Park Jimin: Romeo and Juliet

ɢᴏ ʙɪɢ ᴏʀ ɢᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ

CHAPTER ONE
___________

I've got to get away!

I race down the hallway of Casino Seoul, a famous casino off the Vegas strip, trying to escape a very angry security guard.

"Get back here!"

I reach the end of the hallway and turn right. The sound of slot machines greets my ears, as the hallway opens into the casino's crowded floor.

I should easily be able to lose myself in this crowd.

Grateful for my disguise— dressed as one of the casino waitresses— I grab an empty plate of drinks from a table. I walk briskly toward the other end of the casino, keeping a straight face.

This was supposed to be a simple job. Break into the control room, insert the USB, then go back to the office to hack the system. Simple.

I'm a computer hacker and my job is to help businesses secure their online systems. But to land big clients, you have to first prove that their systems are weak. Which means hacking into them.

I'd be out of here by now, if the guard hadn't shown up out of nowhere and decided to grab my ass.

I look around for exits when a clammy hand grabs my shoulder.

"Gotcha." He smirks.

Okay. Here goes nothing.

"What's your name, handsome? Maybe we can meet up after my shift?" I rest a hand on his chest.

The guard simply just raises a brow, "The name's Mikey Muscles. And your shift?" He scoffs, "Yeah, right. I'm taking you to the boss. He has zero tolerance for thieves."

"I wasn't stealing! And you grabbed my ass!" I try removing his firm hand off of my shoulder.

"Boss says you're up to no good. Boss is always right. Let's go." He grabs me by the elbow and walks me across the floor into the casino's private gaming salon.

Men in tuxedos and women in evening dresses drink, lounge, and play high-stakes poker in the rich leather-furnished room. I watch a man toss a ten thousand dollar chip into the pot.

I wish I had that kind of money to throw away like it's nothing. But I traded my Mafia princess life in for independence.

My thoughts are interrupted when Mikey pushes me to a stop... right behind the man sitting at the poker table.

"I caught the girl in the control room, Boss."

The 'boss' silences Mikey with the slightest lift of his finger. I swallow.

I was raised around powerful men. But this? This feels like something entirely different.

The boss glances at me. Power, fierce and unyielding, radiates from him. I can sense it beneath the civilized veneer— something dark and dangerous, wild and ruthless.

"Release her." He finally speaks.

His voice is whiskey-smooth but not very deep. His gaze moves over me in a slow perusal of my disguise.

I clear my throat loudly, "That's enough."

I'm in this mess because I couldn't tolerate objectification. I'm not about to start now.

His gaze sharpens on me, "If you say so. Leave her with me, Mikey."

Without hesitation, Mikey obeys and leaves the table immediately.

"So sure I won't run away?"

He chuckles softly. It's a low, dangerous sound that sends shivers down my spine.

"I won't let you."

Something niggles at the back of my mind at his words. I've heard those words before, spoken with the same intonation, the same hint of a Satoori accent.

I step closer to scrutinize his features, something in his face is familiar. He sips his whiskey, his throat tightening as he swallows.

Think, Sam, think! If I actually know this guy, maybe there's still a way to get out of this.

I'm close enough to read his cards. I quickly calculate the odds in my head and realize he's sitting on a pile of money.

If they were mine, I would've cashed out and run. Especially with two-hundred-grand worth of chips on the line.

Instead, he throws down three cards. I gasp and mutter under my breath, only for his ears, "Risk taker, are you?"

"And you're not?" He draws three new cards and flashes me his hand.

I see that he's pulled two Aces and a ten from the risky draw, giving him a full house.

"Go ahead and bet for me."

"You want me to bet for you? With that kind of money on the table?" My lips gape.

"Never played poker?"

"I grew up in Vegas. I know my way around a poker table."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

I take a breath and focus on the cards. I know a good hand when I see one, and this one is great. The question is, should I go big, or not?

"Feeling lucky, Boss?" I raise a brow.

"I don't need luck, bella."

A current of electricity goes through me at the word. 'Beautiful'. He just called me beautiful.

Taking a chance, I lean over and push all his chips forward. My hair brushes over his cheek for the briefest moment and we both tense.

"Two-hundred-thousand dollars." The dealer spoke.

My eyes nearly pop out of my head. The rest of the players quickly fold, and the dealer passes the mound of chips back to the boss. The boss turns to me, shooting me an impressed look.

"So, you're a gambler." He smirks.

"Or maybe I'm just lucky."

"Lucky people don't get caught trying to hack into my computer system."

The man sitting on the boss's other side reclines in his chair, "Nice hand, big guy. Now how do you feel about sharing your lady luck with the rest of us?" He leers at me and pats his thigh.

"Come on, sweetheart. I can pay you double what he's—"

Suddenly, the boss stands. In one swift movement, he yanks the man off his chair and smashes his face into the table.

"Creeps don't belong in my casino," The boss straightens his cuffs and looks at me. He hasn't even broken a sweat, "Come with me."

Shocked, I follow him out of the room, glancing back to see the bloodied man being carried away by the dealer.

"I'm guessing he was a high paying customer." I bite my lip in guilt.

"There will be others who pay."

I swallow the nerves building within me. I finger the knife that I always carry in a sheath strapped to my thigh.

At least I can protect myself if he tries anything. I've got Dad to thank for that. Self defense is important for a girl growing up as a Mafia princess.

He turns a corner and holds a door open for me. I squeezed past, entering a cold, austere office. He settles in a large leather chair behind his desk.