The city was on fire. The Yakuza had gone off the rails, openly fighting with the gangs and leading to shoot outs in the streets, leaving hundreds of people dead as each day went by. Taemin was nowhere to be found, and considering how smart both he and his brother were, they wouldn't be unless it was intentional.

It wasn't enough for him that he killed her dog and laughed when the poor animal bled out in agony, whining for her owner who screamed and tried to claw her way out of her bodyguard's arms to go to her, to hold her and experience her last moments, even if they were painful.

Every night, like clockwork, Runa would be searching the city, ignoring the police on every corner and the screams of people who witness the gang's violence as they destroy the city, block by block.

She searched for Taemin, for Yoongi, and especially for Dong-Wook. She tried every place imaginable, wherever there was even the smallest chance that she could find him. And although every time she went into the city that's now become hell, she never once had to worry because of the man who stood by her side. Jungkook.

Knowing the inner turmoil that she was suffering, he never tried to argue with her and only went along with her plans. He knew what she needed to do, and although he was one to oppose her at times, she's been extra careful lately with what she's doing. He knows it's the fear, he wish she didn't have to feel it, but he can't do anything about that. All that talk about her being powerful and not needing to be afraid felt null and void now that she's lost things.

Like a robot, she had the same routine every day. Barely eating but that stopped as quickly as it came because of a certain someone who practically shoved food down her throat despite her protests. Her excuses were that she felt too angry to eat, her stomach twisted in painful knots that made her question if anything could make this feeling go away.

Amongst the chaos, fear ran rampant in the streets as more people were killed and there was nothing to stop the innocent lives from being taken when caught between the rival gangs. The slums were destroyed and law enforcement struggled to fight the powers of the Yakuza and its new leader who was in hiding, yet she stayed resilient. She had briefly grieved for what she'd lost, and although it was hard to come to terms with, that every night she'd have nightmares about seeing her dog lying in a pool of blood, she had to move on and get over it.

There was no time to dwell on that since she was losing money because of this drug dealer and needed to stop him fast before the whole city was in ashes and there was nothing left to run. That and she was afraid it was too late, that Dong-Wook was lying dead in a ditch somewhere, and although she was one to stay positive no matter how bad things got, she felt sick every morning and every night just thinking about what the man was possibly going through.

That feeling only intensified when Jimin told her about a call he had gotten, a call that changed everything and set things in stone. Taemin and Yoongi killed Mr. Min, they killed their father and now he has what he's always wanted. Not only did he have the power of the Yakuza, but now everyone in the Min crime family bowed down to him because they had no choice.

Everyone now knew about what Yoongi's father had done, his secrets that were once buried had been dug up and brought to light, and they all knew who the rightful heir was. It was ironic, considering Runa was in a similar position at one time. But any rationalization or empathy disappeared as soon as that bullet went through her Doberman's chest. There was no going back now that he was destroying things and creating chaos, which was bad for business.

But blinded by rage and revenge, driven by the bloodthirst of power, he didn't care what he destroyed or how it would affect him. He had already started a business in this hellhole he made, and he wanted it to thrive there.

The police were rendered useless since the mafia and the gangs had weapons and resources they didn't, meaning it didn't take long for NYPD to go from high numbers to the lowest in history. No one's ever seen war like this before, but it was on the news all around the globe, a fight between powers that no one understood because this was the underworld.

The government had decided to take action, due to the loss of money and casualties they were suffering. No care in the world about the innocent civilians dying in drastic numbers every day, they only needed to arrest these men and make sure that this would never happen again. But jokes on them, the FBI were smart, but not smart enough to outwit the mafia families or the associated gangs.

Death was on the rise and no amount of force could stop Taemin from making this city his, from pursuing what he was made for. That was being on top, meaning he had to make a move on Kang Runa soon or else she'd gather her resources and fight back, which she did. Along with the help of Jimin and the men sent from their other allies, they got things to calm down for now.

The media twisted it any way they could, as they always did to no one's surprise. There would be many things that needed changing, so instead of thinking only about the negative, she was eased by the idea that this war would begin a new era. Where the Kang family would remain on top, everything that was destroyed would bring about something new, and life would go on, as the world would keep spinning.

