Love Shot - Exo Mafia AU (1/4)

24

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Kim Yeo-Reom's Pov.
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After the taxi driver pulled up at The Golden Lady, I was flooded with a wave of relief. 

The bar had been restored after the bombing two years ago, the structure rebuilt stronger this time around, with brand new twinkling golden designs and fancy new interior. I also knew that Día had demanded that a shelter be built underneath the bar, so if another instance of an attack ever happened again, everyone could hide away safely.

Día and I got to know each other once I left Korea. Ma-Ra had put her in charge of checking in on me regularly to make sure I was doing well and passing along any information the leader thought was necessary. Byul even visited me on two different occasions while on vacation with her daughter.

As I walked into the bar, Día glanced up and her face instantly split into a welcoming, warm smile. She stepped out from behind the bar immediately, making her way towards me and pulling me in to a light hug, "Well hello there, welcome back, Liena. We've been waiting for you."

She pulled away, still smiling, to let A-Reum tackle my legs, the now three-year-old squealing in delight as I ruffled her hair.

"Would you like anything to drink? I brought some side dishes into work with me today and I haven't finished them yet, are you hungry?" Día fret, coaxing A-Reum into her makeshift play area.

I shook my head, seating myself at the bar, "I'll just wait for Ma-Ra to arrive. Have you been well?"

Día nodded quickly, "I have, you've missed quite a bit. Kyung-Soo and I have decided to try for another baby, we've moved into a bigger house and he's coming back home more often these days too. On top of that, business is doing well, although it is mostly gangsters coming in." She finished laughing, pouring me some lemony drink and passing it over. 

I took a sip and nodded slowly, "That sounds nice. I'm happy for you."

Día slowed down a little, taking note my lack of enthusiasm, her hand coming over my wrist, squeezing it softly, "It's hard, isn't it? Coming back here."

I considered denying it but then I laughed curtly and nodded, "I really hate it and I've only been back two hours. I miss the buzz of the casino and my hotel room. Most of all, I miss the Chinese sub-unit members."

Día smiled softly, "I heard you became quite the gambler. We should play poker some time, I want to test your skills."

I joined in on her smile, "Be careful what you wish for, I robbed Riel of three thousand dollars in one night."

"I robbed her of seven thousand once," Día teased.

I went to say some more but our joyous mood was cut off as the door opened and Ma-Ra strolled in.

Her face was clouded by exhaustion and stress. She had lost weight and her elegant appearance was dimmed by her messy hair and bloodshot eyes, she didn't try to hide her gun, her hands bruised and chapped. Still, she tried to force a smile, her eyes remaining entirely blank, "It's nice to see you again, Yeo-Reom."

I nodded, swirling on the bar stool to acknowledge her properly. She didn't move to hug me, and I didn't move to reach for her either, our whole exchange awkward. 

The uncertainty remained as Día poured Ma-Ra a glass of water and moved away to give us time to talk, heading for the storage room with her notebook.

"Xia mentioned you didn't want to come back to the main house. Do have somewhere else you would like to stay?" Ma-Ra asked tentatively, tapping her fingers on her knee.

"I haven't found a place yet so I'm going to head to a hotel for a few days until I sort something out. I tried calling Oh-Rim, but I couldn't reach her," I told her simply,

Ma-Ra nodded and sipped on her drink quietly, I copied her action after the first few seconds of silence, "Oh-Rim is working elsewhere,"

I nodded once, a sting of annoyance striking me,

"I'll ask someone to give you her new number another day."

"Of course, you will," I muttered, refusing to meet her piercing eyes.

Ma-Ra clicked her tongue after a second, putting her drink down, "Did you hear that Ri-Ya is getting married in the summer?"

I nodded once, "I met Min-Seok by chance earlier. He informed me."

"I see," Ma-Ra didn't ask where I had been earlier, not that I would have told her either way, but the point was, she didn't ask. "I guess we should just start the briefing then,"

"I think that would be best," I replied immediately, finally meeting her eyes.

Ma-Ra bit her bottom lip before continuing, "Since you've been gone, Kim Re-Won and the Black Aces have attempted over two hundred attacks, about seventy of those attacks have been successful." She paused, possibly hoping I would say something but I didn't.

"We've suffered heavy casualties on both sides of the alliance and thus, unfortunately, it is starting to waver. Our goal up until a month ago was to keep Kim Re-Won at bay but now, I'm trying to convince EXO to join us in a head on attack. We should try to weaken them in any way we can, but Suho is reluctant to agree to the idea," Ma-Ra continued.

I sipped on my drink again, finishing it and nodding along as she spoke.

"We had a mole in the Black Aces who had been very informative and helpful in keeping Kim Re-Won away but due to the rising risks that person was transported to Thailand last month; we've been fighting blind since." 

I wasn't sure why she kept stopping.

"Suho has suggested breaking off the alliance since the Black Aces seem to enjoy targeting EXO more. I've asked him to give me more time but I'm running out of things to say to keep them with us," Ma-Ra concluded, motioning with her hand for me to say something.

"Has he been a part of this alliance this long for his benefit or yours?" I questioned, glancing at the doorway as the chimes twinkled and Kyung-Soo walked in. I bowed quietly in my seat which he returned before I turned my attention back to Ma-Ra as he went to greet his wife and child.

"It's hard to say. Without each other, we both become more vulnerable—"

"But if they stay, the Black Aces will continue to beat EXO because they're what's stopping them from fully destroying us," I cut in coolly, pressing my lips into a thin line.

Ma-Ra nodded once to confirm my theory, "Exactly."

"You should convince him to stay by any means. The Lotus won't survive without EXO, not unless we call in all the sub-units and even so it will take them a while to get here," I told her calmly and she winced.

"I know. I'm trying."

I took in her ragged appearance once more, "I can see that."

Ma-Ra sighed, rubbing her eyes, "What about you? Have you been well?"

I made a sound of agreement and nodded, leaning over to take a cube of ice from the bucket on the other side of the bar and putting it in my mouth.

"Did Xia and Mi-Young take care of you well? Was the training difficult?" Ma-Ra pressed on.

I tilted my head to the side, sucking on the ice, "They look care of me the same way sisters would. The training was good too, it was intense but in a good way, it made me a lot stronger."

Ma-Ra flushed at my first comment, biting the inside of her cheek, "That's good to hear. I was worried you wouldn't be able to fit in... I'm also sorry, for not contacting you more often. Everything was just so hectic here."

I nodded blankly, trailing my eyes over the various colourful alcohol bottles on display, "I'm sorry too."

Ma-Ra frowned as I hopped off the bar stool and put on my jacket, drawing the attention of the Do family too, "What are you sorry for?" Ma-Ra asked in confusion. 

I smiled coldly, tucking my hands away into my pockets, "For moving on."

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