Jungkook stared at the image in front of him. The cold eyes and tight lips did not match the memory of warm hazels and box smile. Did he remember correctly? Kim Taehyung, as he knew in theory was a meticulous bastard ignored by his father and dominated by his step brother. Yet, after yesterday, Jungkook's preconceived notions about Kim Taehyung have been challenged. The man is reckless, rebellious and full of himself. He isn't savage but he isn't exactly composed either. He dives head first, no shits given to the consequences. Or maybe he is prepared to be shat on. Either way, Kim Taehyung has plans that don't seem of his taste but are necessary evil.

The only common factor Jungkook can pinpoint is the careless kindness; the naivety and innocence that cannot stay hidden no matter how hard he tries. The boy from his memories was quite not cold. The boy from his memories was shy not broken. The boy from his memories was cocky not callous. The boy from his memories was long lost, not Kim Taehyung.

Jungkook sighed.

The door to his office swung open, "You have got to be kidding me Jungkook."

Jimin had apparently left all the greetings at the door. He probably heard about last night's incident from Eunwoo. Jungkook closed his mac and looked at his frantic brother.

"What is it now?" He asked though he knew.

"The alliance is a ruse. You know it just as much as I do." Jimin pointed his finger to lay emphasis on the facade and Jungkook accepting it with open arms.

"Busan is on the offer."

"And the port is bait!" Jimin stepped forward. "What the hell is wrong with you!? First, you agree to bring Kim Taehyung into the inner circle, then you agree to his stupid absolute false deal and then you hand him our trump card? You gave him Yoon Jeonghan?!"

"They know each other. I believe they are some sort of friends." Jungkook shrugged.

"That is not- how do you even know that!?"

"I heard them." Jungkook said with ease. "There's something going on. Yoon Jeonghan knows something that is potentially big trouble for everyone."

Jimin rolled his eyes. He could not believe that Jungkook, out of everyone in this gang, is falling for such bullshit. He knew Jungkook was impulsive, extremely random, but this?! This is stepping into a trap willingly! This is amateur behaviour that nobody would ever expect from the Mafia King. Jimin ran his fingers through his already messy hair. This obsession with Kim Taehyung is the result of a brief encounter years ago; jimin knew that story. Although he now realises that he only knew a part of the story. The chance encounter, Jungkook's wounds and Taehyung's silence. Jimin never understood how deep this incident was. He pegged it to be one of Jungkook's drunk rants.

But that was not the case. It couldn't be, with the way Jungkook is behaving there's definitely more to this story. Taehyung was a prominent character in those two weeks. His role was massive in Jungkook's healing. So much that Taehyung's unannounced departure left a hole in Jungkook's heart. Jimin can see the desperation in Jungkook's eyes. The same desperation he feels when they talk about returning to Busan. The longing for home. Jungkook agreed to this deal because a certain nerve was teased. Busan and Kim Taehyung were synonyms to Jungkook. Another fear adding to Jimin's list of fears: Jungkook's desperation.

"Kook, you need to put a stop to this. Before it gets too late." Jimin tried to warn. "You know there are many who are dying to take you down. You cannot-"

"Jimin-ah, you worry for nothing. Things are only getting interesting. I mean, haven't you been bored with the same nonsense everyday? Work is getting stagnant. We need some action to bounce again."

"You get enough action already, you don't have to invite trouble for that."

"Trouble is fun though."

Jungkook was smirking. And all Jimin wanted to do was smack that smirk off his face. Replace it with rationality.

"Look, I'm just trying-"

"There's a hit list." Jungkook interrupted Jimin. "A ledger of sorts. With names."

Jimin furrowed his brows, "what do you mean?"

"Kim Taehyung has a lot of secrets and Yoon Jeonghan is one of them." Jungkook leaned back into his plush chair. Jimin did not know what to focus on.

"Does the hit list include us?" Jimin asked.

"I have no idea."

"Who made this list?"

"No clue at all."

"How do you know it's legit?"

"I don't."

Jimin gave a heavy sigh. He made a mental note to send out his spiders to collect information on this supposed hit list.

