Pic credit: edit_mobixs

***

Chanyeol retired to his bedroom after the encounter with Baekhyun, a subtle touch that had left him feeling uneasy. It was an unexpected physical reaction, and he wondered if there was something peculiar about Baekhyun. He found it disturbing how his body had responded to Baekhyun's touch in such a brief moment. Nevertheless, he dismissed these thoughts, chalking it up to a combination of circumstances, including the alcohol he'd consumed that night.

Chanyeol decided to put Baekhyun out of his mind, deeming the younger man peculiar, and opted for a warm bath instead. Upon exiting the bath, an unusual tingling sensation persisted across his body, as if something were crawling up his spine. Acting on impulse, Chanyeol picked up his phone from his bedside drawer and dialed a number he hoped he'd never have to call again. The phone rang for a few seconds on loudspeaker, but when there was no answer, he contemplated not making the call at all.

Luckily, the call finally connected, and a woman's voice, Sofia, answered. "Hello, boss. You called?"

"Sofia, hello. Have you been at the base recently?"

"Yes, boss."

"Where are you right now?"

"I just got back to my quarters. I went clubbing and freshened up. I'm feeling both aroused and sad, though, because you mentioned not sharing a bed again," Sofia mumbled, making Chanyeol roll his eyes at her suggestive tone. He had contemplated inviting her over, but her remarks were discouraging. He chose to remain silent, allowing her to continue, but once Sofia noticed his silence, she stopped. "Boss? Are you still there?"

"We have a meeting at my office in the morning, Sofia."

"But, boss?" Sofia addressed Don, her voice reflecting her confusion. "I didn't realize that was why you called. I thought we..."

"There is no 'we,' Sofia. Stop making this difficult. Your usual allowances will be arranged, but getting into bed with you is not happening again, understand?"

"Boss?"

Chanyeol didn't wait for her to say more before ending the call. He'd rather have Sehun make arrangements than sleep with her again, especially since she was sleeping with his adversaries under the guise of being a spy.

~
~
~

Irked with acrimony and regrets. Traumatized and hurt to his bones and soul. With reality unfolding before his very own eyes, Baekhyun found himself reflecting on the events of the previous night. He replayed how he had managed to endure the hardship, the frightening moments, and the peril. He had witnessed his own life flashing before him, a quick succession of memories and emotions, everything he'd ever experienced and shared. If only he had exercised caution, if only he'd returned when he had the chance, he might have avoided all of this.

As sunlight streamed through the window blinds, illuminating the room, Baekhyun awoke. The bright rays fell directly on his face, causing him to squint and attempt to adjust his vision. He had wept himself to sleep just hours ago, hoping that this nightmare would be over when he awoke. He prayed to wake up in his own house, in his own bed, or perhaps at his family home with his mother tending to him. However, the harsh reality was that he had not awoken in any of those places.

Baekhyun's gaze fell upon Oh Sehun, who stood before him with his hands resting on his hips, adopting an assertive posture. "Tsk, he survived that slap," Sehun muttered, and an almost imperceptible frown appeared on Baekhyun's face upon hearing Sehun's whispered comment. Baekhyun felt utterly defeated, and the shock that the power biker who had chased and knocked him out last night was the very man standing before him only compounded his despair. These people were all sinister.

"Time to rise and shine, sleeping beauty," Sehun declared, his gaze locked on Baekhyun, his expression unyielding. "It's time for your morning routine. Get yourself out of bed and into the shower because you're starting to stink." He wrinkled his nose and pretended to gag.

Morning drills? Baekhyun pondered inwardly. What had he done to warrant morning drills? He thought to himself as he slowly rose from the bed, wearing a slight pout. His eyes were swollen from the tears he had shed, red marks on his wrists attested to the cable strap used to bind him the previous day, and his legs felt somewhat shaky, though not nearly as weak as the day before.

He was able to stand now, but he was exhausted and starving. The last meal he'd had was yesterday around 10 in the morning, and he'd had nothing since.

"Get moving, quick!" Sehun ordered. Baekhyun promptly got up and headed for the bathroom. "What's your name?" Sehun inquired, and Baekhyun felt compelled to answer honestly. "Byun Baekhyun." He had no desire to experience the pain he'd endured the previous night over a simple question.

