Jungkook drove through the busy streets of Manhattan, following the directions given by the GPS on his phone to find the apartment complex where they were supposed to meet a business partner.

Runa was vague with detail, and as soon as he parks in a parking garage nearby and she stops him before he gets out, he finds out why she looked spaced out in the ride over.

"The man we're meeting is the Min heir, he's a capo like me, and...he's my ex-boyfriend."

He blinks once, twice, and she nibbles at her bottle lip anxiously as she prepares to hear another scolding. It seemed he was always with Dong-Wook on that point, scolding her so much to where she felt like their adopted daughter and they were her fathers or something. Considering her feelings towards the bodyguard, she quickly threw that analogy out the window.

"That's nice to know. Would've been great if you just came out and said that."

She expected to hear that and before he could get upset with her, she argued back, "It's a touchy subject. Things ended on a good note but there's a lot between us. I don't expect you to understand or anything but I just wanted you to know. In case he says anything that would throw you off."

Jungkook hums, knowing what that meant, "So you mean if he questions my presence and invades your personal life he has no business being in by also asking if I'm your boyfriend or something? The usual possessiveness and curiosity that an ex-boyfriend would hold."

Her mouth hung open slightly at his eerily accurate response but quickly closed her parted lips to not look stupid. It was expected of him to say something like that, especially because he was the guru of human behavior and could dissect anything with just his eyes, no words required. But still, it would catch her off guard how quick he was with these things. That was both bad and good.

"Yes, exactly that."

"Did he ever mistreat you? Harm you in any way?"

She frowns and shakes her head, "Definitely not. He actually...loved me. For real. I think he still does."

He notices the small flash of guilt in her eyes when she briefly glances away, seemingly not wanting him to read her like an open book because she knew that's what he would do to figure out more.

"The guilt in your eyes tells me you didn't reciprocate those feelings."

That earns a heavy sigh and a reluctant glance, "Yes, and I did feel bad because I wasn't in a relationship for love."

"You used him for pleasure."

She groans lightly and scratches her neck awkwardly, still avoiding his gaze that burned through her like lasers, "Yes, because that was our agreement. When I saw he was catching feelings, I broke it off and we remained friendly. But I know he's still upset about it."

"How do you know he hasn't moved on?"

"I can tell by the look in his eyes, that it lingers on me way too long for it to be just friendly. That and how he tends to aid me whenever I need, without any hesitation at all."

That makes Jungkook want to roll his eyes, hoping that this wasn't Taehyung 2.0, meaning dangerous and she was too blind to see.

"Seems a lot of men are after you, Runa."

Her usual spunky spirit arises once again upon hearing that and the sly grin on her face makes him think that she liked the attention, "What can I say? I tend to leave a lasting impression on people. How about you? Are you head over heels for me yet?"

He shakes his head at her flirty behavior and turns off the car, "Nope. I'm not tempted."

She chuckles at that, quickly reapplying pink gloss to her lips before he's already out and opening the passenger side door for her. He grabs her hand to help her out and after locking the vehicle, he puts the keys in his pocket and stands close to her, looking around in all directions as they cross the empty street.

"Jesus, you drive my car more than I do", she complains, realizing that once they are in the elevator and heading up to the top floor.

Jungkook glanced over at her smaller figure, noticing she looked a bit nervous and he knew it was probably because after the meeting was over, she might not like to hear what he had to say about another one of her acquaintances. That or maybe a small part of her still held that guilt for not loving the man back.

"That's the point. You don't have to lift a finger when I'm around. I take it you're not used to being a passenger princess."

She chuckles at the term he uses, pushing back her hair as they exit onto the floor and her heels click against the marble beneath them as they walk to the end.

"I bought the car because it was fun to drive around in. And now I can't even enjoy the simple pleasure anymore."

She gives him the side eye as she knocks on the white door they now stand in front of, and he straightens his already perfect posture when he hears footsteps nearing the door.

"I'm sure you find pleasure in other ways."

Before she could swing her head to gape at him, wondering if maybe there was a double meaning behind that considering the person they were about to meet, the door opens and there reveals the man of the hour. Min Yoongi in all of his sarcastic glory.