The thing that truly ticked her off, that made her restless and confused was the fact that Dong-Wook wasn't fighting by their side. No one could find him and it was making her grow irritable by the day. Every time, she'd hear the same thing from her and Jimin's men. He wasn't found, Taemin and Yoongi were nowhere in sight, like they became shadows and she hated chasing after things that felt so far out of reach.

One of the worst things about those brothers, which was also something she had to cope with, was their ability to vanish. How without a trace, no one would ever be able to find them if they made it so. And it all comes into perspective. Why Dori and Taehyung were always a few steps ahead, why Taemin knew way too much for someone who never met her before. Yoongi was the reason for this downfall, and she couldn't deny that didn't sting.

Her childhood friend, a man she grew up with, became someone she wanted to kill within an hour. When his motives were revealed, it was stupid to her why he would do this. How he excused his obsessive behavior for 'loving' her, and even in his twisted way, he did. Whatever feelings she had for him had burned out. There was no emotion left but anger, regret, and disgust.

While she was thinking about it, how much has happened lately, and the losses she's had, she couldn't help but feel alive. Not only because she had Jimin, another powerful man by her side, but because through all of this, he's never stopped helping her or making sure she was ok. She was proud to have an older brother like him, someone who in just a little bit of time, had snuck his way into her heart and became someone she held dearly close.

It was bad enough that something had happened to Dong-Wook, she didn't know what she'd do if Jimin or Jungkook were harmed. She knows for a fact that she'd tear through this city, brick by brick, to find Taemin and destroy him into tiny little pieces, and the same for Yoongi. How dare he say he loved her and do this? He was selfish and only thought of himself, having her as his no matter the cost, even if she hated him for it.

It hurt to know that he loved her so badly, it turned into something poisonous. She was fighting every day harder than she ever had, and she never once faltered. She couldn't cry again, she couldn't leave her brother to pick up the pieces. Due to betrayal and the fear she had of losing someone else if not everyone, she'd be alone all over again.

Regardless of how cold she was on the outside and how emotionless her tone was when directing it towards ordering her men around, she still felt soft towards her bodyguard. And now as she reflects on how much she's done, how far they've come together, and how no matter what, he's protected her. During these hard times, she's starting to appreciate what she has more.

The only men that have risked this much for her were Dong-Wook and Jimin, and right now as he gently, which is unusual for a man like him, changes her bandage from the bullet wound that was almost healed, she just had to say something to him. No matter how scared she was of losing him, and no matter how nervous and pathetic she felt to say this in times like these, there wasn't a choice. She had to tell him so he'd know, in case anything happened to either of them and there'd be nothing left to say.

"Jungkook?", she calls his name out softly since he was close to her, removing the stitches with tweezer, a frown of concentration on his face.

He had previously picked her up and put her atop the bathroom counter, the lighting and elevation making it easier for him to do this as quickly as possible. Upon hearing her voice, he shakes himself out of his concentrated trance and hums in response, taking a brief look at her so she knew he was listening as he took out the last stitch.

Her breath got caught in her throat and she felt the heat of embarrassment warming her face, but she had to do it. With a deep breath, she utters the words she never thought she'd say to a man in a million years. The words felt unreal to hear as she spoke them but felt powerful when he put the tweezers down and looked at her with his usual plain expression.

"I love you."

She can only muster a weak smile, hoping to ease the tension from the silence enveloping them, much different than before due to the weight of her words that felt heavy on his heart. But not heavy from pain, more so a comforting warmth that blanketed his entire being that had always been stone cold, icy to a point where it burned.

And in disbelief, thinking he was hearing things and delusional due to the lack of sleep he was getting lately, his eyebrows furrow and he cocks his head to the side, their closeness only making her heart pound faster due to the nervousness she felt coiling in her stomach like a sickness. Did he care?

"Say that again, please", he asks, a little unsure if he heard her correctly.

She repeated the words without hesitation, a serious but warm look on her face that was quite different due to the hardness of her features that was directed everyone else's way.

"I love you, Jungkook. I want you to know that."

Her voice gets weak towards the end, almost like she wanted to cry even when she hated it and promised herself to not be this vulnerable. But in his presence, she couldn't fight her true feelings. He knew all too well what those words meant for not only him but her. No one in his life has ever said they loved him.

