(NOTE: y'all are so patient so here i am rewarding you after my long absence with a chapter — sort of a filler.)

I HIGHLY recommend you read the last couple of chapters to refresh your memory on where we're at with this story since it's been such a long time)

Sharing my heart. It's tearing me apart but I know I'd miss you, baby, if I left right now. Doing what I can, tryna be a man and every time I kiss you, baby, I can hear the sound of breaking down

~

"STONE, YOU GOT A PLAN?"

"I've got a plan."

"Are you just saying you have a plan to bait me into believing you do when in actuality you don't and you're walking into this completely and utterly recklessly?"

The velvety tresses of my hair skated off my shoulder as I peered behind me and to my partner pacing around the tiny space between my couch and coffee table, eyebrows knit in bafflement.

I gave her an easy smile.

"Trust me, Van-Buren," I assured, my gaze sliding back towards the mirror, "I've got a plan."

I could hear her heavy sigh and the sound of my couch shifting to accommodate her weight as I adjusted the straps of my seamless, lavender gown, the fine material around my waist-cinching gorgeously. 

It had been a long afternoon buried in mountains of spreadsheets and files of all the men and women attending this ceremony. Some were just affable, others good with politics, philanthropy, and had a heavy title, and the rest were a slew of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

The good wasn't even that good honestly.

It was mostly cops, higher-up officials, some crooked and others desperate to tuck away Congressman into their back pocket in case of a power play. The bad were the usuals — the wealthy that shouldn't be wealthy, the assholes who make your life a living hell, and the people you'd usually sweat about.

But the ugly...yeah that was a different story.

Van-Buren and I had gathered three names out the total — the vilest ones, the most reported in our books, the ones who got away too quickly, the ones who were too squeaky clean to not be touched, and assuming you know those names were:

"Silas Bantuera, Congressman Suk Dol, and Park Jimin," Van-Buren mumbled, fingers skimming over each one of their records yet out of all of them, the Congressman barely had a thing on him. Didn't mean I trusted him though.

I knew it from the second I saw him, his devilish eyes that seemed to hold a dangerous glint, his charming smile that said too little, and his hands, the ones that would squeeze yours extra tightly just to make sure you understood whatever his gist was.

I would never forget the day we sat for brunch with my mother, her incessant begging of me to met someone that didn't quite resemble my dad but a man he would be proud of her having.

I wanted to believe her, that's why I agreed with much reluctance but the longer we sat in this waning atmosphere, the sharper my edges spiked especially when the Congressman talked about himself.

He didn't know I was a cop (a golden rule my mother was to never tell) but even without my cop intuition, I could sense something off about him. He was brief with his personal life, fraying out his childhood home and growing up into his adulthood before filling in the lines with his work and what he planned to do with the city if he got elected.

My mother boasted about his philanthropic ways, so blinded by his affectionate touch when his hand went reaching for hers but once again, something just felt off about it, about him especially when our eyes caught with one another accidentally, this unnerving grin spreading on his face that sent chills up my spine.

So Van-Buren and I dug and we found some shit.

"We can't go after him tonight," I explained to Van-Buren while putting on my earrings, "All these crimes committed were when he was a minor. For all we know, this never happened."

She pointed to a photo of a busted boy face on the pavement, bruises on another little boy's neck, and a psychiatric script recommending Dol to one in the states.

"You're telling me we have to pretend," She lifted a photo of a particular kid who was injured gruesomely, all his fingers broken, "That this never happened?"

"It's the law and frankly, if we throw this information right in his face, it could land us in hot water including my mother," I sighed deeply and dropped my hands to my hips, "She's caught in the middle of this and is under the assumption that he's the perfect man, a successor to my father. This would destroy her."

I was going to mention something else but she stopped me.

"We're going to play this strategically. You're going to soil their relationship subtly like a sneak attack until your mother has no choice but to push him away."

"Exactly, then I get her out of the country and I get him in jail. There are probably dozens of crimes the Congressman has committed that we don't know about. If we look harder, canvas some scenes, talk to some people — we'll get him locked up in no time," Inhaling sharply, I started to think, "But this party — he didn't do this for no reason. Inviting cops and crooks to the same place at the same time..."

"It doesn't make sense," Van-Buren finished off and I agreed.

"Unless he's trying to make friends, get the cops on his side and the bad guys too so that they both trust him but even then, it's complicated because we don't know why."