"Isn't it interesting?" Jungkook grinned his signature bunny grin.

"What do you want Jungkook?" Jimin was genuinely curious. Why was Jungkook willing to take such a huge risk? For Busan? But Busan was left behind years ago and the two had silently accepted that they could never get it back, even if they had a chance to. Busan was a painful memory for the pair that neither wanted to remember. But Jimin understood now, for Jungkook, Busan is not the only painful memory. This gave rise to a few other questions: is Kim Taehyung a painful memory for Jungkook? If he is, then, why? What had happened?

"I just want to know what's going on." Jungkook said with mock innocence.

Innocence. What even is innocence?

"By putting everyone's life on the line?"

Jungkook glared at Jimin now, "I will exit out of this when I sense danger."

"You don't think this is dangerous enough? You don't think Kim Taehyung is capable of betraying you?"

"He is desperate. I've seen it. I know it and you too. I get you are worried about Yoongi, but that does not mean you lose trust in me. I am not that gullible."

"It is not about Yoongi." Jimin grit his teeth. "It's about you. Look, whatever happened between you and Kim Taehyung years ago, it's time to let it go. Don't go looking for closure Jungkook. There isn't one."

Jungkook went still the minute Jimin, so openly, mentioned the incident. The deduction took him by surprise. He collected himself quickly.

"You're wrong." Jungkook leaned on his pure black ebony wood table. "I'm not looking for closure. I'm looking for revenge."

Jimin was about to speak again but there was a knock on the door. He turned to look just as Jungkook gave the permission to enter to whoever was knocking. The door opened slowly. Cha Eunwoo stepped in first, followed by Kim Taehyung. Jimin's surprise when he saw Taehyung's bruised face was on full display. Jungkook only smirked when Jimin raised a brow at him.

"Kim Taehyung, good to have you here with us." Jungkook motioned for him to come forward. "This is Park Jimin, my expert executioner."

Jimin and Taehyung bowed to each other. While Jimin did not know what to say still trying to process everything, Taehyung stayed silent for physical reasons.

"He handles other things as well, you will know soon." Jungkook said dismissively. "Now, take a seat, we have plenty to discuss."

Taehyung only glared at Jungkook.

"What? You don't want to know my plans for Yoon Jeonghan?" Jungkook was playing again.

Taehyung rolled his eyes then took a seat. Jungkook did not miss how his fingers curled into fists. He scoffed and sat back. Jimin, not knowing what to do with himself, took a seat as well.

"I am shipping him off to Choi Seungchoel. As we decided, you give me all the information you have of your supposed contact." Jungkook said. He had a mischievous smile on his face. Jimin worried his bottom lip.

"He's an assassin who works alone." Taehyung said. Jimin's eyes widened at the deep voice that escaped the petite body.

"Where do you find him?" Jungkook asked. The intensity of their eye contact was being felt by Jimin too. He was massively uncomfortable in this grand office for multiple reasons.

"Nowhere until Jeonghan is in Daegu." Taehyung tested his luck. His arms crossed over his chest.

"You don't have that kind of power here Kim." Jungkook scoffed. "How many beatings do you need to understand that?"

Taehyung grit his teeth. Jungkook smirked. Jimin sighed.

"China." Taehyung answered begrudgingly.

Jungkook clicked his tongue, "Where in China?"

Taehyung sighed and rolled his eyes as he answered, "Shanghai."

"And what do you call this assassin?" Jungkook raised a brow.

Taehyung grit his teeth and closed his eyes for a brief moment before answering, "Wang."

The one word responses were annoying Jungkook. Jimin was annoyed himself. This whole situation was annoying. The pin drop silence that followed was annoying as well. No one moved. It was as if none of them were even breathing. Taehyung and Jungkook were stuck in a battle, their eyes being the weapons. Jimin stared off in space wondering why the hell is he not ripping Kim Taehyung apart right now. A knock to the door came to their rescue.

Jungkook called for the person to come in then turned his attention to Jimin, "Shanghai next week. Send a notice for my arrival."

Jimin's eyes bulged out of their sockets, "you're not going alone. And not with such short notice."