Still looking as fine as ever, his iconic white hair contrasting perfectly with the tattoos littering his forearms revealed by his rolled-up sleeves, another detail to take notice of was the veins naturally protruding his milky skin.

Last but not least, the diamond tattoo at the corner of his right eye. Simple but somehow stunningly gorgeous. Or maybe she was starting to reminisce too much about what it was like being with him.

"My my, you must be Jeon Jungkook. A pleasure to meet you. You may come in", the male says, his voice having an edge to it that went unnoticed by the girl who stepped inside along with her bodyguard.

"I am, and you must be Yoongi."

Said male cracks a small cocky smile, "The one and only."

He takes a glance at Runa, eyeing her up and down and her heart races when she sees his papery thin lips spread even wider upon noticing the cherry red pumps she wore.

"Cute outfit. Gotta say though, the heels take away the show."

The man had a knowing smirk on his face and Runa remained neutral, although she understood why he made such a comment on these shoes in particular. They were always his favorite.

"Thanks, I believe we have business to discuss."

Yoongi pouts his lips a little, "No kiss?"

That earned an eye roll and he just laughed at her, "Just kidding, I know why you're here. I just like to be a tease. Please follow me."

He gestured with his hand and the two trailed behind him as he led them through his extravagant living room and into the hall where a double door was at the end.

"You always were quite the catch, weren't you?", she responds while taking a glance over at Jungkook who kept his eyes forward.

"I never caught you though", Yoongi retorts, and she purses her lips, not saying a word as he opens the doors that reveal a sleek, monochrome-style office.

It brought back memories as she sat down in one of his leather chairs, watching as he circled to sit at the large black desk that had small stacks of organized papers along with his computer and a few other items. They certainly had a lot of good times together in here, and she couldn't help but think of the one incident with her wearing these exact heels...

"Since my dad decided to operate elsewhere and gave the territories in Long Island to your family, I wanted us to discuss the plan moving forward."

Jungkook saw she straightened her posture but remained relaxed as she spoke with confidence and clarity. Even though she was young and had an outgoing personality with those close to her, when she was doing business, she pulled off her persona quite well.

So much so that Jungkook quietly admired how well she adapted to new environments, different people, and different situations. Not many were capable of that, and as he got to know her better, he could understand why Min-Su was threatened by the power she held.

"I gave him the idea of investing our time into the oil industry, especially since we have reliable shipment systems and we'd be able to scheme our way through taxes illegally but safely. Meaning we won't catch eyes or ears from law enforcement."

Yoongi shoots her an impressed look, leaning forward and resting his hands together on his desk, "Sounds interesting. Tell me more about this."

"Since the oil industry is one of the most profitable and has a large labor union, we'd be able to sell and transport oil to smaller companies. We also have the resources to create dummy companies and false documents to prove that taxes had been collected and we'd make millions from this. That'd be the ideal way to ensure if the cops sniff around that area, they'd assume everything was legal and our names wouldn't be whispered by anybody."

Yoongi smiles in admiration, still in awe of how one woman could have such ideas that even her father didn't think of. One of the many reasons why he felt so strongly for her, and he slowly starts clapping his hands and nodding in approval.

"That's my girl, always thinking outside the box. Wouldn't be surprising if you took over for your daddy one day."

She shrugs carelessly, ignoring the praise that she used to giggle over, "I doubt that'll be anytime soon. He only hasn't been able to dive into the new territory since the FBI had been poking around in our business."

That makes the tatted male raise a brow, "They find anything?"

She gives him a look, "Of course not, just rumors floating in the streets. You know how crazy the gangs can get and when people get drunk they start to open their mouths and get chatty. But they've been dealt with and Dad's trying to find a way to keep them away for good. Most of them belong to us so it's easy to find out exactly who's asking questions and we take it from there."

"Good, that's good. My dad has asked me to be careful around the city, saying that they're starting to ask around at the line of restaurants we own in town and such. Of course, the attempts are fruitless since everybody's too scared to say a word against any of us. And the footsoldiers do good of informing us of any problems."

"So business has been good then?"

The corner of his lips lifts, "As always, love. I'm sure you're excited about getting your hands on another industry. I think our fathers already discussed sharing the profits from any new businesses there as well."

