Echo || NCTau ||

36 - About exit strategies

The gang of people talking in the middle of the mostly empty warehouse hall quieted down when Yeoreum kicked the door open. The high-rise ceiling and concrete floor did little to ward off cold and her breathing fogged as she assessed the situation she had put herself in.

Empty space with no furniture or sizable columns. Seventeen men, Dr. An and Yeowoon.

Her Glock had only 15 rounds. She had extra ones in her pocket but, considering how well armed the people in the room were and how there was nothing to take cover behind, she wouldn't have the time to reload the gun even if she caught them by surprise.

The wireless detonator pressed against her thigh next to the extra ammo. With a flick of a switch, she could set off the explosives she had hidden around the building and make sure that neither Dr. An nor her subordinates bothered anyone ever again. However, that meant that Yeowoon and Yeoreum herself would have to face the same fate.

If she could make sure that Dr. An hadn't shared that Park Jisung was doubler with her subordinates, it would be enough to just kill her and then let the police take care of the rest. Yeoreum had called coach Lee so he most likely was on his way and had contacted law enforcement for her.

As long as no information regarding Jisung, his pack, or Shotaro and Sungchan could reach Daniel, Yeoreum would be satisfied.

Other than Dr. An, no one would have to die. Yeoreum was done with death and killing.

"Would you look at that", Dr. An was first to speak, sounding amused. She threw a look at Yeowoon whose face was pale gray. "Your sister came to us!"

Yeoreum took a step forward. It was her first time handling the gun she had bought from the arms dealer so it would be better to be a little bit closer even though she wanted to keep her distance. She could feel everyone's eyes on the gun in her hand.

She wanted to shoot Dr. An immediately but that would put her in a difficult position since it would trigger her men to kill her, meaning that she had to know how to proceed immediately after killing her. Before she could do that, she needed to figure out what Dr. An's men knew, and whether or not there was any paper evidence that could clue Daniel in on Jisung's secret.

"I came here to figure out what was so important about having a kid killed that you murdered my mother", Yeoreum spoke, feigning nonchalance.

Yeowoon jerked at the mention of their mom.

Anger darkened Yeoreum's tired thoughts – why had he betrayed them?

Dr. An scoffed. "We tried to negotiate. I offered you a chance to join us and hear us out but you and your mother refused."

"But why?" Yeoreum pressed on and walked even closer until there was no way she would miss even if Dr. An started running as soon as she raised her gun.

"Your guess is as good as mine, girl." Dr. An shrugged.

That sounded like the fact that Jisung was a doubler wasn't the reason why he was targeted.

Yeoreum eyed Dr. An. It was highly possible that she was doubler as well, considering how she hadn't shared his secret with her employees despite it being an important detail.

That meant that it could be enough to kill just her – as long as there was no other evidence and Yeoreum found a way to get out after shooting her.

Most of the men carried firearms, but not all of them. If she shot all of the ones with visible guns, could she get away? Maybe it would be a safer bet to just shoot as many of them as she could before running out of rounds.

"Listen, Yeoreum", Dr. An spoke in a genial tone that made Yeoreum's skin crawl. "We've had our issues but I know that you're a talented girl and we'll need people like you moving forward. We have great things coming."