Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

On the eve of his 13th birthday, Jinyoung realized that life was filled with events that would make the world seem grim.

His only friendship shattered the day his best friend shared Jinyoung's sexual orientation in order to shield his own. It was a coward's way out, and Jinyoung had made sure to let the bastard know the first time the taunts turned physical.

His ex best friend had looked away in shame, but Jinyoung didn't have time for gratification. He was too busy fending off a group of boys' intent on beating the gay out of him.

They thought being gay was a disease, and that he was contagious.

"Don't touch him! You'll turn gay."

"My mom said boys liking boys is an abomination."

"I always knew you were a freak."

A week after his 13th birthday, Jinyoung realized that the words of children traveled just as quickly as the words of an adult.

His parents denounced him, and his siblings shunned him. His mother walked past him as though he was never there, and his father sneered when he walked into the room. He was allowed his room, but all personal properties had been packed away in boxes and given to charity.

They wanted to erase him from their family.

“He has to be sick.”

“Does shock therapy work?”

“He’s not my child.”

On his 15th birthday, Jinyoung realized that no one would care for him as much as he cared for himself.

His parents had come into the room he had been contained in, the first look of emotion he had seen in years reflecting his mother's face as she offered him an ultimatum. He could either remain in isolation, or go to a program which offered shock therapy to cure the disease of homosexuality.

Jinyoung had sat in stunned silence as his mother explained what shock therapy was, and the rates of its success. They wanted their son back, and his sister had suggested a solution.

He agreed to go to shock therapy, but he would get off of the bus before he arrived.

"Shock therapy works 85% of the time."

"Jinyoun, you have a disease."

"We'll finally have our son back."

Today, on his 16th birthday, he was reminded of how cruel the world could truly be. He had no home to sleep, no family to rely on, and no money for food.

He had been living on the streets for a year, and although he was able to work odd jobs that kept him from starving, no steady job wanted to hire a kid who should be spending his mornings in class.

Shivering as the icy rain fell on his bare skin, he held himself tighter. Most of his items he had carried with him when arriving in the city had been stolen. He was an easy target and this was the worst part of town. Crime was rampant, and police sirens lulled the homeless community to sleep.

As he sat against the brick wall of an abandoned building in the darkest alleyway he was able to find, the grim life lessons he had learned at the age of 13 reminded him of how much harder life was when nothing seemed to work in your favor.

He often wondered if his luck would ever change.

The sound of a metal door opening interrupted his thoughts. He tensed as he heard the movement of two but kept his head down as he remained balled up. His back scraped against the brick as he shifted.

"Looks like it's clear." A gruff voice sounded. The rasp of his words indicated he was an older man who probably smoked.

"You need glasses, old man." Another raspy voice sounded, but it was more vibrant then the first. He sounded to be the younger of the two. "Look."

The silence only lasted a moment.

“What the fuck are you doing here, kid?” The first voice spoke as though an answer was mandatory. The man clearly felt that he had the authority to move anyone he wanted. “Scram.”

Lifting his head from between his arms, he squinted his eyes as he tried to take in the man standing in front of him. It was dark, and the rain skewed his vision, but he was standing the way Jinyoung expected him to be standing. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and he looked down at Jinyoung as though he was a worm destined to be trampled into the dirt.

Jinyoung didn’t blame the man for thinking so, but he wouldn’t comply. He hadn’t eaten all day, he was tired, and he was cold. The little energy that he should have left, left him hours ago.

“I’m not moving.”

The man bristled as a hearty laugh sounded behind him. Jinyoung's gaze shifted to the sound, his head tilting as he tried fruitlessly to see the laughing man. His stature was much smaller than the bristling man. Their age gap must be wide.

The lighthearted laughter wasn't what Jinyoung expected from someone who kept the company of a man who tried to intimidate a teen out of an alleyway.

Jinyoung wiped the water from his face as the other came closer. His assumptions had been correct. The one behind was much younger than the man in front of him. He looked to be around the same age as him. He had to be a teenager.

"Damn Beomseok. Looks like you've lost your touch." The teen taunted as he pat the broad man's back. "Just leave him be. He's just a kid."

Beomseok shrugged the teen's hand away and lifted an arm to push him away. Jinyoung watched the interaction with little interest. His curiosity peaked as he blinked, and a black object was shoved into his face.

"Boss isn't going to like this."

It took Jinyoung a total of 5 seconds to compute that he was looking at the barrel of a gun. He stared at the weapon before lifting his gaze to the one holding it in his grip.

He should be scared. Every fiber of his being told him that he should be trembling in fear at the thought of losing his life.

"Get the fuck up, and leave."

Jinyoung blinked again, slowly reaching up a hand to wipe the heavy rain that had turned into a drizzle from his eyes.

"I'd rather stay."

His emotions must be broken. He felt nothing as the man threatened him. Maybe it was because he had nothing to live for. It wasn't like he had any friends, or family that would miss him if he died. If no one cared for him, why should he care for himself?

The gun clicked as he removed the safety. Jinyoung's ears perked at the sound. Was he about to be shot? He wondered how much it would hurt.

"If you don't leave right now then I'm going to put a bullet through your skull." The man pressed the tip of the gun to his forehead.

It sounded like it would hurt, but if one bullet killed him, then how much could he really feel? The brain processes pain too slowly. It would only hurt if he survived.

"I'll give you 5 seconds to start moving."

5 seconds to come to terms with death was more than enough time. Jinyoung wanted to ask for 3.

"5."

Jinyoung wondered what the headlines would read. '16-year-old teen found murdered in a sketchy alleyway. Suspected victim of gang violence.'

"4."

Would his family hear the news? Jinyoung stopped that line of thought as soon as it began. His parents no longer loved him, so he shouldn't care about them.

"3."

Jinyoung looked at the teen standing behind. Something dark was lingering in his gaze as he watched everything in silence. The carefree aura that surrounded him earlier was nowhere in sight. He looked dangerous.

"Beomseok, cut it out."

Jinyoung returned his gaze to the gruff man. Had the teen thought he was asking for help?

"2."

Leaning his head against the brick wall, Jinyoung wondered why his life was filled with so much turmoil if he was never going to be able to taste the sweetness of life. Everything he had ever gone through bore no fruit to harvest.

"1."

Life could have at least given him 1 glass of lemonade.

The sound of the metal door opening froze Beomseoks finger on the trigger. His body tensed completely at the sound, and he pulled the gun off of Jinyoung's forehead, allowing him to turn his head to see who had caused such a reaction.

He couldn't see the person from this angle, but it was clear he was a man who had power. The shift in the air was proof enough that this was the ‘boss’ the teen had mentioned earlier.

“Boss.” Beomseok and the teen greeted the newcomer with the utmost respect.

A man stepped out of the doorway and into Jinyoung's view. Only his side profile was visible, but the boss was intimidating by presence alone. He stood relaxed in a sleek black suit, an umbrella shielding him from the drizzle as another man stepped out behind him. An unlit cigarette hung between his lips, and he tilted his head slightly as the teen held out a lighter to light the stick.

Jinyoung held back a flinch as a tense pair of eyes landed on him. This man intimidated him way more than the thoughts of death ever could. This man was daunting.

“Why does Beomseok have his gun out, Jackson?” The man questioned, keeping his attention on Jinyoung despite asking Jackson the question.

“Kye-sang ordered us to make sure the alleyway was clear. This kid was already sitting here so Beomseok tried to get him to leave but he refused. Beomseok didn’t like being told no so he was going to shoot him. I advised against it, but he ignored me.” Jackson answered. He stood with his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet as he spared Beomseok a glance as if daring him to deny the truth. "If you came out 1 second later we would've been cleaning a dead body."

“I was following the order to clear the alleyway.” Beomseok defended, his lips curling. "He may be a kid, but he could still be a threat."

The intimidating man took slow steps, his frame becoming larger the closer he came. Jinyoung watched in fascination as the man holding the umbrella followed each step, ensuring the man never felt a drop of rain.

Beomseok took a step away, lowering the gun slightly as the boss stopped in front of Jinyoung.

He looked up at the man through squinted eyes and tried to push himself into the wall as the intimidating man lowered himself to eye level.

His gaze was dark, and something heavy lingered there. It was a stark contrast to what was physically visible, and that was what scared Jinyoung the most. This man had mastered the art of shielding his emotions, but his eyes were expressive if you looked close enough. His gaze promised bloodshed if things didn't go the way he intended.

"What is your name?" The man asked as he took the cigarette out of his mouth to hold.

"Jinyoung."

"Full name?"

The question made him uncomfortable. He was trapped in front of a man with enough power to make him disappear with no effort, and he was being asked his name. He didn't mind offering his first name as he knew he wasn't the only Jinyoung in Korea, but having to offer his last name opened the door of possibilities that he may not want opened. "Jinyoung Park."

A flash of interest shone in the man's gaze. He liked Jinyoung's name.

"A fine name to have." The man raised his hand to take a drag of his cigarette. "Do you know who I am?"

"No." Jinyoung tilted his head, his nose scrunched in confusion. Was he supposed to know who this man was? He had only been in this part of the city for a year, but it wasn't like he had made any friends to tell him about the dangers that lurked in dark alleyways. "Am I supposed to?"

"He could be lying, Boss." Beomseok interrupted the conversation, his voice a higher tone than it had been. He sounded nervous. "That might not even be his name."

The man raised a brow at Jinyoung, as if offering himself the chance to defend himself.

"I've been homeless for a year, and all my stuff was stolen a while ago, but the old lady that runs the flower shop a few blocks down can ID me. I helped her out a few months ago, and she sometimes gives me food for work."

