Underworld Hearts [BTS FF]

2. The Mansion

"I can walk by myself," I say as I yank Namjoon's grip from my wrist.

Namjoon's eyes narrow, his lips curling into a sneer. He steps forward again, but Jin puts a hand on his chest, stopping him from advancing any further.

Namjoon's voice is low and dangerous. "You've got some nerve, sweetheart."

Jin says keeping his hand on Namjoon's chest. "Let her walk, Joon."

"Walk, then. But make no mistake,"

As the tension in the air thickens, I feel their eyes on me as I start to move toward the door.A faint smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I walk ahead, knowing deep down that, for now, they won't hurt me. They're dangerous, yes, but I'm not naïve. I know this arrangement works for them too. As long as my father's debt remains unpaid—and I doubt he'll ever pay it—I'm stuck in this situation.

At least here, I'll have food, a roof over my head, and some semblance of safety. It's better than what I left behind, a life full of uncertainty and betrayal. "Maybe this isn't such a bad deal after all."

Namjoon's eyes burn holes in the back of my head as I walk, but I'm not afraid. They want something from me, or rather, from my father. But what happens when they realize he can never pay?

I follow them through the grand iron gates and up the long, winding path to their mansion. It's massive—larger than anything I've ever seen in real life. Each step brings me closer to the unknown, and yet there's no turning back.

The heavy doors creak open, and as I step inside, the chill in the air thickens. I glance at Namjoon, then at the others, wondering what exactly I've gotten myself into.

Yet, I remind myself, "I'm safer here... for now."

As I led to the house, the overwhelming weight of my situation settled in. I can't trust my father. I'm at the mercy of these men now.

As I walk deeper into the mansion, three of them suddenly stop in their tracks, turning to face me. Their gazes are sharp, and calculating, and I can feel the weight of their attention pressing down on me. Namjoon stands at the front, his eyes colder than before.

One of them, the tallest of the three with piercing eyes and an unsettling smirk, steps forward.

"You understand what staying here means, don't you?" His voice is low, almost a growl.

I swallow hard, but keep my expression neutral. I had a vague idea of what staying with them would entail—more than just food and shelter, surely. My heart races, but I nod slightly, not trusting my voice to come out steady.

Another one, with jet-black hair and a more relaxed posture, tilts his head as if assessing me.

"There are rules. Follow them, and you'll be fine," he says, almost lazily. But the edge in his tone tells me the consequences of breaking those rules might be severe.

Namjoon, who had been silent until now, finally speaks. "You'll stay. But don't think this is some free pass." His words hang in the air like a threat, and I can feel the tension between them, though it's unclear whether it's directed at me or something else entirely.

"Rules? What rules? I know it's not a free pass cause if it was at least I would have been treated in a nice way." I say looking straight into Namjoon's eyes.

His gaze hardens as your words hang in the air, and the room feels even colder for a moment. His jaw clenches, and I can see the flicker of irritation in his eyes, but he doesn't flinch under my stare.

"The rules are simple," he replies, his voice controlled, though there's an edge to it. "You don't ask questions you're not supposed to. You don't go where you're not allowed. And you don't betray us."