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The city never slept. But for Jungkook, the world had stopped moving the moment he saw the news. 

The man he had killed. The secret that was supposed to be buried. Now, it was flashing across every television screen, every news article, every whispered conversation in the dark corners of Seoul. 

His fingers trembled as he turned up the volume. 

"Authorities have confirmed the murder of CEO Kang Dae Hyun, a well-known figure in the finance and business world. Police suspect the involvement of underground organizations, though no official suspects have been named at this time." 

Jungkook’s stomach twisted painfully. 

Underground organizations. 

They were talking about Ryu Shi Oh. 

They were talking about **him.** 

His phone buzzed again, pulling him from his thoughts. 

taehyung. 

Jungkook picked up immediately. "Tell me this isn’t what I think it is." 

A sigh came from the other end. "Jungkook, listen to me. We need to meet. Now." 

Jungkook’s breath was unsteady, his mind racing. "Where?" 

"Warehouse. You know the one." 

The call ended. 

Jungkook closed his eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the panic clawing at his chest. Then, without another thought, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door. 

this wasn’t just about him anymore. 

this was about survival. 

**the warehouse** 

Jungkook pushed open the rusted doors, his footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. The air smelled of oil and dust, the remnants of an abandoned world long forgotten. 

Taehyung was already there, leaning against a stack of crates, arms crossed, expression unreadable. But Jungkook knew better. He knew the tension hiding beneath that calm facade. 

"You saw the news," taehyung stated. 

Jungkook nodded stiffly. "How the hell did this happen? That body was supposed to disappear." 

"It was never going to disappear, kook," taehyung muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You really think Ryu was going to clean up your mess without a price?" 

Jungkook’s fists clenched. "I didn’t have a choice that night." 

"I know," taehyung said quietly. "But that doesn’t change the fact that he owns you now." 

The words felt like a slap. 

Own. 

He hated that word. Hated that the underworld worked like that. Once you spilled blood, you were part of it. There was no escape, no way to undo what had been done. 

Jungkook took a shaky breath. "What do we do now?" 

Taehyung looked him dead in the eye. "We don’t run. That’s not an option. The only way out of this is through it." 

Jungkook swallowed. He had always known this would happen. The moment he pulled that trigger, he had sealed his fate. 

But there was one thing he refused to let happen. 

Ryu wasn’t going to control him. 

Not forever. 

one week later

Jungkook sat at the corner of a high-end bar, a glass of whiskey untouched in front of him. The place was filled with people—some rich, some powerful, all dangerous in one way or another. 

But his attention was locked on only one person. 

Ryu shi oh. 

The man sat across the room, relaxed, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was laughing, enjoying his drink, his arrogance as suffocating as always. 

Jungkook’s fingers curled around the glass. His body was coiled tight, his mind screaming to act. To end this. To take back control. 

He barely noticed when a figure slid into the seat next to him. 

"You’re making it obvious." 

Jungkook turned sharply. His jaw tightened when he saw who it was. 

Krishika.

Her dark eyes studied him with amusement, but there was something deeper in them. Something sharp, something knowing. 

Jungkook hadn’t expected to see her here. He had met her only once before, at an industry event. Back then, she had been just another name, another face in the world of fame and fortune. 

But now, she was here. 

And she was watching him too closely. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked, voice low. 

Krishika tilted her head, a slow smirk forming on her lips. "I could ask you the same thing." 

Jungkook exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. This was not the time. 

"You should leave," he muttered. 

"And miss whatever the hell you’re about to do?" she mused. "I don’t think so." 

Jungkook looked at her again, properly this time. She was different from the women he was used to seeing in places like this. 

She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. 

She wasn’t trying to belong. 

She just was. 

And that made her dangerous. 

"You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into," he warned. 

Krishika shrugged. "Maybe. But I know one thing for sure." 

Jungkook arched an eyebrow. "And what’s that?" 

She leaned in slightly, voice softer now. "You don’t belong here either." 

His breath caught. 

For the first time in weeks, someone was looking at him and seeing him. Not the mafia, not the idol, not the criminal. 

Just him. 

And that terrified him more than anything else. 

Ryu’s laughter echoed across the room, snapping Jungkook back to reality. 

He had a mission tonight. He couldn’t get distracted. 

But something told him—Krishika was about to change everything.