Beomseok opened his mouth to argue but the Boss lifted his hand to stop him. He tossed the cigarette onto the ground and the man holding the umbrella stomped it out.

"Homeless for a year." The man mused. He was interested, and the warning bells were on high alert somewhere deep in the back of his mind. "How old are you?"

"16. I turned 16 today."

"Then you are the same age as Jackson."

"Don't let his age fool you, Boss. Jackson is-"

"I believe I was talking to Mr. Park. If I wanted your input, Beomseok, I would have been talking to you."

The man bristled, but his mouth snapped shut. He stood tense, glaring down at Jinyoung from over the intimidating man's shoulder.

"The boy over there, his name is Jackson." The man nodded his head over at the other teen who grinned in greeting. "He will be your friend starting today."

Jinyoungs eyes widened. What did he mean by that?

"Boss, you can't be-"

"Kye-sang"

A gunshot echoed through the alleyway, and the thump of a body hitting the ground was muted in comparison.

Jinyoung shifted to look at the dead body, wondering if the bullet entering his brain had hurt before he died. Being shot in the brain was such an interesting concept. He blinked as he returned his attention to the man who eyed him with interest. If he was wondering why Jinyoung had no reaction to the dead body, he could answer him honestly. Being on the streets had caused him to witness more gruesome sights.

Not much fazed him anymore.

"I told him you wouldn't like it." Jackson muttered under his breath, moving closer to the body to ensure he was actually dead. "Now I have a mess to clean up."

"Do it in silence, Jackson." Kye-sang ordered, closing the umbrella and holding it by his side. The rain had stopped.

Jackson huffed.

"There are two things I hate most in this world. Being disrespected and being lied to. I don't believe you've been lying to me, Mr. Park, which means Beomseok was not only being disrespectful, but willing to shoot an innocent bystander." The man tilted his head. "That is why he is lying dead on the ground."

Jinyoung looked at the body again. He had been so close to being the one-shot dead on the ground. If this man had come out only a second later, he would have escaped this horrible life.

"You will have time to adapt as time passes. Jackson will teach you how to survive in this world."

Jinyoung snapped his attention back to the man. What was he talking about? Was he talking about taking him in?

"It may be a bit dangerous, but there is something about you that makes me think you will fit in just fine."

What the hell was happening? Why was this man talking as if Jinyoung was going to go with him? He didn't know if he wanted to suffer more than he already had.

"Of course, we have to find a room for you to stay in. I can't let the word get around that I am not taking care of one of my kids."

"You don't even know me." Jinyoung whispered. This turn of events was the last thing he had ever expected to happen in his life. A room? His kid? What did that entail?

"I know enough, and what I don't know I will learn."

"I don't even know your name."

The man hummed, holding a finger to his chin. "It seems I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jinyoung Park, but you may call me JYP."

Jinyoung's heart pounded heavily in his chest. This was crazy. There was no way this man was saying that he was going to take Jinyoung in. He was a homeless kid that no longer had any potential in life. He was ready to die mere minutes ago. He had no reason to even live anymore.

"Life shouldn't be filled with hardships at such a young age." Jyp broke through his worries smoothly. He reached a hand out, his gloved hand cupping Jinyoung cheek as he offered some comfort. "Let me show you the perks of life."

His words sounded sincere. Jinyoung gulped, his eyes lowering as he allowed the hand to warm his icy cheek. He had never had any perks in his life, not even before his sexuality spread rampant in the small town he used to live. He was a nerd that was often treated like a pariah, and his only friend was ashamed to be seen with him up until his ultimate betrayal.

There was no such thing as a good life.

Looking at the man in front of him as the hand fell from his face, he really took the man in. He should be scared shitless of this man, danger swarmed around him like a second skin, but Jinyoung couldn't find it in himself to be deterred. This man was offering him a new chance of life, a new home, and hopefully a warm bed.

This man was offering to save his life.

It was completely crazy, and Jinyoung could blame it on the lack of sleep if he began to regret his decision, but this was his glass of lemonade.

He hoped it was sweet.

Chapter Text

It was a sad day, but it wasn’t the time to mourn. It was dawn, and the sun was beginning to set.

“It was TS. We caught one of there men fucking around on our territory.” Jinyoung watched silently from his seat at the table as Kye-sang informed JYP’s widow of newly obtained information. “We have reason to believe that they were the ones who put out the hit.”

The woman sat with her back straight, her hands crossed elegantly in her lap, and no sign of grief. If she wore something other than a black a-line dress, matched with a golden broach, and a hat with a lace veil, you would have never known her husband was murdered 5 days ago. They could hear the sound of her 4 year old playing with her nanny in the next room over. The child didn’t completely understand the concept of death.

“We need to attack while they think we are mourning our loss.” Jaebeom spoke, looking just as emotionless as the next leader should. He would always make the best decisions despite his emotional turmoil. It was why JYP nurtured him the most. “Jackson and I can scoop one of their members up to interrogate. We need to make sure it was them.”

Ever the diplomat with his answers. Jinyoung looked to his friend, grateful that the other had finally listened to reason. He knew t hat the majority of the family wanted to eradicate TS once the first speculation occurred, but Jinyoung knew how JYP functioned. They did not need to cause unnecessary death, so they needed to be sure they were going after the right people.

They had fought for 3 hours about how to proceed.

“You cannot join this mission Jaebeom. Jackson and Taecyeon will go.” The silence that followed the Madams words were nearly suffocating. Jaebeom had been given the task of bringing JYPs killers to justice. The woman turned to look at Jaebeom with tired eyes, the first crack of emotion breaking through. The death of her husband had taken a toll on her. “We cannot risk losing our new leader.”

Jinyoung blinked to mask his surprise. He shared a look with Jaebeom before turning back to look at the widow. The boss had only been buried for 2 days. Was a shift in authority what the family needed right now? The Madam was the underboss before the death of her husband. She was to lead as the new boss.

“Madam, are you relinquishing your position as boss?" Kye-sang questioned, though his tone signaled that he already knew the answer.

“My child is going to grow up without a father. She cannot lose her mother as well.” The Madam smiled, content with her decision. She looked around the room, meeting the gaze of every person who once stood with her husband before resting her gaze on one. “Kye, you have been the right hand to my husband his whole life. You have guided him, and helped him make the wisest decisions as consigliere. It is time for the next generation to take over.”

“Madam, please rethink your position. JB is much too young to run this organization. He is only 21 years old. He is but a child.” A caporegime cried out. Echos of agreement followed. They had their own thoughts on who should be the new leader. They didn’t want Jaebeom.

“He is young, but not a child. He has proven himself time and time again and he has never gone unnoticed. My Jin has trained Jaebeom on how to follow in his footsteps, just as he has trained Jackson to help as the next underboss.” The woman straightened her posture before looking at Jaebeom who returned her gaze. "You will need to choose a consigliere."

"I choose Jinyoung."

“Madam, please. He doesn't have the blood of a mafioso.”

"Jaebeom has more mafioso in his blood then most of you sitting at this table. He has been raised as our child since he was 6 years old. He may not be my son by blood, but he is my son, the son of the leader of the strongest mafia in South Korea. He is next in line to lead this family after I step down."

"But Jinyoung isn't-"

"Jinyoung has been my voice of reason since joining this family, and Jackson has always been by my side. They are the two that I trust the most in this room to do what is right by this family." Jaebeom spoke firmly, defending their new positions.

Jinyoung looked at Jackson, taking in his tense shoulders despite his lax posture. They had many talks between the three of them as the years passed. While Jaebeom relied heavily on Jinyoung when making decisions, Jackson was the best choice to serve as underboss as he was the best choice to take over if something were to happen to Jaebeom. It was how JYP always intended it to be. Their dynamic had been set in stone since the day they met.
“The madam has spoken, and her word is law.” Kye-sang cut in. He looked around the room as though waiting for the first outburst of disagreement. “Jaebeom is the new boss of this family, Jackson will serve as underboss, and Jinyoung is his consigliere. I will remain by Jaebeoms side to ensure the transition remains smooth.”

“If anyone takes issue with what has been decided, I'm sure there are plenty of plots you can occupy.” Jaebeoms words were stern, the authority that had been placed upon him shining through. He looked to Jinyoung who nodded his head in agreement. They would need to exert their authority if they wanted to gain respect. JYP never blinked when ordering a death. The new heads of the family would be the same. “Now, about TS."
+++++++++

Jinyoung took a sip of his wine, thinking back to his 20th birthday. It was the day the widow of JYP had left the family in deseray after making her unprecedented announcement that JB would become the new Boss of the family.
They had sat at the table for 4 hours discussing how to handle TS. Taecyeon would go with Jackson to interrogate, while Jinyoung, Jaebeom, and Kye-sang discussed how to take down the newly growing TS that was too confident in their own skin.

8 days after their Bosses death, TS was deconstructed as a gang, and the Madam had moved to Canada with her daughter.

Despite their victories, they had to deal with backlash from the caporegime. Thankfully, it hadn't been hard to push the ones who disapproved into early retirement. Most of those that had stood with JYP were now living comfortably in leisure. Jaebeom, with the help of Jinyoung, had grown his own connections to replace JYP’s.

Kye-sang had been proud, and stepped to the side to make room for Jinyoung to be consigliere, following the madam to Canada.

He had stated that his duty had always been to protect JYPs bloodline in case the man himself wasn't there to protect them.

Putting his glass down, Jinyoung looked at the half eaten cake that had been left on his desk. Today was the 6 year anniversary of JYP’s death, and the 10 year anniversary of the day he joined the family. Jackson had barged into the office with the cake in his hand, Youngjae, Yugyeom, and Bambam following behind him. They put the cake on his next business proposal, lit the candle despite Jinyoungs protests, and proceeded to sing happy birthday at the top of their lungs.

