"No," she replied softly. "I did it to save my brother."

Her voice carried a weight that Taehyung hadn't expected. He waited, hoping she'd elaborate, but the silence that followed stretched long and heavy. After a minute, he spoke again, gently this time. "You can talk to me, you know. I won't judge you. I could be your secret diary. You're planning to kill me anyway, so my lips will stay sealed."

"But you already judge me," Sri said, her tone cold and detached. "Can criminals ever be good? I am the devil herself."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He was reminded of how harshly he had judged her when he first learned about her identity.

"See?" she continued with a bitter smile. "It's not so easy to act as you say, is it? Don't expect warmth from ice, Dr. Kim. Not everyone in this world is good. Someone has to play the villain, or the hero wouldn't have their importance."

Taehyung stared at her profile, her sharp features illuminated by the dim lights outside. Her words carried a truth that stung. For reasons he couldn't explain, guilt began gnawing at him. Yes, he had judged her. But he had also loved her. Somewhere along the way, his anger had melted into admiration, and admiration had quietly bloomed into love.

He didn't care if she was a mafia queen or if she would one day be his death. He wanted to love her unconditionally. And more than that, he wanted to give her a heart—a real one, not the kind he transplanted in surgeries.

The car pulled to a stop outside their destination. Sri opened the door to step out, but Taehyung's hand shot out, gently wrapping around her wrist.

Her gaze shifted from his hand to his eyes, curiosity flickering beneath her calm facade.

"I'm sorry," Taehyung whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.

Sri stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Slowly, she freed her wrist from his grasp. "We'll see," she murmured before stepping out of the car.

Taehyung followed her, feeling a strange flutter in his chest.

Sri walked toward the entry gate with her usual confident stride. But inside, her heart raced. Why does this man mess with my head so much? She scolded herself for being distracted. He's just a temporary blip in my life. Stay focused. You can't let him affect you.

Her thoughts whirled, but her face remained as calm and composed as ever. Years of practice had taught her how to bury her emotions. In her world, vulnerability was a weapon others could use against you.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sri spotted Jungkook standing discreetly nearby, blending in with the shadows. She pretended not to notice him and, without warning, slipped her hand into Taehyung's.

Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't resist. Instead, he played along, allowing her to cling to his arm like a possessive girlfriend. Her touch was surprisingly soft, a stark contrast to her sharp personality.

"Ma'am, your card?" the security guard asked as they reached the gate.

Sri's gaze darkened slightly, and Taehyung feared she might pull the revolver from her thigh holster and shoot the poor man right then and there. But, to his surprise, she smiled sweetly instead.

"Oh! Just a minute," she chirped in a bright, pitchy tone, rummaging through her handbag. She handed over the card with a playful grin. "Here you go!"

The guard checked the details, nodded in approval, and waved them through.

"Come on, babe!" Sri said cheerfully, tugging Taehyung along before he could even process what had just happened.

"Babe—" Taehyung choked on the word, barely able to hold back his laughter. But Sri was already dragging his bewildered self inside.

Spoiler for next chapter
A hot romantic TaeSri scene upcoming. 😉😏

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