"Good! Baekhyun, you have ten minutes to shower. There are new toothbrushes, body lotion, deodorants, and a change of clothes available for you. Be sure to finish before my return." With those instructions, Sehun left the room, ensuring to lock the door with a password behind him.

Upon entering the bathroom and catching sight of his reflection, Baekhyun confronted the disarray he had unwittingly become. He hadn't even realized he sported a split lip, possibly a result of the two harsh slaps he had endured the previous night and the impact from his fainting spell.

Quickly shedding his clothes, Baekhyun stepped into the inviting warmth of the shower. Yet, as the comforting water enveloped his body, his emotions overflowed, and tears welled up. He cried for the life he once knew, for the transformation from the cheerful and carefree Baekhyun into a hapless soul marked for death overnight. He wished he had heeded Jongin's advice to lay low, pondering that following Jongin's lead was a mix of regret and righteousness. His actions had undoubtedly saved Jongin from a terrible fate, and Baekhyun couldn't shake the fear that Kim Jongin might already be dead or held captive by these ominous individuals.

Baekhyun's thoughts swirled chaotically. Was Jongin still alive? Did he even know he was a hostage? Would he come to rescue Baekhyun? How would his mother react to his absence when he usually visited on Saturday mornings? Would the Mafioso make good on his threat to end his life?

Speaking of the Mafia leader, Baekhyun harbored an intense dread of encountering the enigmatic man again. Though nameless to him, Chanyeol was etched into his memory as a wrathful figure. The Mafioso's anger was terrifying, but even in his fury, Baekhyun couldn't deny that Chanyeol's handsomeness was striking. What he had done to Baekhyun the previous night, however, was inexcusable. Baekhyun secretly wished for vengeful demons to haunt the Mafia leader's dreams every night.

Baekhyun finished his shower right on schedule, grabbing a new toothbrush to clean his teeth. Eager to avoid being caught undressed by Sehun, he raced to dress himself while brushing his teeth and applied deodorant found on the bathroom counter.

True to expectation, the door to Baekhyun's room emitted a beep from the outside. Sehun announced his arrival with a quick greeting before poking his head inside. There, he found Baekhyun sitting on the bed, looking clean and prepared for whatever drill awaited him.

"Are you ready?" Sehun inquired, standing by the door. As Baekhyun nodded in response, Sehun wasted no time, commanding, "Let's go, hurry!" Eagerly, Baekhyun followed Sehun, proceeding through the corridor towards the stairs. It was his first time seeing the interior of the mansion, and he couldn't help but marvel at its modern and tasteful yet understated design, the embodiment of luxury.

Following Sehun outside, Baekhyun couldn't ignore his parched throat and growling stomach, reminders of his hunger and thirst. He refrained from requesting food or water, believing he had no such privilege. As they walked, he noticed a group of Mafia soldiers who nodded respectfully to Sehun as they departed. In turn, Baekhyun mimicked the gesture of respect, though they seemed indifferent to his presence, conversing amongst themselves in cryptic language. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he noticed their lingering stares.

Continuing to trail Sehun, they reached the end of the building and took a left turn, heading towards the rear of the mansion. There, Baekhyun observed other members of the Mafia family. Some engaged in rough wrestling matches to test their strength, others facing reprimands for undisclosed reasons. A few stopped their activities upon noticing Baekhyun's presence and started conversing in code, incomprehensible to him as an outsider. He couldn't help but feel anxious; many of these individuals were strikingly handsome, yet they were enmeshed in a life of crime.

As they progressed past these members, they approached a relatively quieter building, constructed entirely from floor-to-ceiling transparent glass. Through the glass, Baekhyun caught sight of Chanyeol inside the gym, clad in gray sweatpants, hands wrapped, pummeling a heavy punching bag with unwavering focus. Shirtless, he displayed total dedication, channeling his frustrations into the powerful punches. Baekhyun was left awestruck, and his mouth ran dry. Caught up in the moment and preoccupied with the sight of Chanyeol, the president of the Clumsy People's Association momentarily forgot where he was heading. Inevitably, he collided with a sturdy pillar, stumbling and knocking a flower vase, though luckily, it didn't shatter. Baekhyun sighed in relief, nursing a throbbing forehead.