Now he understood the weakness people felt because his heart was racing undeniably fast, and he was losing his composure, something that both thrilled and terrified him. Now that he's heard her say that, he feels sure of himself and what they meant to each other. That indeed, all along, it wasn't just mere attraction or the need to fill a void in their hearts.

Runa meant something more to him than anyone could comprehend. It wasn't just love, there was no other word for it but it couldn't be just that. That word seemed overused, it felt underwhelming to use it as a description of how he felt towards her. It was a combination of many things into one, and although he was never one to be romantic, he thought that what they had couldn't be defined by a single word.

"You're saying this because you're afraid to lose me. Aren't you? You think that since you have a chance to confess, you will do it because none of us are sure what will happen next", he responds, flicking off the lights and turning on the dim ones instead because he's always hated those white lights.

Even though they were in a bathroom, it felt romantic for some reason. Maybe because she only wore a bra where the strap was slipped down so he could tend to her wound, or because he stood between her legs.

That and the fact that he could read her like an open book. Even though to everyone else, he was terrifying and cold, a monster, she could see light in his eyes that no one paid attention to. A light that she was the reason for.

"I'm telling you I love you because I needed to say it. I want you to know that even if you doubt everything else, the one thing I want you to be sure of is what I feel for you. And you're right. I am afraid because I have people to lose, and if I lose you-"

He pressed a finger against her lip to make her stop, he could tell where this was going and he shook his head, now holding the side of her face, "You're not going to lose me. I'll tell you that every second of every day if I have to. You won't lose me. Because I'm always going to be here with you. Even when I'm not in the room, I'll be in your heart, I'll be the blood running in your veins, I'll be the oxygen in your lungs. I'm all of you, I'm everywhere, and nothing is going to take me away from you."

Tears rolled down her cheeks and he leaned in, close so their noses touched and he could look down at her parted lips and feel her warm puffs of breath against his mouth, "I've consumed you, as you have done the same to me. What I live for, what I die for is you. Don't think for a minute that I'm leaving, whether it be willingly or not. I'm your property, I belong to you, right?"

"Yes", she whispers, her breathing getting heavy from how close he was to kiss her.

"Say it", he demands, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his body so she could feel his warmth and every muscle pressed against her chest, leaving no room for anything to come between them.

"You're mine. My property, my bodyguard. All of you belongs to me, and no one will take that away", she responds slowly, feeling it hard to breathe from the overwhelming tension that was boiling, making her back feel sweaty from the heat in the room.

"You'll fight for me like I fight for you, yes?", he voices, still not kissing her, and the intense and stern frown had her stomach doing somersaults.

"I will."

"Then I can say you're mine. Is that where this was leading to? You wanted me to have you, isn't that right?", he questions, wanting her to say that they belonged to each other, and before she can answer, he continues, his hand gently squeezing the side of her waist.

"I'm not just your bodyguard, and we're not just friends", he states, but the look in his eyes told her that there was no escape from him, that she was going to give him a sure answer and she couldn't suppress the smile curving up her lips at the possessiveness in his tone.

"That's right, Jeon. I'm all yours", she whispers, getting bold and softly rubbing her plump lips against his, both of them breathing heavily before he leaned in and took what he wanted.

He kissed her hard, moving his hand up to hold the back of her head while he slipped his tongue in and devoured her whole, making her whimper softly.

"I can die happy for the first time in my life. Now that I have you", he whispers, leaning away and looking at her with an unrecognizable warmth that had her eyes fluttering.

"You mean that? Are you happy with me? Even though we're in such a mess?", her voice slightly trembles, and he kisses the tip of her nose, his hand going down to trace the side of her neck and his gaze was reassuring just as his voice was.

"Burning in hell would be tolerable if you were with me."

She chuckles softly and sniffles, keeping her tears at bay, "I never thought I'd love someone like this before, let alone you. But here we are. I can't believe you love me, it feels too good to be true."

"Don't cry", he says with a shake of his head, not allowing it, "You don't need to cry anymore, Runa. No more tears. Just enjoy this while we have it to ourselves."

With a nod of agreement, he finishes bandaging her wound, putting everything away under the sink and she grabs him, kissing him like it's her last chance. The both of them felt this kiss was so liberating, that nothing could bring them down from this high.

