Heartless

{33}

Seokjin did as he promised. He was known for throwing parties, the kind you'll never forget. The food was always good, same as the drinks, and the music had a way of tripping you up in a way that made you feel like you were high. Everything of his came together just as they planned. Taemin scampered out of the hole he crawled into and out in the open.

They figured Jin was their way to get close to the enemy without suspicion. No one knew anything about that man because he was always keen on privacy. It has its perks. Being the person no one knows anything about. At least no details. His motive and plans weren't known to anybody but those he confided in and that was a very minuscule number of people.

Besides, now that he's back in town it's only right to throw a party and celebrate. The perfect excuse. Considering Taemin's brother has been "missing" they're sure that he's desperate in finding him and making an ally that can aid in doing so. Another powerful man to even the odds in his mind, and a party is a good way to flaunt what you got and network.

The Bathhouse Flatiron was a notorious place and for good reason. It's meant to ease your mind and take care of those stresses that nothing else seems to help with. It's the perfect place to get close with those you don't trust. To get them in a relaxed, vulnerable state late at night after a long day. Information slips out easier with the help of the bar to accommodate those that needed something a little heavier in their system. It's the easiest way to gain his trust and Seokjin was good at manipulating people. It's a gift of his.

He was the type of man you so badly wanted to believe even if deep down you knew you shouldn't. Perhaps it was his irresistible charm or his ability to make you feel like he would take care of you and be there whenever you needed. Jin had a way of turning people into puppets, empathizing with them, and playing both sides to get what he wanted. Only he had a code.

Everyone lives by one and something he'll never do is use or betray his true friends. This is a favor he gets enjoyment out of. Plain and simple. The Yakuza was bad for business and failed to follow traditions that have worked for ages. They had no loyalty and neither did Taemin. He had to go.

Runa ponders what to say, how to approach him in a place like that and if it's something to bother with at all. She knows he's logical and won't think much of her being there. He'll know that Kim Seokjin is a known figure and anyone with ties to the underworld will be there regardless if they know him personally or not. He rented the whole place out for the day with just one call. That's the power he held. The power all of them held.

But what is power and money if you can't protect the ones you love? You can sure as hell try but at the end of the day it won't mean a thing if your enemies get close. Every breath is risking your life. No one knows when they'll get their ticket punched. That's why the motto of living every day like its your last is one she'll always live by.

She's not ignorant to the privileges she has. If she wanted she could disappear for months, come back and no one would bat an eye. Disappearing is a luxury not many can afford. It's one she's been considering this entire time. Maybe if she leaves, just her and Jungkook, this will die down and she won't have a target on her back anymore. Then again she has to consider her friends and family.

Wouldn't leaving after all these years of being apart hurt Jimin? To that extension, wouldn't it also hurt San if his boss didn't have his sister? What about Seokjin? Who would he spend his free time pestering? Disappearing would be selfish. It would be cruel. The thought of Dong-Wook having unwillingly done the same squeezes her heart and makes her feel solemn.

It's easy to think about but she knows she could never do that. She can take as many breaks as she wants, leave things to her underboss when she has the chance to find one. Right now she's handling things on her own. Jimin helps of course but he can only do so much when he has his own affairs to take care of.