ɪɴᴋᴇᴅ ʙy ᴀ ᴍᴀꜰɪᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ( ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ ꜰꜰ )

chap 13

Jungkook

"So it's all arranged," I say, letting out a long breath.

I'm standing at my desk in the safe house, leaning on my clenched fists, looking over at Taehyung . It hurts knowing Y/n is elsewhere in the house with her dog, waiting for me to come and see her.

But there wasn't time.

After getting her here, making sure she was safe, I had to arrange protection for my men. I had to put the word out that the chinese may retaliate. I had to try and arrange a meeting with Jackson to see if we could rectify this peacefully.

"So far, we've succeeded in alerting most of our men to the new danger," Taehyung says in his careful way. "Most of them want to stay in the city out of loyalty. But they're sending their families out. Those who can't will probably take up your offer. It's..."

"Say it," I tell him when he trails off, his gaze flitting to the desk.

"It's going to be expensive, cousin. Very expensive."

"I don't care," I snarl. "I won't let a single innocent die. If one of our men dies in a war, it'd be a terrible thing. I'd hate myself for it. But everybody here understands what game they're playing. What we can't have is a wife, a mother, a kid, getting hurt...we can't have that."

Taehyung nods. "And you're okay using your personal funds?"

"I told you I was," I snap. "Is there a problem?"

He shakes his head. "No, I've already moved them. For the families staying in the city, we've got top-of-the-line security. These men have served overseas. They're quiet and discreet. And they know the circumstances. They'll do their job well."

Taehyung isn't lying about the cost. Hundreds of thousands - and then pretty soon millions - are going to vanish from my bank account. But it's worth it to make sure nobody dies because of my decision.

Not that we can make sure.

We can only mitigate the risk.

"It's a lot," Taehyung says quietly, wringing his hands.
I walk over to the window with a sigh, looking out at the garden. Security lights shine brightly onto the surrounding fields, making it impossible for anybody to sneak up on us.

"I feel like there's something you want to say," I tell him.

"What's happening with Y/n, cousin?" he says after a pause.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you been seeing her - before this, I mean? Are you two...together? There has to be more going on here. I've never known you to act this way for anybody. Going in there alone...." He pauses, tone lowering. "You could've been killed."

"I know," I say gruffy.

"So why?" I turn, studying Taehyung . He's my oldest friend, my cousin, family, and he's never led me astray.

But will he understand this?

"I don't know how to describe it," I tell him. "But I couldn't let him have her. I was ready to die in there. I've only ever felt that way once when I went to war with jackson's father. If I had to give my life so Y/n could be free, I would have."

My voice is unwavering, my tone firm. Taehyung sits back slightly, fiddling with his glasses.

"You're not messing around," he mutters.

"No." I sit heavily, running a hand through my hair. "I care about her. But we only met the other night."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand."