The Innocent and The King

Chapter Nineteen - The Hunt Begins

The darkness of the night seemed to stretch endlessly as Jungkook and his men prepared for what would be the most dangerous mission of their lives. The weight of the betrayal, the sting of Yoongi’s treachery, had left a scar deep inside Jungkook. But more than that, it had ignited a fire—a fire to set things right, to eliminate the mole, and to make sure no one would ever dare to betray him again. And, this time, Reva wasn’t going to be left in the shadows. She refused to stand by while Jungkook fought alone, and he had reluctantly accepted her presence in the chaos that was about to unfold.

Reva sat in the corner of the room, her hands trembling as she watched Jungkook move around the safe house, his movements sharp and calculated. His men were assembling, finalizing their weapons and gear. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the air was heavy with the promise of an impending storm. Reva’s heart raced in her chest as she tried to calm her nerves. This was real. This was the fight that had been building for months.

Jungkook’s eyes met hers across the room, his gaze softening just for a moment. He had told her repeatedly that she didn’t have to be involved, that he would take care of everything. But she knew better. She knew that no matter how much Jungkook wanted to protect her, he couldn’t keep her hidden away forever. And this time, she wasn’t going to let him shut her out.

She stood, walking over to him with determined steps. The others continued preparing, too focused on their mission to notice her approach. Jungkook looked at her when she stood in front of him, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Reva,” he said softly, his voice a low warning. “This is dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m not staying behind,” she replied, her voice steady, even though her heart pounded in her chest. “I’ve already been a part of this, Jungkook. I won’t let you face it alone.”

For a moment, his face softened, a flicker of something tender in his eyes. But then it disappeared, replaced by a cold, hard resolve. Jungkook reached for her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She felt his breath against her hair, his grip firm as if he were trying to hold onto her in the midst of the storm.

“I won’t forgive myself if anything happens to you,” he whispered.

Reva pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. “Nothing will happen to me, Jungkook. But I won’t stand by and do nothing either. We’re in this together.”

He exhaled slowly, as though weighing the situation. There was no point in arguing further—he knew Reva too well. She wouldn’t back down. Finally, he gave a small nod, his expression unreadable but his eyes giving her the reassurance she needed.

“Fine,” he said quietly. “But stay close. And don’t do anything reckless.”

“I’ll stick to your side, I promise,” she replied, her heart racing as she nodded. She would do whatever it took to help him, even if it meant walking into the lion’s den.

---

The drive to the location where they suspected Yoongi had hidden himself was tense. Jungkook’s SUV sped through the streets, the city lights flickering outside the windows like fleeting glimpses of a dream. But inside the vehicle, there was no room for dreams. There was only focus, determination, and the harsh reality that they were about to confront a traitor.

Jungkook sat in the front seat, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. His jaw was tight, and his eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, barely blinking. His mind was racing with a thousand thoughts. Yoongi had always been more than just a member of his crew—he had been family. They had shared everything, from their pasts to their darkest secrets. To know that Yoongi had sold them out, that he had sided with the enemy, was a betrayal that went deeper than any wound.

In the back seat, Reva sat silently, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her shirt. She wasn’t scared—at least, she tried not to show it. She had seen the world that Jungkook lived in, the dangers that constantly hovered over them, but this was different. This wasn’t just some external threat. This was personal. This was a wound to their trust, a scar that would take more than time to heal.

The drive felt like an eternity. The streetlights passed by in a blur, each one a reminder that they were closer to the truth, closer to the reckoning that would come when they finally confronted Yoongi. Jungkook’s men had tracked him to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The place was isolated—perfect for a hidden meeting, but also a perfect trap.

They arrived at the location, the SUV sliding to a stop just out of sight. Jungkook’s men quickly took their positions, spreading out and surrounding the perimeter. The rest of the crew had already set up the necessary equipment, ensuring they had eyes on every entrance and exit.

Reva’s breath caught in her throat as she looked at the warehouse looming before them. It was dark, the windows boarded up, the silence broken only by the sound of distant traffic. She turned to Jungkook, who was already out of the car, his gun secured at his side. His face was set in an unreadable expression, but his eyes—they burned with something darker now, something primal.

“Stay close,” he said to her, his voice low and controlled.

Reva nodded, her pulse quickening as she followed him. Her hands were clammy, but she kept her gaze forward, focusing on the task at hand. The fear, the uncertainty, was still there—but it was buried under a layer of determination. She would do whatever it took to help Jungkook.

They moved quickly, slipping through the shadows as they approached the warehouse. Jungkook’s men were already in position, their eyes scanning every corner, every entrance. As they neared the door, Jungkook paused, signaling for Reva to stay back.

“I’ll go first,” he whispered.

“No,” Reva replied immediately, stepping forward. “I’m coming with you.”

Jungkook’s gaze flickered to hers, but he didn’t argue. They had made it this far together, and he wasn’t going to let anything stop her now.

With a nod, he signaled to his men to cover the back of the building. They moved in silently, the heavy door creaking as Jungkook pushed it open. The air inside was thick with dust and silence, the only sound the soft scrape of their shoes against the concrete floor. Reva’s heart pounded in her chest as they stepped into the warehouse, her senses heightened.

The lights flickered on overhead, revealing rows of crates and abandoned machinery. It was eerily quiet—too quiet. They were being watched, she could feel it in the pit of her stomach.

And then, out of the darkness, came the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

Reva froze, her breath caught in her throat. Jungkook’s hand tightened around her wrist, pulling her closer to him as they both turned to face the source of the noise.

Emerging from the shadows was none other than Yoongi. His expression was cold, emotionless, as he stepped into the dim light, his eyes meeting Jungkook’s with an eerie calmness.

“So, you found me,” Yoongi said, his voice surprisingly calm for someone who had just betrayed his family.

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed. “Yoongi... Why?”

The betrayal in those words hit harder than any punch. Reva could see the hurt in Jungkook’s eyes, the deep pain that this betrayal had caused.

Yoongi’s lips curled into a smirk, but it was hollow, bitter. “Because this world doesn’t care about loyalty. Only power.”

And just like that, the storm had arrived.