"But as you said, he's not our problem tonight," She lit a cigarette and my fingers were already itching to take away from her and smoke it myself.

"No. Neither is Park Jimin."

"Have you spoken to him?" She asked curiously and a part of me suddenly felt weird. Honestly, he'd been the last thing on my mind mainly because I'd been pushing away every single thought about him since that last we'd seen each other.

But he made it known I wouldn't forget him that easily.

"Look around," I gestured to the apartment filled with millions of gift bags from expensive boutiques I'd never even heard of in my twenty-six years of living, "He's made it clear that he'll always be a part of my life."

"He must be sorry," She said and took another drag before handing the cigarette to me. The paper frayed as I sucked in the smoke and exhaled it through my nose, shaking my head.

"You should've seen him. Fumbling over his words after the shit he put me through."

"He knows your still mad?"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course he does. I made clear that if he cares about me, he'll put in the work. If not," I shrugged my shoulders, "He can fuck off."

There was a lengthy pause between Van-Buren and I as I waited for the one sentence looming over the both of us now. She gave me a stare-down while the cigarette began to die out and once I crushed it against the ashtray, it seemed like the words were on the tip of her tongue.

"No feelings right, Stone?"

I put on the best facade I could.

"None."

Van-Buren held my gaze for a moment as if she was looking through me, her eyes blistering through mine before she released a heavy sigh and threw her arms back.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and reached for the cigarette pack. This addiction was seriously biting my ass but these days I couldn't help myself.

"Tonight, we go after Bantuera," I said, running my fingers through my hair swiftly, "He's always been first on our list. We take him for everything's he's got, starting with," I slid a file over to Van-Buren who picked it up, "Nana Perez."

"Who is she?" She questioned, fingers skimming through the pages briefly.

"Twenty-one-year-old girl who went missing after entering one of Bantuera's warehouses. Her sister, Nadia, has been looking for her, posting flyers around the town, stopping by police stations. Somehow tonight she got herself an invite to this celebration."

"You think Bantuera kidnapped her?"

I nodded.

"I know he did and I believe she's in his compound closest to the city so he has easy access to her. I'm going to make him take me to her and use Jimin to do it."

"You told me you were going to make him set up a meeting between you and Bantuera. What are you planning to do after that meeting happens?" She rose an eyebrow and closed the file, setting it down on the table.

I smiled.

"I just need Bantuera there at the Meldeer which is why I need Jimin to invite him there. Afterward, we lock him up and throw away the key for good."

I didn't have much time to elaborate more because the next thing I knew, my phone was going off.

I picked it up while quickly readjusting my dress, answering the call mindlessly, "Hello?" My voice was soft, a complete contrast to how I was speaking to Van-Buren just a second ago.

"Flower," Jimin's voice swam through the line, words rolled in huskiness. I could instantly picture a smirk on his lips, "How are you?" He sounded genuine.

"I'm alright," I quickly grasped my sparkly clutch as Van-Buren began to hide the files in the compartment inside the television, giving me a knowing look. I turned my attention back to him, "How 'bout you?"

"I'm good. I'm waiting outside for you. Come down."

After muttering a "yeah", I hung up, took one last glance in the mirror, before saying goodbye to Van-Buren but just as I was going to walk out the door, she stopped me.

She caught me completely off guard when she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, literally knocking the air out of my lungs. It was strange because I'd never seen her this affectionate to me if not anybody and we had been partners for years thought tonight, something just felt different.

"Van-Buren," I wheezed her name softly, "You're kind of killing me right now—

"Just," She cut me off and pulled away, squeezing my shoulders, "Be careful, alright? This all is a game of chance that can go wrong super fast."

"When am I not careful?" She gave me a look and I cracked a smile, "I'm just playing. I'll be safe and even if I get hurt, I know it was for a good cause, to get us where we need to be. Everything will go to plan, I promise you."

She was reluctant to let me go but did and I eventually traveled through to the lackluster corridors, empty staircases, and out the front of my apartment building to the waiting arms of the one and only man who had slowly begun to eat me alive.

He looked wonderfully astonishing.

A lavender blazer that had matched my dress wrapped around his burly shoulders, a crisp white dress shirt was tucked neatly into his finely, pressed pants, and shiny shoes contrasted against the grimy sidewalk. He was pure class compared to this side of the neighborhood, hell, he exuded it just by the way he walked.

It was a violent delight when his fingers curled into mine and it was a violent end when he brought me close enough into his chest that I could smell his cologne and see a thin necklace hidden against his pale, smooth chest.

