Before The Shadow: White Chrysanthemum Flowers

Chapter 17: The Plan

A few days later

My first night here was rough...to say the least as I experienced nightmare after nightmare and I would wake up each time drenched in sweat. The next night was somewhat better; by the third and fourth nights, I was starting to feel more like myself again.

This place we're staying in is a cottage in the countryside which is fairly secluded from anyone else. The cottage overall is bigger and the living room and kitchen aren't divided which creates a large open space but there are fewer bedrooms so some of the guys are sleeping in the living room.

We're holding a meeting today to discuss what is the best way to deal with Jieun.

"You don't have to be involved if you don't want to be," Yoongi says softly and squeezes my hands.

"No, this includes me now too. I want to help. I don't want to sit on the sidelines."

"Hailey..." Yoongi slips his hands away from mine.

"I can fight!" I say trying to further my point. "I won't get right in the middle of it but let me at least help with the background work. I won't be in danger."

Yoongi rubs the back of his neck and sighs "You can sit in on the meeting, for now, we can discuss the rest later." Yoongi says quickly and leaves the room without letting me get another word in to argue my case.

That's how well our conversation went before the meeting so god knows what I'll be allowed to say or do at the actual meeting.

I sit down at the long dining table in the kitchen with Yoongi at my side sitting at the head of the table, this is where we are holding the meeting. The rest of the guys start to file in Jin sits opposite me and Hobi pulls up the chair next to me. The boys eye me excitedly as they notice me sitting at the table.

Jin explained to me this morning that Yoongi had decided to come clean with Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook. They joined BTS a few years after the events at the Jung house and so never knew what Yoongi had been through until now. Everyone is up to speed on who Jieun is now but I feel sorry for her in a way despite everything she's done to me. To be forcibly separated from your twin...I can only imagine how horrible that must've been for her and then to make matters worse she thinks the guy she liked killed her family. If only she knew Yoongi did that out of kindness for her brother and how torn up the decision had made him and still haunts him.

Yoongi clears his throat and starts the meeting, his eyes almost looking black as his expression hardens. He was in mafia boss mode now "The plan is to take out Yeong's group along with Jieun and ultimately kill them."

I swallow hard at the word kill. Does Yoongi really want to kill her? I know she's only done bad things so far but the two of them have such a long and complicated history together. Will he really only feel better when she's dead?

"Do we know where the main hideout is?" Taehyung asks.

"Hoseok," Yoongi says curtly and gestures his head at him.

Hobi pulls out a folder from inside his jacket and pours numerous pictures and documents on the table from it, spreading them all out for everyone to see. "Following the road from where Hailey was abducted I was able to get into some of the security cameras posted along the highway," he gestures at the image of a black van, another close-up image reveals Jieun sitting in the passenger seat. "I was able to figure out where their hideout is," he spreads a map across the table. "It's on the west side of town, a compound that used to be a refrigerator company but it went bust three years ago. Now the place is empty."

"Good work," Yoongi says and Hobi nods.

"How many people do you think we'll be up against, boss?" Jungkooks eyes light up excitedly.

Yoongi leans back in his chair, "Yeong's group contains about twenty or so people however, I don't know how many Jieun will have recruited. It's best to assume the worse for now," Yoongi says in a gravelly voice. "Jimin, how are we doing for weapons?"

"Good, Jungkook's coming with me to pick up our last order from Changwoo tonight. We should be fully set."

Yoongi nods his head in approval "Namjoon, any ideas on strategies for approaching the compound?" Yoongi leans on the table with his elbows and rests his chin in his hands and stares at Namjoon.

"Looking at the size of the place..." Namjoon inspects the documents and focuses on the blueprints next to Hobi. "We should go in groups, Jimin can snipe from this position here," Namjoon points at the blueprint in front of him. "Hobi can go with him and communicate what he's seeing from above to us," Namjoon turns the blueprint and points at a different spot. "Boss, you, Taehyung and me will be upfront and we'll enter through here. Then to help cover our backs Jin, Jungkook and Hailey-"

"No," Yoongi says firmly.

"Yes," I argue back and everyone except Jin turns to look at me as if I've just put my hand out for a rabid dog to bite.

Yoongi inhales sharply "Hailey-"

"I can fight! I'm not staying at home like some kid that can't even look out for themself." There is no way in hell I'm about to let him leave me behind.

Yoongi grits his teeth together "She could be an asset, Yoongi." Jin chimes.

Yoongi whips his head to look at Jin and slams his fist onto the table "It is out of the question!" He looks at me "I will not compromise your safety."

"Yoongi, think about it for a second. We're already outnumbered, Hailey could help us out a lot." Jin says, trying to persuade Yoongi but I can see he's only getting more and more irritated as he grinds his teeth together. None of the other members dares to speak.

"As Namjoon said, I'll be covering your back, out of danger. Practically on the sideline! And I won't be alone, Jin and Jungkook will be with me. Please Yoongi, I want to help." I reach out for his hand but I can see on his face that he is still in work mode so I take my hand back.

His gaze shifts to mine and I can see him thinking it over as his dark eyes bare into mine, he wipes his face aggressively. "Fine but you stay in the back and out of the line of fire," he turns to Jin and Jungkook. "If she so much as comes back with a scrape. I will fucking kill you both," I hear Jungkook gulp slightly and Yoongi stands to his feet. "Meeting adjourned," He quickly paces out of the room. I stand to follow him but Hobi holds my shoulder and shakes his head somberly at me.

"So Hailey, since you're joining us for the fight let me get you up to speed on some of our weapons," Jimin grins with delight and leads me out of the kitchen and in the direction of the barn out back.