out of the woods [yeonjun x reader]

chapter 14: twisted sense of justice

Once we've entered the kitchen, Yeonjun busies himself with rummaging through cabinets and the fridge—no doubt trying to conjure up another foul meal to torture me with.
The kitchen door opens, drawing my attention and when Yunho's gaze rests on me, he smiles. "Y/n—how are you feeling?"
"Awesome," I lie, just to revel in the pissed off look on Yeonjun's face. It's the only thing that's made me remotely happy since my stay here.
"Shut up," Yeonjun snaps, slamming a cabinet door shut.
I press my lips into a thin line and Yunho's smile dims but doesn't disappear. "I hope your night was a little bit better than before."
"Honestly I miss the closet." I shrug indifferently, catching Yeonjun's glare from the corner of my eye.
"Don't worry. You'll be back down there tonight, bitch," Yeonjun snaps as he turns to face me. "That or in the ground. Your pick."
I slowly arch an eyebrow, trying to conceal my true emotions by staring at him with no reaction. "No, it's fine. You can pick."
I watch his long, veiny fingers grip the edge of the counter even tighter as he stares at me.
"Yeonjun..." Yunho softly whispers something in Korean to Yeonjun to which the dark haired devil scoffs in amusement.
He turns back to the cabinet, grabbing a cup of ramen out and setting it on the counter. "You like salt, don't you, y/n?"
I try to prevent my nose from wrinkling at the memory of what he's already fed me in the past but I can't stop it before he sees.
He smiles.
"That's what I thought."
He sets about making the noodles while Yunho draws up a seat to sit behind me.
"How are you really feeling?" Yunho's voice is gentle and low and I offer a small sigh. "I mean. I'm being held captive against my will by a psychopath and his squad so...you do the math."
He grimaces as he sits back in his seat and drums his fingers against his thigh. "I know...I'm trying to talk to him. To make this easier. He's just stubborn."
"Tell him to let me go." I widen my eyes for emphasis. "I don't know who you're looking for and honestly it doesn't seem like Yeonjun cares. He just wants a plaything."
Yunho doesn't disagree which is a confirmation in my mind. "Hyunwoo was like a brother to us. I'm not saying Yeonjun is right in his ways...he's not. But we all want justice for Hyunwoo."
"I don't know who did it," I insist desperately and Yunho side eyes Yeonjun as he starts walking over from the kitchen. "I know. Just try."
He stands up and steps away from the table, just as Yeonjun basically slams the bowl of noodles down in front of me. "Eat."
In the same breath, he turns right back around and walks into the kitchen.
I hesitate peering down at the bowl I've been given filled with brothy noodles and a fork.
It smells delicious. Doesn't appear to be over salted.
I take a hesitant bite. It's delicious.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was poisoned.
The kitchen door suddenly opens as a flow of chattering bodies enter into the room.
"That's what I told him!" one of the guys exclaims, tossing his hands up emphatically. "Hey, Jeon." He greets Yunho with a clap on the back before glancing at me.
The group immediately quiets down.
Yeonjun looks over from the kitchen and barks a few words in Korean. "Eat up. We need to get
going."
Going?
My thoughts echo as I continue eating the food provided for me.
They're leaving! This is my chance to escape. Yeonjun will probably put me back in the basement, giving me time to figure a way out.
I'll dig if I have to.
Yunho smiles some at the man before meeting my gaze and slowly making his way back over to me.
"Is it good?"
He takes a seat.
I feel Yeonjun's eyes leaving third degree burns on my skin.
I mutely nod, still eating.
"I thought you might like to know who you've been surrounded by these past couple of days." Yunho gestures towards the kitchen where the group is rummaging around, chatting happily as they prepare their meals.
"Maybe make it a little frightening..." he trails off, waiting for my response. I just nod again.
It won't make it any less frightening. But the more information I have, the better. I want to give the police enough of a report to write a novel.
"That's Johnny." He motions to the tall guy with the longer brown hair. "He's part one of the muscle. Han is part two."
The second guy he points to is one of the ones I remember shoving me into the back of the van the first night I was kidnapped.
"That's Jisoo. She's good with money, good with food—you name it. You've met her."
Jisoo's long hair is in a woven braid cascading down her back as she puts together a sandwich on a plate.
I nod once more.
"Minho takes on the role of doctor primarily. Hospitals are...not an option. He's smart." He gestures to the male with the light brown hair.
He doesn't say anything about Yeonjun but he doesn't really have to. I know what he is.
"And Hyunwoo..." Yunho trails off, licking his lips. "He kept us all together. Seoul Food was his idea. It might be a cover but...he was passionate about it. He loved to cook."
A cover. Meaning money laundering. More information I'm sure the police would be interested in.
A part of me empathizes with the loss of a loved one. I've lost everyone I have ever loved. I can relate. What I can't relate to is holding someone hostage in order to get some twisted sense of justice.
"What about you?" I ask, setting my fork down in the bowl. "What's your role?"
"Second in command." He nods his chin towards Yeonjun who is sulkingly eating some kind of rice in the corner of the kitchen. "I just try to keep his temper under control."
I scoff. "Yeah...good luck with that."
"He's an angry man. I won't say he's not. But losing Hyunwoo is..." he shakes his head. "Turning him into someone even I don't recognize."
I lick my lips as I study Yeonjun's mannerisms.
He even eats like he's mad.
He suddenly tosses his head, ebony hair flowing as he turns and his eyes meet mine.
I only know one version of Yeonjun.
The mean one, the demeaning one—the aggressive one.
Yunho is implying there's another side of him, one I haven't seen.
One that maybe makes him a little less hateful.
A side I doubt I will ever see.
Yeonjun sets his food down, removing his gaze from mine and addressing the group. "Finish up. We're heading out in 15."
Oh right! Good, time for me to plan my escape.
"Oh and y/n?"
I freeze and Yeonjun offers a sly side eye. "You'll be riding with me."