From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨PLANNING IN THE DARK✨

Y/N's POV:

The ride was a blur.

Jungkook never let go of me—not once. His arms stayed wrapped around my trembling frame like he was scared I'd vanish if he loosened his grip. I buried my face into his chest, eyes stinging, fingers clutching the fabric of his blood-stained shirt. I couldn't cry. Not yet. My body was too numb, too exhausted.

But my heart... it throbbed with relief. With pain. With disbelief.

He found me.

He really found me.

We arrived at a quiet house tucked deep in the hills—Jiwoo's safe house, I think. I couldn't focus. My vision swam, and my legs barely worked when Jungkook tried to help me inside.

"It's okay," he whispered gently, one arm under my knees, the other around my back as he carried me in. "I've got you."

The living room was warm, dimly lit, filled with the soft scent of lavender. I vaguely registered Jiwoo and Alex watching from the side, worried eyes trailing our every move, but Jungkook didn't stop walking until we reached a room. He gently set me down on a bed.

"Just rest," he murmured, kneeling in front of me. "You're safe now."

"I..." My voice cracked. "Jungkook—"

"Shhh." He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face with trembling fingers. "Let me take care of you first."

He left for a moment and returned with warm water, a soft towel, and a first-aid kit. His hands were stained and bruised, knuckles torn, but they were impossibly gentle as he cleaned my face. The warm towel against my skin felt like heaven after days of filth and pain.

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly, eyes filled with anguish as he dabbed the cut on my cheek.

I shook my head. "Not as much as your eyes do."

He froze.

I looked up at him, at the tears forming in the corners of his lashes. His jaw was clenched, his expression tight with guilt.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice breaking. "I should've come sooner. I should've been faster—stronger."

"No," I said quickly, grabbing his wrist. "Don't do that to yourself."

His gaze dropped. "I let him hurt you. I let him break you. He hurt you because of me."

I choked back a sob. "Jungkook, stop."

"I should've protected you—"

"I never blamed you." My voice rose, raw and shaking. "You think I gave in? That I told him where you were?! I didn't. Because I knew you'd come for me. I believed in you."

His shoulders shook, and then—he broke.

Tears spilled down his face. He pressed his forehead to my knees, voice muffled. "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, Y/N."

I reached down and cupped his face, lifting his eyes to mine. "I'm sorry too," I whispered. "I should've been more careful. I—I shouldn't have broke yout trust. I was reckless."

He shook his head stubbornly. "No. This isn't your fault."

"And it's not yours," I said gently.

We stared at each other for a moment—red-eyed, tear-stained, broken—and just like that, we both started apologizing again.

"I'm sorry—"