killer affection | jaywon

05

The drive back to the mansion was steeped in silence, the tension palpable as Jay's car cut through the dark streets. Jungwon, slumped in the back seat, struggled to stay conscious, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Jay’s shirt was tightly wrapped around his arm, the fabric already soaked through with blood, but it did its job of stemming the flow enough to buy them time. Jay sat beside him, his eyes flicking to Jungwon every few moments, concern etched into his usually unreadable expression.

Ni-ki, who was driving, kept glancing in the rearview mirror, his youthful face tight with unease. He had always trusted Jay’s judgment, but this was different. Bringing an outsider especially one who had tried to kill their boss into their home didn’t sit right with him. And from the brief glances he exchanged with the others, it was clear they felt the same way.

Sunghoon, sitting in the front seat, was tense, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his seat. He had been the one to pull the trigger, and now he was regretting it. Not because he cared about Jungwon, but because of the look Jay had given him afterward a look that said he’d crossed a line.

The ride to the mansion was one of the longest they’d ever experienced, though it was no more than an hour. Every second ticked by with the weight of unspoken thoughts and unasked questions. Jungwon’s breathing was labored, each exhale a sharp reminder that they had brought an injured stranger into their midst one who was supposed to be their enemy.

When they finally arrived at the mansion on the outskirts of the city, Ni-ki parked the car with a shaky exhale. The house stood tall against the night, a fortress of steel and glass that was as cold and intimidating as its occupants. Jay was the first to move, swiftly exiting the car and opening the door to help Jungwon out.

“Easy now” Jay murmured, his voice low and steady as he supported the younger boy. Jungwon, pale and sweating, bit down on a groan as he tried to stand, his injured arm hanging limply at his side. He hated the weakness he felt, hated that he needed help. But the truth was, without Jay’s steady hand on his shoulder, he wasn’t sure he could have made it inside.

The rest of the group followed silently, their expressions varying from concern to outright hostility. Jake was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the stillness. “Jay, are you sure about this? We don’t know who this kid really is. What if he’s playing us?”

“He’s not,” Jay replied, his tone final. There was no room for argument, but the uncertainty in Jake’s eyes didn’t fade.

Sunghoon, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up, guilt lacing his words. “Jay, I didn’t mean to-”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Jay interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “Right now, we need to get him inside.”

With that, they made their way into the mansion. The place was immaculate, all clean lines and modern design, a stark contrast to the raw, messy emotions that filled the air. Jay led the way, guiding Jungwon through the spacious halls until they reached a room that was clearly meant for guests but had rarely been used. He eased Jungwon down onto the bed, the assassin barely managing to stay conscious.

As soon as they were settled, Jay called for Taehyun, their personal medic, who arrived within minutes. Taehyun, who was the same age as Jay, Sunghoon, and Jake, had a sharp mind and even sharper skills. He took one look at Jungwon and immediately set to work, his expression calm and professional, though there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

“This is gonna hurt” Taehyun warned as he prepared to treat the wound. Jungwon gritted his teeth and nodded, refusing to show any more weakness than he already had. Jay hovered nearby, watching intently as Taehyun cleaned and stitched the wound with practiced ease.