“Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”
“Good. Now, Sang-Hyun is under the impression that he will be our liaison smuggling weapons across the border into South Korea. He’s led the entire organization to believe that he is taking over the syndicate. You and I both know that isn’t true so we’re going to use that to our advantage.”
“How so?”
Danbi looks at me quizzically. “You really can’t figure that out?”
Figure it out? What is she talking about? The light in my brain turns on as I realize exactly what she means. Fuck. I rub a hand down the side of my face.
“Ah, I see you got it.”
“Yeah, I get it. I’m not gonna say I like it, but I get it.”
She nods in understanding. “I get it, I really do, but it’s our best bet. Once everything is said and done, you will feel better about the whole thing.”
“I don’t really get what your role in this whole thing is. I mean, were you sent here to be the distraction?”
Danbi bursts into a fit of laughter. “You, Alexander Grant, are too much.” Her laughter fades as her expression becomes serious. “I’m going to put some serious faith in you right now. For if what I’m doing was to ever get out . . .” Visibly shuddering, she zones out for a moment, her gaze taking on a distant quality. Shaking off her stupor, she resumes. “Well, let’s just say it would end badly . . . for me. You asked if I was a distraction. I guess in some ways I am a distraction, but being the right hand of Joon Ra, you kind of have to be.”
I practically bite my tongue as she finishes her sentence. Colonel Parker’s contact is Joon Ra’s second in command. No fucking wonder he is so tight lipped about the woman. I wonder how the Colonel talked her into playing double agent. He didn’t . . . He wouldn’t . . . Casting a glance at Danbi, I see her watching me cautiously.
Oh, yes he would, I think to myself.
“He would what?” Danbi asks.
“Shit. Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes.”
“So after all of this is over, what happens with the weapons?” I ask, deflecting from my earlier outburst.
“Exactly what I promised would. I will meet with the Colonel at our usual place and turn them over,” she replies as if it were nothing.
Yep, he definitely would. I think to myself. Inwardly, I groan. Dammit, what is it with the Parker family and getting into trouble with the mafia?
“Alexander?” Danbi calls.
“Yeah?”
“It’s time. I need you here and not in your head. Are you with me?”
“You bet your ass I am.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
Danbi turns, heading to the opposite side of the vehicle. Opening the passenger door, she climbs into the seat and begins keying an address into the GPS. I remain still for a moment, taking in the night sky—the silence around me and the beauty of the stars. Silently, I send up a little prayer in the hopes that things might go in my favor. Because Lord knows the cards in this deck are stacked heavily against me.
Climbing behind the wheel, I start the ignition and head into a world of unknown possibilities. Catching a glimpse of the location, my hands tighten on the steering wheel. The plastic creaks as I squeeze and release. Glaring at the address, I blow out an angry breath. An abandoned warehouse on the south side of Seoul. Really?
Could they choose a sketchier location? Fuck, it’s as if a giant target is being painted on my back saying: Here I am, come and get me. Shifting uncomfortably in the seat, I focus my attention on the rapidly changing city. Bustling markets filled with people fade into nothingness as deserted buildings and desolate streets take their place. A once teeming part of Seoul has become a barren wasteland, pushed to the outskirts like an unwanted dessert. The dismal modern day ruins are tagged with brightly colored symbols and images, each one a testament to a new gang popping up in the sector every day. The closer we get to the warehouse, the more eager I become. Tapping my thumb on the steering wheel, my eagerness becomes apparent. Just when I think I’ve had enough, the GPS alerts me to the location on the hill. Relief soothes some of my restlessness as I pull into the empty parking spot.
“We’re early, which is a good thing. My trusted guards will be here shortly so we need to go to the other side of the warehouse away from the street.”
“Are you sure your guards can be trusted?” I eye her cautiously.
“Of course,” she scoffs.
Shrugging, I get out of the vehicle and head toward the back. Within moments, I’m going through my gear, loading myself down with weapon after weapon.
“What are you doing?” Danbi asks.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Going to war.”
“Aren’t I?”
