Mingyu was still asleep by the time I stepped out the door. I made sure he was nestled up with J, a smile on my lips as I thought about the two of them cuddling. He liked to pretend he only enjoyed J's company so-so. Strange that ever since Jennie had dropped him off, the two of them had been more cuddled up than I was with J.
He loves that orange menace. Of course! He was Jazz's soon to be husband!
I pulled my phone from my chest and stared at the screen.
Focus.
I needed to get this shit over with. I'd had time to think. Mingyu had broken me out of that cold, frozen place. I was ready to move on with my life. For now. I had no idea when it would all come crashing down again. My mind would be flooded with those horrible memories, but I couldn't stay locked away forever.
My fingers hovered over the screen before I sucked down a deep breath and called my boss. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up.
"Jeon? Where the hell are you?"
"I'm fine," I said, not exactly answering Sergeant White's question. "I need to—"
"The chief wants to talk to you too. Hold on."
"Wait, Sarge. Sarge?"
The sounds of the precinct filled the phone, but she clearly wasn't paying any attention. I sagged against the hallway, pinching the bridge of my nose. Great.
"Okay, Wonwoo, you're on with both of us."
"Where the hell are you, Jeon?" Chief Hawkins asked. "I understand you saw some horrible shit," he said solemnly. "Especially with Houghton."
I tensed up. The whole reason they'd let me off the hook was because of how Hyungsik had died. I'd told them I was shaken up and hiding from the Kims. They understood it immediately because who wouldn't after seeing the wreck that was Hyungsik's body?
"He was working with one of the recently fired cops," I said, keeping my voice steady. "And they were both stealing from the Kims. They didn't like that." That's an understatement. "I have evidence to turn over for that case; some of my own, some from a consultant. I'll have it on your desk tomorrow. I just need one more day."
"You take the time you need, son," the chief grunted. "That bust was as successful as it could be, considering Hyungsik screwed it up on his end. We want you back working on the Kims' case."
My throat tightened. "I can't."
"Not as an officer," he continued. "As a detective."
I felt like I couldn't breathe. He was offering me my dream job. Since the moment I'd sobered up and knew I would be heading for the academy for training, that was my goal. Now, the word detective sent ice down my spine. I couldn't imagine relying on someone after Hyungsik's betrayal, which was a big part of the job.
"No," I said more firmly. "No, thank you, sir. I'm done. I'll return my gun and badge and finish the appropriate paperwork tomorrow after I turn over the evidence."
The phone went quiet. Sarge's voice eventually came through. "Are you sure, Wonwoo?"
"More than sure," I said quickly. "This isn't what I want to do for work anymore. Thanks for the opportunity, but no thanks." It went quiet again. "I need to go. I'll be in early."
I hung up before either of them could say anything. My dream was no longer to compete with my father. I didn't give a damn if he was upset when he heard about it, either. I had my whole life ahead of me. I wouldn't spend it doing a job I no longer felt any passion for, trying to impress people I didn't want to be around.
