Chapter 26

The cold bite of metal against my wrists sent shivers down my spine. My arms were bound behind the chair, the ropes digging into my skin every time I struggled. The air smelled of rust and gasoline, the flickering warehouse lights casting eerie shadows across the concrete floor.

Han-Wool and I sat in the center of the room, surrounded by Ryeowook's men—at least a dozen of them, all watching us like hungry vultures. Their eyes held no sympathy, only amusement.

And then—he appeared.

Ryeowook stepped out from the darkness, his presence commanding. A slow, sinister smile crept across his face as he approached us, his black boots echoing against the floor.

"Long time no see," he mused, his voice dripping with mockery.

Neither of us responded.

His smile widened. "Nothing to say? That's disappointing."

He crouched down in front of me, tilting his head. "I thought you'd be happy to see me again, Hera."

I kept my expression neutral, but my heart was pounding. "You've already made your point, Ryeowook."

His eyes darkened at my tone. He let out a soft chuckle before shifting his attention to Han-Wool. "And you," he sneered. "Still as arrogant as ever, huh? Thinking your money and power can get you out of anything."

Han-Wool met his gaze with a smirk. "And yet, here you are, doing all this just to get my attention. Missed me that much?"

Ryeowook's smile vanished.

CRACK!

His fist collided with Han-Wool's jaw so hard the chair nearly tipped over. Blood splattered against the floor, but Han-Wool only laughed, licking the blood from his lips.

"That all you got?"

Ryeowook's jaw clenched.

Another punch. Then another.

Han-Wool's head snapped to the side, his lip split open, blood trickling down his chin. His breath came out in ragged gasps, but he still smiled up at Ryeowook with defiance.

I struggled against my restraints. "Stop it!" I yelled.

Ryeowook slowly turned to me, raising a brow. "Why? You still have feelings for this guy?"

I shook my head. "No."

Ryeowook smirked. "Then why do you care?"

"Because it isn't our fault," I pleaded. "None of this was supposed to happen, Ryeowook. You know that."

His expression darkened, his hands curling into fists. "You think I care about what was supposed to happen?" His voice was low, venomous. "I trusted you two. I left thinking you'd protect Dong-Wook."

His voice cracked for just a moment.

Then, rage took over.

Another punch.

Han-Wool coughed, blood dripping onto the floor. He slumped in his chair, barely holding himself up.

Then Ryeowook turned to me.

The look in his eyes made my stomach drop.

Slowly, he took a step forward, then another. He was towering over me now, his smirk returning.

"You," he murmured, eyeing me up and down. "You should be punished too."

Panic shot through me.

I struggled as Ryeowook reached out, fingers grazing the collar of my blazer. He toyed with the fabric before slowly undoing the first button.

Han-Wool's head shot up. "Don't touch her!"

Ryeowook ignored him.

Tears welled up in my eyes as he undid another button, his smirk growing.

"You're scared," he mused, his fingers trailing along my shoulder. "Good. You should be."

I clenched my jaw. "What would Dong-Wook think of this?" I spat.

The air shifted.

His entire body stiffened.

Then—SLAP!

The force of his palm sent my head whipping to the side, my cheek burning with pain.

"You don't get to say his name," he snarled.

I tasted blood on my tongue. My vision blurred with tears, but I refused to look away.

Ryeowook exhaled sharply, then turned to his men. "Have fun with them," he muttered. "Make sure they remember what happens when you betray me."

A chorus of low chuckles echoed around us.

I swallowed hard.

The men started stepping forward.

Then—

BZZT.

A sharp, ear-piercing screech echoed through the warehouse, cutting through the tension like a blade.

Then, a voice—distorted through a microphone—boomed through the space.

"You lowlife, scum-eating sewer rats. You REALLY thought you were gonna get away with this?"

I blinked.

The gang members froze.

Then—

"OH HELL NO. Do y'all even have brains? No, for real, do you? 'Cause it's giving caveman energy in here."

My eyes widened.

That was... Hee-Won.

The gang members exchanged confused glances.

"HEY, you ugly goons in the back, I see y'all whispering—SHUT UP. If I hear one more word from any of you cockroaches, I swear I'll personally come down there and rip your ears off."

I almost laughed. Almost.

"Who the hell—" Ryeowook's second-in-command started, but Hee-Won cut him off immediately.

"Shut up, Sidekick #3. No one asked."

A few of Ryeowook's men actually snorted.

I bit down a hysterical laugh.

"Who is this bitch?" one of them muttered.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Hee-Won screeched. "WHO JUST SAID THAT? WHO JUST CALLED ME A BITCH? I WILL FIND YOU, AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU REGRET EVERY DECISION YOU'VE EVER MADE. SAY IT AGAIN, I DARE YOU. I DOUBLE-DARE YOU, YOU SCRAWNY PIECE OF—"

The warehouse exploded open as a black G-Wagon crashed through the side, metal shrieking as the vehicle skidded to a stop.

The doors burst open.

Lee-Joon stepped out first, his signature smirk in place. Behind him, Ji-Woo, Geon-Yeob, and Suncheol emerged, each carrying weapons—pipes, bats, anything they could find.

For the first time since Ryeowook arrived, the tables turned.

"Oh, you guys are so screwed," Lee-Joon whistled, cracking his knuckles.

Ryeowook's men hesitated.

Ji-Woo pointed his bat at them. "You really shouldn't have messed with our girl."

Geon-Yeob smirked. "Now we gotta mess you up."

Suncheol rolled his shoulders. "Shame. I was having a peaceful night."

Hee-Won was standing on the G-Wagon, holding a megaphone. "ALRIGHT, BOYS," she yelled dramatically. "LET'S BEAT SOME ASS."

And with that—chaos erupted.

Lee-Joon was the first to lunge, swinging a fist at the nearest gang member. Ji-Woo slammed her bat into someone's ribs, sending them crashing to the ground. Geon-Yeob dodged a punch before retaliating with a sharp kick to the gut.

Suncheol moved like lightning, taking down two guys at once.

I struggled against my ropes until suddenly—snap! The restraints loosened. I turned to see Geon-Yeob untying Han-Wool as well.

"You okay?" he asked.

I nodded, breathless. "Now I am."

Han-Wool groaned as he stood, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Took you guys long enough."

Hee-Won grabbed a metal pipe and yelled, "LET'S GOOO! FIGHT NIGHT, BABY!" before swinging it at the nearest gang member.

Ryeowook turned to me.

His eyes burned with something unreadable.

This wasn't over. Not even close.