𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 ; 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐬𝐢𝐱

The tension of the previous days still clung to Donghyuck like a second skin. Mark's intrusion into his personal life had stirred up emotions Donghyuck hadn't been prepared to face, but he didn't have the luxury of dwelling on it. He had more pressing matters to attend to—matters that lurked in the shadows of his double life.

As night fell, Donghyuck found himself slipping into the familiar routine of his gang activities. The city streets were a different world after dark, a place where the rules were different and survival meant navigating alliances and threats with precision.

Donghyuck met up with his crew at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The place was their usual meeting spot, a grim relic of industrial decay that suited their purposes perfectly. Inside, the air was thick with tension and the acrid scent of cigarette smoke. His gang members were already there, waiting for him.

"Yo, Hyuck," Jeno called out, raising a hand in greeting. "We got word from the Black Dragons. Their leader wants a meeting."

Donghyuck's jaw tightened. The Black Dragons were a rival gang, known for their ruthlessness and their stranglehold on certain parts of the city. Their leader, Jaebum, was not a man to be trifled with.

"When and where?" Donghyuck asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping up his spine.

"Tonight, at the old docks. He wants to talk about the 'debt,'" Jeno replied, a hint of concern in his eyes.

Donghyuck nodded, his mind racing. The so-called debt was a thinly veiled demand for tribute—a way for the Black Dragons to assert their dominance and bleed his gang dry. Refusing to pay up could mean war, but complying would only make them look weak.

"Alright," Donghyuck said, his resolve hardening. "Let's get this over with."

A short time later, Donghyuck and a few of his most trusted members arrived at the docks. The air was heavy with the smell of salt and the faintest hint of decay. The old dockyards were eerily quiet, the perfect setting for a clandestine meeting.

Jaebum was waiting for them, flanked by his own men. The Black Dragons' leader was tall and imposing, his eyes cold and calculating. As Donghyuck approached, he could feel the weight of the confrontation bearing down on him.

"Donghyuck," Jaebum greeted, his voice smooth but menacing. "You know why we're here."

Donghyuck crossed his arms, his posture defiant. "I know. But the amount you're asking for is unreasonable. We're not going to roll over and let you take everything we have."

Jaebum chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "You don't have a choice. Either you pay up, or we take something more valuable from you."

Donghyuck's heart skipped a beat. He knew where this was heading, but he had to stay strong. "And what exactly do you plan to take?"

Jaebum's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Someone important to you. Someone who means more than money. I hear you've got a little friend named Mark Lee."

Donghyuck's blood ran cold. "Leave him out of this. He has nothing to do with us."

Jaebum's expression remained unfazed. "That's where you're wrong. Everyone you care about is fair game. Either you pay what you owe, or Mark pays the price."

Donghyuck felt a surge of anger and fear. He had kept his gang life separate from his personal life for a reason, but now it was all crashing down around him. He had to protect Mark, no matter what.

"Fine," Donghyuck said, his voice hard. "I'll get you the money. But if you so much as touch Mark, I'll make sure you regret it."

Jaebum's smile was cold and predatory. "I look forward to seeing you try. You have one week."

The meeting ended with an unspoken understanding of the stakes. Donghyuck knew he had a difficult path ahead of him, but there was no turning back now. As he left the docks, his mind was already racing with plans to secure the money and protect Mark.

The night was dark and foreboding as Donghyuck made his way back to the warehouse. He had to be smart and strategic, but most importantly, he had to keep Mark safe. His life had just become infinitely more complicated, and the lines between his two worlds were beginning to blur in dangerous ways.

As he walked through the city streets, Donghyuck couldn't help but think of Mark—his bright smile, his earnest eyes, the way he made Donghyuck feel alive and hopeful. He couldn't let Jaebum or anyone else take that away from him. He had to find a way to protect the people he cared about, even if it meant risking everything.