Dori liked to make his presence known, so where the fuck was he all of a sudden? A man like him disappearing unsettled her, and it made her queasy thinking of all the possibilities of where he could be, more like what he was doing. She had a shit ton on her plate and there wasn't much she could scrape off to make room for more unnecessary bullshit, which is what this was.

Not to mention that neither she nor her brother heard from any one of the men they had sent to Japan as spies, looking to find this gangster and figure out his motives, what he knew, and how he was involved with everything. Unmasking this man would help take him out along with Dori because he was causing too many problems which he wasn't worth.

Considering that she had broken their alliance and made that known to everyone, regardless of whether Dori agreed to it or not, the Yakuza weren't friendly anymore due to the leader's shadiness and insanity that was not reliable. Almost ironically as she sat in her office and reapplied her lipstick, her bodyguard came in after knocking and the look on his face told her something had come up.

"Your brother got a delivery."

That grabbed her attention, and she didn't waste any time in making her way alongside him to her brother's office. Walking in after knocking, Jimin sits on the leather couch with a frown etched on his face, and his consigliere looks no different as he quickly puts out his cigarette in the ashtray resting on the glass table, where a cardboard box was.

"What's this?", she asks once situating herself opposite her brother, Jungkook standing idly by the door.

Finally, after some heavy beats of silence, Jimin stood and cleared his throat, and once opening the box, a familiar pungent smell wafted through the air. It was so unnaturally strong that Runa pinched her nose and copied Jimin's actions, standing from the couch to hover over the opened box that had someone's head lying inside.

Chopped clean off not too far below the jawline, those piercings and the hairstyle indicated that this was Dori, the man who had suddenly gone missing and now they know why. He was dead, somebody killed him and intentionally sent this to them, Jimin more specifically.

"Who did this?", she questions, and to anyone else, it seems like a stupid question to ask considering why the hell would her brother know?

The reason she asks him is because he has a certain look of recognition in his eyes. Like he knows who did this and it is painfully clear to everyone that this had just gotten much worse by the realization in the leader's eyes as he closes the box and sits down. Runa remained in her posture, not able to sit down and relax because she was on edge right now and she needed an answer. Jimin knew.

"Lee Taemin", he finally spoke up, looking directly into her curious gaze with malice behind his words, "An old gang leader of mine. Someone I used to trust but he got power-hungry and went rogue. He disappeared and I couldn't find him to tie up loose ends, and it looks like now he's gotten what he wanted. He's the new Yakuza leader, meaning he's coming to town or already here, hiding somewhere."

The information sinks in, drowning her like quicksand. She got her answer but at what cost? One thing led to another, the dominoes continued to fall and collectively, they knew that her father's assassination and her rise to power was just the beginning.

"What do we do about this? I'm sure the obvious answer is to kill him, but I don't think he's doing this just for power", she replies, and Jimin can't help but feel a sense of dread in what she suggests.

"You think he's gonna come after me?", he asks, running his hands through his hair to massage the ache in his head from not only the inconvenience, but the lingering odor that permeated throughout the office.

Runa hums in response, glancing at Dong-Wook in hopes he was paying attention, "I don't think he'd go to such great lengths to exude dominance over you by sending you this threat if he didn't have both a well founded alliance and a much more complex motive. What's he like? Is he smart? Is he insane just like his predecessor?", she lifts her chin towards the box, referring to the man inside of it, or at least part of him.

Jimin takes a moment to reflect on what she's suggesting. He can't say he's not surprised he's popped back up after so many years, he was a roach, hard to kill with an unwavering sense of determination to get whatever he desired. He hated that he didn't know much about the man, who probably looked unrecognizable since no one could find out who he was.

Taemin was always sneaky, and he might not have been as eccentric as Dori, but he held an intelligence and lunacy that was far more threatening than anyone they've been up against, including her father.

Whether he'd be a gangster or an employee at a convenience store, he was someone to watch out for, someone who was quick at mastering anything new, and that's why Jimin put him in a position as a gang leader. Until the man started to question authority wrongfully and became nothing but a disgrace to what Jimin represented.

"Taemin is dangerous and I've made the mistake of underestimating him in the past. I'm not afraid of him, but he's someone that we do need to worry about, and we need to watch our backs. He knows too much, and not only that but he's always been secretive. Secrets get you killed and we're all too familiar with that", he responds, making his consigliere snap out of his daze and for the first time in this whole meeting, he speaks up.