He had called Jaebeom after the group's 5 minute visit and had been met with laughter. Jaebeom had sent them to cause chaos for a few minutes to celebrate Jinyoungs birthday since he was currently out of town and unable to do it. Jinyoung had been ready to curse him out, but the man had pulled rank.

Jinyoung chuckled as he thought about the others. Since 16 years of birthdays were filled with pain, and anguish, the guys had always made extra effort into making sure Jinyoung enjoyed his birthday. They always seemed to take his mind off of the negative line of thought he tended to take on as memories of his family always flooded his mind.

A knock on the door drew Jinyoungs attention and he leaned up in his chair as the door opened without waiting for permission.

Youngjae poked his head in cautiously, smiling brightly before frowning as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Why are you working late on your birthday?" The other grumbled, plopping down on the chair in front of Jinyoungs desk despite constantly being told not to plop. The chair's legs grew weak with every plop they encountered. "JB isn't here to keep you busy so you should take the rest of the night off."

"I thought you left with the others." Jinyoung leaned back in his chair. He loosened his tie from around his neck and let it fall onto the desk. "I'm working on my club."

When JB went on business trips, Youngjae normally stayed with him. He didn't like to be alone, and Jinyoung was the only one who had no problem allowing his pet dog into his home. The only time he stayed with Bambam had ended in a fight after the dog messed up Bambams new leather sofa.

"That's what you were working on when we came in earlier?" Youngjae tilted his head in genuine interest.

"Yeah, I've been working on this project all day." Jinyoung stifled a yawn and unbuttoned the sleeves of his white dress shirt. He had been busy with meetings all day, only to be busy with documents all night. If his business wasn't something he did to keep his mind off of everything, he would have hired someone else to run it for him. "Are you going home tonight? JB should be here in another 4 hrs."

"He'll be back at midnight. I just wanted to check in before leaving.” Youngjae nodded, his cheeks tinting red at the thought of JB. The two had been dating for a few years now, and they had been roommates for 1. “I don't want him going home to an empty house."

"Spare me the fluff.” Jinyoung teased. He facked a grimance and rubbed his hand over his face dramatically. “If I wanted something fluffy, I would have watched Romeo&Juliet.”

“That's a satire.”

“It’s the best romance in history.” Jinyoung grinned at Youngjae as the younger man huffed. Shakespear had a very maniacal view on most things, but he seemed to enjoy mocking young love the most. Youngjae didn’t like how Jinyoung always brought up the ill fated pair when JB was mentioned, but Jinyoung couldn’t help it. He enjoyed Youngjae's reaction to the play. “Shakespear would roll in his grave if he heard you speak of his masterpiece.”

“As long as he stays dead, I don’t care where he rolls.” Youngjae huffed, crossing his arms over his chest before his eyes sparkled. He dropped his arms and leaned in closer to Jinyoung. His elbow pressed into the leather chair he occupied. “I’ll remember all of these comments when you finally fall in love.”

“The day I fall in love is the day I announce that Nothing Hill is a much better love story than Romeo & Juliet.” Jinyoung rolled his eyes. After 26 years of being happily single, he didn’t see his love life gaining any sort of structure any time soon. Men in the Mafia tended to be good for nothing other than scratching an itch. They were all too dull to have a conversation with, and most of them had never even picked up a book. How could he fall in love with someone he couldn’t even hold a conversation with?

The sound of Jinyoungs cell ringing stopped Younjgaes rebuttal. Smiling in apology, Jinyoung took note of the name flashing across the screen before answering.

“Jihyo.” Jinyoung smiled as he greeted the woman. He could never keep a smile off of his face when speaking to the girl. She had been one of the first friends he made when joining the family. She was the daughter of a consigliere but she quickly made her own name known when given the first opportunity. Her team could find anyone in the world if given the resources. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Happy birthday!” Jihyo cheered, chuckling as she sang a long version of the song in order to congratulate him on reaching another birthday. “I have a surprise for you!”

“Something I’ll enjoy more than that song I hope.” Jiyoung looked at Youngjae as he stood. The younger man mouthed his goodbyes, and waved as he made his way to the door, citing that he wanted to tidy up his home before Jaebeoms arrival. Jinyoung waved in return.

“Have I ever done something you didn’t enjoy?” Her tone was suggestive, and it was the main reason people thought they were secretly married. Despite the common knowledge that he was gay, there was something about their relationship that invested people. “If you come over, and come down to the basement the party can really begin.”

“I’ll be there in 30 minutes.” Jinyoung grinned, standing to his feet as he prepared to leave. If she was calling him to her basement then she had finally found the traitor they had been searching for. “Call Jackson.”
“He’s already here. Of course I can't set up this type of meeting without my two favorite boys.”

Jinyoung buttoned up his shirt, leaving the top button undone, and left the tie laying on his desk. He unrolled his sleeves and grabbed his jacket. When business ensued, he wouldn’t be caught dead without the proper apparel.

“Good job, Jihyo.”

The girl giggled as she hung up the phone.

This birthday wasn’t so bad afterall.

Chapter Text

Jinyoung walked slowly down the hall to the door leading to the basement door. He could hear the blood curdling screams from down the hall. The pleads to release him from the torture faced was so ebullient that a tingle ran down Jinyoungs spine in anticipation.

He grinned as Jihyo greeted him. The smaller woman leaned against the door, her arms crossed over her chest, and her ankles crossed as the door kept her upright. She straightened as she noticed him approaching.

“I didn’t think you would still be here.” Jinyoung spoke, his tone slightly elevated so that the woman could hear him clearly over the torturous screams. “You don’t normally stay around for this part.”

Jihyo was a professional at finding anyone who needed finding, but she had a tender stomach. She didn’t do well at the sight of blood, and on more than one occasion they had to take her to a bed to rest after passing out.

“I thought you would need this.” The woman stuck her hand in her jacket pocket and pulled out a little baggie with a white substance. Jinyoung raised a brow as he took the small bag. “I was going to pass it to Jackson, but he was too eager to get started.”

"Heroine?" Jinyoung questioned, raising a brow at the woman.

"He's addicted." The woman shrugged, stepping away from the door to allow Jinyoung access. "That's how we found him. We followed the drugs."

Heavy drug usage was not tolerated in the family. It was the most important rule for a drug dealer. Sell the drug, but never use it.

Nodding his head in understanding, he opened the door to the basement and closed the door behind him to shield Jihyo from the gruesome sight he was greeted with.

The rickety steps leading down the basement floor were worn beyond the point of repair due to the amount of damage those dragged down the steps caused as they fought their way free. Every step taken creaked under the heels of his shoes as he made his way down.

The walls were painted with blood, both dry and new, and the air smelled of copper. It was a smell that Jinyoung had grown so comfortable with as he grew older.

The agonizing screams had turned into soft whimpers. Jackson had probably heard the creaking steps.

"Don't stop on my account." Jinyoung reached the bottom step, his gaze surveying the amount of blood that covered Jackson. It was a terrifying sight to see a man bathed in blood, looking as though he had just hit the lottery.

"I just finished." Jackson grinned, holding up a piece of flesh he had just peeled off of his victims back. "Gotta add it to the collection."

It was a rule set years ago on handling traitors. The tattoo that showcases your loyalty to the family would be ripped from your flesh. You cannot die a traitor of the family while wearing the brand of the family.

Jinyoung, Jackson, and JB wore their tattoos on their back. If they were to betray the family they would have their tattoos peeled off as well.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.” The man pleaded in between his tears. “I didn’t do anything wrong, please let me go.”

Jinyoung eyed the man, his eyes taking in every bruise on his face, and every drop of blood that was drying on his skin. Jackson had started his fun before Jinyoung arrived, but the amount of damage done on the man would have taken a normal man days to create.

Jackson had truly mastered his craft.

Grabbing a chair from the corner of the room, he placed it directly in front of the man before taking a seat.

"You've been stealing our product to make yourself a very rich man." Jinyoung began as the man finally focused his attention on him. He shook like a leaf, or like an addicted man craving his next fix. "That doesn't seem like ‘nothing’."

"I didn't steal anything from anyone. I never stole anything from the family."

"Then where is the product you were supposed to sell?" Jinyoung raised a brow as the man's eyes looked out of focus. Between the blood loss, and the withdrawal, this man was barely able to pay attention to his words. "Did you use the drugs yourself?"

"I never used anything. I'm not a junkie." The man swayed, his eyes glazing over briefly before he straightened himself. "I'm not a junkie, I don't use drugs."

"Juhyuk Cha. Focus." Jinyoung watched the man. There was no way he was going to be getting any answers from this traitor right now. He was too delirious. He continued to utter that he wasn't a junkie as though he were trying to convince himself. Jinyoung looked to Jackson. "Was he like this earlier?"

"The blood loss is starting to get to him." Jackson answered as he shrugged his shoulders. Standing behind the man to the left, he grabbed a handful of hair and lifted Juhyuk's head so that he would look at Jinyoung. The man struggled to get away from the grip before giving up, his shoulders slumping as he realized how useless fighting would be. "If you don't start providing answers then I'm going to cut the rest of your fingers off one by one."

Tears flowed from the man instantly as he cried for Jackson to have mercy on him. Jacksons lip curled at the crying. He had no pity on men who were so easily broken. He didn't like that someone so weak had once been a part of the family.

"Why are you begging Jackson? Once he’s made up his mind he rarely changes it." Jinyoung leaned back in the wooden chair. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a pack of cigarettes. Slowly, he lifted one out of the nearly empty box to light it. He had never been a fan of cigarettes, but the smell of nicotine had always been soothing. “I'm the only one here who can persuade him to spare your life."