"Jackson won't meet without an appointment either." Taehyung intercepted. A nerve throbbed on Jimin's forehead but he chose to ignore it.

Taehyung continued, "There's a shipment going from Busan to China this weekend. I can send a word to Jackson."

"And what would that word be? Ledger? Danger? Help??"

Taehyung glared.

"You offered me a deal yesterday, I'm offering you one today. I'll help you out, whatever with that hit list Yoon Jeonghan warned you about. Sounded like you and your secret little gang are in big trouble- don't even try to deny it Kim." Jungkook stopped Taehyung before he could even begin to protest. "I'll help you eliminate your step brother as well. In return, I want something."

Jimin's eyebrows were raised to the roof. None of whatever is happening at the moment was discussed with him. Deals that sound like earth shattering ideas are being made without his knowledge. And Jungkook's mouth is spewing words that could make the roof fall on him next.

"I want Daegu." Jungkook declared.

Taehyung and Jimin shared the same facial expression. Wide eyes and mouth agape.

"How dare you!" Taehyung jolted forward but was pushed back by Eunwoo who had just entered again. A gun was pressed to the back of Taehyung's head. But he was beyond furious to care about it. Jungkook was delighted, he expected to see this reaction. He couldn't wait to see what this crown prince would do next.

"You're out of your mind if you think I'll agree to that!" Taehyung was vibrating with anger. Jungkook wanted to shake him more.

"And you're out of your mind if you think I'll let you live for free." Jungkook said languidly. "Until yesterday, all I wanted was to kill your father. Kim Dongwook. But now I have a new dream. A new purpose, if you will. I thought about this all night Taehyung-ssi. Why would I just kill him? What's the point of that?"

Jungkook stood up, making his way toward Taehyung slowly, "instead, why not destroy what he built and then kill him? Hmm? Make him watch his empire fall? What do you think?"

Jungkook placed a palm on the back of Taehyung's seat and leaned down to look him dead in the eye. Madness collided with fury and the explosion was felt by the other two who were also present in the room. One was shaking his head, the other stared blankly but the gulp outed his nervousness. Jungkook stayed silent, toying with Taehyung and having fun watching his nerves knot together. Tongue playing in his mouth, Jungkook raised a brow waiting for Taehyung's response.

"That is not what we discussed." Taehyung said lowly. His fingers were gripping the handles of the plush seat so tightly that his knuckles were going white, leather squeaking under his iron grip.

"Of course it's not." Jungkook straightened and leaned on his polished solid black desk. "Think about it Kim, once the old Daegu mafia is destroyed you get to build a new one. All your own."

From the corner of his eye Jungkook saw Jimin's expression. He was curious and borderline done.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung asked.

Jungkook rolled his eyes, "We kill your father, Kim Woobin and whoever is associated with them, then take over. I will take over. You will look after."

Again, Taehyung tried to get up but was pushed back down by Eunwoo.

"I'm already giving you Busan! Not just the port but the entire city!" Taehyung fought back.

Daegu was his. His and Seungchoel's. They had plans for their home.

Taehyung burned with rage and Jungkook only added fuel to the fire after successfully igniting it.

"You can either be a part of this plan or you can be a part of this plan in spirit. The choice is yours." Jungkook said, crossing his arms over his broad chest. He felt the silk of his shirt against his abdomen, suddenly feeling the urge to workout in his gym for the rest of the day.

"You cannot do this to me Jeon." There was frown on Taehyung's face. The helpless sort that would make him question. Why?

"Oh yes I can Kim."

Taehyung had paled and reddened in a span of ten seconds. He was breathing harshly now, controlling his anger. He could burst. Jungkook was waiting for that volcanic eruption. Like a patient predator, waiting for his prey to make a move before he pounces. Jungkook knew Taehyung was gambling with his life; which meant the stakes were high for him. The Mafia King was basically tempted to take advantage of this situation. It was Taehyung's fault for being weak and so pathetically open. Jungkook could laugh in his face right now.

What would Taehyung do if he laughed? More like, what could Taehyung do if he laughed.