Runa again ignores the pet name and prays to God that Yoongi doesn't flirt or make any attempt to bring up the past anymore than he already has. Because he couldn't let go of it. And she didn't feel like having yet another tense discussion with Jungkook in a silent car.

So she pushes down the small part of her that was intrigued by the idea of a little argument festering between the two men. One was cold as ice and the other was so sarcastic that you could barely tell if he was fucking around even when he had a gun to your head. Playful and serious, two ends of the same stick that she loved to play with.

"Yes, they most likely have. I do need to ask you for a favor though."

That gains his immediate interest and he doesn't hesitate for a second in responding, "Of course, love. What'll it be?"

"I want you to talk with Taehyung, whenever you can."

That earns a side glance from Jungkook but he notices something shift in Yoongi's eyes. Like he wasn't expecting that at all and it caught him off guard in more ways than one.

"Is that so? And what exactly would I be discussing with him?"

"Make sure to remind him it's best not to fall in love with me. Since you've experienced the consequences of doing so, I figured you'd be best to enlighten him."

The sweet smile on her face both ticks him off and turns him on. Jungkook saw his jaw briefly clench and the intrigue swirling in his eyes, and he knew it was different from Taehyung.

He wasn't obsessed with her in such a crazed way, but the lust was there. His eyes had narrowed from the not so subtle jab, but he loved it. Jungkook could see the male liked her attitude, that although she could be quite cold and hurtful, he seemed to stay by her even as a result of their intimate past.

"He's getting a little crazy, is he? To think he could ever have you..."

"Mhm. He might need a little reminder of who I am. And the first man that came into my mind for the job was you."

He scoffs under his breath, leaning back into his chair and drumming his fingers on the desk, which of course caught her attention because of the rings he wore, not because of his oddly attractive hands that brought back memories. Goddamn it...

"Isn't he your bestie or whatever? Why don't you talk with him?"

"You think I haven't done so already?"

"Nope, I don't. I think that maybe someone else did it for you. Because we both know how you get when a man confesses his feelings for you."

That makes her smile drop and that only makes Yoongi smirk, glancing over at the bodyguard whose eyes remained a void of black as they locked eyes.

"It must've been you who saw it and warned her. Perhaps Dong-Wook as well? You were in denial weren't you?"

He turns back to Runa who remains still and void of emotion. Whenever her aura shifted into this, he knew he had pushed a few too many buttons. But what did she expect? No sarcastic remarks?

"I was disappointed more than anything. Men can't keep it in their pants and not see me as some freshly made meat stick ready to bite into."

That makes him hum as he daintily plays with the silver rings adorning his slim fingers, "Your aura is attracting more than anything. It's the way you make people feel. It's your energy, your voice, your intelligence. Taehyung might be a little scrambled in the brain but a man like him isn't as surface-level as he appears to be. He has taste for sure."

"I could say the same about you", she retorts and he chuckles lightly at the irony.

"Some of the best poisons taste sweet when you drink them...before they slowly destroy you."

She clutched her chest dramatically, "Oh god Yoongi, I think you just made my dead heart flutter. Thank you for the compliment."

He couldn't say their little chats weren't exciting, because they were. Even if they were no longer together, he still felt good to have the occasional tug and pull at his heart whenever she'd sass back.

She was a feisty one for sure, and he loved how she didn't take shit from anybody. Another good reason why he still couldn't pull her out of his heart.

"If so, call me when you want. I can do a lot more than just play with your heart, love."

The suggestive raise of his eyebrows made her roll her eyes, knowing how he'd never fail to slip in something dirty because he knew that she'd remember what line he used to say after that. I'll play with your pussy too if you'd like.

The memory passes by in an instant and from the outside looking in, Jungkook could see why she was reluctant to make him aware of who exactly they were dealing with. There seemed to be a lot left unsaid, and more so the sexual tension between the two was as clear as day.

"I don't have the desire to break your heart again. it's bad enough you still feel anything for me."

That makes him shrug, "What can I say? I'm love's bitch."

"Having anything, especially such a strong feeling like love control you is dangerous."

She stands up tall and flattens out her skirt and blouse, and both men raise from their seats as well, "I'd prefer if you were safe. You're a good ally to have and I don't need you dying so soon."