The sound of Baekhyun's fall immediately caught Sehun's attention, and he was sure that his awkwardness had also registered with Chanyeol. Though Baekhyun didn't glance to confirm, he felt an unrelenting gaze fixed on him from the corner of his eye. "Ahh!" Baekhyun moaned in discomfort while holding his throbbing forehead.

"Are you alright?" Sehun inquired, displaying a touch of concern. Receiving a slight nod from Baekhyun, Sehun crossed his arms over his chest. "Get up, now!" He ordered, prompting Baekhyun to scramble back to his feet.

"Let me share a piece of advice, Baekhyun." Sehun leaned in, his tone serious. "You'll receive a single pass each day to spare you from the daily whacking. A failure to earn that pass takes you on a one-way journey. So, if I were you, I'd stop staring at abs and muscles and focus on preserving your life." With this counsel delivered, Sehun resumed walking. "Pick up that damn vase and follow me."

Sehun's words brought Baekhyun back to reality. As he grappled with the vase, trying to restore it to its previous position, his curious gaze veered towards the glass once more. Though only for a fleeting moment, what he saw nearly stopped his heart. Chanyeol stood by the towering window, looking directly at him with an intense gaze. In an instant, Baekhyun's heartbeat accelerated, his face warmed, and beads of sweat formed on his skin due to the heat generated by the man's gaze. Overwhelmed by Chanyeol's intense scrutiny, Baekhyun offered a quick bow of greeting and promptly scurried away to catch up with Sehun.

Upon rejoining Sehun, Baekhyun let out an exasperated breath and gently massaged his aching forehead. He knew it would likely bruise before the day was out, assuming he survived today's drill and earned that coveted pass. But how could he not be entranced by the enigma of Chanyeol after the man's reprehensible actions the previous night? Pouting, he shook his head and accidentally bumped into Sehun, not realizing that the man had halted.

The impact against his back surprised Sehun, furrowing his brows in irritation. He spun around to find Baekhyun clutching his forehead with both hands. "It appears you have a penchant for clumsiness and collisions, as that's all you've managed to do since waking up."

Baekhyun pouted at Sehun's remark, but his only option was to apologize. "I'm sorry."
...

However, Sehun didn't dwell on the topic of Baekhyun's clumsiness. Instead, he let out a subdued sigh and directed Baekhyun's attention to a group of soldiers on the field who were jogging.

"Prepare to join the other soldiers on the field. You're going to run 20 lapses plus an extra two for your clumsiness. You have 20 minutes to do it. Now, get moving!"

Sehun's instructions made Baekhyun's head throb. He shielded his eyes from the sun's intense rays as he surveyed the vast expanse of the field, a wave of terror washing over him. Completing 20 lapses plus two extra in just 20 minutes on this enormous field sounded like an impossible task. Nevertheless, Baekhyun, despite his trepidation, quickly joined the other soldiers, eager to see how many lapses he could complete before the time ran out. Another Capo approached him and led him to the field to commence the daunting challenge.

~
~
~

As Baekhyun swiftly joined the group of soldiers for a jog across the field, Sehun reached into his jacket pocket and fished out a pack of cigarettes, only to realize he lacked a lighter. Thankfully, Minseok, the Underboss, had one and tossed it to Sehun, who deftly caught it. Sehun lit his cigarette and then returned the lighter to Minseok, who pocketed it with a nonchalant nod of thanks.

"I'm still surprised you convinced the Boss to let Baekhyun out of his room so quickly," Sehun remarked, taking a drag from his cigarette and exhaling a plume of smoke into the air.

"I have my methods," Minseok replied, slipping his hands into his jacket pockets and heaving a sigh. In his role as Underboss, he likely held sensitive information about Park Chanyeol, the Boss, and bosses often appointed close confidants to the underboss position for their protection. Such a position allowed Minseok the privilege of speaking directly with Don Chanyeol.

"Did he just release him, just like that?" Sehun inquired, somewhat taken aback, considering Chanyeol's reputation and his strict nature, especially regarding his finances. While Chanyeol could be quite generous, any attempt to deceive him could incur his wrath. "Sotto, we lost fifty million dollars' worth of cocaine to Jongin because of Baekhyun, and Chanyeol is just going to let it slide?"

