Deep End | Hyunlix

41

The streets here felt different. They always did. The air was thick with an undercurrent of tension, an electric hum that buzzed beneath the surface. Felix parked a block away, killing the engine, his mind already racing ahead to what he might find.

The building Hyunjin's phone had pinged from was Club Apep, a notorious hotspot for elites from both the legal and the illegal world. Felix knew this place well, too well. It wasn't just a nightclub. It was a battleground where deals were struck, alliances were formed, and secrets were bought and sold. He wasn't here for the music or the glitz. He was here for answers.

Felix adjusted his jacket, his sharp eyes scanning the entrance to the club. The line stretched down the block, filled with high-profile figures, politicians, and criminals alike, all eager to gain entry.

Felix bypassed the line, walking straight up to the entrance, his every step purposeful. Two bouncers stood guard at the doors, their expressions unreadable. One of them stepped forward, blocking Felix's path.

"Name?" the bouncer asked, his voice gruff, demanding.

Felix didn't hesitate. He reached into his wallet and slid a crisp one hundred into the man's palm. The bouncer barely blinked before pocketing the money.

"Inside," he grunted, stepping aside.

Felix's pulse quickened. He exhaled a slow breath, steeling himself, then entered the club, the pounding bass reverberating through his chest, mingling with the heavy stench of expensive perfume, sweat, and the lingering scent of burning cigars. The lights flashed in neon streaks, casting eerie shadows on the sleek black walls as he stepped into the chaos.

Felix moved through the crowd with practiced ease, blending seamlessly into the throng of writhing bodies and socialites sipping overpriced liquor. His eyes darted across the room, scanning for the one person he had come to find.

And there he was. Hyunjin.

Seated in the VIP lounge, dressed in black, his posture composed, his presence commanding. A glass of whiskey cradled in his hand. His expression was unreadable, detached from the noise around him. But Felix barely had time to take in the sight before his gaze shifted.

Seated beside Hyunjin was Seo Changbin.

Felix's stomach lurched. Changbin. The man Felix and his team had been tracking for days. A top lieutenant of the Snake Eye Clan. And here he was, sitting beside Hyunjin, laughing like old friends, sharing drinks like business partners. Felix's blood ran cold, his pulse quickening.

This is what you've been doing instead of answering me, Hyunjin? Sitting with criminals? Making deals with people I've sworn to bring down?

A bitter taste filled Felix's mouth. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. Think. Don't react. This wasn't the time for emotions to cloud his judgment. He needed to stay focused.

Felix's eyes stayed locked on Hyunjin as he moved through the club, positioning himself closer to the VIP section without drawing attention. He needed to see, to hear, to understand what was happening. His instincts told him something was off, something deeper than just the surface games Hyunjin seemed to be playing.

From this vantage point, he could see Hyunjin clearly. The way his fingers tapped idly against his glass, the way his lips curved in amusement as Changbin leaned in, speaking in hushed tones. Felix strained to hear their conversation, but the pulsing music made it nearly impossible.

He caught snippets. Words that made his stomach twist.

"...shipment moving soon... police tightening security..."

Hyunjin hummed, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his eyes steady as he spoke. "Then perhaps it's time we change our approach. I have... connections that could be useful."

Felix's chest tightened. Connections. Who was Hyunjin referring? Was it me?

The idea sent a cold shiver down Felix's spine. He fought the urge to storm over and confront him right then and there. Instead, he forced himself to stay hidden, observing. He needed proof. He needed answers before he made a move.

But just as Felix was deciding his next step, Hyunjin's eyes flicked upward, locking onto Felix's.

Felix froze, his breath catching in his throat. The moment felt suspended in time, their gazes colliding across the crowded room. Felix could almost feel the weight of Hyunjin's gaze, the sharp recognition in his dark eyes. Then, as if nothing had happened, Hyunjin smirked, the corner of his lips curling upwards in silent amusement.

Felix's hands curled into fists.

Hyunjin had seen him. Acknowledged him. And yet, he had chosen to ignore him, to dismiss him like a shadow at the edge of the room.

The brief eye contact sent a slow burn of frustration curling up Felix's spine, mixing with something more dangerous. Fine. If Hyunjin wanted to play games, Felix would play. But he wouldn't leave tonight without answers.

Felix's mind raced. Stay calm. Stay smart. The anger roiling in his stomach only made it harder to think clearly, but he had to. He needed to approach this with precision. For now, he remained in place, watching, waiting. Hyunjin leaned closer to Changbin, their exchange continuing in whispers, Felix unable to make out the words over the bass that vibrated through his chest.

Felix knew he had to be careful. Hyunjin was playing a game, but Felix couldn't tell yet if he was a pawn, a player, or something much more dangerous in the game Hyunjin was involved in.

Felix's fingers twitched, itching to grab his gun, to march over and drag Hyunjin out of the club, demand an explanation, tear the truth from him. But he knew better. This was Snake Eye territory. He was outnumbered, out of his element. He wasn't prepared for whatever role Hyunjin had decided to play in this dangerous world.

For now, Felix had to be smart. He had to gather the pieces of the puzzle before making his move. He couldn't risk blowing his cover, not when he was this close.

Hyunjin wasn't the man Felix had thought he was. He wasn't just some aloof artist, detached from the chaos of the criminal world. He was too close to people like Changbin, people like the Snake Eye Clan. Felix's stomach churned at the thought. He had seen Hyunjin's vulnerability. He had seen the side of him that no one else had. And now, here he was, in the heart of the criminal underworld, acting like he belonged.

Felix could walk away. He could report everything to his team, let the investigation unfold as it should. But that wasn't enough. Not when Hyunjin was the one who had become his problem. Felix wasn't just an officer tonight, he was someone personally invested. And that made everything harder. More dangerous.

As Felix observed Hyunjin, his mind wandered back to their time together, the moments they had shared. He remembered how close they had been, how easy it had felt to open up to Hyunjin. But now, Hyunjin was sitting there, comfortable with the very people Felix had spent years hunting.

The thought of Hyunjin playing him, using him, made something inside Felix twist painfully. But that wasn't the Hyunjin he knew. Or was it?

Felix didn't know anymore. But he wasn't leaving without answers.

Felix took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay in the shadows. His mind raced as he watched Hyunjin sip his drink, his body language calm, collected, untouchable. Even with men like Changbin beside him, Hyunjin still looked like he was in control.

But Felix knew better. He had seen the cracks in Hyunjin's armor. And tonight, he wasn't walking away until he saw them again.

Hyunjin wanted to play games? Fine. Felix thought. He could play too.

———-
1279 words