"Please spare me. I have a family that I have to take care of. I never stole anything from anyone. I'm not a junkie."

Jackson rolled his eyes and released his grip as the crying got louder. Moving over to his table, he grabbed a piece that had grown rusted with its mismanagement and showed it to the sobbing man.

"Then answer my question. The drugs."

"I don't know what happened to them." The man pleaded.

Jinyoung sighed. This was getting nowhere. Not even the threat of Jackson's blade was getting him to talk, and if he lost more blood then he already had then he would die before they got their answers. The man was bleeding from the two missing fingers, and the missing skin off of his back. Jinyoung was surprised that the man hadn't already passed out.

Taking a drag of his cigarette, he shook his head to Jackson who was ready to take the next finger off.

Reaching into his pocket, Jinyoung pulled out the baggie full of white substance. Juhyuks tears dried instantly as he noticed the bag, his eyes zeroing in on its every move.

"I'll make a deal with you. You tell me what I want to know, I'll give you the bag." Jinyoung waved the bag like it was a treat for a dog. "You of all people know how good our product is."

The man gulped before eagerly nodding his head. "Everything. I'll tell you everything."

Jackson scoffed and mumbled under his breath. "I thought you weren't a junkie."

"I'll tell you everything for that bag."

Jinyoung smiled, pleased with the turn of events. "Where are the drugs?"

"Sold to the man with the bowler hat. He wanted them and pocketed the profit." Juhyuk licked his lip. He was starting to shake with the anticipation of the drugs.

"Why did the man approach you?" They had gotten video footage of a man in a hat having a conversation with Juhyuk, but they had thought he was a regular customer. It seemed as though the man in the hat played a bigger role than expected. "Why did he want to know who we buy our supplies from?"

"He said heroin was better than ecstasy, and promised me a portion of profit, and a bag of the product if I worked with him. He sold it for more than we did." Juhyuk jolted, the chair scraping against the chair as he tried to move closer to the bag. Jackson reached out and pulled him back but the man ignored him. "Don't know why he wanted the supplier, I didn't ask."

All he wanted was the drugs. It was pathetic, really. All of their people were well taken care of, and most had become made men. Had Juhyuk not fallen into drugs, he wouldn't have been a weak link, and he wouldn't have become a traitor.

Honestly, had Juhyuk not been sloppy in his quest for information about their supplier, then he probably wouldn't have been caught as quickly as he had been.

"The man in the hat. What was his name?"

The man snapped to attention immediately. His head gave a subtle shake before backing away as far as the chair allowed. "I can't give you a name. He'll kill me."

So close.

"Jackson."

The agonizing cried, mixed with Jackson's pleasure filled grin as Juhyuk list another digit was an interesting experience.

"I forgot. I forgot his name!" Juhyuk lied.

The man was too focused at the mention of the name.

"Jackson."

The next finger flew off. The man only had 7 fingers left.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Kim, the name he used was Kim!" The man rocked in the chair, the motion so strong that the chair fell over. The man hit the floor with a bang, and sobs filled the air. "He went by Kim, he was an older man with gray hair, and he always wore a hat."

Jackson looked at Jinyoung who took another drag of the cigarette. The man appeared to be telling the truth. It was obvious that the man used a fake name when contacting Juhyuk, but it was a start since they now knew the man was older with a hat.

"Cut him loose." Jinyoung said, standing to his feet and stomping out his cigarette as it fell to the floor. The baggy was the next to fall and he sneered as Juhyuk crawled to the bag as though it would save his life.

"What's the next move?" Jackson asked, watching with disgusted eyes as the man lined up the heroin to snort. Jackson wasn't a fan of any type of drug. He had thrown a fit when Jinyoung picked up his first pack of cigarettes. "He didn't give us much."

"He gave us a vague description, and he gave us what the man wanted."

Jinyoung didn't think that the goal was the drugs, or to steal the supplier. The goal was probably something more grand on a scale. The man wanted to infringe on their revenue. Because JB wasn't a fan of allowing the selling of drugs in all of their territory, they only sold drugs in one specific area, so the revenue they made on drugs was lower than 1/10th their profit.

But if you start cutting off the lower profits first, it's too late to notice by the time the bigger profit is cut.

"I think he's overdosing." Jackson pointed out, crossing his arms over his shoulder as he watched the man have a seizure by Jinyoungs shoe.

Jinyoung looked down at the man, watching in disinterest as the man painfully died at his feet. He supposed this was a better way to die than what Jackson had intended.

"Poor fucker would have lived a good life if he hadn't betrayed us." Jackson huffed, moving over to the man and nudging him with his feet to make sure he was dead. "He couldn't even entertain me before dying."

Jinyoung reached a hand out to pat Jaclson on his shoulder in comfort. "I'm sure he's thankful that he died before you had your fun."

Jackson pouted before bending over to grab the man's hand. He would need to get rid of the body, so he was going to drag him over to the surgical table in the corner to cut the man into pieces before feeding him to the pigs. Normally the task would be left for a soldier but Jackson had pent up frustration that needed to be released after the amount of extra work Juhyuk caused.

No one would miss the junkie. From what Jinyoung remembered of the man, his wife and daughter left him years ago, and they hadn't spoken since.

Turning away, Jinyoung made his way to the steps of the stairs. He would need to meet with JB tomorrow to go over what the next course of action should be. It would be a pain in the ass since the other would want to spend the day catching up with Youngae, but that's what the night was used for.

"I’ve got a meeting with Taecyeon and Sunye tomorrow, but do you want me to go with you to see JB?" Jackson offered as Jinyoung reached the bottom steps.

"It's fine. We don't both need to be caught in the crossfire." Jinyoung gave a passing glance to Jackson before walking up the steps.

"Good Luck!"

Knowing JBs temperament after a business trip, he was probably going to need it.

Chapter Text

Jinyoung must have been cursed to live with misfortune for his whole life. Sure, his birthday had ended on a positive note, but the day after his birthday had turned out to be more misfortune than his actual birthday.

What could have prompted Bambam to show up at JB’s doorstep at the crack of dawn to annoy the already sleep deprived man? Jinyoung had no idea. What prompted the hyperactive man to welcome Jinyoung into JB’s home as though it was his own? Jinyoung had no answers. The only answer he knew was that JB was weighing his options on killing Bambam.

“... and then he broke the gun! Can you believe that he broke the classic?” Bambam excitedly waved his arms around as he told the story of their new soldiers. Apparently they were a useless bunch who had no experience with weapons, and couldn’t even put a gun together.

There was a disconnect somewhere in Bambams brain. He never understood why people weren’t as skilled with weapons as he was.

“Thanks.” Jinyoung thanked Youngjae as he passed him a freshly brewed cup of coffee. They shared a knowing look as Bambam continued to ramble to an irritated JB. Jinyoung should probably intervene now. “Jaebeom, I have an update on Juhyuk.”

The light tone that Bambam had carried into the study ended instantly with the mention of the traitor's name. Standing from his spot on the couch, Bambam moved to close the door to the study after receiving a look from Jaebeom. He leaned against it, his body blocking unwelcome guests from entering the room. Jinyoung shifted in his seat, sharing a look with Youngjae who sat across from him on the other sofa. Jaebeom sat behind his desk, much like he always did when company showed up.

The study had a modern feel to it, and it was a stark contrast to Jinyoungs classic one.

“You should have started with that.” JB chastised, narrowing his eyes. “Bambam would have stopped talking ages ago.”

Bambam shifted his gaze but said nothing. Had this not been a serious conversation, he would have had a rebuttal.

“Jihyo found Juhyuk, and Jackson interrogated him. He was stealing our drugs and selling them for drugs and profit to a man who was selling our product at an increased price.” Jinyoung began, watching Jaeboem carefully for his reaction. When Sunye had first mentioned an irregularity in the flow of drugs, Jinyoung had been stunned. It wasn’t often that someone was brave enough to betray the family. When Jinyoung told Jaebeom, he had been absolutely livid. “He had started to ask around for the warehouse where the drugs are created. Thankfully, he thought that we outsource our drugs so the warehouse is still well hidden.”

“Why Juhyuk?”

“Easy target. Loyalty is what this family is known for, and betrayal hardly ever happens. Juhyuk was the weakest link because he had an obvious weakness. He was addicted to drugs.”

“Bambam, go through the soldiers and cut down anyone addicted to drugs. We cannot afford to have any weaknesses.”

Jaebeom looked at Bambam who nodded his head. The youngest man left without another word, the door closing quietly behind him.

"What is Sunye doing?" Jaebeom asked, frustration evident due to the mismanagement of the drug syndicate they ran. Sunye was in charge of all things related to the black market. Drug operations fell under her jurisdiction.

"I advised Jackson to speak to her a few days ago. She’s tightening security, and cleaning house. She’s got a handle on operations and everything is back on track."

Jaebeom calmed substantially. There was a reason Sunye was named capo. She took her role more seriously than most.

“What are your theories?” JB asked, his gaze turning analytical as he processed what he was being told. He tapped his fingers against his desk before leaning up against it, his chin resting on his interlaced fingers.

“There is something bigger at play. I think that man is seeking to cut off our sources of revenue, starting from the smallest sources of income before hitting the biggest.” Jinyoung leaned back against the couch. He really wanted to smoke a cigarette but JB would have a fit if he lit one in his home. “If we lose our money then we lose our power.”

Jabeom hummed in agreement. The theory was plausible, and Jinyoungs specialty was pointing out the bigger picture. It was one of the reasons the two worked so well together.

