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~

An SUV.

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat before it thundered in his chest. He watched intently as the vehicle pulled up behind him, leaving only a few feet between them, its engine quieted. His palms grew damp as his pulse pounded, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

A lone bird's cry echoed from the surrounding trees, its call haunting and deep, punctuating the silence in the moonlit landscape. His pulse raced, as erratic as the wings of a startled creature.

What was this?

He kept his gaze locked on the rearview mirror, making a mental note to tint his windows darker. Closing his eyes, he took a steadying breath, then another, trying to calm his heart before it betrayed him. He counted in his mind, focusing on each breath.

One.

Two.

Three.

Nothing. No doors opened. No headlights illuminated. The vehicle remained still.

And then, amid the stillness, a new thought crept into his mind. Was Jungkook even in the vehicle?

A quick glance at the number plate confirmed it was indeed the same SUV.

But who was behind the wheel?

Jungkook could have easily left the car back at Cyanide, letting someone else take it. If someone else knew where to find him out here, that was reason enough for caution.

Trying to start his car and speed away could be reckless-the SUV was larger, heavier, and powerful enough to overtake him in seconds if the driver had hostile intentions.

Tension coiled tighter in his stomach as he quietly opened the console of his car, silently thanking Amara for leaving the gun inside. With a practiced motion, he readied it, locking all the doors and thanking his foresight for the bulletproof glass. A small breath escaped as he debated his next move.

This wasn't Jungkook's style, he realized. While Jungkook might harbor a personal dislike for him, he wasn't one to use veiled threats or intimidation from afar.

No, if Jungkook wanted to confront him, he'd do so directly. Taehyung didn't linger on how well he had come to know that bastard's methods. Right now, he needed to focus on the present.

It was someone else-someone close by who wasn't above using fear as a weapon. His gaze flicked to his phone, but calling his security detail would mean alerting his father to his dealings with The Black Throne, something he couldn't afford.

The delicate understanding between the Park family and his own organization was already on fragile ground; one misstep, and everything could unravel. His own carelessness and stupidity had put him here.

In a moment of resolve, he straightened his back. No, no regrets. What was done was done. And he would face whatever came next on his terms.

Taehyung swallowed, taking a steadying breath as he glanced back at the ominous SUV. His fingers hovered over the ignition key, and with one final look at the unmoving vehicle, he turned the engine on.

The SUV's headlights flicked on instantly.

Heart pounding, he gripped the steering wheel, quickly shifting gears to pull onto the road. The SUV fell in line behind him, maintaining an uncomfortably close distance as its imposing shadow loomed.

Goosebumps prickled over his skin, a creeping chill running through him. He sped up, slowed down, even veered slightly to see if he could shake the SUV. But it held on, never relenting, shadowing his every movement.