"That's unfortunate then because if it meant keeping you alive, I'd give up my life for you in an instant."

The scowl on her face made Yoongi's heart race as she slowly walked to the front of his desk, her heels clicking against the floor increasing the tension between them.

And what made it worse was that Jungkook stood by and watched, yet Yoongi paid him no mind. She could catch anyone's attention, and once she was in someone's sight, your eyes could look nowhere else.

"I mean it Yoongi", she warns with fire in her eyes, "Please let this go. I'd rather you hate me than love me. It'd make things easier."

"Would it? Or would it only make things worse? If I hated you, I think I'd want you back more than I already do."

She grits her teeth, glancing over at Jungkook who keeps his eyes on the male, ready for anything if something were to happen.

"And to think you were smart. Love isn't a good investment to make. Even if it's natural, even if we want it, I don't and can't love you. Love hurts, it scars, and look what it's done to you. You've gone soft on me, and it makes me sick."

Yoongi usually hates the feeling of being called out, but at the point he's at right now, after the years he's grown beside her and learned to love her in ways he never thought was possible, he couldn't care less about it. He was just happy she looked at him, happy she even uttered a word towards him outside of the topic of business.

"If it makes you sick, if you hate my love that much then I'll try to stop. Will you allow me one more thing? A way to sever the tie I have with you?"

She sighs, already having an idea as to what it is and she figured it'd be worth it to ask, "What is it?"

"A kiss."

Jungkook put a hand on his gun, ready to pull it out if necessary and once she heard the click, she held up her hand for him to stand down, which he of course didn't do and still kept his hand on the weapon.

"Step out for one moment, please."

"Runa-"

"Do as I say."

Jungkook gives a sharp look to Yoongi who keeps his eyes on her. He quickly exited the room and closed both doors behind him, leaning against the wall and shaking his head to himself while waiting impatiently.

It was so stupid and childish for a man to act in such a way that Yoongi was, at least in his mind. Because he could never understand the concept of love and why so many people would risk their lives for it. He knew everything there was to know about it, but since he'd never experienced it, he also never wished to.

If being so desperate for approval and a kiss was something he became, he'd gladly take another route before ever diving into something as unpredictable and crazy as love. To where a reputable and feared man like Yoongi looked like he'd get on his knees and worship her like a slave, Jungkook knew for certain love was not his thing.

When the bodyguard left, she circled the table and slowly approached him, his eyes never leaving hers and he sighed heavily when her nails grazed his cheek, rubbing it before she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him with hope that this would work. That after she would walk away, this would be the last time she'd be leaving his heart bleeding out.

"No one understands me like you do. You have to see that, you have to see why I love you as much as I do. I'll do my best to stop, and if I can't, I'll hide it away until it disappears", he whispers, feeling his senses calm from the perfume wafting around him.

Her nose was touching his, her Bambi eyes gazing back at him in ways he had dreamed of and never thought he'd see again. That's what this was to him...it felt too good to be real. Even if he'd have to watch her walk away unaffected.

The scratching of her nails in his scalp makes him lean into her body more, carefully and slowly placing his hands on her waist and before she dives in for a kiss, she whispers to him.

"It's what's best for you. I'm not someone who can be loved...you must understand that."

And as soon as those words pass by her lips, they mold perfectly with his own and his eyes flutter shut, tasting that familiar gloss on her lips, and he could feel the warmth cascading over him like a blanket, and that comfort was ripped away when she pulled back and his heart started to process what was happening all over again.

But he smiled because it hurt less than before. And the reassuring pat on his shoulder makes him feel somewhat better, her eyes saying that this will fade soon enough.

"Have a good day, Min. It was nice seeing you. Take care of that delicate little heart of yours."

He leans against the desk and closes his eyes, listening to the sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor and the sound of the door opening. When it disappears, he slams his fist hard against the desk, a crack echoing throughout the room and yet he felt no pain from the collision. No, he would never get over her. And that son of a bitch bodyguard was not going to be his replacement.

As soon as he knew they were gone, he slumped in his chair and harshly pressed the buttons on the telephone, putting the receiver to his ear and listening as it rang before it clicked, indicating the man on the other end had picked up.