“Juhyuk gave a description of the man as well. A gray haired man who always wears a bowler hat. Apparently he used the fake name of ‘Kim.’” Jinyoung watched as Jaebeom pressed his lips together as he thought about their next steps. “Jackson already told Yugyeom to search for the man before the description was given because he had been captured on camera. The photo is distorted, but hopefully we will be able to find something.”

“Youngjae, do your own search on the man to see what you can find. If something comes across your screen, you are only to tell the people currently in this room and Jackson. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Boss.” Youngjae nodded, sitting straighter as he was given his task. His fingers twitched on his lap before getting up and excusing himself. He never could wait if an order was given.

“Move quietly.” Jaebeom instructed Jinyoung, his shoulders going lax as he was satisfied with how the situation was currently being handled. “Birds hear the words spoken in the day, and the mice those at night.”

Jinyoung nodded, the Korean proverb ringing in his mind. Allowing everyone to assume this was an isolated incident would benefit them greatly. As of right now, the only ones who knew the full extent of Jinyoungs speculation wereJackson, Jaebeom, and Youngjae.

Jaeboeoms gaze changed as he relaxed. Dropping his chin, he leaned back on his swivel chair and returned to tapping his fingers on his desk. With the other hand, he grabbed his coffee mug and before taking a sip.

“What happened to Juhyuk?”

“Overdosed. Jackson took care of it.”

“Send a care package to his child and her mother. Despite the lack of communication, he was sending her money for the kid before he died. They may need help finding their footing since he is no longer able to help.”

Jinyoung nodded. He waited patiently for Jaebeom to share his own thoughts, as he often did after sifting through the information. JB had grown a lot in his position. He used to be the most temperamental decision maker, but he had calmed exponentially over time. His decisions were often level headed, and if he ever resorted back to his old ways, Jinyoung was there to guide him back.

"Who is trying to take us down? Is Kim the ring leader, or just a henchman?"

Jaebeoms line of thought mirrored Jinyoungs own. There were too many unknown variables.

"Keep an eye out for abnormalities. Something doesn't feel right."

"Yes, Boss." Jinyoung took a final sip of his coffee and placed it on the coffee table in front of him. If JB wanted him to look for abnormalities, then he thought there may be someone else going against the family. JBs hunches were normally right.

Jaebeom nodded his head, closing his eyes as he rested his head against the seat. He looked tired from the flight, and Bambam arriving earlier had drained him.

He lazily waved his hand as Jinyoung left.
####

When endless thoughts and possibilities ran through his mind, Jinyoung always found himself seated at a small park bench often forgotten about.

The park that kids used to play with was run down. Complete with a creaky swing, and a rusty slide.

Closing his eyes, Jinyoung leaned back against the bench. Too many possibilities ran through his mind, and not enough answers followed.

Their days in JYP were relatively calm. Why did it feel as though those calm days were about to be disrupted? Something was about to happen, and it nagged his mind knowing that Jaebeom felt the same.

Where did the man in the bowler hat really come from, and why did he choose now to make his move?

Feeling the breeze caress his cheek, Jinyoung opened his eyes. The stars were bright at night, and the silence was soothing. Everything about this park helped Jinyoung breathe.

Pulling out his pack of cigarettes, he pulled out a stick and stuck it between his lips. Putting the pack back into his pocket, he felt around his pocket and frowned when he couldn't find what he was looking for.

Had he forgotten his lighter at home?

"Need a light?"

Jinyoung jolted, his cigarette falling out of his lips, and his heart pounding in his chest wildly as he subconsciously pulled out his gun to aim at the unfamiliar voice.

A man stood with his hands lifted. One hand had a plastic bag, and the other was empty. The man had a sheepish smile on his face, and no fear in his gaze.

"I come in peace?" The man tried to make a joke, but Jinyoung ignored the attempts to calm the situation as warning bells went through his head. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

This man had walked so close, yet Jinyoung hadn't heard him at all.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Just a resident of this neighborhood. I normally come to this park after a hard day at work to decompress. I like to stop at the store for a few snacks first." He shook the shopping bag for good measure before pointing to the direction he just came from. "I live on the opposite end of the park."

"Gotta name, Mr. Resident?"

"I'll tell you if you lower your gun."

Jinyoung blinked at the man, completely unamused. The warning bells continued to ring. He wasn't dropping anything until he was ready.

"My name is Mark." The man sighed, disappointed that his efforts had gone to waste. "I have identification if you need that too."

Jinyoung smirked, lowering his gun and sticking it back where it was. "I don't need identification, just know that if you try something I won't hesitate to shoot you."

"I'd rather not get shot today." Marks arms lowered. "Do you mind if I sit here? I don’t want to have my ritual ruined because a psycho has a gun."

Jinyoung raised a brow at being called a psycho, but he let it go. He supposed he came across as one to someone outside of his world.

"Are you a cop?"

"I wouldn't tell you if I was." The man answered honestly. He shrugged his shoulders. "You just aimed a gun at me, then threatened to shoot me."

Jinyoung chuckled, nodding his head to the seat beside him. The warning bells continued to ring, but they grew faint in the distance.

"Sure. I would hate to ruin your ritual." Jinyoung supposed he could still think with Mark's presence. "Are you still offering that light?"

Mark nodded as he sat, the plastic bag still in his hand. He leaned over, grabbing his lighter from his back pocket and passing it to Jinyoung who grabbed another cigarette.

"Thanks." Jinyoung lit the stick and took a puff. The smell of nicotine soothed him and he felt himself relaxing again.

Silence settled between the two. It wasn't as uncomfortable, or suffocating like Jinyoung had expected. Then again, he was the one with the gun, and despite Mark's abnormal reaction, he hadn't made any threatening moves.

If only the ruffle of the bag wasn't as loud in the silence.

Jinyoung looked at the man sharing a bench with him. He had pulled out a bar of ice cream, but was struggling to open it. It took him a full 30 seconds to realize how much noise he was actually making and cautiously looked over to Jinyoung. He smiled in embarrassment when he realized he was being watched.

"Need help?"

Slowly, Mark nodded his head as he passed over the bar. Jinyoung opened it effortlessly before handing it back.

"Thanks." Mark said. He took a bite of ice cream before looking down at his bag. He looked back at Jinyoung with a smile. "Want one? I have 1 more."

"Sure." Jinyoung said, surprising himself. He wasn't fond of sweets, but the way Mark was eating the ice cream made it seem good. Sharing his gratitude, he grabbed the offered bar and opened the bag. It was a chocolate turtle.

Fond memories of the old lady in the flower shop crossed his mind. He had gone to visit her often after joining JYP, and the woman always had a chocolate turtle waiting for him. Sadly, the woman passed 2 years ago, and he hadn't had one since.

"You're a strange man." Jinyoung started, thinking out loud as he took the first bite. He dropped his cigarette to the ground and put it out with the sole of his feet. Ice cream was a much better treat than a cigarette.

"How so?" Mark asked, alerting his own bar. He leaned back against the bench, relaxed as he watched Jinyoung.

"I aimed a gun at you, and threatened you, yet you sat beside me and offered me ice cream like we were old friends." Jinyoung eyed Mark, but hid his suspicion. Everything about Mark screamed abnormal. There was something about him that was just different. "Most people would have left."

"If you were going to shoot me, you probably would have pulled the trigger as soon as you pulled out the gun." Mark shrugged, unconcerned. "I've learned a long time ago that Korea isn't as safe as it's portrayed on TV."

"You speak like a foreigner." Jinyoung observed. "You have a slight accent as well."

"I am technically a foreigner. I've been here for 7 years now." Mark hummed, taking a bite of his ice cream. He crossed his legs at the ankle and shook the one sitting on top. "South Korea is vastly different from America."

Jinyoung knew from first hand experience. On his first trip to New York he had experienced such a culture shock that he cut his trip short. JB had laughed, stating that it wasn't the culture that shocked him, but the notion of a vacation.

Both were plausible.

"If it is so different, what is keeping you here?"

"Different isn't always a bad thing." Mark mumbled. Something heavy flashed through his gaze but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Sometimes 'different' forces you to grow."

"Now you sound like an old man." Jinyoung teased, changing the topic. There was a story about Mark staying in Korea, but Jinyoung refused to be bothered. The air had grown heavy, and Jinyoung had too many of his own problems to be concerned about the problems of a stranger.

"I've been told that a few times." Mark chuckled, tossing his trash into the plastic bag as he finished his bar. Holding out the bag, he let Jinyoung throw his trash away while standing on his feet. "We'll, Mr. Psycho, it was a pleasure sitting with you."

"Likewise." Jinyoung nodded his head. It wasn't often that he enjoyed the company of a stranger, but this was nice.

"Next time you meet a stranger in a park, don't pull your gun out." Mark teaser, grinning wide as he stretched his limbs.

Jinyoungs eyes zeroed in on the sliver of skin that showed between the hoodie worn, and the jeans. "Next time you approach a stranger in the park, make more noise."

Jinyoung watched as Mark laughed, his eyes squinting in delight.

Nothing more was said as the strange man walked away.

Chapter Text

Jinyoung lit a cigarette as the car door was closed behind him. His stress levels were at an all time high and he was nearly going through a pack a day.

Bambam had finished riding the soldiers of junkies, and Yugyeom was in constant communication about how impossible it was to find the man with the bowler hat with such a distorted image. With the addition of JB instructing him to find any abnormalities in the family, Jinyoungs plate was beyond full.

"There is a woman waiting for you at the bar." The hired bouncer said as he greeted him by the door.

Jinyoung raised a brow, taking another puff of his cigarette before looking at his watch. It was only 3 in the afternoon. If the club wasn't open yet, why was a woman allowed inside?

"She stated it was an urgent matter and that she needed to speak to you." The man stuttered out his reasoning at Jinyoung's irritation. "The woman is Japanese."