"Taemin probably knows about your relationship, seeing as Dori knew things as well, we can only assume that it's because he planted those ideas in his head. Not that it would be detrimental if anyone found out, but it would raise questions about Min-Su's death and if the killer was truly caught, if maybe you two conspired against her father because of the past. We don't want that", the older man says, his gaze contemplative.  

"If he does, we'll shut it down quick. You'd think if he was going to expose us, he'd do it sooner so my father would still be alive and I'd be done for. All of us would", Runa elaborates, her brother cutting in afterwards.

"Or maybe he's known everything this whole time. Maybe he's waiting for his moment to strike because he knows our secrets, and that means we have a traitor amongst us."

The room falls silent as they all look at each other, feeling that overwhelming sense of urgency course through their veins. If they don't find Taemin soon, hell will break loose and everything they've worked so hard to achieve will be for nothing. Everything will come tumbling to the ground and they'd be done for.

"We can assume that the spies we sent to Japan are dead. Due to the severity of this situation, and the threat he's sent our way, we need high security at the docks and any port used for travel. If we can see him coming, if he isn't already here yet, we can prevent him from stepping foot in our territory", Runa suggests, determination evident in her presence but the idea simmers when her brother slowly shakes his head with his eyes downcast.

"He's here, I know he is. This was personal, so I know he did this himself", he suggestively looks towards the box, "This threat was important to him so he took matters into his own hands. He was always the type of man to do things on his own and not rely on anybody. But with what he knows, he must have at least one trusted ally. We need to find out who that is and see if we can sneak our way in and take him out."

"How do you suggest we prepare for this fight? Since he's king shit now with the Yakuza behind him and all, how can we find a shadow?", Runa asks.

For once, Jimin doesn't know what to do. He's always been the planner, the one with the great ideas which was something he shared with his sister. Right now, he needed to think. The stench emanating from the box wasn't helping matters.

He needed to be alone, he needed to think about this before moving forward. Taemin was now the leader of the Yakuza, and that meant he had a relevant amount of power to crawl into this position.

Someone was helping him, someone knowledgeable and more experienced than Dori. That was something they needed to figure out because they knew it had to be someone in their organization. Now everyone was a suspect, other than the obvious inner circle which included the siblings, the consigliere, the bodyguard, and the Min heir.

"I'll have a plan soon. For now, go about your business as usual and I'll call you in when I have something", Jimin says, gesturing for Dong-Wook to take care of business.

"And please get rid of this damn thing, it reeks", the leader scrunches his nose, walking back to his desk after dismissing them.

As the three walk out into the hall, the consigliere carrying the box with a grimace on his face, Runa gives him a pat on the back as he takes it downstairs, opposite of where she was going. She got in her office and sat down in her leather seat, bouncing a ball off the wall repeatedly as Jungkook and Cookie observed how deep in thought she was.

The dog had a special bed at the corner of the room, and as she lay in it, her beady doe eyes matched those of the man who stepped forward to sit down, his boots thudding against the floorboards, almost in sync with the noise the ball made anytime it hit the wall and bounced back in her palm.

"What are you thinking?", he asks, knowing that she had things on her mind that needed to be cleared, and he was the one that could share the burden.

He was always that person for her, so as soon as she stopped throwing the ball and twisted her chair to face him with her head casually leaning back against the cushioned headrest, he could see in her eyes she wasn't sure how to feel.

"At least I have the comfort of knowing what happened to Dori. I'm not gonna lie and say his silence over the past few weeks hasn't unnerved me in some minuscule way", she says with a careless shrug, a bit bothered by this new Yakuza leader that only God knows what he wants.

Even worse, he was affiliated with her brother in the past, someone who had it out for Jimin and assumingly everyone in the inner circle. The easiest way to get to someone was through their friends and family, that was basics 101.

To her bodyguard, he already knew what she was thinking, yet he wanted her to tell him. He wanted her to confide in his presence so maybe in some way, he could ease her mind. Although that was never his strong suit, he had grown and improved on that.

"You're worried, aren't you? About all of us", he states more than asks, and that earns a nod in response as she stares up at the ceiling.

"This guy is determined, I'll give him that. I might not know him but Jimin does. And although we haven't known each other too long, I understand my brother. To see how angry and frustrated he was, I can't help but worry. Even if it's not something I tend to do much, I still feel a sense of dread whenever I think about it. This is serious and even if we've dealt with a similar situation, it's different this time. There's more to this than any of us realize and the not knowing is killing me."

