Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 22: Secrets Unearthed

Jeonghan’s world came crashing down the moment he saw the Syndicate’s emissary standing at their door. It was supposed to be another quiet evening—Mingyu was giving Dino his bath, and Jeonghan was finally folding the mountain of baby clothes that had taken over their couch. But the second the man handed him a letter sealed with Kwan’s ominous insignia, his hands began to shake.

He recognized the wax seal immediately—the Syndicate’s mark, one he thought he’d left behind when Mingyu had stepped into his life.

"What’s this about?" Jeonghan asked, forcing calm into his voice, though his heart pounded against his ribs.

The emissary smirked, his sharp gaze darting toward the sounds of Dino’s faint giggles from the bathroom. "Our leader has been curious about why you’ve been so… distant," the man drawled. "Imagine his surprise when he learned you’ve been playing house with Kim Mingyu. A pity, really—Kwan had plans for you."

Jeonghan felt cold dread crawl up his spine. "Leave," he said firmly, his voice trembling despite his resolve.

The emissary chuckled. "You can’t hide forever, Jeonghan. Kwan doesn’t take kindly to betrayal." With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the night.

---

Confrontation

Jeonghan slammed the door shut, his chest heaving. He barely noticed Mingyu walking into the living room, Dino bundled in his arms, until the alpha’s voice broke through the fog of panic.

"Who was that?" Mingyu asked, his sharp eyes narrowing as he caught the paleness of Jeonghan’s face.

Jeonghan hesitated, his fingers clutching the letter so tightly it crumpled. He didn’t want to tell Mingyu—not now, not when Dino was finally safe and they were slowly building a life together. But one look at Mingyu’s worried expression, and he knew he couldn’t lie.

"It’s the Syndicate," Jeonghan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Kwan knows about us."

Mingyu’s jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring. "What does he want?"

Jeonghan swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to Dino, who was now peacefully asleep in Mingyu’s arms. "Me. He wanted me to be his… bed warmer before I met you. He never got over it."

A dangerous growl rumbled in Mingyu’s chest. "That bastard thinks he can come after you? After our family?"

Jeonghan shook his head. "It’s not just me anymore, Mingyu. If Kwan decides to act, he won’t stop at threats. He’ll come for Dino too."

Mingyu’s eyes darkened, the weight of Jeonghan’s words sinking in. "Over my dead body," he growled.

---

The Syndicate Strikes

Later that night, while Dino slept soundly in his crib, Mingyu and Jeonghan sat together at the kitchen table. Mingyu was on the phone with one of his most trusted allies, gathering information about the Syndicate’s recent activities.

"Kwan’s been expanding his reach," the voice on the other end of the line said. "He’s ruthless, Mingyu. If he’s after Jeonghan, he won’t back down easily."

Mingyu ended the call, his expression grim. "We’re not running," he said firmly. "If Kwan thinks he can intimidate us, he’s about to learn otherwise."

Jeonghan placed a trembling hand on Mingyu’s. "I don’t want you to get hurt because of me," he said softly.

Mingyu leaned in, his gaze unwavering. "You and Dino are my family. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you both."

Just as the words left his mouth, the sound of shattering glass rang out from the living room. They rushed to find a brick lying on the floor, a note tied to it.

"Jeonghan belongs to me. Return to the Syndicate, or face the consequences."

---

Preparations

The threat was clear, and Mingyu wasted no time fortifying their defenses. He contacted his parents, who immediately offered their support. Taehyung and Seokjin arrived the next morning, bringing with them trusted security personnel.

"If Kwan wants a fight, he’ll get one," Seokjin said, his usually gentle demeanor replaced with steely determination.

Jeonghan, meanwhile, couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at him. Every time he held Dino, he couldn’t help but imagine the Syndicate’s shadow looming over them.

"You don’t have to face this alone," Taehyung said, pulling Jeonghan into a comforting embrace. "We’re family now. We’ll stand by you."

---

A Dangerous Decision

As the days passed, Mingyu and Jeonghan knew they couldn’t simply wait for Kwan to make his next move. Mingyu devised a plan, one that involved confronting Kwan head-on while keeping Jeonghan and Dino safely hidden.

"I don’t want you involved," Mingyu said one night as they sat together in Dino’s nursery.

Jeonghan’s eyes narrowed. "You can’t just leave me behind. This is my fight too."

Mingyu cupped Jeonghan’s face, his expression softening. "Your fight is here, with Dino. Protecting him. Let me handle Kwan."

Jeonghan’s heart ached, but he nodded. "Promise me you’ll come back," he whispered.

Mingyu leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Jeonghan’s forehead. "Always."

As the night deepened, Mingyu prepared to face the Syndicate leader, determined to put an end to the threats once and for all. But in his heart, he knew this was only the beginning of their battle to protect their family.