Tossing the cigarette on the ground, Jinyoung took his time stomping it out. A Japanese woman waiting at his club? Not completely unheard of since many families wanted to get on his good side, but abnormal that the woman appeared to have something to say.

Most women told the bouncers that they were there to offer a service.

"Did she give a name?" Jinyoung really needed to tighten security in his club. The only people who should be allowed access are those given special clearance, or staff. Women sent by other families, or women with something to say other than 'can I have a job,' were not included on the list.

"No, sir." The bouncer had the decency to look ashamed as he stepped aside.

Moving past the brolic man who would be out of a job by the end of the night, Jinyoung stepped foot into his club. Jazz music played through the speakers as staff prepared the bar for opening.

The aforementioned woman sat alone at the bar, dressed in traditional Japanese garb. A half filled glass of whisky was cupped in her hand, and the bartender who served her continued to send cautious glances at her as he dried glasses for easy service.

The bartender served as the club's manager, and he was also a member of the family.

Taking a step closer, Jinyoung hid his surprise as he was able to put a name to a figure. Sakura sat, eyes closed as she listened to the music. The glass she had been nursing was sweating, and she swayed ever so lightly.

Multiple thoughts rang through Jinyoungs mind as he approached the woman. She was Japanese, and she was the leader of one of the strongest Yakuzas to ever control Japan. Why had this woman come to his bar? What business did she have with him?

"Sakura, what a lovely surprise."

The woman stopped swaying. And opened her eyes as his greeting. Slowly turning in the barstool, she looked at him fully, and allowed him to do the same. Her make up was neatly done, and the floral print of her kimono only added to her feminine charm.

"You arrived later than I thought you would."

Jinyoung slid into the stool next to her, keeping his smile light and pleasant as he waved the bartender over to pour him a glass.

"Had I known to expect you, I would have been earlier." Looking around the bar once more. "Where is Ryoma?"

Ryoma was Sakura's cover. She was the mastermind behind the organization, but Ryoma was the face. Japan was still a traditional country. If Sakura controlled from the light, the organization would be looked down on simply because she is a woman.

She never went anywhere without him.

"I could not bring him with me." Sakura brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. She dabbed her lips with a napkin, the lipstick staining the cloth lightly before starting again. "This needed to look like a social visit."

"Is that why you showed up at my bar? Knowing that I don't dabble with family affairs here?"

"Yes. I needed a safe place to speak to you." Sakura pushed her glass away. She straightened her back as she looked at him, and elegantly placed one hand on top of the other in her lap.

She was riddled with grace.

"We can go to my office." Jinyoung offered. It was the only place in the club that he trusted to have true privacy.

"No. Social visits do not take place behind closed doors."

"They do if you're a friend."

The woman met his gaze head on and she pursed her lips stubbornly. "We are not friends."

"Then this can't count as a social visit."

The woman's jaw clenched before her features soothed. It was rare that Sakura showed any emotions while dealing with Koreans. She was an emotionless force that never showed anything but the most proper upbringing.

"Regardless, we will speak here." Her words were final and left no room for argument. Jinyoung shrugged his shoulders, allowing the woman to have her way. It didn't matter to him either way. "I have received a call from a man interested in selling us products at a discounted price."

A counter offer meant someone was infringing on their territory. Sakura had been a long time buyer of theirs since JB took over, and the amount she paid for the stock of weapons she now owned was already the lowest it could be without them losing revenue.

"He said that he would charge us half of what we are paying now."

Jinyoungs ears rang with the news. Half of what they charged was next to nothing. This is now the second time in the span of 2 weeks that someone was trying to cut a line of revenue.

"Curious about the man, I met him in person. He offered a perfect deal that was 100% beneficial to us, but he lacked the most important aspect in this type of business." Sakura smiled softly. "He lacked reliability. I cannot trust a man who offers a deal in which he gains nothing."

Her words would have calmed Jinyoung down if he had any concerns about losing Sakura as a client. If she had decided to cut their deals she would have done so without coming to meet him so urgently.

"Why did you not set a meeting with Taecyeon?" Jinyoung asked curiously. Taecyeon handled weapons. The capo should have been informed, and it should have been brought to Jacksons attention, much like the situation with Sunye was handled.

"Everyone knows they must go through you or Jackson before being allowed to speak to the head of the family."

Jinyoung looked down at his watch. Only 15 minutes had passed since his arrival at the club, but he would have to save his intended duties for another time. If Sakura was skipping the chain of command, then the woman needed to speak to JB, and she needed to speak to him now.

"Come into my office. We need to make a call."

The woman hesitated, but she nodded in understanding. If she wanted to speak to JB, this was the only way and time that Jinyoung would offer.

He held a hand out to assist her out of her seat, and allowed her to hold his arm as he guided her to his office.

They walked briskly until reaching his office, and she released his arm as he closed the door behind them. Gracefully, she stood in the middle of his office as he made his way over to the phone on his desk.

She looked around, denying the offered seat as the phone rang, and she stilled as a gruff voice answered.

"Jinyoung." Jaebeom growled. "This better be important."

Jinyoung looked at his watch again. What was causing Jaebeom to be so grouchy? He was free from until 4.

"Sakura stopped by for a visit. She has information to share with you."

The silence on the other end spoke volumes.

"Speak."

Sakura narrowed her eyes but said nothing about the command. This was the first time the two had ever spoken, and she was on his territory. He held the power here, despite how powerful she truly was.

"A foreign man wearing a strange hat reached out to me in order to sell me weapons at a price that guaranteed he would make no profit." Sakura spoke frankly, and eloquently. There was no use mincing words if they were alone.

Jaebeom remained as silent as Jinyoung as the woman described a familiar man. The man in the bowler hat. Jinyoungs theories about the man were proving to be true.

"How do you know he was foreign?" Jinyoung asked through the silence.

"When he first called he attempted to speak in Japanese before switching to English after realizing that I could speak it. The man did not appear to be Japanese." Sakura tilted her head slightly as she thought about the man. Her lips pressed tightly together.

"Did he give a name?" Jaebeom asked.

A look crossed Sakuras face, and Jinyoung idly wondered how much she was able to piece together with the questions being asked.

"He gave the name Bhuwakul, though I assume it was a fake. He could barely say the name."

The man with the bowler hat was playing a dangerous game, and the more he attempted to hinder their business the more dangerous it became.

Jinyoung waved his options, but the need for confirmation outweighed whatever irritation it would cause JB.

"What did the man look like?"

Sakura took a beat before answering, understanding of their situation now completely obvious.

"He was an older man with graying hair."

"Jinyoung."

"I got it." Jinyoung confirmed before hanging up the phone. "Do you have anything that could show what he looks like?"

"It seems as though this is a man you are searching for." Sakura hummed, finally deciding to take a seat to make herself comfortable. She felt as though she had the upper hand, and she did, but Jinyoung wouldn't allow that to hinder getting what he wanted.

"He is, but we are not as pressed for information as you are assuming." Jinyoung leaned against his desk, looking down at the woman who gracefully occupied one of his seats. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Sakura smirked, calling his bluff.

"What will you give me for a photograph of the man?"

"Nothing as you are not in the position to make conditions." Jinyoung straightened his back as the woman frowned. "If you have a photo and do not hand it over we will cut our ties with you and sell at a higher price to your competitors."

"You wouldn't dare. You are loyal to your clientele."

"We are loyal to those who are loyal to us." Jinyoung rebutted. "Jaebeom will happily agree with my suggestion, and readily give the order."

A tense silence settled between the two as they fought for control of the other. As it stood, Sakura had much more to lose if Jinyoung backed out of their deal simply because she could not afford to become weaker to their enemy.

"You are an interesting man." Sakura mused. "Sadly, we were unable to film your mystery man. He moved strategically, as though he knew where every camera was. Not even a sliver of his shirt appeared."

Sakura sent him a pointed look before looking down at her nails. It seemed JYP wasn't the only family cleaning house. Sakura spoke as though she suspected a traitor amongst her group. Knowing that she left Ryoma, despite him being privy to every decision she made in regards to the group, he suspected she knew who it was.

"It seems we both have our own internal issues to deal with." Jinyoung stated.

"It would appear so." Sakura agreed.

Chapter Text

Jinyoung typed on his laptop as he listened to the hustle of the coffee shop move around him. It was the shop's busiest time of the day, and also when their coffee tasted the best.

Jaebeom had been in an awful mood, more so than usual with the knowledge that they were no step closer to finding the man with the bowler hat.

Sakura's communication with the man was cut off after she disposed of Ryoma, and the man had been strangely silent since.

Jinyoung had silently finished his task of searching for abnormalities, and Jaebeom had been livid to learn that a handful of their soldiers and associates had linked hands with the enemy. Those men were quietly disposed of and replaced, but it left an unsettling feeling in the higher ups. The bowlerman had infiltrated deeper in the family then they had initially assumed.

Jackson was steady leading the cleanse.

"Are you even listening to me?" Yugyeom asked, taking a sip of his coffee through the straw.

"Of course I am." Jinyoung lied smoothly. His mind was too preoccupied with all he needed to complete to be focused on an actual conversation. "You were telling me about classes."

Yugyeom scoffed, narrowing his eyes in mock anger. "No, I was telling you about the man in the hat."

Jinyoung hushed the younger man and looked around the shop. It was filled with civilians, but you could never be too sure. The man could have spies loitering all over the town.

"No one is going to hear us over this racket."

Jinyoung watched as Yugyeom rolled his eyes. He had always been a bit reckless when it came to sharing information. It was one of the reasons Jinyoung doted on him. The kid always needed to be looked after.