Minseok scoffed, shaking his head. "He won't let it slide. This morning, the Boss contemplated putting a hit on Baekhyun after he returned from his room. He instructed me to ensure Baekhyun was sent to meet his maker by the end of the day if we couldn't find Jongin. So, I negotiated these drill passes to see if Baekhyun could work off the punishment and maybe, just maybe, help us locate Jongin."

Sehun sighed deeply, watching as Baekhyun struggled to keep up with the other soldiers, his exhaustion evident. "Do you think he'll make it through these drills?" Minseok inquired, keeping a close eye on Baekhyun's efforts to catch up.

"It's hard to say right now. He'd better save himself, though, because we both know the Boss won't let him go until he recovers his losses," Sehun responded, flicking the spent cigarette onto the ground and extinguishing it with his foot. "Worst-case scenario, he forces Baekhyun into induction."

"He can undergo the induction, but he won't be fully integrated into the family as a soldier."

"Why do you think he can't join the soldiers?"

"He's overly emotional, clumsy, and lacks focus. He's the type who might easily cave under pressure if you catch my drift. Mafia families don't mix feelings with business. We're involved in killing, stealing, and extortion. No room for distractions. So he can complete the Mafia initiation ritual, take the oath of loyalty, the Omertà, promising not to divulge any secrets, but apart from that, he might serve as a personal indulgence for the boss, receiving material luxuries, rather than joining the family, because he could get hurt."

"You think he's gay?" Minseok asked, pondering Sehun's statement.

"I didn't say that, but if he is, well, that's the Boss's gain. He's just gained another companion. At least, I won't have to go searching for such entertainment for him anytime soon. Anyway, it's not my concern about his sexuality, to be honest. I'm solely focused on getting that money back so that my crew and I can collect our share."

"I doubt the boss will ever look at him that way. He despises him," Minseok asserted, but Sehun scoffed. The way the boss and Baekhyun had gazed at each other earlier today when Baekhyun bumped into the pillar seemed more like concern than hatred, at least in Sehun's eyes. "Time will tell. Just remember that Don just brought his doom home."

With that, their conversation ended, and Sehun showed his gratitude to Minseok for the lighter with a nod before proceeding to catch up with Baekhyun, yelling at the top of his voice. "You have 12 more lapses to go, Baekhyun! Keep moving!"

Twelve more lapses? Baekhyun felt like crying. He couldn't continue. He just couldn't. Even though he wanted to stay alive, his body and mind weren't cooperating with the brutal ordeal. Suddenly, bile surged in Baekhyun's throat, and before he could comprehend what was happening, his head spun, and he collapsed.

~
~
~

At this point, he should have been in the afterlife. It was so serene, so blissfully quiet, a realm of peace. "Omma? Where am I?" The torment appeared to be at an end. No more grueling drills, no more tribulations. Perhaps he could slumber eternally. To Baekhyun, it felt as if celestial beings serenaded him with their mellifluous melodies. But then, out of nowhere, a familiar voice shattered the tranquility.

"If you're awake, get your ass up, now!"

The celestial melody dissipated, leaving silence, and the darkness enveloped him. Baekhyun was hesitant to return to the world of pain and hardship. The tranquility he'd experienced had been a welcome respite. But why would angels be discussing something as mundane as getting up? He tightened the sleep mask he was wearing, stretching it slightly. He felt an urge to rejoin those angels.

"I won't repeat myself. Get up, Baekhyun!"

Reluctantly, Baekhyun squinted his eyes, finally opening one. He found Minseok's concerned gaze and another man holding a tray of food. Baekhyun stretched, let out a yawn, and then sat up.

"Give him the food to eat, Kyungsoo. And fetch him some painkillers and ointment for those forehead bruises."

Kyungsoo placed the food tray beside Baekhyun and hurried to get the painkillers and ointment. When Baekhyun saw the food, his stomach made its presence known with a growl. He hadn't eaten in nearly 24 hours, and the thought of not having a meal again was unsettling.

