This chapter is unedited, errors are inevitable 🙏Enjoy

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The early hours of the morning had always been an opportune time for the Mafia to strike against its debtors. Sehun, in particular, endorsed such tactics. The Mafia might extend a helping hand by providing loans as long as you adhered to strict repayment terms. However, they held a strong distaste for those who failed to honor their debts or flaunted their wealth by driving new cars while claiming to be impoverished.

Park Chanyeol had a deep aversion to dishonesty. He despised being made to appear foolish through deceit and manipulation. While begging for money or showing desperation was one thing, reneging on agreements was an entirely different matter that came with painful consequences.

It was around 5:00 am when Chanyeol, having helped Baekhyun return to his room after training, began to prepare for a different kind of work. He opted not to return to his room for rest but to change. It was the perfect time to pay a visit to a friend who owed him money, even if it was still early. The hope was that their target would be in a deep slumber, oblivious to the impending visit, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder and the flash of lightning.

After taking a hot bath, Chanyeol adorned a three-piece glen plaid suit, a black tie, and a camel overcoat. "Are you ready to go?" he inquired, rushing out of his room as he headed toward the stairs. He carried an Assassin's Special, an automatic .22-caliber handgun equipped with a silencer, a different choice from the Maxim 9 handgun he had initially stepped out with. This trusted companion served as both protection and a deterrent in the perilous world he navigated.

"Yes, Don. We're prepared," Minseok swiftly replied to the Don's query.

"Kim Young should oversee the mansion," Chanyeol instructed one of his Capos. "Have seasoned soldiers patrol the area. Baekhyun no longer has a pass and must not leave the premises under any circumstances. Hawk will guide the new Made-men in their daily training." Chanyeol's directions were clear as he grabbed his laptop and work bag, heading for the door. "Where's Oh Sehun?" he inquired, concerned about the absence of his formidable Capo.

"He's waiting by the car," Minseok responded, and Chanyeol made his way past him with a nod, prompting Minseok to follow closely.

They departed in a convoy of three cars to minimize attracting attention. No power bikes accompanied them. Chanyeol aimed to catch their debtor off guard and prevent any chance of escape. Chanyeol's options ranged from seizing the debtor's entire or partial business, cutting off their access to organized crime funds, increasing the interest on the debt, or demanding they perform various tasks, some legal and others entirely illegal, that held greater value than the debt itself. Of course, the final and most brutal choice was to instruct one of his Capos to end the debtor's life with a well-placed bullet.

Their journey led them to a newly developed residential area with sprawling estates, populated by influential individuals who had accumulated vast wealth through nefarious means. These debtors would retreat to their lavish hideaways after preying on the vulnerable public. The debtor, in this case, had purchased significant property despite claiming financial hardship. The presence of such a mansion raised questions about the debtor's financial predicament in the first place.

Upon arrival, Chanyeol decided to call the debtor in question. The property's gates were transparent, allowing a clear view of whether the man was at home. Strangely, the debtor, Moon Dae-Jung, exited his mansion to approach one of his cars just as Chanyeol began dialing his number, revealing a discrepancy in his excuse of being abroad.

Chanyeol was exasperated by such blatant falsehoods. Moon Dae-Jung, a 33-year-old businessman, had approached him a year ago, seeking financial assistance to rescue his failing business ventures. Initially, Chanyeol had dismissed his pleas, but constant entreaties led to a loan agreement for twenty million US dollars. However, Dae-Jung had failed to fulfill the agreement's terms, leaving Chanyeol no choice but to seek repayment.

"Oh, how long have you been out of the country?" Chanyeol inquired, his patience waning as it became evident that Moon Dae-Jung was attempting to deceive him. "So, you're not returning until next month, is that it?"
....