"It doesn't matter. Keep quiet about it until we are in private." Jinyoung scolded. This wasn't the place, nor the time to discuss the man in the hat. This Cafe wasn’t owned by one of their associates.

Shrugging off the scold, Yugyeom leaned back in his chair and looked around the coffee shop. He looked bored sitting with Jinyoung as he worked on a business proposal.

"Are you almost done?" Yugyeom whined, the boredom finally getting to him. He didn't like sitting in silence. "I could be out there looking for a man who doesn't exist."

Jinyoung sighed, growing annoyed by Yugyeom's constant whining. Closing the laptop, he rested his hands on it. "Fine. You have my undivided attention."

"I asked Jisoo if she’s heard any rumors." Yugyeom raised his arms as Jinyoungs brow twitched in annoyance. "Don't worry, I didn't tell her what rumors I was asking for specifically. Everything has been on the hush hush, but I'm hitting walls and I'm starting to get frustrated."

Jinyoung calmed as the younger man shared his frustration. The man with the hat was a phenomenon they had never encountered before. Not even Youngjae had been able to find the man on the web. If they didn't have matching descriptions, or the man on camera, they would have thought he was a ghost.

"Take a break and focus on your schooling." Jinyoung advised, reaching a hand out to ruffle Yugyeom's hair. The younger man swatted his hand away and pouted.

Yugyeom was the only one of JBs Caporegimes that was currently enrolled in the local university. Jinyoung and Youngjae had graduated with their own degrees, while Jackson and Bambam refused to go.

Yugyeom only had a few semesters left before graduation.

"I'm ready to graduate."

School had proven to be the perfect environment for Yugyeom. Rumor mills and speculations ran rampant and he was often in the center of it all. He was able to shift through the rumors, and bring the most pressing ones to the families attention. No rumor was too outlandish. Where there was smoke, there were often fires.

"I'm sure you are, but try not to rush it. You'll miss it when it's gone."

Yugyeom groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. "I don't think I'll ever miss waking up for an 8am class."

Jinyoung smirked. If only he was able to sleep in that late. Earlier mornings were a regular occurrence in his life. Sleeping in was a luxury he couldn't afford.

"Enjoy it while you can. Jaebeom only allows early mornings."

Yugyeom winced, instantly regretting complaining about his sleeping schedule. He knew how JB worked, and he knew that capos weren’t allowed the luxury of free time. Jinyoung may be a Consigliere, but not even he was allowed the luxury of sleeping in. Jaebeom and Jackson were needy men.

Jinyoungs phone chimed and he looked down at the screen. Speak of the devil.

"Jaebeom."

"Jinyoung, I'm going to meet Kwangsoo. He may have information that we need."

Jinyoung blinked in confusion. Kwangsoo was the Boss of another family that they had done business with a few times in the past. There was no reason for him to have, or share information with them. Offering any type of help was against the man's usual MO.

"What information?"

"He didn't go into detail. I'm taking Jackson, Bambam, and Youngae with me."

It didn't feel right. Nothing about going to see Kwangsoo felt right. There had to be something else going on. Jinyoung felt his stomach drop.

"Jaebeom," Jinyoung started, not knowing how to voice his concerns. He felt that it wasn't safe, but this was an opportunity they couldn't pass up.

"I know." Jaebeom comforted. He felt the same way. "We'll be careful."

He hung up the phone and Jinyoung released a deep breath. The nagging feeling that something bad was about to happen plagued the back of his mind.

"That was JB?" Yugyeom asked quietly. He noticed the subtle shift in Jinyoungs mood and treaded lightly.

"Yeah." Jinyoung answered honestly, pushing the negative thoughts away as he put his phone down. "He's got a meeting with MBK."

Yugyeom straightened, looking as serious as Jinyoung sounded. They all knew how conniving that family was. It was one of the reasons they rarely did business with them.

"He's taking the others with him." Jinyoung reached over to grab his own coffee to wet his throat. "They'll be fine."

Yugyeom nodded, playing with the straw in his cup before taking a sip.

Finding the silence that settled between them stifling, Jinyoung reopened his laptop screen. Yugyeom's thoughts would linger around the concern they were all probably feeling.

"I wonder if- Mark?" Yugyeom exclaimed, waving over to a man who stood at the register.

Jinyoungs eyes lifted at the yell. Mark, the resident from the park, stood at the cash register as he ordered his coffee. The man sent a wave to Yugyeom before sending a shy smile to Jinyoung.

Jinyoung awkwardly smiled in return. He could feel Yugyeom's curious gaze on him.

"You know Mark?" The excitement in his voice was obnoxious.

"I met him at the park the other night." Jinyoung answered before lowering his voice. "I threatened to shoot him."

Yugyeom's eyes widened before laughter flew from his lips.

"Shut up." Jinyoung reached over to hit him on the back of the head. He hadn't told anyone about the encounter and had hoped to keep it that way. He should have known that his bad luck would shine through.

"Yugyeom, funny meeting you here." Mark greeted as he made his way to the table. He smiled at Yugyeom before turning his smile to Jinyoung. "Nice to see you again as well, Mr. Psycho."

The laughter that Yugyeom had managed to quell returned in full force with the name.

"It's Jinyoung."

Mark's eyes sparkled with the new information. "So I'm finally trustworthy enough to get a name? No more threats?"

"You know Yugyeom, so there has to be something good about you." Jinyoung scoffed at the tease attempt. There was still something off about the other, but it wasn't as pressing as it had been on the first night. "And the threat still stands."

"Mark, sit with us for a bit." Yugyeom pulled out the chair next to him and Mark offered the seat. He sat directly across from Jinyoung, their eyes connecting instantly.

Jinyoung took in the other, his appearance much more visible in the daylight.

"Just for a while."

He had a boyish charm to him. The two started a calm conversation, looking like old friends who hadn't met in years.

"How do you two know each other?" Jinyoung asked curiously. Yugyeom had a slew of friends, and it wasn't uncommon to come across one he had never heard about before.

"We're old friends." Yugyeom answered, leaning up in his chair. The table shook under his weight and he instantly moved back. "He used to tutor me in math."

Strange. If Yugyeom and Mark knew one another for as long as the younger man was insinuating, then Jinyoung would have met Mark at some point. The only ‘friends’ of Yugyeoms that he hadn’t met were those he used for information only.

"Interesting."

"You're an inherently suspicious person, aren't you Jinyoung." Mark observed, taking a sip of his own coffee.

Yugyeom sat silently, looking between the two with mixed emotion. Jingoung didn't know why the younger man was so concerned.

"I wouldn't say I'm inherently suspicious, but I am inherently untrusting. As the saying goes, 'Prevention is better than a cure.'"

Mark's face contorted in confusion at the proverb. Being foreign, it was likely that he wasn't aware of the proverbs that most Koreans grew up learning.

"What does that mean?"

Jinyoung looked at Yugyeom who looked equally confused. For some reason, Jinyoung wasn't surprised that the younger man didn't know the proverb as well.

"It means that sometimes it is better to avoid problems, then it is to fix them when they come."

Mark blinked, keeping his eyes locked on Jinyoung as the words registered in his mind. The interest he held while looking at Jinyoung had increased.

"That's a very sad way to view life. Some things are worth fixing."

If life only shows you untrustworthy things, how else are you supposed to view life? His life had been filled with chaos since before he could remember. It was where he was the most comfortable.

"Jinyoung isn't always a negative person, it just takes a while for him to form trust." Yugyeom cut in. He looked at Jinyoung before turning back to Mark who continued to watch him. "He's one of the most trustworthy people I know, and he's really caring."

"Don't tell people that." Jinyoung snapped, his ears burning from embarrassment. He didn't care if that's what Yugyeom thought, but he didn't need to share his thoughts with a stranger.

"Sorry." Yugyeom mumbled between his laughter. "If it makes you feel better, I feel the same way about Mark."

Mark dragged his gaze from him and looked at Yugyeom. His smile was tender, as though they had gone through hell together.

"You two seem close." Jinyoung observed.

"We are." Mark confirmed. "I offered him ice cream and we've been close friends ever since."

Jinyoung snorted, amused. "Ice cream can't be the only way you make friends."

"No, I also rely on my boyish good looks, and my devilish charm." Mark fluttered his eyes, holding his hands to his face as though showcasing his beauty.

Jinyoung chuckled. Mark spoke the truth about his appearance, but it was charming that he was able to make fun of himself.

"What about you is charming?"

"If you give me a chance I can show you."

Jinyoungs heart thumped. Was Mark flirting with him? No, that couldn't be right. They didn't know each other.

The sound of a phone chime cut through the friendly atmosphere that had settled at the table. Jinyoung picked up his phone, sharing a look with Yugyeom as he answered and held the device to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Family meeting." Jabeoms voice was breathless, but the tone held a level of harshness.

Dread filled the pit of Jinyoungs stomach as the color drained from his face. The last time a family meeting was held was when they discussed how to handle TS.

Yugyeom's face scrunched in concern as he watched Jinyoungs reaction carefully.

"When?"

"Now." The phone clicked. Jaebeom had hung up.

Jinyoung slowly lowered the phone, his concerns hidden from his features as he looked at Mark.

"We'll, Mr. Resident, it seems our time is up." Jinyoung stood to his feet, closing his laptop as he did so to put in his case. "It was a pleasure, as always."

Mark nodded, confused by the sudden bout of professionalism he was being addressed with. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine." Jinyoung struggled to keep from snapping. Mark didn't know him, and he didn't know what life he lived. He didn't need to snap at a man who wouldn't know what he was going through. "Come, Yugyeom. We have to go."

Yugyeom nodded, smiling at Mark, though it was dim in comparison to his earlier smiles.

