Deep End | Hyunlix

65

The road stretched long and empty ahead of him, a thin ribbon of asphalt cutting through trees that grew thicker the farther he drove. The city had fallen away miles ago, its noise replaced by the low hum of his engine and the quiet, oppressive weight of his thoughts.

Hyunjin kept both hands on the steering wheel, knuckles tight, posture rigid. He told himself to breathe. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. The same grounding techniques he'd used a thousand times before meetings that could turn violent in a heartbeat. It wasn't working.

The further he got from the city, the more his body betrayed him. His pulse thudded too fast, his shoulders locked high with tension, a faint tremor creeping into his hands no matter how hard he tried to still them.

This is wrong. The thought circled endlessly, feeding the paranoia already gnawing at him. His hands tightened on the steering wheel so hard his hands were hurting. He forced himself to breathe evenly, but his body refused to cooperate. A cold unease settling deep in his gut. He had driven this route before, dozens of times, but today everything felt off. Too quiet.

He had half-expected to see cars lining the dirt lot when he arrived. Members of the clan. Enforcers. Witnesses. An audience for whatever Lee Know planned to do.

Instead, when the safe house finally came into view, a squat, nondescript building half-hidden by trees, there was only a single car parked out front. One. Hyunjin slowed to a stop, engine idling. His chest tightened. Too quiet. Lee Know wouldn't meet him alone unless he thought he didn't need backup. And that was somehow more unsettling than the alternative.

He sat there for a long moment, engine idling, fingers clenched around the wheel. For a moment, Hyunjin considered leaving. Turning around. Vanishing back into the city, into the maze of streets where he still had control. But he knew better. Running would only confirm suspicion. Fear. Guilt. And Lee Know would hunt him down anyway.

So Hyunjin shut off the engine. The silence was immediate and oppressive. Hyunjin stepped out of the car, the crunch of gravel under his boots echoing too loudly in the open space. He scanned the area, every shadow feeling like it held a threat. His pulse thudded in his ears as he approached the door.

The door to the safe house stood unlocked. Of course it was. He hesitated only a second before pushing it open. The inside was dim, lit by a single lamp in the far corner. The air smelled faintly of old wood and something sharp, cleaning solution, maybe. The kind used to erase evidence.

There, seated comfortably in an armchair as if waiting for a guest, was Lee Know. He didn't look up right away. He was calm. Too calm. One leg crossed over the other, hands folded loosely in his lap, expression unreadable. The picture of patience.

Hyunjin's skin prickled.

"You're late," Lee Know said mildly, finally lifting his gaze.

Hyunjin swallowed and stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him with finality. "You said two hours," Hyunjin replied evenly. "I'm on time."

Lee Know smiled faintly. "Technically, yes." The smile didn't reach his eyes. He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."

Hyunjin hesitated. Just a fraction of a second, but he felt Lee Know notice it. His eyes tracked every movement, every flicker of uncertainty.

Hyunjin sat. Every instinct screamed at him not to, but refusing would only make things worse. Slowly, he crossed the room and sat, keeping his posture rigid, controlled. Lee Know studied him for a moment, fingers steepled, head tilted slightly to the side. It reminded Hyunjin painfully of their childhood, of two boys trained together, sparring partners, confidants. Back when jealousy had been quiet, buried beneath loyalty.Before Hyunjin had been chosen. Lee Know had never forgiven that. Not really.