"Yes, Mr. Park. I'll be here for a while. While we talk, I'm at the hospital, where my daughter is undergoing surgery," Moon Dae-Jung responded. Chanyeol was infuriated by the man's nonchalance. "I'm outside, and I can see you. Your house is impressive, and those cars are quite magnificent. You have excellent taste," he commented. The man's face paled when Chanyeol mentioned that he could see him, and horror overtook him as he turned to face the gate, where Chanyeol was standing. "How did you...?" he stammered, astonished.

"Did you mean to ask how I found your new hiding place?" Chanyeol inquired with a sly grin. "You can run, but you can't hide from me, Moon Dae-Jung. I have my ways."

"What do you want? I never said I wouldn't pay," Dae-Jung said, clearly distressed.

"What do I want? That's not how you talk to a friend, my friend. I'm disappointed," Chanyeol frowned. "Why don't you behave like the gentleman you are and come outside before your daughter's surgery starts so we can have a chat, man to man."

"You won't hurt me, will you?"

"I have more important matters to attend to. Do you really think I'd visit you at this hour just to harm you?" Chanyeol's brows furrowed in a deep scowl.

"Please, I promise to pay you," Dae-Jung mumbled, scratching the back of his head, and Chanyeol let out a scoffing laugh.

"All I want to do is talk, so come outside, and let's do that," Chanyeol spoke with a commanding voice that conveyed his frustration. After some contemplation, Dae-Jung eventually emerged, with Chanyeol instructing his Capos and soldiers to withdraw, leaving his trusted Capo Minseok with them.

Chanyeol's presence among his soldiers only heightened Dae-Jung's anxiety. In case he didn't appear the next day, Minseok needed to be aware of everything that transpired.

"How much did you spend on this house?" He continued by staring at the mansion again, accessing its worth, "Hmm? It's really lovely." For all there was, he could have it taken from Dae-Jung if he so desired, but that was not the reason he was here. "Hmmm?"

"$3,000,000,"

"Interesting, huh? And the cars?" Chanyeol frowned, and his two hands slid into his jacket pocket to restrain him from punching Dae-Jung in the face. "I asked you a question, Dae-Jung," he asked with a raised brow.

"About $1.55 million for four of them."

"So, you drive four exotic cars, huh?" Chanyeol continued to ask, smiling, and nodding his head alongside.

"I switched them around," Dae-Jung admitted.

"So, you swapped the cars," Chanyeol nodded. "Big spender. I also heard you've started a manufacturing business. Is that true?" he inquired, tilting his head.

"Yes."

"Quite luxurious," Chanyeol and Minseok exchanged glances before laughing together. "So, how much is your outstanding debt to me?" Chanyeol asked, his voice growing harsh. His anger was becoming increasingly evident, and he was struggling to contain it.

"$20,000,000," Dae-Jung mumbled, weighed down by guilt.

"And how long has it been, Dae-Jung?" Chanyeol questioned.

"E-eighteen months," Dae-Jung admitted hesitantly.

"So, you took my twenty million dollars, indulged in luxury, disappeared for over a year, and haven't repaid even a portion of it, huh?" Chanyeol's voice was filled with anger. "I want my money back in twenty days." His statement left Dae-Jung with wide-eyed shock. "Y-Yeol—"

"Shut up, Dae-Jung! Don't call me 'Yeol.' We're not friends, okay? I'm in a good mood today, and I came to talk to you politely. But I'll impose an additional 5% interest on your debt for making me visit you in person after several months to ask for my money. If I don't get my money within the next 20 days, I promise you, I'll be back, and you won't like my demeanor then. Remember that we had contracts and agreements in place, and you can be sure I'll make you suffer, and neither the government nor the police will be able to protect you from me."

"But, twenty days is too short to pay $20,000,000, Mr. Park!" Dae-Jung's protest made Chanyeol scoff. "Twenty days is too brief?" Chanyeol inquired, his patience waning. "You've had twelve months of grace until today, and now I want my money back, damn it. You're telling me twenty days is insufficient? You're in trouble, Dae-Jung!"
....