The bacon, potato, and egg casserole before him looked delectable, but Baekhyun was apprehensive. He knew that these people had sinister intentions, although he wasn't sure how they planned to carry them out. What if... what if the food and juice were poisoned? He scrutinized the meal and then looked away.

"Don't overthink it," Minseok said, wiping his gun with a handkerchief. Baekhyun swallowed nervously. "If I wanted you dead, you would have been long gone. So eat your food; we don't have all day."

"We don't have all day? What's happening?" Baekhyun wondered. Could it be that he still had more drills to endure today?

Kyungsoo returned with aspirin and ointment for his forehead, encouraging Baekhyun to enjoy his meal. As soon as he took a bite, his starving stomach grumbled, and he voraciously consumed the entire meal, not worrying about the consequences.

After finishing his meal, Minseok allowed Baekhyun thirty minutes of rest before leading him to a muddy area. There, he found Sehun and other Capos, along with the same soldiers he had been with in the field before he fainted. Each of them had baskets hanging around their necks. "Take off your shirt and join them in line, Baekhyun," Minseok instructed, causing Baekhyun to go pale. Did they expect him to go shirtless in front of these soldiers who were eyeing him with eager anticipation?

"What's the matter, pretty boy?" one of the soldiers taunted Baekhyun, igniting laughter among his comrades. "We all have dicks, you know!"

"QUIET!" Sehun warned sternly, and the soldiers fell silent, though there was still some subdued chatter among Hector and his group, which didn't go unnoticed. Sehun briefly locked eyes with Baekhyun, signaling him to obey the command and join the line. Baekhyun did so without further hesitation. It was quite embarrassing as he felt the lustful gazes of the other soldiers, especially when he undressed, leaving only his boxer shorts.

"Now, listen carefully," Minseok declared. "There are more than a thousand small balls buried in the mud. Your task is to retrieve them using your hands. Don't worry, it's clean mud, but you must use your hands."

"What's in it for us, Sotto?" Hector raised a question.

"The soldier who retrieves the highest number of balls will be excused from future drills immediately," Minseok replied, but Hector and his crew didn't seem pleased with the answer.

"What if we team up and work together?"

"No teams. Each man is on his own."

"And those who can't do it?"

"You'll continue the drills until the Don decides it's enough," Minseok informed them, drawing frowns from the group.

"But that's unfair," Hector tried to protest once more.

"SHUT UP!" Sehun's outburst silenced the group. "IF YOU HAD DONE YOUR JOB WELL, THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING!" Sehun's harsh words hit home, leaving the other soldiers understanding the truth of the matter. Hector had yet to explain why he failed to eliminate Jongin when he had the opportunity.

"Now, get moving, all of you," one of the Capos ordered, and they all ventured into the muddy pit.

Baekhyun felt disgusted and was almost ready to vomit as the mud engulfed his feet. However, knowing he was doing this for his own survival, he plunged his hands into the mud, searching for the small balls with determination.

As time passed, the more aggressive soldiers grew restless, fearing that others might collect more balls than they did. Hector's group, in particular, acted aggressively, but Baekhyun didn't back down.

~
~
~

The muddy drill concluded approximately two hours later, and the soldiers were instructed to exit the pit for cleanup. Although they had their designated living quarters in the camp under the supervision of senior Capos, there was a communal washroom they used after workouts.

After washing up, while some of the soldiers, including Baekhyun, were in the process of getting dressed, Hector's genitals inexplicably became erect. He called for the attention of the other soldiers, making a crude comment. "Look what we have here. My dick just stood erect after seeing one of us here." They burst into laughter.

"There's someone among us who seems to be craving some action, he needs someone to dick," the soldier closest to Hector announced, drawing laughs and chatter among the newly inducted Made-men. Meanwhile, Baekhyun, wrapped in a towel, stood in the corner, hoping this absurdity would end soon so he could leave this nightmarish place.

They proceeded to inspect every male in the room, although this wasn't their real intent. Then, they approached Baekhyun's location.

"It's your turn, Baekhyun, turn around," one of Hector's cronies commanded, advancing menacingly towards Baekhyun. "Show your dick." The others joined in with an eerie chant.

"Show your dick!"

"Show your dick!!"