He touched my cheek and I tried to stop my flinch but I couldn't help it. I had not forgiven him completely after the incident and it seemed my body hadn't either.

He sighed quietly and grasped my face, thumbs smoothening over my cheekbones, fingers pressing lightly into my heated skin. Our gazes locked, breath upon breath and I felt his touch rush through me like the wind, and my breath catch hesitantly.

"You look divine," He murmured and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before cupping my neck.

"Thank you. You beautiful too."

He stared at me for a while before he ushered his driver who was standing behind us — arms crossed behind his back, wearing an all-black suit — to open the door to his Rolls-Royce car.

His hand fell onto my thigh after he pushed the screen door up and the driver began to take off. I glanced out the window, the air in the car feeling suffocating the longer I sat in his presence. He felt it too, the shift in my demeanor because the sound of his voice had my eyes drawing back to him.

"You're still scared of me."

The car humming against the pavement filled the silence between us.

I couldn't help the bemused look that grew on my face as I thought to myself.

"I'm not afraid of you," I said finally and turned my head to look at him, "I'm furious with you but most definitely, I'm furious with myself."

"Why with yourself?" He caressed my thigh and I chuckled.

"Because right now I'm pretending that I forgive a person who's hurt me more than anybody has in days and that I always fall back to even when I try my hardest not to," I whispered and looked out the window, "You're like an addiction I just can't shake."

He was silent and I could tell he was mulling over my answer, deciding what was best to say.

After another stretch of silence, his fingers were on my jaw. He guided my face to his, his mouth inches from mine, eyes flickering between them and my own.

"Flower, you're my addiction, my drug, the dose I don't ever wanna stop taking," His hand twisted my hair around his fingers absentmindedly, "As I said, I'll continuously try to prove to you how sorry I am, first starting with this meeting with Bantuera."

He paused before continuing,

"If that's what it takes for you to understand that I'd do anything for your forgiveness, I'll do it. I just... I can't stand the thought of you pulling away from me. I know why you want to and you have every right to but I..." He stopped.

"You're going to spend a long time atoning your apology to me so I wouldn't get comfortable." I finished for him.

He smiled, his thumb brushing my bottom lip.

"Darling, I don't plan to."

My heart leaped in my throat when he began to move closer, weirdly enough, his eyes almost asking me for permission to kiss me.

I was ambivalent for a short second before I nodded.

His mouth molded onto mine instantaneously, hands already framing my face to keep me still as his lips and tongue roamed mine before he stole my breath away.

A quiet gasp left me as his fingers knotted deeply into my hair, forcing me closer into his chest as he continued to kiss as if he was afraid I was going to disappear into thin air. I groaned quietly as my arm slung around his neck to keep him close.

He pulled away when we both were relatively breathless and knocked our foreheads together.

"You're mine," He breathed as I kept my eyes close. I could already feel his searing into mine before he whispered, "Say it."

"Casanova..." I pleaded.

"Please," He begged and it sounded so heartbreaking that my eyes fluttered open.

My will against him slowly began to diminish.

"I'm yours."

He let out a grunt and rutted his nose against mine. He held me in his arms right as we sped through the waning pinkish hues of the city and into the starry sky. The common folk bled into the wealthy and soon enough, those small businesses and stores became skyscrapers and buildings that seemed like they touched the sky.

There was paparazzi everywhere, piled on each other miles and miles up the street. We hadn't even reached our proper destination yet but you could see the long waiting line of attendees for this event. There was press stalking all of them, security all around the premise, surveying the area consistently.

I wanted to ask Jimin if we had to wait in that line but before I could, the driver began to pull into a secluded parking lot for  VIP guests which I assumed we were one of. There weren't many cars in this section, only for the most important people and when the driver parked, I felt my nerves spike.

Jimin's door opened first and like magic, there were already tons of security beside him.

He appeared at my door next and I was sort of freaked out when I was hit with blinding lights and camera flashings. Voices were clamoring all around us, people shoving to get photos. I constantly heard Jimin's name being called, of course, it would be, everybody knew he was, I just wasn't expecting the onslaught of it all.

Gently, he took my hand in his and got me out of the car before wrapping his arm around me and tucking my head down so I wasn't frightened. Luckily, my hair covered my face and we were surrounded by tons of security trying to push us towards one of the entrances so I felt pretty okay.

