Mafia's Little Sister

Chapter 8: A Game of Deception

The night air was sharp as Ryuvyna and Victor stepped out of La Rosa Rossa. Despite the answers she had found, a thousand more questions filled Ryuvyna's mind. Junghyun's ledger was the key to everything--the reason behind his disappearance, the reason the Jeons might come after her.

But where had he hidden it?

"You're too quiet again," Victor said as they reached the car.

"I'm processing," Ryuvyna replied, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Processing or plotting?"

She turned to him, her eyes steely. "Both."

Victor sighed as he started the engine. "You heard Jennie. If you dig too deep, you'll end up at the center of a war."

"I'm already in the middle of it," Ryuvyna said firmly. "The only way out is to find that ledger before anyone else does."

"And what happens when you find it?" Victor asked.

"I'll decide when the time comes," she answered, looking out the window.

Back at the Park mansion, Ryuvyna wasted no time. She spread the contents of the box on her desk: the photos, the letter, the pendant, and the note that led her to La Rosa Rossa. Every piece was a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Her fingers traced the edges of a photograph of her mother and Junghyun. They stood by a small lake, a wooden cabin visible in the background.

A memory surfaced, faint but persistent. Her mother had once mentioned a cabin where she and Junghyun spent summers. Ryuvyna grabbed her phone and searched for lakes near the city. One name caught her eye: Lake Alaria.

"That has to be it," she whispered to herself.

Just as she was about to start planning her trip, a knock on her door made her jump.

"Ryuvyna," Jayden's voice called. "Open the door."

She quickly shoved the items back into the box and slid it under her bed before opening the door. Jayden stepped inside, his expression unreadable.

"where were you tonight?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"Out," she replied, folding her arms.

"With Victor?"

"Yes. He was watching my back," she said pointedly.

Jayden's jaw tightened. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ryuvyna. You think you're untouchable because you're my sister, but the Jeons don't care about family ties. They'll come for you if they even suspect you're digging into Junghyun's past."

"Let them come," she said defiantly.

Jayden stared at her, a mix of frustration and something that looked like fear. "You don't understand the stakes. Junghyun's ledger isn't just a book of secrets--it's a weapon. It could destroy families, and topple empires. People will kill for it."

"Then help me find it before they do," she said, meeting his gaze.

Jayden's silence was answer enough.

"I'm not a child anymore, Jayden," she said softly. "If you won't help me, I'll do it on my own."

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "You're too much like him. That same reckless determination."

"Maybe that's why I need to do this," she said.

After a long pause, Jayden nodded. "If you're going to chase this, you'll need protection. Victor isn't enough."

"I don't need a babysitter," Ryuvyna said, her tone clipped.

"You need someone who can keep you alive," Jayden countered. "I'll assign someone tomorrow."

Before she could argue, he turned and left, leaving her standing alone in the doorway.


The next morning, Ryuvyna was introduced to her new shadow: Daniel. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing.

"You're the boss's sister," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Which means keeping you safe is my job now. I don't take that lightly."

Ryuvyna crossed her arms. "I don't need a bodyguard."

"Good thing I'm more than that," Daniel replied with a smirk.

Victor appeared in the doorway, clearly amused. "You two play nice. We've got a long road ahead."

Ryuvyna rolled her eyes but didn't argue. With Daniel and  Victor in tow, she felt more confident about the next step of her plan.

By midday, they were on the road to Lake Alaria. The cabin from the photo was her only lead, and she couldn't shake the feeling that Junghyun had left something there for her to find.

As they approached the lake, the air grew still, the same serene landscape hiding its secrets well. They parked near a dirt trail and followed it on foot until the cabin came into view.

It was old and weathered, but it stood sturdy against the backdrop of towering pines. Ryuvyna's heart raced as they approached the door.

"Stay closed," Daniel said, stepping ahead to check for traps or unwanted visitors.

When he gave the all-clear, Ryuvyna pushed the door open. Inside, the cabin was sparse, with dusty furniture and a faint smell of pine.

She began searching, her fingers running over every surface, every crevice. Finally, her eyes landed on a loose floorboard near the fireplace.

"Help me," she said, motioning to Daniel.

Together, they pried the board loose, revealing a small metal box.

Her hands trembled as she opened it. Inside was a leather-bound notebook with Junghyun's initials embossed on the cover.

The ledger

"We found it," she whispered, her voice tinged with awe.

But her triumph was short-lived. The sound of footsteps outside made them freeze.

"Someone's coming," Victor hissed, drawing his gun.

Ryuvyna clutched the ledger to her chest as Daniel positioned himself by the door.

The fight for Junghyun's secrets was just beginning.

To be continued...