Her brows knit together as she concentrates for a moment. Lifting a shoulder in a one-arm shrug, she finally replies, “I guess in a way you are.”
“Well, no one goes to war without ammunition,” I say, putting my sidearm back in its holster and shutting the hatch.
“Ladies first,” I say, holding my arm out in a chivalrous gesture.
Danbi leads us up a broken path to the opposite side of the warehouse. The dim lighting from the streetlamp casts a yellow glow over the ground, giving it a sickly appeal. Large piles of dirt and debris from inside the warehouse are scattered all over the otherwise empty field. Coming to a stop in one of the few empty places, we’re there but a moment before six men stalk toward Danbi. The tallest of the men holds me in his sights, his angry glower reaching me from across the field.
All of the men file in behind us, the tallest leaning close to Danbi as he whispers, “Sang-Hyun has arrived. He is coming over the hill now.”
Nodding, she remains facing forward as we await the arrival of the man I’d love nothing more than to choke the life out of. Taking a deep, calming breath, I watch as Sang-Hyun strolls confidently through the field, several men trailing behind him. My eyes scan the faces, looking for any sign of Black. I have to fight the urge to scream in relief when he is nowhere to be seen. The giant knot in my gut loosens a tiny fraction. It’s a win.
A tiny victory for my corner, but I’ll take what I can get. Sang-Hyun’s eyes explode, becoming large and round when he see’s me standing in the open field. Quickly recovering, he fakes a smile and tips his head in our direction.
“Sang-Hyun,” I greet.
“Devereux. I was not expecting you this evening.”
“Yes, well, there has been a change of plans.”
“I see. Well, there really is no need to keep you. I can handle my business with Ms. Lee.”
I laugh, letting out a loud boisterous chuckle. “Now that was funny. I think you missed your calling as a comedian. Oh, wait. You were serious?” I pause, chuckling again at the tick in his right eye. The tight lines pull in every direction as he scowls angrily.
“Yeah . . . that’s not going to happen. I’ve already told you if you want something from Joon Ra you go through me. And from the looks of it, you’ve forgotten how things work and need a little reminder.”
Erasing some of the distance, I take a menacing step forward. Sang-Hyun’s main guard follows suit. In a swift move, I unholster my sidearm, aiming directly for his head. “One more step, buddy, and I blow your fucking head off. Do you understand?”
My comment is directed at the guard but my eyes never leave Sang-Hyun. Seething with anger, he snaps at his guard, ordering them all to stand down. Backing up, they keep their gazes trained on me. Moving to my side, Danbi touches my forearm.
“Put it away, Devereux. I’d like to talk to Sang-Hyun for a bit and I can’t do that with his brains all over the ground.”
“You always spoil the fun,” I grouse, lowering my weapon.
“So, Sang-Hyun,” she croons, tracing her delicate fingers along his arm.
“Yes?”
His eyes dip low, zoning in on her breasts as she follows the seam of his jacket. Inwardly, I roll my eyes. W
ell, this has turned out to be exactly what I said it would: a distraction.
“The basis of this deal was that you were to be taking over the Sun-ye house. It’s the only reason we agreed to this meeting in the first place. So, I am curious to know . . . why you lied.” Her tone changes from light and seductive to hard and cold in a matter of seconds.
Sang-Hyun stills, his face frozen in shock. Slowly, his surprise recedes, a lazy smile taking its place. Covering her hand with his own, he pats sympathetically.
“Oh, my dear Ms. Lee. You’ve been given such horrible information. I would never lie to either of you. You know that.”
Danbi’s expression hardens. Digging her nails into his arm, she yanks him forward, bringing him down to her level. “You’d dare lie to me now? To disrespect me to my face? I should shoot you in the head for that alone.”
“Come now, I do not lie. What would make you say such a thing?”
He leers at her a moment too long, causing the tall guard behind me to growl. Grinning wickedly, I wait with bated breath to see what she’s going to say to him next.
“You would seriously maintain your lies rather than tell the truth even knowing the consequences?” She glowers at him for several long moments before nodding.
