The Hunt

73

Damn he's hot. 

I couldn't help myself. Jimin's authoritative tone and generally threatening demeanor toward his cousin's killer had me feeling things. Inappropriate things. 

Looking at Jimin, I was surprised to see how calm he appeared. His eyes remained their normal dark brown color. He wasn't letting his emotions get the better of him. He seemed to be in his element. 

I don't know why I'm surprised. He's partaken in several kidnappings and interrogations, why would threatening a novice assassin be any different? 

Wait. 

Has he done this before, too?   

While I was aware that I didn't know everything about Jimin, I was beginning to realize that I didn't really know much about him at all. Just that he deeply cares about those he loves and would do anything to protect them. 

"Fine," Roxy hissed through gritted teeth. "I never actually spoke to the client and they paid me through an anonymous shell company, but I have my suspicions on who ordered the hit." 

"No," Jimin stopped her from continuing. 

"No?" 

"No," Namjoon shook his head and took a seat next to Jimin. "We did not bring you here for you to tell us your theories." 

Roxy contorted her face into a look of offended disgust. "Excuse me? What the fu-"

Namjoon raised his hand to signal Roxy to stop talking before he began speaking himself. "You will give us your bank account information. We will have someone trace the payment back to its origin."

"And what if I don't?" Roxy asked, her eyes flashing a warm orange as she tried to sit up straighter to make herself appear bigger. More intimidating. 

I let out a snort. 

It was hard to take her seriously when I could clearly sense she was a domesticated cat hybrid. House cat hybrids made excellent thieves and dancers, but they were anything but intimidating. 

Maybe that's why she was able to approach JiHoon so easily? He wouldn't have been wary of a little cat hybrid approaching him in a reasonably lit alley located behind a popular dive bar. I wonder if he thought she was lost? What did she say to him that night?   

"You will," Jin chimed in with his usual happy tone and bright, charming smile. "We have Hyukmin on retainer to ensure your cooperation." 

Slowly, Roxy turned her head to look at the adorable, squishy-cheeked Hyukmin sitting to her right. She sized him up, not quite ready to accept her situation. 

"What? Are you going to break my knee caps?" she sneered. 

Hyukmin sighed, he had clearly grown tired of the back and forth. "No," he said flatly. "I'll dislocate them first."

Jin walked behind Roxy, and leaned over her shoulder to place a notepad and a pencil on the table in front of her. 

Her eyes flitted around the room one last time before her shoulders slumped in defeat. She knew she had lost. Picking up the pencil she quickly wrote down her account information and slid the notepad and pencil into the center of the table where Namjoon retrieved them. He took a picture of the information with his phone and sent off a text.  

"Thank you for your cooperation," Namjoon said with a nod. 

Taehyung and Hyukmin struck up a conversation over a video game they had been playing together online, discussing strategy for an upcoming raid. 

Jin had asked for suggestions for dinner, but I couldn't pull my attention away from the woman sitting directly in front of me. 

Roxy's nerves were frayed and she was on the verge of trying to make a break for it. Her fear and adrenaline mixed together giving off an overpoweringly saccharine smell. Her eyes growing more and more wild like a caged animal. There was nowhere for her to go as her back was literally against a wall and she was sandwiched between Sarah and Hyukmin, while the table blocked the path directly in front of her. 

Her breathing became labored, and her agitation erupted in a loud, "What?" 

She looked between Jimin and me. While the others had been talking, Jimin and I had both been starring at Roxy, observing her every move, and, apparently, irritating her. 

"Why did you do it?" The words tumbled out of my mouth before I even realized I was speaking. 

Jimin squeezed my hand but didn't say anything. 

 Roxy let out a dry chuckle. "Why do people do anything? Money." 

The room grew silent once more, a heavy tension hovered over the table. 

Namjoon's phone buzzed and he quickly checked it. 

"They are still looking into the money trail, but it looks like someone came forward." As Namjoon stopped speaking, everyone else's phones started vibrating or ringing. 

All except mine.