Bound to You

Chapter 18

Daddy.

He had called Taehyung daddy. Jimin hadn't even known he was into that sort of thing. But then again, he had never before been with someone as assertive and mature as Taehyung. He had never felt so naturally submissive to any of his partners. He'd never before felt this constant urge to please any other man. With Taehyung, he felt cared for, and he wanted to be cherished by him.

And it was fucking insane.

He was insane.

Yes, sometimes he felt like a pet all right, a pet in a golden cage. And Taehyung didn't cherish him. Taehyung was just using him. Taehyung had plans concerning him—plans he certainly wasn't sharing with Jimin. Taehyung was the worst man he could have possibly chosen for that particular kink. Because trusting and wanting to please a man, wanting to be cherished by a man whose heart was cold and whose every action was calculated was the perfect recipe for disaster. Jimin might be a hopeless romantic and optimist, but he was neither stupid nor naive. This was bad. This was terrible, because this thing between him and Taehyung had an expiration date. Sooner rather than later, Taehyung would use him against his father, and, regardless of the outcome, they would go their own separate ways. The sex was too intense already. He didn't need a kink that might leave him emotionally vulnerable on top of that.

A noise at the door startled him out of his thoughts.

Jimin turned his head toward it.

The door opened slightly and Viper's head appeared in the gap. He was pale and grim.

Jimin frowned.

Viper jerked his head, motioning Jimin to come towards him.

Does he want to talk?

Glancing at the sleeping man beside him, Jimin got out of the bed silently and padded toward the door. He was handed a folded sheet of paper. Viper kept looking nervously over Jimin's shoulder at Taehyung.

Frowning, Jimin took the note and opened it.

-

Dear Jimin,

My brother will probably kill me for this when he finds out (he always finds out), but I can't in good conscience ignore your situation after I found out who you are from Viper (he could never resist my puppy eyes).

I'm not naive. I know how my brother is, what he does. I know he does things he doesn't tell us. Most of the time, I'm fine with it. Maybe it's cowardly, but sometimes ignorance really is bliss. To be totally honest, I would have preferred to remain ignorant in this case, too, because it's honestly terrifying to go against Tae. I know he loves us very much, but you probably know that he can be pretty scary. He can get carried away and doesn't care about hurting other people. I know he hasn't harmed you though, I saw it with my own eyes. But I can't just sit and wait for it.

Tomorrow is my wedding day, and I want it to be a perfect day, not just for me but for everyone. I'd like to think I'm a good person. I want to have a free conscience when I say my wedding vows in front of god and people I cherish.

Yes, that's right: you'll be free tomorrow. I have managed to persuade Viper to help you escape and make it look like you escaped with someone else's help. For some reason, Viper was almost too eager to get rid of you.

He will get you out at around 12, while I'll make sure Tae and most of the security guards are at my wedding. You'll have almost twelve hours to get to safety. I only ask you not to tell anyone that my brother was involved in your kidnapping. He's not a monster, you know. Yes, he can be harsh, and he can be an overbearing ass, but he's the best big brother I could have asked for. Even when he's a dick, he usually has reasons for it – you know about what your father did right? I'm not saying what he is doing to you is right. He probably hasn't told you, but one of the men who died on that train was Taehyung's childhood friend, Lee Won-Shik. My brother may not be a very good man, but he has a quality not every man can possess: he's unwaveringly loyal to those important to him, and would do anything to keep them out of harm's way.

I wish you the best, and I really hope you forgive all of us.

Kim Ae-Ri

-

Jimin stared at the note before slowly lifting his gaze to Viper. The guy's paleness and nervousness made an awful amount of sense now.

He grabbed Ae-Ri's letter from Jimin's hand, and shut the door again.

A numb feeling spreading through his chest, Jimin walked back to the bed and slipped between the sheets. It took a conscious effort not to look at the man sleeping inches away from him.