Vet's Heartbeat | Minsung |

4

Minho settled into the back seat, fire coursing through his veins as he replayed the night’s chaos in his mind. Changbin glanced at him through the rearview mirror, concern etched on his face.

“Are you alright?” Changbin asked, his voice low.

“Hmm." Minho leaned his head against the cool window, staring out at the dark streets flashing by. The image of Jisung’s bright smile lingered in his thoughts, a stark contrast to the turmoil he had just escaped.

“Did you find anything out?”

Changbin stilled, gripping the steering wheel tighter as they turned a corner. “Not much."

"We need to figure out who set us up,” Minho replied, his tone sharper now. “And we need to do it fast. The longer we wait, the more danger we’re in.”

"We're on it, boss."

Seungmin was already waiting at the headquarters, his expression a mix of relief and unease. “Boss! We heard gunshots and—”

“I know. Let’s get down to business,” Minho interrupted, dismissing the worry that lingered in Seungmin’s eyes. "Someone tipped them off about the deal.”

The betrayal fueled his desire for vengeance. He had built his empire on loyalty and strength, and now it was time to remind those who had betrayed him just how powerful he could be.

As they settled in the dimly lit meeting room, Minho began, his mind racing. “Who knew we were meeting? Who had access to our plans?” Each question fueling the fire of betrayal burning within him.

Changbin and Seungmin exchanged glances, then Changbin spoke up. “We need to talk to our contacts. Someone must have heard something. If it was an inside job…”

“Then we can’t trust anyone,” Minho finished, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “We’ll start by going through our recent associates. Everyone who was at the last meeting.”

"Gather everyone. Start interrogating," Minho stands up, on his way to exit the meeting room. "Don't hesitate to shoot if the alibis doesn't match." And with that, he was gone.

___

Hours passed, and the intensity of their investigation kept the darkness at bay, but Changbin knew they were running out of time. Their boss's patience was short, and he understood how crucial that deal was.

They split up the members, asking one by one, but they were getting tired; all the alibis matched, proving their innocence.

“Kim! Any news?” Changbin asked the other assistant from the other room.

“No. We only have a few members left,” Seungmin sighed. “Tell Chan to review the CCTV footage once again. Report anything that looks off.”

Just then, Chan burst into the room, followed closely by Hyunjin and I.n. “We’ve got a lead,” Chan said, his eyes gleaming with urgency. “While reviewing the footage, I noticed something odd. There was a figure lurking around the back entrance just before the meeting.”

Hyunjin leaned over Chan’s shoulder, pointing at the screen. “Look! There! That guy—he’s not one of us.”

"I.n, inform Minho about this!" I.n quickly turned, going straight to Minho's office.

A few minutes later. Minho, who had re-entered the room, scrutinized the footage. “Enhance the image. We need to know who we’re dealing with.”

Chan nodded, already working on the controls. “Give me a moment.” He focused intently, fingers flying over the keyboard as he adjusted the brightness and contrast. “There! That should help.”

The grainy image sharpened, revealing a familiar face. “Isn’t that Songyun?!” Changbin exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. “He was at the last meeting!”

Minho clenched his jaw, a storm brewing within him. “Find him. He must have been the one to tip off our enemies. Chan, gather the others. We’ll confront Songyun now.”

As they prepared to track down Songyun, I.n’s phone buzzed. “I just got a message from one of our informants. They spotted Jihoon meeting with a rival gang.”

“Then we have to move fast,” Minho said, hatred in his eyes. “They'll pay for their actions.”

"Be ready. We'll start tomorrow at night"

__

As they were heading out, Minho couldn’t shake the thought of Jisung. The warmth of their brief encounter had been a fleeting moment of solace amidst the storm. It was absurd to think of him now, yet the memory was a comforting distraction. Minho knew he’d have to return to the clinic—not just for the peculiar charm of the vet but because the troubles of his life felt so far removed from that tranquil space.

Once he was out on the streets, the city felt alive, each shadow a reminder of the enemies lurking around him. He slipped into the familiar rhythm of the night, focused and determined.

What was it about that boy that kept pulling at him? Minho shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. He had more matters to attend to. But somewhere in the back of his mind,  perhaps after all this, he could return to that clinic and find solace in Jisung’s presence.

With that thought, he dove deeper into the night, ready to face whatever came next.