Off Camera

Chapter 48

Tee POV

I gather an armful of clothes from the closet and dash back to the bed with them where a couple of suitcases sit open. I shake my head. "I don't understand why I need to move suddenly. My father doesn't know exactly where I live. I should be safe."

Tae grabs a bundle of clothes from the closet. "I'm not taking any chances. If you don't know how these people work, you don't understand the actual danger you are in. Trust me. You need to move. If your father knows the vague area where you live, it won't take him long to find your apartment. It is better for you to move now, before he gets the jump on you. I'll also feel better if you are with me in our secure location. No one is getting in unless we say they can come in."

My stomach twists. Is this gambling world really this bad?

I don't have to ask because I already know it is. Images of my childhood when those nasty thugs would come looking for my father and then 'teach him a lesson' for not paying on time flash through my mind.

A cold shiver runs down my back.

I don't want to be around if they come here.

Tae lays the bundle of clothes on the bed next to me and turns around to go get more. He glances across the room at Bas, who is looking around my desk and through the drawers. "Bas, help Tee. We don't want to stay too long. We need to get in and out as fast as possible. Plus, the desk was the first thing Tee went through. He has already gotten all his important papers and stuff from there."

Bas whips his head up and nods. He glances down at the desk one more time before he scurries over to me and helps me fold the clothes and put them in the suitcase. He looks over his shoulder at Tae as Tae steps back into the closet. "Do you really think his father will show up or the men from the gambling ring?"

Tae grabs another load of clothes and grunts, "I don't want to take a chance of it happening. You shouldn't be acting so lax about it. It is serious. Are you going to take the beating for Tee if they show up?"

Bas's body goes rigid, and he frantically shakes his head. "No. I would do a lot of things for Tee but taking a shake down for him is not one of them."

He turns back towards me and gives me a sympathetic look. "Sorry, Tee. I would help get you to the hospital, though."

I shake my head. What a good friend he is. But I have to admit I wouldn't do it for him either if the roles were reversed. He is one of my best friends, but I also wouldn't take on a gang of thugs for him.

I would call the police and let them handle the brutes.

I put a folded shirt in the suitcase. "Don't worry. I understand."

Copter walks into the bedroom with a glass in his hand. "Do you want me to pack your kitchen stuff, too? Or do you plan to come back for it?"

I shrug my shoulders.

Tae walks out of the closet. "No. I'll send some movers here in a day or two to get the rest. It shouldn't take them too long to get the rest. We just need the important and expensive stuff for now, so unless it is extremely expensive, don't pack it. The movers will get it."

Copter nods. "Okay. I think I have all the higher end things from the kitchen and living room packed then. How are you coming in here? Do you need me to get the things from the bathroom?"

Tae glances down at his watch. "Sure. We only have about 30 more minutes before I want to quickly load up and leave. The longer we stay, the more we are at risk of those thugs coming. I still haven't heard from my contacts about what Tee's father has done and how deep he is. Based on what Tee has told me, I think his father in rather deep, but I don't want to assume anything."

He sets another load of clothes on the bed. "I wish my contacts would give me something. If he can help, it would be great. Regardless, I need to put a wall between Tee and his father, making everyone know Tee won't pay for his father's debts, no matter what they are."

I'm so thankful to have Tae on my side. An uneasy feeling nibbles away at me every time he talks about his contacts, but I'm sure it is nothing.

Copter walks past us to the bathroom with a partially empty box in his hands. "I'll quickly work on the bathroom and then help you guys. If we hurry, we should be able to get out of here soon." He gives me a quick look before he adds, "I'm getting more nervous the longer we stay here. All of Tae's talk about the gambling world and what they can do makes me nervous. I want to leave before they show up."

I sigh and move faster, almost wadding up the clothes into a ball and throwing them into the suitcase.

I couldn't agree more.

Tae looks down at the suitcase and then up at me as I toss another balled up item into it. He takes a deep breath. "You don't have to rush it. We just can't stay all night doing this. You shouldn't worry so much."

I can't help it. Who wouldn't worry about it?

Bas and Copter are visibly worried too. They have enough lines on their faces now, you would have thought they have aged 10 years over night.

I shake my head and ball up another shirt, then toss it into the suitcase. "No. I want to get out of here as fast as possible, too. I never thought I would say this because this little apartment has been my hideaway for years. It has been a place where I can relax and unwind, but not now. Just being here has me twisting into knots, knowing it may not be hidden anymore."

There is so much more that I'm feeling, but I don't want to say it right now. I need to focus on getting my stuff packed and out of here.

Tae gently rubs my back and kisses my cheek. "Baby, we have somewhere else now where you can feel safe and secure. I won't let anything happen to you."

Bas's soft giggle floats into the air and has a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

I would love to lean against Tae's firm body and enjoy his warmth right now, but I can't. Hopefully, when we get back to our apartment, I can.

Maybe Kimmon will sell us the apartment.

It has become my new happy place. Tae and I have made some glorious memories there.

I don't want to leave him now.

I know we are moving too fast, but I want to go to sleep beside my amazing boyfriend with his arms wrapped around me every night.

Am I being too forward to think like this?

My heartbeat quickens.

But I can't think of him not being beside me each night. My heart aches thinking of going to sleep alone.

Copter breaks my train of thoughts as he marches out of the bathroom and announces, "I've got the important bathroom stuff packed up." He sets the box down beside the bed. "I'll help you fold your clothes."

I give him a quick nod and push a small pile of clothes his way. "Thanks. It shouldn't be too much longer now."

Everyone turns their attention towards the clothes scattered across my bed and busy themselves. An uneasy silence engulfs the room, and time seems to slow down and move at a snail's pace.

BANG!! BANG!!! BANG!!!!

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest as a wave of panic slams into me, and I turn towards Tae. My voice cracks. "Who is that?"    

Published December 10, 2022