"Mr. Park," Dae-Jung trembled, sensing the shift in Chanyeol's tone. "I promise to repay you when I have the money. I only need more time," he pleaded. Chanyeol, however, seized him by the collar and forcefully pushed Dae-Jung against the gate, causing him to wince. Despite Dae-Jung's attempts to break free, he was no match for an enraged Don. "Now, listen carefully, you fool," Chanyeol seethed, his voice filled with anger. "I can do unspeakable things for my money, things that you couldn't even fathom. Have you ever heard of life imprisonment in a barrel or barrel murder? I can have you confined to a barrel against your will, where you would slowly and agonizingly waste away. Then, I would either seize all your assets or demand that your family repay the debt in full, even after you've passed away. Don't mess with me, Dae-Jung; I'm fucking serious." With that, he pushed Dae-Jung away and departed for work with his gang, leaving Dae-Jung alone to ponder the dire consequences of crossing Chanyeol's path. Dae-Jung couldn't shake off the chilling thought of being confined in a barrel, left to suffer in solitude.

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Baekhyun awoke around 8:00 a.m., his mind in a state of confusion and disorientation. Everything that had transpired the previous night seemed like a surreal dream. He desperately wished to remain asleep, hoping that it was all just a figment of his imagination. However, the vivid memory of Chanyeol tearing his pass card in half and his own insults hurled at the man quickly flooded back into Baekhyun's consciousness. As he looked around his room, he tried to piece together the events of the previous night.

Regret washed over him, and he bit his lip. How had he found the courage to confront Chanyeol, let alone insult him? Why had Chanyeol remained silent in the face of such provocations? What would be his fate after treading on a lion's tail? Would Chanyeol seek forgiveness, or was he doomed to suffer in this mansion of horrors?

Baekhyun decided to get up and take a warm shower before starting his daily exercises. Unlike his previous routine of merely brushing his teeth and washing his face before drills, he couldn't wear the same dirty outfit from the previous session. He knew he had to clean up before the training.

After a shower and a change into his workout attire, Baekhyun headed downstairs. Aside from Kyungsoo and a few maids, he encountered none of the soldiers or capos. He greeted Kyungsoo and the maids and proceeded toward the front door. As he passed the soldiers outside, their responses to his greetings varied from acknowledgment to pretending not to hear and even a few lustful glances. Baekhyun couldn't help but feel vulnerable and unsafe in this environment. What if no one was there to protect him from those who might see him as prey? It was a memory he wanted to forget, like the past incidents he had experienced.

As he walked past the soldiers and entered the training area, Baekhyun tried to ignore the seductive whistles and gazes directed at him. He knew he was attractive, but his appearance was inherited from his parents. He couldn't be as muscular as most of them because they had undergone rigorous training he could never match.

In the training field, he could hear the sounds and chants of new recruits going through their drills. Baekhyun couldn't help but scoff sarcastically at his new "amazing" life. Lost in his thoughts, he initially didn't notice when Hawk called him over. It took him a moment to respond to Hawk's question, "Why are you here?" Baekhyun found Hawk's question a bit puzzling. Why was he here? Wasn't this what he had to do to survive in this harsh environment?

"Capo, I came for my morning drills," Baekhyun responded, panting from his run.

Hawk's directive caught Baekhyun off guard. "You can return to the mansion now; your drills are over," Hawk said. Baekhyun was bewildered, wondering if this sudden end to his drills was a sign of something ominous. Was he being marked for elimination now? He pleaded with Hawk, explaining the importance of his training and his desperate need for a pass card to stay alive.

"Baekhyun, while I understand the need for your training, I must follow the Boss's orders," Hawk explained. The mention of the Boss sent a shiver down Baekhyun's spine, indicating that Chanyeol had ordered the cessation of his drills. But why? What had he done wrong? Baekhyun looked up at Hawk with a bewildered expression. "Am I going to be killed?" he asked, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

"Your fate is in his hands. Why don't you approach him directly? You called him a coward this morning, so speaking to him now shouldn't be a problem," Hawk suggested.