“Very well. Devereux, it’s time we inform Sang-Hyun how we have our information.” Releasing his arm, she pulls away with a sneer.
The wicked grin on my face swells as I lock eyes with Sang-Hyun. Taking an easy breath, Sang-Hyun relaxes, his eyes drilling into mine with ease and confidence—a confidence that I’m surely about to break. The smug thought rolls through my mind, adding to my own determination.
“Mmmm mmmm mmmm,” I tsk, shaking my head.
“You seem to have gotten yourself into a bit of a jam here, buddy. I’d like to help ya out but you’ve really got me backed into a corner with this one.”
“What are you talking about?” Sang-Hyun snaps.
“Ah, come on, you don’t have to play that game anymore. It’s just us. Besides, I already know you didn’t get what you wanted.” My eyes blaze with anticipation as Sang-Hyun fidgets uncomfortably.
“Devereux, this game of yours is getting old. We have business to attend to, so let’s get this deal finished so that we can all go home.”
“Why exactly should I give my weapons to you? Hmmm. Tell me that?”
“Give? I have to pay you to smuggle them across the border and house them for you. I’d hardly call that giving.”
I shrug nonchalantly. “It’s the price of doing business with us. But you didn’t answer my question.”
“Because I am the only one here who will do what you want. Besides, with my new role, I will be the most powerful man in South Korea.”
“Now that is just sad,” I say, looking at him with mock sympathy.
Growling, anger fills his voice as he spits out each word. “What do you mean?”
“It really is if you think about it. I mean, here you are telling everyone that you took over the Sun-ye syndicate. More specifically, all of Min Sun-ye’s business operations, and, well, while you seem to believe that . . . which is sad, by the way because it’s just simply not true.”
A brief look of irritation crosses Sang-Hyun’s face before he quickly masks it. His tone is calm and quiet as he chooses each word with care. “You do not know anything about it. I assure you I am in prime position to take over. Your weapons will be secure with me.”
Danbi’s booming laughter fills the air. Breaking our eye contact, Sang-Hyun gazes at her angrily.
“Is that so?” she questions.
“It is,” he replies stiffly.
“Bullshit.”
The harshness in my tone has everyone snapping their heads in my direction. Sang-Hyun narrows his eyes, his pupils swallowing up the irises entirely as he pierces me with a maddened glare.
“Excuse me?” he fumes, barely managing to get the words out through his clenched teeth.
“Bull. Shit,” I repeat, splitting the word in two.
“How dare you?”
He straightens, taking a step toward me, jolting me into action. Two strides and one heartbeat later, my thick fingers close around his neck as I lift him from the ground. The distant sound of weapons being drawn registers in the back of my brain as tension quickly fills the air.
“How dare you?” I snarl, tightening my grip. Sang-Hyun struggles as his airway constricts. The beast inside me thirsts for his blood, taunting me as I dangle him several feet in the air.
“How dare you pretend to take over what is not yours. Did you think I would let you get away with it? Pretending to lead the largest section of the Sun-ye syndicate knowing full well that Kylee Parker has taken it over.”
Straining against my hand, his throat works as if he’s trying to speak. Loosening my grip just enough for him to drag in a breath, I watch as he greedily sucks in air through his nose and mouth.
“H-How could you know that?” he chokes out. Tossing my head back, I barely recognize myself as a dark, dangerous laugh bellows from my lungs. Using all my strength, I throw Sang-Hyun to the ground. Landing with a loud thud, he wheezes, desperately trying to catch his breath.
“I know because she is to be my wife, which makes me the most powerful man in South Korea,” I growl over his crumpled body.
Sang-Hyun’s shocked eyes land on mine and I smile as his face drains of all color. Backing up a pace, I straighten my suit, laughing again as Sang-Hyun struggles to stand while angrily waving off his guards. As he finds his footing, his rage-filled gaze falls to me once more.
“You have no right. It was mine,” he rages manically.
Snorting, I laugh at his audacity. “Yes, well, what can I say? I see something I want and I have to have it. Unfortunately for you, that means your services will no longer be needed.”