"So boss, what's the plan?"

💎🗡️💎🗡️💎🗡️

The walk back to the parking garage was eerily silent, and she hated the stiffness between them, so as soon as they got inside her car, she spoke up while he started the engine.

"The kiss wasn't for me, it was for him."

"And why would you give it to him?"

She folds her arms together and looks out at the window, "You know why. It was our last goodbye."

He sighs quietly, "I don't know why everyone seems so caught up over you. Men that shouldn't care so much do, and it makes them weak."

She scoffs a little from his snappy tone, "You think I want this? Do you think I'm entertained by leaving a string of broken hearts behind me? It's not my fault people fall for me. That's their mistake and if they can't control their emotions, that's on them. Just don't blame me. God knows I feel guilty enough for hurting someone unintentionally, that someone being a man I've grown up with and care for."

"Yoongi certainly doesn't think that. You conceal your true feelings well because even I couldn't see a single thing in your eyes when you looked at him. Other than the occasional reminiscing moment."

That makes her turn to him, feeling weird about that kiss and how it still didn't make her feel a thing. Maybe she was dead inside, which was quite understandable given how she grew up with no affection of any kind from her father.

She just wanted to get off this topic, because she knew this was messy. First Yoongi and then Taehyung...it seemed like all the chaos was happening at once. More like having this new bodyguard around was making her see things in a different light. And she wasn't sure she was prepared for anything worse to come.

"Enough about it. I'm putting it behind me and he needs to do the same. Now head to the bar a few blocks down. I have someone I need to visit."

Jungkook shakes his head at her, pulling out of the parking space and out of the parking garage, "Whatever you say. Who are we visiting? Another ex?"

Her head snaps to him, "Haha, very funny. And no, it's an associate of mine. He messaged me earlier and said he had some information. Particularly regarding the rumors circling the Yakuza and some new drug lord."

"Isn't the leader in town? Why is that?"

"I don't know, it's a little suspicious but we'll just have to see. It might be nothing or it might be something. I want to look into it as soon as possible because if the Yakuza is bringing in another player, there must be an interesting reason as to why it was kept on the low."

"And you think that this associate of yours knows something?", Jungkook inquires, noticing she had a confident look on her face that made him believe this trip wouldn't be a waste.

"I do, he's a bartender and the Yakuza often visits the bar he works at, so ultimately when the men get drunk, information starts to spill and Kai is always around to listen."

"Are we so sure we can trust him? I mean he could be working for them and trying to point you elsewhere that's far from the truth."

"Look, I believe him alright? He's loyal and he's not important enough for the Yakuza to take him under their hold. Kai is quiet and stays in the shadows, and that is the complete opposite of who the Japanese mafia surrounds themselves with. And that's a direct result of who their leader is."

"Dori Sakurada", Jungkook states and she hums.

"Yep, Dori is a wild card and if these rumors are true, my dad needs to know because we're supposed to have an agreement with them. They communicate to us about the drug rings, and the shipments coming in from the docks and in return, we sell them weapons. Since of course, they're illegal in Japan and it's hard to find safe passage to transport them there."

"And in that case, he could have another plan involving that new drug lord."

She nods her head, "Exactly. I hope we can fish this out before things get ugly. We take secrets very seriously and if what's being said is true, we need to look elsewhere for an alliance and break it off with them. Pray to God nothing happens and they leave peacefully. A war on our hands would just be a headache, especially since things have been going well lately."

"Other than the FBI getting nosy", Jungkook says and she rolls her eyes, not too worried about that.

"Dad said he dealt with it, and I've seen no one tailing us. If you haven't noticed, there aren't many people around with this car model and color, so I'm not exactly hard to find."

"You like the extravagant side of this life don't you?"

She laughs a little, shrugging her shoulders with a small grin on her face while she glances at the shiny rings on her fingers, "What can I say, I'm a sucker for pretty things."

"Seems like the men I've met so far are too", he replies plainly and that makes her frown a little.

"What do you mean by that?"

She didn't realize what he said, the hidden compliment he snuck in there unintentionally. But he clears his throat and shakes his head, dismissing it and parking in a space in front of the corner bar.