Eventually, we made it inside and when the door shut, I let out a sigh of relief.

"You okay, Flower?" Jimin asked and petted my rosy cheek, head lowering to catch my eyes.

"I'm okay that was just a lot." I glanced back at the shut door before turning my attention back to him. He gave me an encouraging smile and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.

"I know. I'm sorry about that."

"Come, Mr. and Mrs. Park, please follow me," One of the security agents said and I did a double-take but Jimin just laughed and pushed me along.

We went down a narrow corridor until we made it to our destination and it seemed like the ceremony was already in full swing. Tons of people were lined up in this banquet hall, name tags on each one of their fancy tables. Women looked beautiful in their dresses as did the men in such pristine suits.

There was a live band that actually sounded and looked professional, playing classical music while people lingered and mixed. There were some politicians I'd seen from the news, some corporal chiefs, and so many more faces.

Then there were people I had no clue who they were.

Jimin guided us to our table that was at the front but I heard him scoff when his eyes zeroed in on the table, specifically the name tags on there.

Y/n Stone, Park Jimin, Silas Bantuera, The Captain (of my department), my mother, and the Congressman.

The irony in the situation was unreal, unbelievable, and something I hadn't expected.

Three bad men and three great women.

But I played it off.

I had to.

"Are you fucking serious?" I muttered angrily and turned to Jimin. Dramatically, I untangled myself from my clutch and tossed it onto the table as my hands fell to my hips.

He remained completely stoic.

"That's not what I'm worried about," He picked up the card with Captain's name on it and stared at it.

Think of something, Y/n.

"Oh, I've met her before," I recalled with fake wonder, "She was at the hospital when you got shot, tried to ask me a couple of questions about you and your condition."

"Did you answer them?" He questioned tersely.

I shook my head, "No, no. But even then, why would they put us at the same table with her, with any of them?"

"Well because it's randomized. You could put that together yourself, sweetheart," The sound of laughter and a heavy voice beside us had our heads turning in unison and our expressions dropping completely.

"Y/n. Jimin," Bantuera grinned, tipping his wine glass in our direction, "How are my two favorite people in the whole wide world? Not plotting my downfall I hope." He laughed and I seethed, feeling my fingers coil to fists.

I don't know Jimin played it so cool even when he snagged a wine glass from a walking waitress who was checking him out and tipped it in Bantuera's direction.

"No, I'm alive and kicking much to your dismay," The tension between them was white-hot but they both smiled at each other.

"You know that bullet wasn't intended for you," Bantuera glanced at me briefly, running his fingers over his ridiculous all-white suit, "And I don't know what the big fuss is, one of your henchmen took care of my boy, left his head in my mailbox just to prove a point."

I felt my blood start to boil from just the sight of him.

"You're just such a fucking scumbag," I said, side-stepping Jimin. Almost instantly, his hand wrapped around my wrist and tugged me backward in warning, his way of telling me to cool off but I continued, "We both know I would end you if I got the chance."

"Well you wouldn't want your mother to see you do that now would you?" He smirked.

I felt every nerve in my body nearly snap.

"If you talk about my mother more so even look at her..." I stepped closer to him, squaring my shoulders as my eyes zeroed in on him. Jimin didn't let me get far and pulled me back into his chest.

"Oh relax, Y/n. I would never do something like that, especially at such a wonderful event like this. It's a party, Y/n, lighten up!" He exclaimed, "But I promise you after it's over, we can have some fun."

"Flower," Jimin whispered in my ear and squeezed my wrist, "Relax, alright? We're going to play nice tonight and enjoy the party. It's okay. It's alright." He cajoled me and pulled me again so that my back was against his chest and his arm was snaking around my waist, "Just relax."

Bantuera downed his champagne in amusement.

"It seems like you got your pet on a new leash. Wonder what took you so long, Jimin."

Jimin squeezed my hip before nudging me out the way and stepping in front of me. Bantuera was living for this whole moment as he sighed happily and threw his arm around Jimin's shoulder.

Jimin reciprocated the touch, briefly looking back at me to tell me that this was what he had to do before looking back at Silas.

"Let's talk after the party at the Meldeer. Too much has happened between us and we're supposed to be partners," He said, voice sounding so sincere I almost believed him, "We'll talk and after that, everything between us will be water under the bridge just like you said."

Bantuera squeezed his shoulder.

