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Warnings: Violence, gun use, mentions of blood, power dynamics, mafia themes, protective behaviour, mild swearing, and suggestive content Word Count: 9k Paring: Lee Heeseung x Reader
The dim lighting of the city street flickered as Lee Heeseung stepped out of his sleek, black car, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses that gave him a detached, unreadable expression. The midnight air was crisp, but it carried the unmistakable tension of a man who was used to command and control. Heeseung's world was one of power plays and calculated risks, and tonight, he had come to collect a debt.
A debt he had never planned on cashing in.
Heeseung's sharp gaze scanned the surroundings, assessing the familiar quiet suburban neighborhood. The house at the end of the cul-de-sac, with its modest charm and warm lights glowing from the inside, seemed like a sanctuary—untouched by the shadows that loomed in his life. But that was an illusion. He knew better.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, reading the brief message from Jay, his trusted right-hand man: "She's still inside. No unusual movement."
Heeseung sighed, his jaw tightening. This was supposed to be just another routine check—a quiet night of ensuring that his secret obligation was intact. But tonight was different. Tonight, a rival gang was looking for leverage, and they'd chosen her—(Name).
Heeseung had known (Name) for years, though she had never known him. He had watched over her from a distance ever since her father, his mentor and protector, had died in a bloody skirmish that still haunted him. A promise made on that dying breath tied Heeseung to her, a promise he had never intended to break, no matter how much distance he tried to put between them.
He wasn't supposed to get involved, but a recent threat from a rival family had changed everything. The head of the rival gang, Kim Soo-wan, had gotten word of (Name), seen her as an opportunity—a way to hurt Heeseung. He couldn't let that happen.
Tonight, he had no choice but to step out of the shadows.
Heeseung strode up the pathway, his expensive leather shoes silent against the cracked pavement. He could feel the tension simmering beneath his calm facade, his hand itching to reach for the concealed gun at his hip. As he reached the door, he took a deep breath and knocked, his heart thudding with an unusual rhythm.
A moment later, the door creaked open, and (Name) appeared, her eyes wide with confusion. She was beautiful, even in her casual clothes—a soft sweater hanging off one shoulder, her hair loose around her face. There was a warmth in her gaze that Heeseung had never seen in his world, a lightness that seemed to soften the hardened edges of his heart.
"Who are you?" she asked, a hint of curiosity and suspicion in her voice. "It's late."
Heeseung's expression remained calm as he slipped off his sunglasses, revealing the intensity of his dark eyes. "I'm someone who owes you a favor," he said simply, his voice low and steady.