"Nothing much, it doesn't matter. Let's get inside."

And with that he turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, leaving her confused for a few seconds before she shrugged it off and assumed that he only meant the people around her liked flashy things too. Taehyung with his vibrant hair, fancy suits, and rings.

And of course, Yoongi's interior design was only the greatest in the country. That's what she thought so she didn't revisit that moment, instead took the hand he lent to her and got out of the car.

Jungkook held open the door and she thanked him, the two now entered a semi-crowded bar that was lit by neon lights and signs hanging on the walls with catchy designs and a calm but mysterious vibe floating in the atmosphere.

As soon as they walk in, Runa sees a mop of dyed silver hair on the other side of the bar and makes her way over, the clicking of her heels gaining the attention of a few onlookers who quickly realized who she was and kept their eyes away, especially because of the intimidating man dressed in all black standing close by her.

"Hello Mr. Rover, long time no see", Runa says while sitting at the bar, her voice gaining the attention of the busy bartender who was cleaning up his space.

When he looks up he smiles and tosses the rag aside to get a glass out for her, "Ms. Kang, a pleasure to see you again. The usual?"

She smiles, "Yes, please. And call me Runa, you don't have to address me so formally. It makes me sound old."

"Oh, my apologies Runa. I didn't mean to offend you", the bartender chuckles a bit, pouring a mixture of juices and alcohol into her glass before expertly stirring it and adding a cherry on top just for her.

"Thank you. You said you wanted to talk?", she asks while taking a sip of the drink he pushes towards her, humming at the sweet taste before she notices the glance Kai gives to her bodyguard who stares back at him intensely.

The questionable yet worried look on his face made him look kind of cute and it made her chuckle at his reluctance.

"Don't worry, he's with me. He's as silent as a mouse, he won't say a thing."

Jungkook nodded firmly once, making Kai's tense shoulders relax just a bit and he took a look around before leaning closer to speak.

"I wanted to talk to you in person about this, and it's about those rumors that the gangs have been whispering about. The Yakuza came in the other day since they're visiting the city, staying somewhere in Manhattan for the time being. Some of them were getting loose-lipped and although I didn't hear much specifics, they're partnered with a drug lord in Japan."

"You didn't happen to hear a name?", she asks while biting into the cherry and the bartender shakes his head.

"No, they were smart enough to not say but it's true. This drug lord is someone dangerous, an unknown man that no one has been able to get any information about and he's connected somehow to the Russian mafia."

That makes her eyebrows raise, considering that the Kang's also had an alliance with them as well. Of course, the leader never showed his face and only sent men to represent him in meetings, but it seemed as if all the dominoes were falling at once. All the traitors were being revealed and it made adrenaline pump in her veins from nervousness. Who else was a part of this?

"The Russian mafia? Are you sure? They're serious about loyalty and we have had a good alliance with them for decades."

"Look I don't know if they're traitors, or if they're involved in business with the Yakuza or this drug lord. All I heard was that the drug lord is connected to the leader. Maybe an ex-capo or something, a close associate who was sick and tired of taking orders and wanted to start something on his own. You know how these people get with power. They're starving for it, dying for it."

Runa nods, "Alright, I'll look further into it. Is that all?"

Kai purses his lips and his eyes tell her there's indeed more. The bartender briefly glances at Jungkook and sighs, taking a small piece of folded paper from his pocket and handing it to her.

"Dori left this for you. I don't know why he gave it to me, I'm a nobody but we can only assume he knows I'm associated with you."

Runa opened the note and clicked her tongue, seeing an address written neatly it was a well-known hotel in Manhattan, just like Kai said.

"You stay safe and watch your back. If anything happens, if you feel you're being watched or anything, call me immediately. Understand?", she says firmly with a frown, making Kai stand up from his leaning position and nod.

"Yes, Runa. Be careful as well. Are you going to visit him?"

Runa glances over at the man in black who returns the gesture, expectant to hear a response and she downs the rest of her drink before standing up and straightening out her skirt. This was starting to get twisted and although she knew she was taking a risk with this, her gut told her it was worth it.

"I don't have a choice. If Dori wants to fuck around and find out, he'll sure as shit get a reaction from me."