Beneath the Surface // Moonsun

Chapter 12

Byulyi's POV

I've never seen Wheein lose her cool more than I have in this exact movement. Her tiny brown fist soars through the air and smashes hard into Taliah's jaw with the speed and force of a missile. Wheein is like my sister, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little wet.

To her credit, Taliah doesn't fall down but stumbles back a few steps holding her jaw. She spits out a lob of bloody mucus.

"O-okay..." she mumbles wincing in pain, " ... I'm sorry - ow, fuck." Taliah massages her jaw.

Wheein seethes where she stands, one of her knuckles split open and her eyes dark with anger. They stare each other down as if it's just the two of them and if it weren't for the blood dribbling down Taliah's chin she'd look none the worse for wear.

I glance into the car, barely making out Hyejin's wide-eyed expression as she watches through the front windshield. I suddenly feel as if I've lost control of this situation.

"Can we just - can we not do this in the driveway?" She spits out blood onto the concrete and gestures to the house. "I swear no one's inside."

"Trust doesn't seem to be your strongsuit." Wheein says coldly. She looks at her hand as if she just noticing the injury. "And your face bruised my hand."

Taliah lifts a dark eyebrow, amused. "That does seem to be the case." She looks at me, "Please allow me to explain."

She'd always been a valuable asset to the Crescent Clan, except for the past year when she wasn't. Wheein had told me Taliah was intelligent, collected, and loyal to a fault - though now I'm seeing Wheein most likely held a bit of a bias. Even so, if she were all these things she'd be smart enough to have a good reason to betray us. Maybe not good enough to save her life.

"What do you think Wheein?" I ask.

She clenches her jaw briefly then she looks away from Taliah. "Hyejin and I will search the house."

Wheein gestures to Hyejin in the passenger's seat and walks towards the house, snatching the keys from Taliah's outstretched hand. Hyejin follows her and gives Taliah a perplexed once-over as she passes.

"Looks as if the Angel of Death has granted you a second chance." I cross my arms, looking her over. "How'd you get the house?"

She shrugs. "Owner's on vacation."

I hate the relaxed way she holds herself, the confidence emitting from her even in a circumstance like this. I want to throw her off-balance.

"You and Wheein used to fuck."

Taliah scoffs. "What a crude way to say we were in a relationship."

"Exactly how old are you again?"

She hesitates for a moment before answering, "Thirty-one."

Nearly a decade older than her then. Color me unsurprised. "Glad you've found someone more suitable for your age." Her lips twitch and I step closer to her. "Did I say something funny?"

"Derek is cute," she shrugs, "but more protection than anything else. If Wheein wants me back then-"

"You must have a lot of faith in your survival Johnson." I fiddle with the pistol in my waistband, watching her neutral expression. "Even if your story checks out I might have to kill you for being so annoying."

Taliah draws her lip between her teeth, eyes scanning me from my face to the hand behind my back. "You must be the elusive boss woman. Hmph." She looks me in the eye, "You look less of a creepy middle-aged man than I thought."