Mafia's Little Sister

Chapter 3: A Blade in the Shadows

The Park mansion was eerily quiet that night, with only the occasional footsteps echoing in the long hallways. Ryuvyna sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the moonlit garden outside her window. The day's events swirled in her being chased, Jayden's fury, and the revelation of a mole in their midst.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and Victor stepped inside, his expression cautious.

"Ryuvyna," he said in a low voice, "I need to speak with you."

She frowned, folding her arms. "If it's another lecture about staying put, I'm not interested."

"It's not," he replied, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, his usual stoic demeanor replaced by something almost... concerned.

"I don't trust everyone in this house," he admitted

Her eyes widened. "You think the mole is here? In the mansion?"

Victor nodded. "It's the only explanation. The Jeon had too much information about your movements. Someone close to Park is feeding them intel."

The weight of his words sank in. For years, Ryuvyna had seen the mansion as a fortress-impermeable, unshakable. Now, it felt more like a cage, with danger lurking behind every familiar face.

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Victor hesitated. "Not yet. But I need you to be careful. Don't trust anyone even me."

His admission left her unsettled. Victor was Jayden's most loyal confidant. If even he doubted his own trustworthiness, the situation was worse than she'd imagined.

Before she could respond, a loud crash echoed from downstairs. Both of them froze, their eyes meeting briefly before Victor moved toward the door.

"Stay here," he ordered, drawing his gun as he slipped into the hallway.

Ryuvyna's instincts screamed at her to follow, but she forced herself to stay put. The mansion was too quiet now, the silence pressing down on her like a weight.

Minutes felt like hours before she heard footsteps returning. The door opened, but it wasn't Victor-it was Jayden, his face dark with anger.

"You didn't stay in your room, did you?" he accused, his voice low but sharp.

"I- what? I haven't left!" she stammered, confused by his sudden hostility.

Jayden stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Then why was your name whispered by the man we just caught sneaking into the mansion?"

Her heart sank. "What are you talking about?"

"He said he was here for you, Ryuvyna. Care to explain why our enemy thinks you're important enough to risk infiltrating my home?"

Panic and frustration flared within her. "I don't know! I didn't ask to be dragged into this!"

Jayden's anger softened slightly, replaced by a flicker of doubt. He turned toward the hallway, gesturing for her to follow. "You need to see this."

Reluctantly, she trailed behind him, her pulse racing. They descended into the basement, where Jayden's men had gathered around a bound and bloodied figure slumped in a chair.

The man's head lolled forward, but as they approached, he lifted his gaze to meet hers. A chilling smile spread across his bruised face.

"Ryuvyna Park," he rasped, his voice weak but mocking. "The little princess of the Park empire. You have no idea what you're worth, do you?"

Her blood ran cold. Jayden's hand rested on her shoulder, grounding her as the man continued.

"Your family's enemies know the truth. They know the secret your brother has been hiding for years. And soon, so will you."

Ryuvyna's voice trembled as she asked, "What secret?"

The man chuckled darkly, but before he could answer, Jayden stepped forward, his gun aimed.

"That's enough," Jayden said, his voice like steel. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

The defeating sound of the gunshot echoed in the basement, and the man slumped over, lifeless.

Ryuvyna turned to Jayden, her heart pounding. "What did he mean? What secret?"

Jayden avoided her gaze. "It doesn't matter. He was trying to rattle you."

But she wasn't convinced. There was a crack in Jayden's usual composure, a flicker of something he was trying to hide.

Ryuvyna's fists clenched. She was done being kept in the dark. Whatever this secret was, it was the key to understanding why her life had been chaotic. And she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

To be continued...