Everything went in a blur. They bound my hands, and I was seated inside the car with two bulky guys beside me, their presence a constant reminder of my captivity. Seokjin was in the front passenger seat, his eyes glaring daggers at me. Meeting the gaze of a mafia king meant challenging him, but I wasn't about to back down.

He chuckled a cold sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You're not thinking of joking, right?"

I glared back even harder. "Do I look like it?"

Instead of a reply, I got a blow to the jaw. "Just... great," I muttered under my breath.

"You better not behave that way with me! I am the king not just in name, kiddo," Seokjin spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Do you want another blow? I don't mind."

"You think you can do this to me? I am the future prince of Seoul. In case you forgot, Kim Seokjin," I said, my glare unyielding.

Seokjin's eyes narrowed, his expression turning even more dangerous. He leaned closer, his voice a low, threatening whisper. "Future prince, huh? You seem to forget whose territory you're in. Power here isn't inherited, it's taken. And you, Jeon Jungkook, are about to learn that the hard way."

The car hit a bump, jostling us slightly, but Seokjin's gaze never wavered from mine. His chuckle was a dark, foreboding sound, and I could see the amusement in his eyes at my defiance.

Your titles mean nothing here," Seokjin continued. "You're just a pawn, and pawns are expendable."

"A pawn? You made your own sister the bait," I retorted.

Seokjin's eyes flickered with a wave of momentary anger, but before he could respond, the car abruptly halted. The driver turned to Seokjin, his face pale with nervousness. "Boss..." he murmured, pulling out his gun and loading it. "We are trapped."

A smirk spread across my face. "My dear friend," I whispered to myself.

"Stay alert," Seokjin commanded, his voice tight with control. The men nodded, their grips tightening on their weapons.

As the seconds ticked by, the silence outside the car was deafening. I strained to listen, to discern any clues about what was happening. Then, faintly, I heard it—a rustling, followed by the unmistakable click of weapons being readied.

The driver, visibly sweating, glanced back at Seokjin. "Boss, what do we do?"

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, drawing Seokjin's fierce gaze back to me. "What's so funny?" he demanded. I decided to stay silent, needing to focus on the voices outside. Just then, gunshots rang out so close it felt like they were aimed directly at us. The door slammed open, and men in dark clothes with masked faces stood by the door, their guns pointed at us. Chaos erupted.

I pushed the bulky guys next to me, who were getting shot. Seokjin had already bolted out of the car to shield himself. I looked around, trying to find a safe spot while shielding myself as well. My eyes caught sight of the car Moon and her brother were in—it had stopped, and the doors were open. The men in black weren't harming me, which meant they were from the Jeons.

I rushed towards their car and saw Moon sitting on the floor, hugging herself and sobbing. My heart ached at the sight. I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her out. Just then, I heard my name being called. I looked back and saw Jimin rushing towards me, wearing a cap and a hoodie. He was sweating and breathing heavily.

"Go, get to that car! Fast..." he urged.

"But you!" I grabbed his forearm, worried.

"I'm right behind you! I had no choice... I called your father, Jungkook," he said, looking around at the scene. The men in black were fighting with the Kim guards, who were fewer in number.

"Okay, let's go," I said, pulling Moon along with me. We ran towards the car Jimin had pointed out, dodging the chaos around us. The men in black provided cover, their guns firing with precision to keep the Kim guards at bay.

As we reached the car, I pushed Moon inside and turned to Jimin. "Get in, now!" I shouted over the noise.

Jimin nodded, and we both scrambled into the car. The driver, already prepared, floored the gas pedal as soon as the doors closed. We sped away from the scene, the sounds of gunfire fading into the distance.

I glanced back at Moon, who was still trembling and sobbing while rubbing her waist. I chose to ignore her miseries, focusing instead on the urgent situation at hand.

Jimin, still catching his breath, looked at me seriously. "We need to regroup and figure out our next move. Your father's men will keep the Kims busy for now, but we can't let our guard down." He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "How did the Kims get the information that you were there at that hour?" He stopped, his gaze shifting to Moon, who was crying while hugging herself, sliding further away from me.

"Did she?" he asked, looking at me. I nodded.

"Are you fucking kidding me! They would have killed you! That damn Kim Taehyung was there! Gosh, how many scenarios I had inside my mind when you said 'Kim' on the call! And this woman! Why did you bring her, huh? You should have left her in that car! You were almost killed!"

"Jimin," I started, but he snapped.

"No..." He showed his palm in anger. "Do you even have any idea? Moon! Jungkook almost lost his crown because of you! Because of you, he worked his ass off for months to meet you! Damn, you didn't just betray him, you betrayed me too!"

Moon looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Jimin, I didn't—"

"Save it!" Jimin cut her off, his voice harsh. "You don't get to explain. Not after everything that's happened."

Moon's POV

After Jimin left, I was once again alone with my thoughts of Jungkook. I spent my time roaming the garden, learning to make some food from Miss Lee. One day, I was in my bedroom, drying my hair while seated on the chair on the balcony. I heard a movement inside my bedroom. Thinking it was Miss Lee, I called out, "Miss Lee, I am here," and continued with my task.

But there was no response.

I paused for a moment, glancing over my shoulder. "Jimin?" I called while walking inside, but quickly dismissed the thought—he would never enter the bedroom. "Jungkook?" I called again, my voice tinged with a mix of hope and fear.

Then I heard a chuckle.

I froze, my heart racing. The chuckle was familiar, but not comforting. It wasn't Jungkook's or Jimin's. Slowly, I turned around, my eyes scanning the room for the source of the sound. My breath hitched as I saw a shadowy figure leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Long time no see, Moon," Taehyung's voice dripped with a mocking tone.

"T-Taehyung," I stammered, taking a step back. "What are you doing here?"

He pushed off the wall, stepping closer. "Missed me?" he taunted, his eyes glinting with malice. "I thought I'd pay you a visit. Seems like you're quite comfortable here."

I tried to maintain my composure, but my mind raced with fear and confusion. "You shouldn't be here. If Jungkook finds out—"

"He won't," Taehyung interrupted, his smile widening. "He's too busy dealing with other things. You, on the other hand, have been very helpful."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He took another step closer, invading my personal space. "Oh, come on, Moon. Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I mean."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "I don't know what you're talking about."

_______________

EARLY ACCESS CHAPTERS WERE UPDATED IN STCKME, LINK IN BIO

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