$ s i x t y f o u r $

He said goodbye to Miran that morning, assuring her that he would take off for work at the casino. Her eyes had brimmed with tears when he told her about his dream, and she pleaded for him not to do it. They were her parents after all, and she didn't want to see them hurt. She also didn't want to see Baekhyun's hands stained with the blood of people who weren't worth the trouble. Her parents were horrible people and would never learn. Baekhyun had done many horrible things in his life, but despite all of it, he wasn't a bad person. 

Working at the casino for him was a bit more relaxed work than he did when he managed the pack's finances. He and Yixing were in charge of keeping the place stocked with alcohol and food for their restaurants. Their money was stored in safe deposit boxes in warehouses where they stored their product and Baekhyun was in charge of getting the money there. In addition to alcohol and their earnings from the casino, they sold product on the streets. Drugs imported from big sellers in Latin America which was where most of their money came from. They didn't do drugs themselves, merely used it as a way of gains in their world.

Baekhyun made sure to get his responsibilities done. Duizhang and the others counted on him to get his job done. Then he headed to Miran's house, just like he did in his dream. 

He climbed out of the car and walked purposefully up to the front door, using his gun to knock harshly on it. It was like he was reliving every moment of his dream, only he knew what the outcome would be if he went along with what he wanted to do. It was Miran's mother who opened the door and she tried to close it in his face, but he easily overpowered her and pushed the door back.

Mrs. Nam began shouting and crying hysterically for her husband to come to her rescue. But Baekhyun quickly aimed his gun at her head, cocking the gun with a click. He got her down on her knees just as her husband walked into the room. 

"What do you want?" Her husband asked with a voice too brave despite his wife being in danger.

"You still owe us money." Baekhyun reminded him. That night he gave Miran away to them, Junmyeon had threatened that they would come back for their money. Yet they never returned because things always came up. Now Baekhyun was going to use that debt to negotiate something that would be beneficial to Miran. "The pack doesn't just lend out money for free. We want our money back now."

Baekhyun pointed his gun away from Miran's mother and pointed it instead at Mr. Nam. With the gun, he gestured for him to get on his knees next to his wife. The business man quickly complied, speaking nervously. "Wait. I'm sure we can work something out."

That was exactly what Baekhyun wanted to hear. 

"What if I give you my other daughter Yoonah, and we'll call it even?" He offered shamelessly. The offer angered Baekhyun--the way he was so willing to offer his daughters up to save his own skin. But the pack's beta wanted this. He just didn't want to let his interest show. Before Baekhyun could even resond, he called in a booming voice, "Yoonah! Come here for a bit."

Baekhyun heard footsteps coming from another room and soon the sixteen year old appeared in the room with a casual and carefree look on her face that turned into one of shock when she saw her parents being held at gunpoint by the same man who had taken her sister away months ago. "What's going on?" The teenager asked in a small voice.

"Yoonah," Her father spoke with hints of fear in his words. "This man is going to kill us, and the only way to save the family is if you go with him."

They could all visibly see the way her heart dropped. She felt more than just abandoned by her parents--she felt betrayed. 

She quickly shook her head. "I won't go."

"She's prettier than Miran." Mr. Nam said, trying to convince him. "She'll be a good wife for one of your brothers."

"Dad please." The sixteen year old pleaded through the tears in her eyes.

"What about your other daughter?" Baekhyun asked. 

That was when Mrs. Nam's breath hitched in her throat and she spoke up to protest. "You can't have her. She's only ten years old."

"Should've thought of that when you borrowed money from us." Baekhyun reminded her, uncaring. "You either give them both to me, or you all die. Its your choice. Everything in this life has consequences." As he said that, he thought to himself that it was true. In his dream he had killed them, and the consequence was that Miran thought him a monster. She wouldn't forgive him. It was exactly what he told Miran that first day she moved in with him.

Yoonah sucked in a deep breath and stepped forward bravely. "I'll go, and I promise I'll take good care of my sister."

-

"Jongin, love," Jiyeon called his name to get his attention. He was awake already and they were cuddled up in their bed together, with his arms around her. He hummed a response to let her know he was listening, and she continued, looking up at him. "Have you--or your brothers--ever thought about...leaving the pack...and living a normal life away from all the crime?"

If she was being honest, she had thought about it many times. By now, she was used to her husbands life. She was used to seeing the bloodshed, the violence, and being subjected to pain ever since she joined the pack. But sometimes when she was waiting for sleep to overtake her at night, she thought about asking her husband to run away with her. To start a new life where they didn't always have to worry about either being captured and arrested by the police, or attacked and killed by other gangs. 

"We wouldn't have to worry about having children and putting them in danger--" She continued, trying to convince him, but he stopped her, sitting up in their bed and pulling away from her. On his face was a look that was intermingled with outrage that she would suggest something like that.

Then again, he had to understand that she wasn't from his world. He had always grown up around a life of crime. She had been introduced to his world only recently and he thought that she understood his circumstances just as he understood hers. He had never forced her to share his life. 

He heaved a sigh and gave her reassurances nonetheless. "Our children will never be in better hands than with our family." He told her. 

"Jong, this is a gang." She pointed out, her words were a little too blunt as she continued. "Your brothers are criminals. I just want our future children to be raised around people who won't teach them bad habits." Though it was exactly what she was thinking, she instantly regretted the way she had worded herself. They were his family after all--the only people he had. She couldn't imagine how he was feeling now, between defending them or possibly siding with her.

Jongin was hurt, to say the least. "If you didn't want this life, then why'd you agree to marry me? No one forced you, and if you really think that way, there's the door." He said, gesturing to the door to their suite.

But instead of waiting for an answer, he was the one who got out of bed. 

He got dressed and left her there alone. He needed to talk to someone, he needed to find a distraction.

-

i'm trying so hard to include all my characters and expand in their story lines, since i have already mentioned that this boook will have a third and final part. but geez, its so hard to mention everyone in this universe. still, im trying really hard so please bear with me.

i hope you're all liking this story so far. it honestly means the entire world to me when you vote and comment.

thank you again. 

i love you all.

-clary