"Show your dick!!!"

Hector leaned down to whisper something crude into Baekhyun's ear. "If you want, I can use my rectal thermometer on you. What do you say huh? It'll take you to cloud nine," he taunted while pressing against Baekhyun from behind.

"Stay the hell away from me!" Baekhyun resisted, pushing Hector back with his shoulder.

Their disturbance triggered loud booing in the washroom, further enraging Hector. He aggressively shoved Baekhyun against a locker, forcing his face against the cold metal door. "Playing hard to get, huh?" Hector scoffed in frustration. "You're the reason for our punishments, not me. You let Jongin get away."

"Please, stop... You're hurting me," Baekhyun pleaded, but it only fueled Hector's rage and... desires.

"You've seen nothing. You'll understand real pain when I've had my way with your tight ass, and my boys take their turns."

"No! Get off me!"

Then, a thunderous voice struck like lightning.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Sehun's commanding voice reverberated. The chanting and chaos came to an abrupt halt. "HECTOR!" Sehun growled as he stormed into the locker room, moving with relentless determination. He delivered a fierce punch to Hector's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. The other soldiers wisely scrambled out of the way. Sehun was one of the most feared Capos in camp, and nobody wanted to draw his ire. "HOW DARE YOU LAY YOUR FILTHY HANDS ON HIM?!" Sehun thundered, delivering a kick to Hector's stomach, eliciting a pained grimace. "AND ALL OF YOU, STANDING THERE WATCHING THIS BASTARD DO THIS! WE DON'T TOLERATE BULLYING IN THIS FAMILY! YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME SOON, HECTOR. NOW GET OUT OF HERE. DISAPPEAR!"

"Are you okay?" Sehun asked Baekhyun, concern in his voice.

Baekhyun nodded, trembling from the fear of nearly being assaulted.

"Did he touch you?"

"Almost."

"Let's go." Sehun swiftly pulled Baekhyun out of the locker room, leaving Hector writhing in pain on the floor.

Baekhyun accidentally bumped his forehead against Sehun's back because he wasn't paying attention. "Again, Baekhyun?" Sehun frowned.

"Um... I'm sorry, sir," Baekhyun pouted, looking up at Sehun through his lashes.

"It's fine, but always keep an eye on where you're going," Sehun advised. Baekhyun nodded in acknowledgment. They continued in silence until something struck Baekhyun.

"Thank you for rescuing me. But how did you know I was there?"

"I wouldn't have known if I hadn't heard them chanting, 'show your dick,'" Sehun explained. "I called Kyungsoo to check if you were in your room, and when he said you weren't, I rushed there."

Baekhyun softly said, "Oh?" Pouting as he walked alongside Sehun.

"But how on earth did you end up in the Made-men's washroom?" Sehun asked, puzzled. "Those guys are like wolves in human clothing."

"One of the Capos told us to go to the washroom after we left the mud."

"And you followed them? Is that your washroom?"

"I thought..."

"You thought what, Baekhyun? You could've been in real trouble if I hadn't arrived in time. Those guys were Made-men. They were soldiers, and you didn't even belong there. You were only doing drills with them to avoid punishment from the Mafioso because he was furious with you."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Sehun sighed softly. "From now on, after your daily drills, go to your washroom and freshen up. I don't want to see you near any of the soldiers or Capos here unless instructed. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"It's Sehun. Or better yet, refer to me as Capo."

"Okay, thank you, Capo," Baekhyun mumbled with a bow before hurrying off.

Sehun couldn't help but smile as he watched Baekhyun make his way to Don's mansion, where his room was situated. He wasn't entirely sure if "cute" was the right word to describe Baekhyun, but that's what he thought.
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Authors note 📝

Welcome back lovelies!🤗 Thank you so much for 1k reads🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ I honestly didn't think you will like this story...I am so grateful for your kind support.🙏🥰❤️

Thank you for stopping by, lovelies💛❤️I hope you enjoyed this chapter.🥺🤧
I am so sorry if this did not meet your expectations 🙏but I am willing to keep trying. See you in the next chapter where Chanyeol and Baekhyun will have a one-on-one encounter. Bye for now🤍🤸‍♀️🤗