“This isn’t over,” Sang-Hyun threatens angrily.
“But it is.” The smile splitting my lips angers him further as he lets out a frustrated yell and turns to stomp away.
“Sang-Hyun,” I call, stopping him from his dramatic exit. Tension crackles in the air as he huffs out a breath, spinning to meet my gaze head on.
“What?” he barks.
Retrieving my sidearm from the holster, I aim directly for his head. His guards scramble in a flurry, desperate to try and whisk him away. Danbi’s extra security moves out of the shadows, flanking us from every side—all weapons pointed at Sang-Hyun and his team. Sang-Hyun’s nostrils flare, his body tense as he waits to see what I’ll do.
“Leave the money,” I demand with a cocky smile.
“What? No, you can’t be serious,” he says with indignation.
“Leave the money or I kill you and them and take it anyway. Your choice, pal.” He meets my eyes, holding it for several breaths as he measures the seriousness of my tone. Raising an eyebrow in challenge, I point my sidearm toward the bag his guard has been holding the entire time. Glaring at me with pure hatred in his eyes, Sang-Hyun nods at the guard who tosses the bag at my feet.
Smiling broadly, I give him a little wink. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
Danbi’s guard’s part and Sang-Hyun leaves, peeling out of the parking lot with an angry squeal. Danbi turns to me with a questioning gaze. “Um, why did you take the money?”
“You really going to tell me you were planning on going back to North Korea without it? Because that would have been stupid on your part.”
“Shit,” she mutters. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“I figured. Don’t worry, I got you covered.”
“You know that little bit at the end is what is going to drive him over the edge. He will come after you.”
“Not if I get him first,” I reply through clenched teeth. Danbi nods her head, clearly following my train of thought.
“Hey, are you good here? I’ve got somewhere I really need to be.” An urgent need rises, making me restless to get back to Kylee as soon as possible.
“Yes
, go. I’ve got everything squared away. I don’t even meet with the Colonel for a few days.”
Nodding, I call over my shoulder. “It was nice meeting you. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope to not have to do this again.”
Her laughter follows me as I take off, running toward the Escalade. Thoughts begin entering my mind one after another like an animal on the run. A horrible sinking feeling accompanies each one as I realize tonight we did change the game. And things will never be the same.
MORNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY favorite time of day. The orange glow shining through the window casts out any remaining shadows from the previous night. As my time in South Korea extends, I find that I’m no longer the woman who enjoys such beauty. My preference seems to have evolved to one of darkness. Where I once would have enjoyed the rosy glow the sunrise has to offer, I now retreat into my solace. Enjoying the company of my old friends, darkness and silence.
A darkness that is interrupted as the bedroom door creaks open casting light into the otherwise darkened room. Alex’s massive form looms in the doorway. I can feel the heat from his eyes raking over my body in the darkness. Even strewn in shadow, his masculine form takes my breath away. Alex moves out of the doorway and flips the light switch, flooding the room with brightness. Time suspends as my eyes slowly adjust to the fluorescent light, clearing a little more with each blink.
Squatting down in front of me, Alex takes my hands in his own. Absently, he begins stroking his thumb up and down my index finger. The soothing pattern brings back a small piece of my solace that fled with the darkness. Tilting his head to the side, he observes me thoughtfully.
“Kylee, why were you sitting in the dark?”
The innocent question is asked in such a way that I pause. It makes me wonder if he can accept my reality. Alex’s heavily guarded eyes watch me, surveying my every breath as if I were a fragile doll ready to shatter at a moment’s notice. The base of my neck tenses, uncertainty invading my thoughts. Can I tell him my truth? I mean really tell him?
With the way he stares at me, it’s almost as if he’s afraid I’ll break into millions of tiny pieces before his very eyes. But what he doesn’t know is I already have. There is nothing left. No one left inside. Small glimpses of myself come back to me when I’m lost in his embrace. But just as quickly, she vanishes only to be replaced with an empty shell, one without regard for life at all.
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