"I knew I could always count on you to come around. Even though we fight and we hurt each other, we always know who our allies are and who they are not," He said with finality, cold eyes boring into mine, "We'll talk."

Jimin offered a smile and I thought I'd be sick but before I could puke Bantuera was chasing away a young waitress, grabbing her ass and whispering something filthy in the process.

It just left Jimin and I and for a moment, through all the noise, the bodies, the music —all I could hear was silence. My emotions were running from ten to a hundred and I knew I had to compose myself and think of my plan but it was hard trying not to punch a wall or something.

But Jimin — he was here and he was in my space, tugging me towards him. He tilted my chin up and I cleared my throat while simultaneously trying to clear my head.

"You with me?" He asked.

"I'm with you."

He rested his head against mine and sighed.

We barely had a moment to ourselves when I felt another hand on my shoulder, this touch much more familiar than any I had ever known. I knew who it was before I even turned around and a soft smile fought to replace the frown on my face as I spun around and came face to face with my mother.

"Sweetheart!" She cried out and practically yanked me out of Jimin's embrace and into hers. I was suffocating when she squeezed me so tight, squealing in my ear while rocking us back and forth excitingly.

"Mother," I hugged her and then pried myself out of her grip, "How are you?"

"Darling, I'm fantastic! How are you?"

"I think you already know," She cradled my cheek and gave me a confused look before her eyes flew away from mine and to the man behind me easily looking his best right now.

Immediately, her face morphed into one of anger and she was launching herself in front of him, barely giving me enough time to admire her emerald dress, the pearls that clung to her neck, and the bun sitting on the top of her head.

"You," She snarled and pointed her finger at Jimin.

"Mom," I tried to say but she was too far gone to even acknowledge me, "Mother, not here."

Her manicured nail went slamming into Jimin's chest who looked at her calmly, not even afraid or frightened. He was once again beautifully unresponsive to her vicious assault with words, instead fiddling with his glass.

"If you ever hurt my daughter again, I swear to you, you'll have much worse to deal with."

I rolled my eyes and pulled her away.

"Well, it seems like enough threats have been thrown tonight. Let's all just take a breath, shall we?" I chipped in, stepping between them.

My mother was still fuming when the Congressman suddenly appeared at her side and just like that the tension rose tenfold.

He surveyed the scene, his eyes making a spectacle of Jimin, my mother, I before he held the back of my mother's neck gently. I watched him, a look of emotion on his face as he asked her:

"Darling, what's wrong?"

"Why did you invite him?" My mother bit angrily and her gaze slid back to Jimin.

I was expecting him to take her side or do something about it but instead, he reached his hand out, a smile on his face, "Because Park Jimin is a friend of a friend and one of the leading men of this fine city. Thank you for being here Jimin."

"It's no problem, I'm glad to be here," Jimin shook his hand firmly. His arm wrapped around my waist and he held me when his gaze shifted over to my mother who was listening to whatever Dol was whispering in her ear. It was kind of funny to me that we both seemed to be in the arms of very bad men at the same time, like a mirror. He continued, "And Ms. Stone, I want to apologize to you as I did to Y/n. She and I had a misunderstanding but it's resolved now."

I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip on my shaw.

Some misunderstanding.

"I don't mean to offend you or anybody but if you wish for me to leave, I'll do so."

My mom was about to say something but Dol cut her off, his grip on her tightening just a bit, "He can't leave, sweetheart. Jimin is an important member of society and potential funder for my campaign," He spoke so sweetly, I could see the way my mother was falling for his tricks, "Think about me tonight."

My mother forced a smile on her face as her eyes flickered between Jimin and mine when she stuck her hand out.

"Water under the bridge." She said before they shook hands. Dol kissed her cheek in delight just as everybody at the table began to pile up again, Silas joining us, and finally, Captain who glanced at me.

It was awkward to say the least.

The animosity between all of us was ridiculously high and it was only made worse when my mother asked Dol why Bantuera was at her table to which he responded with another guilt trip, that this was for his campaign and it was important to get the city's most influential leaders in the same place at the same time.

It was weird seeing Cap in normal clothing that wasn't just trench coats and boots but instead a pretty dress that complimented her.

She and Bantuera gave each other the scariest looks I had ever seen, same with Jimin who held onto me just a little too tight when Cap went around introducing herself to everyone that wasn't them and pretending she had just recently recognized me from the hospital.

When we finally took our seats, I was on my third glass of wine.

