From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story [JJK]

✨FRACTURED FOCUS✨

Jungkook POV:

The room was dimly lit, the heavy scent of gunpowder lingering in the air as I adjusted the strap of my Kevlar vest. Beside me, Taehyung and Alex checked their weapons with cold precision. We had received intel that a group of Zalgo's men had been smuggling arms through the docks. Tonight, we would send them a message they wouldn't forget—if they lived to tell about it.

"Everyone ready?" Alex asked, his voice low and steady.

Taehyung nodded, smirking as he clicked his gun into place. "Let's paint the night red."

I said nothing, the adrenaline already coursing through my veins as we made our way to the blacked-out SUVs waiting outside. The drive to the docks was tense but quiet, the only sounds coming from the occasional crackle of the comms and the soft hum of the engine.

When we arrived, the scene was as grim as expected—shipping containers stacked like a fortress, shadows dancing under the faint glow of floodlights. Zalgo's men were scattered, guarding the area with semi-automatic rifles and a cocky sense of security.

"Positions," I ordered, my voice firm. Alex and Taehyung slipped into the shadows, each taking their assigned flank. I moved toward the central pathway, the weight of my pistol reassuring in my hand.

It started with a single gunshot, Alex's signal to begin. The docks erupted into chaos as bullets rained down like a violent symphony. Shouts of pain and surprise echoed around me as Zalgo's men scrambled to fight back.

I was a machine, every movement precise, every shot deadly. One man lunged at me with a knife, but I sidestepped effortlessly, driving my elbow into his face before putting a bullet between his eyes. The blood sprayed in an arc, painting the ground as his body crumpled.

Taehyung was a whirlwind of violence, his blade slicing through flesh with brutal efficiency. Beside him, Alex's rifle spat fire, taking down enemies with calculated precision. The air smelled of copper and smoke, the ground slick with blood as bodies piled up around us.

But then, in the middle of it all, my mind faltered.

Y/N's face flashed before my eyes—her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy. The memory came unbidden, a stark contrast to the carnage around me. Why was I thinking about her now, in the middle of a fight?

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but it was enough. A figure lunged at me from the side, his blade gleaming as it arced toward my chest.

"Jungkook!"

The voice was familiar, sharp, and commanding. Suddenly, a shot rang out, and the man attacking me dropped, blood pooling beneath him. I turned to see Jimin standing a few feet away, his gun smoking, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Looks like you owe me one," he said casually, stepping over the body as if this was just another day at the office.

I blinked, still processing his sudden appearance. "Jimin? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Helping your sorry ass, apparently," he replied, firing at another man without breaking stride.

With his arrival, the fight ended quickly. Zalgo's men were either dead or retreating, the docks now eerily silent except for the distant lapping of waves against the shore.

As we regrouped, I turned to Jimin, who was casually reloading his weapon. "Since when are you back in the game?"

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Took a little break. Thought I'd give this place another shot."

Taehyung snorted, wiping blood off his blade. "Break? You've been MIA for months."

Jimin smirked, leaning against a crate. "What can I say? I was...distracted."

"By what?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jimin sighed dramatically. "Dating. Thought I'd try the whole 'normal life' thing. Didn't work out, obviously."

"Obviously," I muttered, my tone sharper than intended.

Jimin shot me a curious glance but didn't press. Instead, he turned the conversation in a direction I hadn't expected. "Speaking of distractions, how's Y/N?"

The mention of her name hit me like a punch to the gut. I narrowed my eyes, my grip tightening on my gun. "What do you know about Y/N?"

His expression softened, a rare hint of sincerity replacing his usual smirk. "Relax, Jungkook. I've known her since we were kids. We're close."

"You're... close?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief.

Jimin chuckled as if amused by my reaction. "Yeah, she's like a sister to me. Not that she knows what I do here. She thinks I've got some boring desk job."

The thought of Jimin being a part of Y/N's life without her knowing the truth made my stomach churn.

"She called me recently," Jimin added, his tone casual. "Said she wanted to catch up. Maybe I'll drop by and see her."

I forced a tight smile, my mind racing. The idea of Jimin visiting Y/N didn't sit well with me, but I couldn't show it. "Do whatever you want," I said tersely.

Jimin raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing my unease. "Don't worry, boss. I'm not stepping on your toes. Just an old friend checking in."

The ride back was quiet. Alex drove while I sat in the passenger seat, staring out at the rain-soaked streets.

"You zoned out during the fight," Alex said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I glanced at him, my jaw tightening. "It was nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing," he pressed, his tone cautious.

I didn't respond, turning my gaze back to the window. The truth was, I couldn't stop thinking about Y/N. Her face, her voice, the way she had unknowingly wormed her way into my every thought. She was becoming a distraction—a dangerous one.

"Fine," Alex muttered, sensing I wasn't in the mood to talk.

As we pulled into the driveway, I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm brewing inside me. Y/N was waiting inside, probably still resting after the cold she'd caught. I had told myself I would keep her at arm's length, that I couldn't afford to let her get too close.

But the more I tried to resist, the harder it became.

I stepped out of the car, the weight of the night's events pressing heavily on my shoulders. As I walked inside, I made a silent promise to myself.

No matter what it took, I would protect her. Even if it meant protecting her from myself.