“Alright, boys,” Jimin said, his voice calm but edged with command, “we’ve got about an hour. And trust me this mission’s going to take every single one of us.”
The three men across from him Namjoon, J-Hope, and another operative nodded in silent acknowledgment. But before anyone could speak further, Namjoon’s sharp voice cut through.
“So… how long are we keeping that flapping bird here?” His eyes flicked toward Ivey, strapped to a rope, headphones clamped over her ears so she couldn’t hear a word, and a strip of tape sealing her mouth. Her struggle was relentless, kicking and twisting as though she could break free at any second.
Jimin’s lips curved into a slow, almost imperceptible smile. He leaned back, hands in his pockets, watching her with deliberate ease.
“I’ve handled birds like this before,” he said softly, almost to himself. Then, as if drawn to the challenge, he stepped closer to her.
Ivey’s eyes locked onto his, burning with defiance, her body coiled with fury.
With a deliberate flick, he pulled the headphones from her ears, the soft click echoing in the cabin. “Though,” he murmured, his tone silk and steel all at once, “I would love to hear that sweet but sharp voice of yours. I’d keep it quiet, though… for a more… productive occasion.”
Her gaze narrowed, a spark of confusion flashing across her features.
Jimin’s smirk deepened as he caught the faintest hint of fear in her eyes, the kind that only comes when someone realizes they’re being toyed with and they know it.
“And don’t get too comfortable,” he whispered, leaning just close enough for her to feel the warmth of his presence. “Fear keeps things interesting. Don’t you agree?”
Ivey’s chest rose and fell rapidly, a mix of anger and adrenaline making her pulse thunder in her ears. She wanted to bite, to curse, to shove him but even as her instincts screamed at her to fight, she couldn’t deny the tension that crackled between them dangerous, magnetic, and maddeningly alive.
Jimin straightened, giving her one last look a promise, a threat, and a challenge all at once before stepping back into the calm command of a man in control.
The plane hummed around them, but in that small cabin, it felt like the entire world had shrunk to the two of them, bound in a game of power, fire, and restraint.
X~~~~
“I’m telling you, that guy tricked us!” Taehyung’s voice snapped across the operator room, sharp with anger.
One of the officers shifted in his chair, hesitant. “I… I think he’s right. She wouldn’t betray us like that. Ivey herself accepted this mission.”
“Enough!” the commanding officer barked, slamming a hand on the desk. “I don’t want anyone here losing their heads over assumptions.”
But the discussion didn’t die down. “It’s clear in the CCTV footage that Ivey gave him access!” another officer said, voice tight. “She handed Jimin the exit pass herself.”
Taehyung’s jaw clenched. “We can’t even see the person’s face clearly. How can you be certain it’s her? What if it was someone disguised as her?”
The head of security shook his head, frustration edging his tone. “At 4:19 p.m., she was in the cabin. Then she went to the bathroom, and from there… straight to Jimin’s cell. She passed him the exit pass!”
“Yes, and check the CCTV carefully,” another officer added, voice low but firm. “All cameras were fully operational. Don’t even think this could be an AI-generated video it happened right in front of our eyes.”
YOU ARE READING
°BACKSTABBERS°
Mystery / Thriller[ONGOING] You've read countless 'rivals to lovers' stories, but what sets this apart is its darkness: there are no rivals, no lovers-only backstabbers. Everyone is a traitor, and trust is the most dangerous illusion of all.