I still couldn't believe the irony that somehow everybody at this table was connected to me whether past or present. It had my anxiety soaring heights and I think Jimin could tell because he took away my wine glass subtly and pulled my chair closer to his, trying to comfort me by swaddling me in his arms.

My mother gave him a distasteful look while Cap's gaze settled on me, raising an eyebrow curiously. I knew what she trying to do, going to set Jimin up into talking but I already knew it would end badly.

"I didn't know you two were together," She said and pointed her finger at Jimin and me.

Bantuera chuckled and tugged a random waitress onto his lap.

"Because it's none of your business," Jimin answered, keeping his eyes on Dol who was about to give a speech to the rowdy crowd.

"I don't mean to upset the both of you but the last I saw of you," She nodded to me, "You were covered in blood," My mother looked at me worryingly and I brushed her off as Cap continued, "I just assumed there was trouble in paradise."

"Don't I wish there was," Bantuera muttered and Jimin's grip on my thighs became increasingly tighter.

"Well, I would run if I were you," She said
as she began to scroll through the menu of food options, "I don't know if you've heard but he's a dangerous man with a rap sheet as far as the eye can see."

My mother took a sip of her wine, looking between us while Silas laughed. I felt bad for the waitress who was stuck in between us all, her face growing uncomfortable the longer she sat here.

"Do I need to remind you that all those charges were dropped?" Jimin squared his shoulders, running his fingers through his hair, "You see under the eyes of the law, I haven't done anything wrong and I could sue you and your department for harassment and defamation. God knows Silas has done it before."

I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

"Alright, alright," I said, looking around the table, "I get it — we don't like each other, all of us, but we're not here to spiel about drama, we're here as guests to the Congressman so why don't we all just order some dinner and shut the hell up. Sound good?"

It was silent right after that and I sighed, emotionally and physically exhausted from it all.

I practically zoned out through most of the entire night especially when Bantuera, Jimin, and Captain continuously threw shots at each other.

Soon enough, the night was ending and it was deemed for the press and for the Congressman, who had forged new alliances with especially Bantuera (a man I would be putting rather sooner than later), as a success.

When Jimin and I went to the car, we were suddenly approached by Dol, his voice hollering to stop us altogether. We spun around just as he came into view, an easy smile on his face.

"Dol. Is everything alright?" Jimin's fingers intertwined with mine, tugging me to his side.

"Yeah, of course, I just didn't get to say goodbye to both of you is all," He shook Jimin's hand and then glanced at me, raising his hand. I shook it slowly, "I was hoping you were considering endorsing my campaign. It'd be nice to have another ally on my side when I take this city head-on."

"Yeah, I'll consider it." Jimin gave him a nod.

"We'll we should meet for brunch and discuss it. My treat."

"Sure," Jimin agreed as his driver opened the car, "It was nice meeting you."

"You too," The Congressman said. Just before I stepped into the car, I heard my name from his tongue, "And Y/n, I'll take good care of your mother. Don't worry."

He gave me a grin when I paused and I swear, I felt something unsettling begin to stir in my belly.

I climbed into the car and Jimin followed right after. Even as our car began to peel out of the lot, we could still see the Congressman's sadistic smile as he waved to the car.

Jimin turned to me.

"What the fuck was that?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly. Something about the whole interaction didn't make me feel good but I tried my best to brush it off, switching to a different subject, "So, is Silas on his way to the Meldeer?"

Jimin looked at his watch.

"He should be there now."

We pulled up to the Meldeer in minutes, quickly popping out of the vehicle and filing into the house. Jimin held my hands as he walked into one of his many studies.

Bantuera and his men were already in the room, he spinning in the swivel chair. The boys were already there and when we came in, Jimin tugged me behind the desk.

"Ah, finally, I was thinking you weren't going to show up!" Bantuera exclaimed.

"I apologize."

"Don't worry about it. Now before we start," Silas suddenly stood up and pointed at me, "I don't want her here."

"That's not your choice to make," I scoffed.

"Well, it's his," He glanced at Jimin, "You said you wanted to straighten our relationship out. I'll do so but not with her in the room. She's toxic." He mouthed off and I snarled at him.

"Jimin," I said but he didn't let me finish.

"I'll be back," He said before taking my hand and pulling me out of the room.

He took me to a different room and closed the door and I immediately tried to push past him but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me backward.

"This is not how you wanted tonight to go. I know," He said.

