Love Shot - Exo Mafia AU (1/4)

26

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Kim Yeo-Reom's Pov.
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"Keeping her in the dark was a better option than having her run back here and getting killed."

Ma-Ra's words circled through my mind as I sipped on Día's signature golden cocktail at the bar. I'd overheard her talking to Ri-Ya when I'd gone to report to them after my patrol; the Black Aces had left a dead, rotting body at the territory line and I unfortunately had to report that in person. I had made my report and left right after, not saying one word more than necessary to either of them.

 The Golden Lady was fairly empty that evening which I preferred after my eventful day. 

I'd been back a week already and Xia had called me earlier in the day to ask me to give my sisters a second chance to try and explain. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time or patience to listen to Ma-Ra's silver tongue, she'd already tried once anyway.

But after reporting a death and talking to Mi-Young as well, I finally agreed to ask Ri-Ya to meet with me. Mainly because Mi-Young told me that Xia may reconsider letting me come back if things with Ri-Ya didn't go well either.

Ri-Ya came in later than we had agreed, her hair messy and carelessly brushed back into a bun, her lipstick smudged and reapplied very poorly; Min-Seok was outside in the car waiting for her.

"You wanted to ask me something?" She rushed out breathlessly, not even sitting down.

I turned to meet her eyes, "I want you to tell me the truth."

Ri-Ya glanced at her watch before sitting down next to me, throwing one leg over the other, "I'm not a mind reader, Yeo-Reom. What truth do you want to know?"

"Ma-Ra told me you two weren't throwing me away to China but that's exactly what you did so why?"

Ri-Ya cursed, rolling her eyes but there was a bitter frown on her face, "I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that. Ma-Ra forbid the topic from being discussed."

"I heard you guys talking about it in her office like three hours ago. Something about keeping me in the dark," I blurted, trying to keep my face blank.

Ri-Ya winced before taking a sip from my glass, placing the drink down in front of herself before rubbing her arms, "Just so you know, I never agreed to sending you away; I told you as much before you left."

I nodded curtly, staring down at the marble of the bar.

"After you left for China and started training, Ma-Ra became concerned by your progress. She sent you away for your own safety, but you were diving straight into jobs and doing incredibly well. Xia was singing your praises in every call."

I frowned, growing annoyed as it started to seem like Ri-Ya was deflecting but she just continued.

"Ma-Ra knew you'd feel ready to come back sooner that we'd expected, and you'd want to face Kim Re-Won immediately after. She cut you off in hopes that maybe you'd feel more inclined to stay there longer while we sorted out the issue of the Black Aces. Turns out we underestimated them." Ri-Ya concluded, finishing off my drink.

I sucked on the inside of my cheek before releasing it with a pop, my head almost fully clouding with fury, "You ignored me for two years because I was learning too fast?"

"That and you have a knack for disregarding personal safety," Ri-Ya tried to joke before growing serious again, "Ma-Ra was sure you would come rushing back if you found out the truth about the situation here. She didn't want you trying to act heroic by taking on Kim Re-Won by yourself."