She looks at him and feels a heaviness in her chest when he returns that same look as always. Although his darkness and observatory tendencies were comforting, no matter the skill he had and what his capabilities were, for once she felt fear. Fear of not only losing the empire but fear that she would never be alive to see him look at her that way again. Almost like he could read her mind(which he often did), he speaks up once sensing that odd emotion emanating from her.

"You don't need to be afraid. You know I'll protect you with my life. It might come to that and you should be confident that you'll get through this. We all will", he reassures, and she chuckles at his attempt to comfort her.

"Jeon Jungkook, are you trying to comfort me? Man, I never thought this day would come", she teasingly replies, and in return he just shakes his head at her, feeling an itch of a smile almost creep up on his face.

"Don't be dramatic, I've comforted you before and it worked. The last thing any of us need is you being afraid. It might be normal but I don't want you ever feeling that way. Like I said-"

She cuts him off, already predicting his next sentence, "I know, I know. You'll protect me no matter what happens. I don't doubt you Jungkook. But I'm afraid, more afraid than I've ever been because I have too much to lose. This guy knows things, he knows all of us", she sighs, any playfulness she had before gone.

"I'm afraid that I'll be alone again. I'm afraid that when this is over, I'll be the last one standing and all that will surround me is dead bodies. Jimin's, Dong-Wook's, Yoongi's, maybe even-"

Before she can continue, he gets up swiftly and leans down while grasping her shoulders tightly, not enough to hurt her but reassuringly. He could see she was fighting back tears, it was obvious by the glossiness in her eyes and the way she tried to suppress them by frowning.

"Don't even say that. You're not going to be alone ever again and I mean that. Look at you, Runa. You're worrying too much, you're not keeping a level head about this", his gloved hands gently squeeze her shoulders in a way to remind her he's here and nothing bad will happen.

No matter what she's going to worry. To see her brother and even Dong-Wook stressing out made her stressed out, and it was making a knot form in her throat. She was trying hard to be strong, something she never had to try at because it came naturally.

Yet she couldn't hold back the tears, just like she couldn't with her mother, she can't now. The thought of losing everyone, her brother, a man she saw as her father, Jungkook whom she loved dearly, and even the sarcastic little bastard himself, it triggered her and it felt as bad as it did seeing her mother on that computer screen.

"I'm sorry, I just can't-", she choked on a quiet sob and he didn't hesitate in taking her in his arms, letting her cry in his chest while he stroked her long black hair.

"I don't want to lose anyone. I've already had to kill my father, and now that I've found my brother after all these years, now that I have you, the thought of losing terrifies me", she says while sniffling, no longer embarrassed that she was crying into her bodyguard's chest like a little girl.

No matter how much she hates to cry, no matter how pathetic it makes her feel, whenever he embraces her, she doesn't have to worry about how she's perceived. She could cry and scream as much as she wanted because she was sick and tired of hiding the pain.

Only Jungkook knows and understands this, and that's why every time she needs him, he'll be right by her side when it comes to holding her and making sure she's reminded of who she is and what she's capable of.

"Runa, I know you're afraid to lose us. But you won't. You're not going to lose anybody. Now look at me", he demands gently, leaning back so he stood above her while she was still in her seat, her gaze on the floor.

"Look at me, Runa. Don't make me repeat myself", he commands, mindful of his tone and keeping his voice low to not overwhelm her.

His gloved hand took hold of her chin, grasping it and lifting her head so their eyes met and he could pull her out of the dark hole she was sinking into.

The way he looked at her made her melt into his touch, and she didn't even realize it because she was too distracted, but she stopped crying. Her lungs aren't struggling to retain oxygen and she can breathe again.

"None of us are going to die. You aren't, I'm not, your brother isn't, and no one else will. Remember who you are, remember the power you hold, and don't ever forget that if you want something, you're going to get it no matter what. Is that understood?", he firmly states, leaving no room for protesting or doubt, and she silently nods.

He didn't like her nonverbal answer, he wanted her to say it so with just one raise of his eyebrow and a light squeeze of her jaw that was held by him, she muttered a response.

"I understand."

He cocks his head to the side, examining every inch of her face and reading her like an open book, "Understand what?"

She inhaled a shaky breath and briefly closed her eyes before opening them again with a different look in her eyes this time.

