|| In The Arms Of Fate ||

Author's POV

The air in the dimly lit room was heavy with tension as Jungkook and Taehyung stood on opposite sides, their animosity palpable. The shared goal of rescuing Seo-rin was the only thing keeping them from tearing into each other. Jungkook's jaw was clenched, his fists tightly curled, while Taehyung maintained a carefully neutral expression, though his eyes betrayed unease.

Taehyung broke the silence first. "You can't keep blaming me for everything, Jungkook. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted her to-"

"Don't," Jungkook snapped, his voice low and dangerous. His gaze was sharp, almost feral, as he cut Taehyung off. "Don't you dare say her name. You don't have the right."

"I didn't know," Taehyung said, his tone calm yet firm. "I didn't know what happened to her until later, and I swear, it wasn't my doing."

Jungkook took a step forward, his anger radiating like a palpable force. "You expect me to believe that? That you didn't know your men killed her?"

Taehyung's hands balled into fists at his sides, but he didn't retaliate. "Believe what you want. But you should know this-Sia wasn't just a casualty to me. I-"

Jungkook's expression darkened further, cutting Taehyung off again. "Don't you dare speak as if you cared. You were the reason she's gone."

But Taehyung's words lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy with meaning. For a moment, his gaze softened, almost as if he was about to say something that could change everything.

Instead, Taehyung straightened, his defenses back in place. "This isn't about the past right now. It's about Seo-rin. She's in danger, and if you can stop being blinded by your rage for once, we might actually save her."

Jungkook turned away, his hands shaking with restrained fury. But even as anger threatened to consume him, Seo-rin's image flashed in his mind-her smile, her quiet strength, the way she stood by him despite everything. The thought of her in someone else's hands was unbearable.

"This doesn't mean I trust you," Jungkook growled, his voice cold. "The second this is over, you and I are settling this."

Taehyung nodded curtly, his expression unreadable. "Fine by me."

---

Meanwhile, Seo-rin

The room was cold and dark, a stark contrast to the warmth of Jungkook's home. Seo-rin's wrists were bound tightly, her skin raw from struggling against the coarse rope. A single lightbulb swung above her, casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls.

Her captor-a tall, imposing figure with a deep scar running down the length of his face-stood by the door, his arms crossed. His gaze lingered on her, a twisted smirk playing on his lips.

"You're quite important to him, aren't you?" he drawled, his voice laced with malice. "Jeon Jungkook. The infamous mafia boss. I never thought I'd see the day someone could make him vulnerable."

Seo-rin glared at him, refusing to show fear. "He'll come for me," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "And when he does, you'll regret this."

The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm counting on it. That's the whole point."

Her captor left the room, locking the heavy metal door behind him. Seo-rin's resolve wavered for a moment, her breath hitching as the weight of the situation settled over her.

Jungkook will come for me, she thought, clinging to the hope that kept her from breaking down entirely. He has to.

But as the hours dragged on, doubts began to creep into her mind. She thought of Jungkook-his cold exterior, the walls he had built around himself. Would he truly risk everything for her?

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away. No, she couldn't afford to doubt him now. She had to stay strong, for him and for herself.

---

As they began to map out their next move, the silence between Jungkook and Taehyung was suffocating. Their mutual hatred simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.

Jungkook couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something bigger was at play. The Italian mafia's involvement wasn't random; it was calculated. They were targeting Seo-rin to get to him, and the thought made his blood boil.

"We need to figure out their next move," Taehyung said, breaking the silence.

"I don't need your advice," Jungkook shot back.

Taehyung's jaw tightened, but he held his ground. "You're too blinded by your anger to think clearly. If you want to save her, you'll have to put your ego aside and work with me."

Jungkook glared at him but said nothing. As much as he hated to admit it, Taehyung was right. His rage was clouding his judgment, and Seo-rin's life was at stake.

---

Elsewhere

The man with the scar spoke into his phone, his voice low and menacing. "Everything is going according to plan. Jungkook will come for her, and when he does, he'll walk straight into our trap."

A pause. Then, a sinister smile spread across his face. "Yes. And make sure Taehyung knows his place in all of this. I have plans for him, too."

-vyé