"I'm sorry, but he tore my pass card in half, and I was angry. What else could I do?" Baekhyun's voice quivered as he recounted the morning's events, and he couldn't hold back the tears that welled in his eyes.

Hawk advised Baekhyun, "You should have waited to see his response before reacting. But you continued to argue. There was a moment when I felt sorry for you, yet also scared I couldn't prevent you from going back there." Baekhyun stood in remorse, his lips pursed, looking up at Hawk, who also wore a concerned expression. "I'm sorry, Capo—"

"No need to apologize," Hawk interrupted him. "At least, not to me. You must return inside before he comes back and finds you here. I have to leave now. Good luck, Baekhyun." With those words, Hawk walked away, and Baekhyun nodded, but he was rooted in place, uncertain if he could bring himself to approach Chanyeol again after what he had just heard. The Don was now off-limits, and Baekhyun felt a surge of hatred toward him and everyone connected to him. He was desperate to escape, but he was unsure of his freedom, not to mention the emotions tangled in this mess. Thoughts of Chanyeol always left a strange unease in his gut.

Dejected, and with blurry eyes, Baekhyun ignored the advances and whistles from the soldiers and returned to the mansion. All he wanted to do was retreat to his room and release his pent-up emotions. He felt drained by the conditions Chanyeol had imposed on him. Chanyeol's disdain for him was one thing, but why did everything have to be so complicated?

Baekhyun returned to his bed, shutting the door behind him. He worried about the consequences if he failed to obtain a pass before nightfall. Stories of hostages being killed for non-compliance haunted his thoughts, and he desperately wished to avoid such a fate.

An hour later, a soft knock sounded at Baekhyun's door, causing him to stiffen, fearing it might be Chanyeol. Kyungsoo's voice was a welcome relief, and he began to relax slightly. But he remained under his blanket, unmoving, hoping Kyungsoo would leave. As Kyungsoo left his food and tried to engage him, Baekhyun stayed hidden under his covers, not responding. "Baekhyun?" Kyungsoo inquired, his concern evident.

"I'm not hungry," Baekhyun mumbled from beneath the blanket, prompting a deep sigh from Kyungsoo. Concern for his dear friend led Kyungsoo to gently reason, "But you might fall sick if you don't eat." Baekhyun, however, couldn't help but feel suspicious about Kyungsoo's actions – whether he was merely following Chanyeol's orders to fatten him up before an impending execution.

The bed shifted as Kyungsoo sat down, and Baekhyun quickly turned to face the other way, avoiding Kyungsoo's gaze. He didn't want his friend to witness his vulnerability. "I heard you've been declared missing," Kyungsoo mentioned, and in response, he tugged away the blanket that hid Baekhyun's tear-stained face. Baekhyun tried to reclaim it, but Kyungsoo's grip was firm.

"The police are looking for you," Kyungsoo informed Baekhyun. A tone of despair lingered in Baekhyun's response, "Does it matter now? Will the police even find me?" His continuous weeping weighed heavily on Kyungsoo.

"I saw it on the news a few minutes ago," Kyungsoo continued, "And I heard Capo Sehun telling Sotto Minseok that your mom reported your disappearance to the police a few days ago. They're currently suspecting Jongin, your flatmate."

Baekhyun, still sitting up with his back against the headboard of the bed, scoffed while shedding tears. "Jongin is innocent, and how can the police suspect a dead person?"

"The police aren't aware of that," Kyungsoo replied. "And please, let's not jump to conclusions about Jongin. I don't want to believe that he's gone just like that. From what you told me, he fell into the water, right?" Kyungsoo's eyes, filled with concern and tears, sought any small assurance that Jongin was still alive.