"None of us will die", she says, knowing that he wanted a verbal response but it wasn't enough for him yet.

"Say it again", he demands, still not letting go of her.

"No one will die, I won't let it happen", she responds, much different from how vulnerable she was previously.

"One more time", he says, loosening his grip on her face but not wanting to let go just yet, he liked holding her in his hand, he felt good to know that a woman such as herself felt solace with him.

"No one will die", she repeats once more, and with an approving nod, he lets go of her jaw and strokes her head once with his hand, just barely holding the side of her cheek that he could feel the radiating warmth from, even through his glove.

"Don't be afraid because you have no reason to be. This world is yours, isn't it? Look at how easily you took the throne from your father. Look at how much you have because you made it so. Do you think it's sensible to be afraid when you have the world in the palm of your hands?", he more so states rather than asks, reminding her that she was Kang Runa, a woman who feared nothing and there was no reason for her to lose her head.

She was more than capable of taking out this man, with or without the help of Jimin. She could have anyone if she so pleased, she had everything she's ever wanted and he needed to remind her of that, he needed her to know that she can't be knocked down, she's not like everyone else.

Even if the world was ending, Runa would sit pretty and laugh as if nothing was happening, like she knew she had the power to move planets and place the stars where she wanted them in the sky.

Jungkook was older, but he had a lot of admiration for her and adored her confidence and her fearlessness. He allowed her to be weak only with him and in the safety of his arms, and after letting out the pain, he'd be the first to fill her back up again.

"I know", she whispers, and a whine almost passes her lips when his hand retracts and he puts them behind his back in his guard-like posture.

"Then don't fear anything coming your way. You'll handle it like everything else, and you have all of us here to help you. Not that you need us, but you get my point", he adds, and she sighs while sitting back in the chair, looking over at Cookie who is watching them while lying in her bed.

The dog got up and walked over, her nails tapping against the floor as she rested her head on Runa's thigh to comfort her, sensing her owner was distressed and it made her glossed lips lift into a weak smile when she stared into those cute, beady eyes of the Doberman that reminded her so much of the man that stood close by.

"I need you", she responds, looking up at Jungkook who has a small frown.

"No you don't", he grumpily replies in his usual nonchalant manner and it makes her stomach swirl.

"Yes I do", she argues and he tongues his cheek, narrowing his eyes made his glare even sharper.

"You don't need anybody. You might appreciate me being here but you don't-"

"Don't tell me what I feel. I do need you and it goes beyond appreciating your existence. If you weren't here, I'd probably be dead. You know this", she responds heatedly, not angry but upset that he tried to dismiss his importance to her.

"You-"

Runa's voice cuts him off, "You're important to me, Jungkook. You've saved my life in more ways than you think. I rely on you, and I do feel that I need you."

Jungkook clicks his tongue, sighing heavily while he tilts his head and looks at her with slight annoyance, "You don't need me so don't say that. No one needs anybody, and you of all people don't need someone to rely on."

"Are you saying that because of my duty as a leader or because you refuse to believe you're needed in somebody's life? Answer me that, old man", she retorts, folding her arms together and he raises a brow at her.

"It isn't about how I feel. It's a fact", he simply states and she huffs from his difficulty.

"I was trying to be nice and you ruined the moment. You have impeccable timing you know?", she sarcastically adds in, spinning the chair back to the front of her desk where her computer was and he leans his back on the wall behind her, extending his hand out to Cookie who was by his side and sniffed him.

"Duly noted", he nonchalantly replies, earning a glare from her before she turns back around to her desktop and sees her reflection that looked red due to her crying.

"I look like a hot mess", she mumbles, grabbing a makeup pouch from her desk that she kept for touch-ups when needed, and he silently laughs to himself as she fixes her makeup in the compact mirror she held.

"Your duality amuses me, boss."

There he went again with that fucking teasing of his, she almost dropped her expensive YSL lipstick on the ground. Thank god she didn't and just pretended like that didn't make her heart race, quickly tapping more foundation onto her cheeks with the cushion pad to hide her flushed skin.

"And your unexpected use of formalities makes me uncomfortable", she retorts, catching his gaze through the mirror as he intently watched her with wonder.

"Uncomfortable or flustered?", he muses, making her spin around in his direction with a furious gaze that all but showed how embarrassed she was and how much he adored their playful banter.

"Jeon Jungkook don't make me fire you!", she scolds.

"Never in your wildest dreams would you do that, boss."