"You're planning on going easy on him right after I leave when's he's disrespected me and you. He deserves to rot not to call the shots," I tried to side-step him but he pushed me into the desk.

"I'm not going easy on him," He gripped my chin, "Calm down. You're fretting over nothing."

"Jimin—"

"Shh," He whispered and his mouth moved against mine, silencing the shout that wanted to burst through. I already felt drunk on his touch as everything in my brain turned to mush for a moment and I felt myself pulling him closer.

He had me chasing his lips when he pulled away, his mouth coming close to mine again before moving away from me, fingers coiling in my hair as he pressed his body into mine.

I followed his movements, wanting to taste him so desperately as my arm swung around his shoulders to keep him close.

I was so caught up in his incessant torture that I didn't even register the sound of something clicking beside me.

When I did, I noticed a pair of handcuffs, one around my wrist and the other connected to the handle of his desk. My face deflated just as he pulled away from me, a sorrowful expression on his face as he thumbed my cheek.

"I'm sorry, love, but I can't have you screwing this up right now."

"Jimin," I pulled at the cuffs, "Don't."

"You'll be safe in here until I come back for you and I will. I promise," He said just as he swung around the desk and out the door.

I got so mad I threw everything off the table while trying to free myself but nothing would work.

I honestly don't know long I sat in this chair after giving up, face on the desk until I heard the sound of the door opening again.

Weirdly enough, it was Shay.

"Y/n?" She called out and I immediately stood back up.

"Shay, what are you doing here?" I asked her as she closed the door behind her softly.

"Jimin asked if I could keep you company. I've been making drinks for the men downstairs for a while now and he's given me a break to just chill so..."

"Shay," I said, tugging on the handcuffs to show her, "You gotta help me get out of here."

"Y/n," She rubbed her neck, "I don't think that's a good idea, alright? From what I've been hearing, you're already in a lot of hot shit and me helping you escape is only going to make that worse."

I rolled my eyes.

"Shay, if I miss Silas leaving, I miss the chance to put him in jail for the things he's done to me. You know he belongs there."

"You want to lock up the kingpin of Seoul?" She laughed and I watched as she poured herself a drink, "Y/n, you're out of your fucking mind. Seriously."

"Shay, please," I begged her, "I just need a safety pin, a bobby pin, anything that will help me get out of here."

She gave me a hesitant look.

"Jimin would kill me if he found out I helped you."

I shook my head in agitation.

"You can just say that I somehow managed to get out and I knocked you over the head and escaped. He'll believe you, he knows I'm that crazy," Shay made a face and I practically begged her, "Please, Shay."

Outside the window, I could hear the sound of engines.

I knew Silas and his men were getting ready to leave.

"Shay," I turned to her again.

After a minute, she finally caved.

Thankfully enough, she had a pin that was a part of her outfit and reluctantly handed it to me. I gave her a gracious smile, quickly doing light work with cuffs before shaking them off me.

When I finished, Shay looked at me.

"So," She asked, "What's next?"

I ran across the room, unplugged the lamp, and ran back over to her.

"This is going hurt," I paused and she gave me a strange look, "I'm sorry."

I didn't waste another second swinging the lamp towards her.

She was instantly out cold, a small cut opening at the top of her head which was good because it made the whole 'me escaping thing' look even more believable.

I knew I didn't have time to check up on her when I heard the sound of the door, knowing that a guard Jimin probably posted out there was going to come in and check on the ruckus, so I quickly opened a window and proceeded to climb out.

It wasn't a long jump. I just landed in some bushes.

I didn't have time to waste, I knew what I had to do so when I crouched low and crawled towards the many cars parked outside that had begun to take off, I said a prayer to myself.

It wasn't long before I was pressed against someone, my back to their chest. This guard instantly trapped me, refusing to let me go till he saw Bantuera making his way over towards the car.

"Boss look what I found," He called out as he gripped my arm.

Bantuera approached, slipping his jacket on before he stopped in front of me. I took a glance at the window, wondering if Jimin had already noticed I was gone.

I needed to speed this up.

"My my my," Bantuera said, "Oh how I've waited to get you alone."

Speed came as quick as a punch because it was lights out for me within seconds.

-

end of chap.

(just for clear up: y/n made a plan to get kidnapped in order to finally have a crime to charge silas with. she's under the assumption that silas will take her to the same compound that the missing girl is and with hard enough evidence, they will be able to lock him up for good)

hope that helps :)

i think i have a surprise coming for y'all.....