Baekhyun himself wasn't entirely certain of Jongin's fate. Chanyeol's actions and reactions made it unclear whether Jongin was alive or dead. "Well," Baekhyun shrugged, struggling to recall that fateful night. "He was shot many times; that's all I remember before I blacked out." Tears streamed down his cheeks, and Baekhyun quickly wiped them away with his palm. "Don thinks I'm somehow involved. He believes I know about the location of his stash and money, and that's why I'm being held as collateral instead of Jongin."

"But do you actually know?" Kyungsoo pressed.

"Know what? Where the stash is?" Baekhyun locked eyes with Kyungsoo, remaining silent for a few seconds, then let out a small chuckle. "No, I'm talking about Jongin." Kyungsoo had to clarify his question – whether Baekhyun knew Jongin's whereabouts. "I don't," Baekhyun finally broke the silence, but Kyungsoo's persistence remained evident.

"Please, tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"I really don't know, trust me. How am I supposed to know when I'm a hostage myself?" Baekhyun let out a pained sigh. He couldn't trust anyone at this point, as much as he wanted to believe in Kyungsoo. For all he knew, Kyungsoo might be working for Chanyeol, trying to gather information from him. "Even if I did know, do you think I would say anything?"

"You will..." Kyungsoo jabbed him in the shoulder, scoffing. "Don just didn't treat you like he treats others in your situation. By 'your kind,' I mean intruders. The Park Chanyeol I know would make your life a living hell if he couldn't get answers from you. Baekhyun, even if you go out there, no one would believe that Park Chanyeol, the model citizen, kidnapped you. They'd call you a liar."

They fell into silence, contemplating their situation. Then, Kyungsoo suddenly had an idea that made him nudge Baekhyun's shoulder to get his attention. "Why don't you try begging him to let you go?"

Baekhyun managed a sad smile, "I want to...but I'm scared."

"Why are you scared?" Kyungsoo asked.

"He thinks I cost him millions in that deal, and he won't believe I'm innocent," Baekhyun explained, shrugging. "I can't even stand to look at him. He seems to hate me."

Hearing this, Kyungsoo couldn't help but smile. "He might be unpredictable, but I don't think he dislikes you. Honestly, I believe he's grown somewhat fond of you. Otherwise, why treat you like royalty? The Chanyeol I know would have taken drastic measures to chop off your fingers by now and wouldn't stop until he got the answers he wanted."

"He... cuts off people's fingers?" Baekhyun's eyes widened in shock.

"Haha, worse!" Kyungsoo exclaimed, dramatizing his response. "He does things far worse. Park Chanyeol is not one to be taken lightly." Baekhyun, in response, felt tears well up in his eyes. He was beginning to regret his actions. "I called him a coward yesterday," he confessed, burying his face in his hands, feeling ashamed.

"You did what? BAEKHYUN!" Kyungsoo stared at him in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"But... what else was I supposed to do? He prohibited me from participating in drills to get a pass card. Then he sent me on a drill last night and ended up tearing my pass card in two. How was I supposed to survive without a card? Tell me?"

"Baekhyun! You shouldn't have confronted him like that. Don't you want to be free and return to your mother?" Kyungsoo's voice was quite loud, which startled Baekhyun. Why was everyone saying he shouldn't have spoken to Don in that manner? Who was he that no one could address him? What should he have done when he felt like his life was slipping away? "I didn't know what I was doing; my emotions got the best of me, and I lost control. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Kyungsoo's mouth hung open in astonishment. "You should apologize to Chanyeol when he returns."

"I... I can't."
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Authors note 📝

Hi, lovelies. Welcome back, 🤗 thank you so much for the 6k reads 📖 🫶🥺❤️

I heard you have been looking for me🥺🙏 I'm here. I have taken longer than expected, sorry. Life happened. I have missed you all and I do hope you enjoyed this Chapter.

Q: Did Chanyeol do badly for demanding his money in a few days?

Q: Do you think Kyungsoo should be trusted?

Q: What will be Baekhyun's fate now that his drills have been stopped?