Dangerous Affection | Renmin | Jaemren

7

The drive back to the penthouse was silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Renjun watched the city lights flicker past the window, his mind replaying the tense confrontation with Taeyong. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. If Taeyong was just a piece of the puzzle, what other dangers were still lurking in the shadows?

Jaemin's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw clenched in silent frustration. Renjun could tell Jaemin's mind was racing-calculating, planning, trying to stay one step ahead of whatever Taeyong might do next.

As they pulled into the underground garage, Jaemin cut the engine, but neither of them moved. The weight of everything that had happened hung heavy between them, unspoken but undeniable.

Renjun finally broke the silence. "Do you think he'll retaliate?"

Jaemin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Taeyong's smart. He won't make a move unless he's sure he can win. But we've backed him into a corner. Desperate men do stupid things."

Renjun nodded, biting his lip. "So what's the plan?"

Jaemin glanced at him, his expression softening for just a moment. "We keep our guard up. We keep digging. And we don't trust anyone outside of this."

Renjun's chest tightened at the implied "this"-the fragile bond between them that had grown stronger through every challenge, every moment of vulnerability. Renjun knew Jaemin was trying to protect him, but he also knew that Jaemin couldn't do this alone.

"I'm not going anywhere," Renjun said, his voice firm. "Whatever happens, I'm with you."

Jaemin's gaze lingered on Renjun, a mix of gratitude and something deeper. "I know. And that scares the hell out of me."

They made their way upstairs, the penthouse feeling both familiar and strangely foreign after the chaos of the day. Renjun watched as Jaemin went through the usual routine-checking the locks, securing the windows, making sure there were no signs of intrusion. It was second nature to Jaemin, but tonight, it felt like a futile attempt to regain control over a situation that was spiraling faster than either of them could manage.

Jaemin finally sank onto the couch, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. Renjun hesitated, then sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed.

Jaemin glanced at him, a tired smile tugging at his lips. "You really should get some rest."

Renjun shook his head, refusing to leave Jaemin's side. "Not until you do."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the city's distant hum filtering through the windows. Renjun couldn't help but steal glances at Jaemin, tracing the lines of his profile-the sharp jawline, the curve of his lips, the way his eyes seemed to hold a world of unspoken burdens.

Finally, Jaemin spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I wasn't always like this, you know."

Renjun turned, surprised by the sudden confession. "Like what?"

Jaemin stared ahead, lost in memories that seemed to weigh him down. "Paranoid. Closed off. Angry. I used to think I could save everyone, that I could be the kind of leader who made things better. But this life... it changes you."

Renjun's heart ached at the sadness in Jaemin's voice. "You're still that person, Jaemin. You're still trying."

Jaemin laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Trying isn't enough. Not when people's lives are on the line."

Renjun reached out, covering Jaemin's hand with his own. "You're doing the best you can. And that's more than enough for me."

Jaemin's fingers tightened around Renjun's, a silent acknowledgment of the bond they shared. For once, Jaemin allowed himself to lean into the comfort Renjun offered, letting the warmth of Renjun's presence chase away the lingering chill of the day's events.

But just as the moment seemed to settle, Jaemin's phone buzzed with a notification. He groaned, pulling it out and reading the message, his expression darkening.

"What is it?" Renjun asked, concern etching his voice.

Jaemin handed him the phone, and Renjun's eyes widened as he read the text:

*We know what you did. This isn't over. Watch your back.*

There was no signature, but the message was clear. Taeyong wasn't done with them. And he wasn't working alone.

---

The next morning, Jaemin and Renjun sat in the kitchen, strategizing their next move. Jaemin's mood was tense, his mind clearly occupied with a thousand different scenarios. Renjun could feel the frustration radiating off him, and it only made him more determined to find a way to help.

"We need to figure out who else is involved," Jaemin said, pacing back and forth. "Taeyong's not the only one pulling strings. We're missing something."

Renjun nodded, flipping through the notes and documents they had gathered. "Maybe there's a pattern we're not seeing. Something that connects all of this."

Jaemin paused, staring at the papers with a frown. "Or someone."

As they pored over the information, the pieces slowly started to come together. Financial records, coded messages, backdoor deals-it was all connected, but the picture was still incomplete. Renjun's head was spinning from the sheer volume of data, but he refused to give up.

Hours passed, and just when they were on the verge of a breakthrough, the doorbell rang. Renjun and Jaemin exchanged a wary glance. They weren't expecting anyone.

Jaemin grabbed his gun, motioning for Renjun to stay behind him. He approached the door cautiously, peering through the peephole before slowly opening it.

Jeno stood on the other side, looking uncharacteristically grim. "We need to talk. Now."

Jaemin let him in, locking the door behind him. "What's going on?"

Jeno glanced at Renjun, then back at Jaemin, his expression tense. "It's bad. Taeyong's been busy. He's rallying the old guard, trying to turn them against you. He's playing the victim, claiming you're overstepping, that you're putting the organization at risk."

Renjun's stomach dropped. If Taeyong succeeded in turning the syndicate against Jaemin, everything they'd worked for would be undone.

Jaemin clenched his fists, his temper flaring. "That snake. He's desperate."

Jeno nodded. "And desperate people do dangerous things. You need to get ahead of this before it spirals."

Renjun watched the exchange, feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. They were up against more than just a power struggle-they were fighting for their survival.

Jaemin looked at Jeno, his gaze sharp. "What do you suggest?"

Jeno hesitated, clearly torn. "You're not going to like it, but... you need to make a show of force. Something that reminds everyone why you're the one in charge. And you need to do it soon."

Jaemin's expression darkened, the conflict clear in his eyes. He didn't want to resort to violence, but in this world, power was everything. And if he didn't act now, he risked losing control completely.

Renjun placed a hand on Jaemin's arm, grounding him. "We'll figure it out. Whatever it takes, we'll handle it."

Jaemin looked at Renjun, his resolve hardening. "Yeah. We will."

As they regrouped, Renjun knew that this was just the beginning. The battle lines were being drawn, and the stakes were higher than ever. But as long as they stood together, Renjun was certain of one thing:

They would come out on top. No matter the cost.

---

End of Chapter 7
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