"I'll see you later, Mark."

"Bye, Yugyeom." Mark continued to watch Jinyoung. "I'll see you later, Jinyoung. Stay safe."

Jinyoung left the coffee shop with Yugyeom on his heels.

Chapter Text

Jinyoung focused his mind as he walked through the halls filled with so many painful memories. The once sky gray walls had been painted marshmallow white, and family photos that once decorated the home were replaced with modern art pieces collected over the years.

After the death of JYP, his family vacated the home and found no need to revisit a place filled with haunted memories. Unwilling to let go of the good memories, Jaebeom had turned the home into a place where family meetings were held.

The last time Jinyoung walked down these halls was on his 21st birthday.

"Do you think they're okay?" Yugyeom whispered as he followed closely behind. It was the only question he continued to ask as time passed.

Jinyoung offered nothing in return. If he couldn't offer the truth then he had nothing to offer. False hope was the worst kind of hope in this type of situation. They lived dangerous lives. The likelihood of death was tripled.

"Sir." A soldier greeted as Jinyoung reached the meeting room.

The open framed entrance had been replaced with wooden double doors. It was made of dark wood and the choice of decor went well with the new installations of the home.

"Open the door." Jinyoung stood with his back straight as the door opened. This was when he needed to stand his tallest. He was the lion walking into his den, and those below him needed to know where they stood.

Conversations quieted as the door opened, and hushed whispers ceased as he stepped in.

Yugyeom stoned his features as he followed behind. No feature betrayed his emotion.

3 of the 6 Caporegime surrounded the table, their intimidating auras filling the room with a tangible tension. There were only a few empty seats left. The boss who sat at the head, the underboss who sat at the right, and the caporegimes who filled the remaining seats.

The only time Jinyoung had ever seen this table filled was when he had been announced as Consigliere. He had been a caporegime at the time. The youngest JYP had ever had.

Jinyoung ignored the burning gazes of every person as he passed. He was the consigliere, the one with the Bosses ear, and often regarded as the second most powerful man in this family. He was the highest authority present, and would never waver under their strength.

"Where is everyone else?" Sunye questioned, motioning to the empty seats of the caporegimes. There was no suspicion in her tone, just mere curiosity. The woman wasn't one to put much weight into analyzing things. She took things for face value. It was one of the reasons she was a good leader for their dirty businesses. Killings, disappearances, anything related to the black market- she had a hand in it all.

"Don't ask stupid questions." Taecyeon chided. He tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. He was a busy man who lived by the saying 'time is money.' He was in charge of the weapons trade. "They have to be with the Boss if they aren't here yet."

Sunye glared, opening her mouth to cause a commotion.

"Cut it." Jinyoung spoke firmly. The woman's mouth snapped shut instantly and she sat back in her seat. "I'm not in the mood for the back and forth."

Jihyo sat quietly, watching the events unfold with curiosity. It was a stark contrast to how bright and bubbly the girl normally was. The only time she was ever serious was during family meetings.

Jinyoung pulled out his phone in silence. JB had called the meeting an hour and a half ago.

Minutes passed in silence. The tapping of Sunye fingers was the only thing keeping Jinyoungs thought from straying to far into the possibilities. No matter what news JB brought to them, he would remove himself from the situation. He would look for the bigger picture, and offer the best possible solution. It's what he did as a consigliere. It's what he had been entrusted to do.

The door opened and JB stepped in. Jinyoung felt a moment of relief as Bambam followed him in, but the moment was short lived as the doors shut behind them.

Negative memories flooded his mind but he shoved them away before they harvested. No matter what, he would remain objective. He needed to separate fact from emotion.

The room stood to their feet as JB made his way to his seat, and they sat once he was settled.

He was bruised, his suit lined with bullet holes, and his shirt stained with blood. His eyes were filled with unfiltered rage, and his hair disheveled.

Jinyoung turned to Bambam who looked just as worn out as their boss. He looked as though he had been dragged through hell, and his right hand was in a cast. His rage was palpable, the emotion showing more clearly than JB's.

"Earlier today I got a call from Kwangsoo of MBK." JB started. He looked around the room as he spoke, making sure to take in everyone around him. His fist clenched and unclenched in repetitive motions on the table. "He said he had information about a man we had been searching for."

Interests peaked as the tone in the room turned deadly. MBK was a well known organization due to their underhanded ways to get ahead. They had done a disservice to multiple families so their ties were small.

“Knowing how MBK operats, I took Jackson, Youngae, Bambam, and a handful of soldiers with me in case it was a set up.” Jaebeom looked around the room as realization dawned on those who were unaware. JB left with a group, but only arrived with Bambam.

Jinyoung clenched his hands in his lap, gauging the reactions of the room, similarly to the way JB was. His gaze crossed every feature of every face, and he took note of every clench of hand, and jaw. The rage that JB had entered with had transferred to everyone sitting around the table.

His gaze lingered on Yugyeom slightly longer than the rest. The younger man's attention was focused solely on Bambam. The two had been the closest as they were the last 2 additions to JBs circle, and they were the closest in age. The slight hint of worry was visible despite Yugyeom's skill in stoning his emotions.

“Jackson and Youngjae are currently in critical condition, and a handful of soldiers are dead.” Jaebeom said through clenched teeth. “I want all connections and contact with MBK stopped, effective immediately. No more selling weapons, drugs, or any other contraband that they buy from us. If they have people working in our businesses, I want them fired and blackballed. I want all funding cut.”

Jinyoung felt a surge of pride with how level headed Jaebeom was handling the betrayal. MBK had burned their biggest bridge, and they were going to suffer for it. If they cut the funding, then they cut the power. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

All Caporegime nodded their heads in acceptance. They would have no qualms doing as asked.

“You are dismissed.” Jaebeom kept his composure as he looked at Jinyoung, Bambam and Yugyeom. “You three, stay.”

The room cleared out quickly.

“Were you able to get any information?” Jinyoung asked as soon as the door closed. There was no point in asking about Jackson and Youngjae. There was nothing he could do to help them.

“Fuck you Jinyoung.” Jaebeom hissed, his rage finally out in the open. “That fucker started shooting as soon as we got there. I should have changed the location after realizing he wanted to meet in a fucking Wearhouse.”

“Geonhee shot Jackson before we were even fully in. They wasted no time for their assault.” Bambam offered. He was oddly calm as he spoke. His silent rage was more terrifying.

“Do you think the man in the hat put them up to it?” Jinyoung refused to fall to his emotions. He wanted nothing more than to barge into MBK and tear them down, but he wasn’t in the position to do so. If Jaebeom had his emotion on full display then he would remain grounded. He would be the voice of reason if need be.

The silence surrounding the question was loud. The thought hadn’t crossed anyone's mind until it was asked.

“Fuck!” JB cried, hitting the table with his force as he stood to his feet. The chair tumbled from the movement.”I want those fuckers gunned down!”

It was the most natural occurrence of events. They had stopped the man's every attempt to stop their revenue. It only made sense that he would try a frontal assault. If JB had been killed in the attack then they would have been weakened substantially. If Jackson had died as well then they would have been in complete disarray.

If MBK truly joined hands with the enemy, then they had drawn a target on their own backs.

“Are you okay?” Yugyeom asked quietly, looking pointedly to Bambams hand.

Bambam nodded before lifting his hand for a more visible view. He handed it to Yugyeom who caressed the bandage tenderly. “Broken in 3 different places. Seulgi said I’ll be as good as new in a few months.”

“Did she look at JB too?” Yugyeom asked Bambam. He would have asked JB but the man was lost in his own thoughts. He paced back and forth.

Jinyoung watched him silently as he listened to the conversation. At the moment JB was a ticking time bomb. If he snapped, almost nothing would be able to pull him back.

“She did. He has a few cuts, and a mild concussion but he's fine. None of the blood on his shirt is his.”

“I have to go back to the hospital.” JB stopped his pace, staggering slightly as he did. Jinyoung stood to his feet, reaching out to straighten him as he swayed. “Jackson and Younjgae are still in surgery.”

“You need to rest.” Jinyoung advised instead. If JB had a concussion then he didn’t need to be on his feet.

JB sighed, allowing Jinyoung to walk with him over to his chair. The man looked drained. It was as if the whole world rested leisurely on his shoulders. The love of his life was currently in the hospital fighting for his life, and his best friend was doing the same. If he was a lesser man, he would have broken down.

“Yugyeom, drive JB to the hospital. Tell Seulgi to give him a place to rest since he won't be able to rest at home.” His mind would be too occupied with the surgery.

Yugeyom nodded, waiting for JB to signal that he was ready to go. Their boss's body had probably weakened substantially now that the rage had fazed out. He needed a moment to rest his body.

“JB,” Jinyoung started, waiting until Jaebeom met his gaze. “I’ll handle it.”

Jaebeom held his gaze before leisurely rolling his head to the side. He lifted a hand, allowing him to ‘handle it.’ He didn’t care how it was handled as long as blood was drawn.

“I’m going.” Bambam stood to his feet as Jinyoung did. He caught the attention of the room.
The younger man's gaze was steady. He would either go with permission, or against orders. There was no stopping him.

Yugyeom opened his mouth to protest but his mouth snapped shut before a sound came out. The bloodlust felt from the other two had been too strong. More than anything they needed revenge. No one would stop them from that type of closure.

Jinyoung nodded. He turned to walk out of the room. He could hear Bambam following behind. He would have to make a few calls from the car.

“Jinyoung.” Jaebeom called, his gaze hot as he looked to his underboss. “When you find Kwangsoo, cut off his head and send it to his wife.”

Jinyoung would have done it without being asked. “Yes, boss.”