After Hours (VAMPIRES PART 1)

Chapter 39

ROSEANNE

"What's wrong?" I say as Jungkook takes a seat in my office guest chair. He gestures at Lucas.

"Lucas, would you mind giving us a few minutes, please?"

Lucas startles but then smiles at me. I think he's warming up to me. He bows and leaves us, closing the door behind him.

Jungkook leans across my coffee table and grabs a whiskey bottle, pouring both of us half a glass into the discarded tumblers. I'm not even sure they were clean, but he doesn't seem to give any shits.

I notice then that there's a scar on his throat where Irene stabbed him. "She scarred you?"

"Yes, and I haven't forgiven her for that. You know how I feel about my appearance."

He would be pissed with her, beyond pissed. This is the kind of thing that could cause an outright sibling war.

"What the hell was the blade made of?"

"She claims she doesn't know, it was left for her. She found it and pocketed it."

"And you believe her?" I ask, picking up the tumbler and taking a sip. It burns as it slides down my throat. Good vintage.

"If I didn't, I'd have torn her throat out and placed the blade in her neck so she couldn't recover."

"Still pissed then."

"Deeply. Listen. Have you figured it out?" he says and takes another gulp of his whiskey.

"No. I've seen what the others are thinking."

"Tell me..."

"Taehyung had books from the library. Seulgi took something from the church, possibly blood, and Irene snipped a lock of hair from the most beautiful women I'd seen in town."

Jungkook shakes his head. "They're all wrong."

"I know. But I just can't work out what is right."

He presses his lips together, staring into his tumbler as he swills it.

"Fuck. You already know?"

He nods. "I do."

"But you're going to tell me?"

He glances up at me, holding my gaze.

"Rosie..."

"Why are you telling me? You could take it and win the round."

He lowers his eyes. "First, I care more about Irene not winning, than I do about winning myself. What am I going to do with a whole city to look after? It sounds deeply tiresome. Therefore, I am willing to sacrifice this round in order to see her lose."

"You could still take the object and win this round, that would still stop her winning. Why are you giving me the win?"

"Because I owe you a debt. You and Lisa saved me, it's the least I can do. And unfortunately, while I know what the most beautiful thing is, I can't get to it. I believe you're the only one that can do that."

My eyes narrow at him. He runs a hand through his long raven locks, the wave bouncing up and settling in exactly the same position and then he takes another gulp, finishing the whiskey.

"Just tell me already," I say and pick up an ashtray from my desk and lob it at his head. He smiles and catches it. He twirls the crystal around his hand, examining the way the stone is cut as if it's going to give him a different answer than the one he's holding.

"I'll tell you, but you can't blame me..."

"Jungkook," I snap.

"Fine. But you're really not going to like it."