He got a little bold and made the move of putting his hands under her shirt, his lips now attached to her neck as he let her take a breather and take in the sensation of his soft hands caressing her stomach and the curves of her body.

It was innocent and soft, even if what he was doing was very intimate and made her burn on the inside, it wasn't leading any further and she almost wanted to cry from how perfect he was. He knew her from the inside out, he had impeccable timing because he knew she wasn't in the headspace to be too close just yet, but he knew her well enough to know that she needed some sort of physical affection.

Skin on skin that wasn't necessarily sexual but more so for comfort, and this act displayed his respect for her and his overall love that was hard to come to terms with at first, but as soon as she confessed, all those walls came crashing down.

"Thank you", she whispers in his ear breathlessly, gasping at every kiss he leaves on her neck, going further down to press one on her wounded shoulder and it made her heart clench.

"Don't thank me. You know I'd do anything for you", he rolled up her tank top and she leaned back, watching as he kissed her stomach in such a gentle way it made her legs feel like noodles.

After a minute of doing that, he rolls down her shirt and takes her in his arms again, kissing her and running his hands through her soft hair. Feeling his fingers massaging her scalp had her going into a frenzy, her head leaned against his chest while he did so and allowed her to relax before it was back to business. That came sooner than the both of them would've liked.

"We should-"

He goes silent and she immediately looks up at him, the both of them hearing gunshots from outside. Before she could rush out of the bathroom to see what was happening, her heart started to pound against her rib cage, he had gone out and closed the door.

In a flash, he comes in, his gloves and coat back on since both were lying on the bed and they could hear shouting from downstairs, although very faint.

"Stay here", he instructs, about to close the door but she grabs his arm with a frown, pulling him back to her.

"Fuck no, this is my fight and-"

He ignores her and closes the door, and she gapes at what he just did, grabbing at the handle and seeing he somehow locked it from the outside, that made anger and frustration boil in her veins as she kicked and banged against the door.

"Jeon Jungkook! Let me out this instant!"

No matter how much she tugged at the doorknob and tried ways to open it using whatever was in the bathroom, it was pointless and she huffed in defeat, slumping back on the bathroom counter with a racing heart, unable to hear much because the walls were soundproof but through the floors, she could hear banging and only assumed Taemin had found them and sent his men here to kill or kidnap them.

She barely hears it, but something happens on the other side of the door and she jumps down from the counter when she sees it open. In a flash, once she meets eyes with a certain white-haired male, she sends a kick to his chest, knocking him down on the ground and before she could get on top of him to pin him down, he rolls over and stands, grabbing her arms to try to restrain her from hitting him. A kick to the shin sends him falling to his knees with a groan, another one leaving his lips when she grabs his hair and yanks it so he looks up at her with tears in his eyes from the stinging sensation in his scalp.

"I fucking knew it, you little bastard. Come back for seconds is it?", her fist collided with his jaw, making him breathe out from the impact that resounded in the room.

When he turned back he saw nothing but pure hatred in her eyes, she hits him harder and lets go of his hair as he clutches his face and stands up.

"You're coming with me", he pants, and she responds with a challenging laugh, more than thrilled to kick his ass.

"I'd like to see you try."

Those words trigger him to lunge forward and grab her, trying to avoid hurting her so he can peacefully escape with her unconscious in his arms, but that wasn't going to happen without a good tussle beforehand.

No matter how many times she screamed and yelled in his face, beating him for his betrayal, he knew that this pain would be worth it if he could have her to himself in the end. So he let her toss him around, kick his ribs until he was weakened and had enough of playing around.

She wondered where Jungkook was the whole time, if he was even alive. Once she got him on the ground and figured he had enough, she made the mistake of turning her back on her enemy and he was able to come from behind and shove her into the nearest wall, her vision fading into black from the collision. He winced at the sound as her body fell limp on the floor, the corner of her head starting to bleed and he knew he didn't have much time.

After taking a few seconds to catch his breath from their intense fight, which consisted of his ass getting kicked so he could make one move to knock her out, he grabbed her carefully in his arms, pushing away the strands of hair that hid her face, and before dashing down the hall and past the bodies lying on the floor, he kissed her head and her lips while he could.

"Sorry, love. I don't want to hurt you, but that doesn't mean I won't."