"You cannot come into my territory thinking you could walk the way you want." Jungkook said with an evil glint in his eyes. "I'll spare your family and friends, how about that?"

Taehyung exhaled sharply, something between a scoff and a sigh. There were so many images in his head; images of his mother, his friends, his trusted men. It made him dizzy. He can't give up on Daegu. How could he? It belonged to him. To his mother.

But. Did it?

Taehyung closed his eyes, "fine. I agree."

Jungkook's eyes lit up with excitement while Jimin's widened with utter surprise. Taehyung continued,

"You can have Busan and Daegu-"

"Oh no no no Taehyung-ssi. Daegu will be yours. Just, under my command. As long as you have my permission, you can do whatever the fuck you want with Daegu."

Prisoner in his own home.

It's okay. For her. It's all okay.

"Whatever." Taehyung loosened his grip on the handles. The cold mental pressed to the back of his head disappeared as well.

Jungkook clapped his hands together, "you're entertaining to deal with Taehyung-ssi."

Taehyung only glared. Jungkook turned to Jimin, asking him to get the official papers ready. Jimin raised his brow to question Jungkook. But knowing Jungkook will answer him in his own time he only shook his head and went out of the suffocating room to get the contract ready.

"I want to know when Jeonghan reaches Daegu." Taehyung said as soon as Jimin left the office.

"You will know what I want you to know. And whenever I want you to know." Jungkook said lazily. He didn't care about Taehyung's anger. In fact, he only wanted to provoke him further.

"You have to-"

"Who else is in your clique?" Jungkook interrupted Taehyung. "And I know that you have a secret group of your own, don't even try to hide it."

Taehyung looked unfazed, "if you know it's a secret then why ask? You should know I won't tell."

Jungkook chuckled, "fine. What's the business with this red ledger?"

"I don't know." Taehyung shrugged. It was true. He had no idea there is kill list with his and his friends' names on it. Let alone who it belonged to. His group had been occupied with looking for jeonghan in secrecy for months. They hadn't given any attention to anything else. To complicate Taehyung's life further, his father had announced a controversial deal with the Mafia King. Taehyung could concentrate on only so much. 

However, the biggest question hadn't even settled in. Someone knew about his secret group of friends. Someone knew there was an alliance between the heirs of the two groups, Kims of Daegu and the Chois. Maybe they knew about the other members as well.

Jungkook tilted his head, "you're going to die. And you don't know who's planning to kill you?"

"I know exactly how much you know. Maybe if you hadn't kept Jeonghan captive for no reason, we would've known more about this red ledger."

"Yoon Jeonghan. A useful man indeed. No wonder Choi Seungchoel went batshit crazy."

Taehyung rolled his eyes.

"Now coming back to business. Wang Jackson."

"I already told you-"

"I don't make appointments Kim. I give orders." Jungkook cut Taehyung off mid sentence once again. "You know where he is, and you will take me to him. Do you understand?"

"You really think the world revolves around you." Taehyung scoffed. "Jackson has no permanent place. I don't know his exact location."

"Then you will find out."

"Why can't you do it? Don't you have your own contacts in China? Or is the King limited to the Korean territory? Hmm?"

Jungkook caught onto his game but he wasn't in the mood to play.

"Your step brother wants a report on what's going on here. You might want to reply to his email soon."

Taehyung's eyes widened. Jungkook smirked and continued,

"Tell him everything is running smoothly and you've been situated with the inner circle."

"You're baiting him."

"Of course I am. How else do we find out about his benefactor quickly?" Jungkook wanted to shoot the stupidity out of him.

"Don't. Woobin is smart, he'll catch on." Taehyung was leaning forward, hands on the table.

"Maybe he's the one with the red ledger."

Taehyung flinched back. Even Jungkook was taken aback by his reaction. What happened? Why did Taehyung react like that? What was so conflicting about his suggestion that Taehyung felt conflicted himself. The doubts were building again. Did Taehyung not think Woobin was capable of having such a list? Or was it that this was Taehyung's biggest nightmare and Jungkook's words had just turned it into reality?

Jungkook was conflicted.