The Hidden Card || NCT MAFIA

Chapter thirty-one: New players join the game

Taeyong's eyes turned dark, his mouth suddenly dry.

"You what?" he asked, not sure he had heard Iseul correctly.

"I want to fight with you. I want to be by your side in this. You guys have welcomed me like family, but I want more."

Taeyong's heartbeat almost stopped, his hands were sweaty, and he clenched his jaw, making the vein on his temple twitch.

His first instinct was to yell at her for being ridiculous, and tell her how dangerous it was, but he took a deep breath, remembering his own words. He had asked her what he wanted, and she had told him. He had to respect that.

He closed his eyes and relaxed his tensed muscles, looking at Iseul intensely.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked, a part of him hoping she'd change her mind.

"Yes."

The answer was crystal clear. By the determination in her tone, Taeyong knew she had made up her mind.

Iseul seemed to notice the worry in his eyes, ang she gently squeezed his hand, "I thought about this. I know the risks, and I'm ready to take them."

Iseul had a light in her eyes, the light that had disappeared after her father's death, a light that Taeyong had been desperate to see again. Just for that, he was ready to give her the world.

"Alright," he nodded, squeezing back her hand. "We'll make it happen."

The smile Iseul gave him in return was enough to make him forget about everything else.

"Thank you."

As Taeyong had just accepted a new member on his team, Park had been doing the exact same thing.

Sat at his usual table, he watched as people ate, too invested in their worthless conversations to notice the two men entering the fancy restaurant.

Park didn't sit with the rest, he had his own area, at the back, from where he could observe without being seen. He watched closely as the two men, dressed in black, made their way to him, followed by a woman in a dark green dress. Her dark hair was tied in a sophisticated bun, and she had the gait of a lioness, ready to bite the first person that dared to stand in her way. Her eyes, however, reminded him of a snake, vicious yet fierce, the sparkle of a rare intelligence making her inapproachable.

He couldn't help but smirk once she stopped right in front of his table.

"Mrs. Kang," he purred, his tone full of arrogance. "What a pleasure."

"Shut it, Park," she hissed back, her head high to maintain the invisible crown she seemed to be wearing.

He chuckled, bringing the glass of whiskey to his lips. The amber-colored liquid ran down his throat, and he closed his eyes a second, appreciating the faint burning sensation.

"Please," he spoke again, gesturing for the empty seat in front of him, "join me." 

One of the two men pulled the chair, inviting Iseul's mother to sit down.

"I'm guessing it's taking all you have not to grab your gun and put a bullet through my skull," she began. The tone of her voice was clear-cut, controlled. It was like she was announcing the weather.

Park laughed, "I won't lie. The idea did cross my mind."

The smile on his face was calculated, and they both looked at each other in the eye, a silent duel suddenly tensing the atmosphere. Every movement, every word, every expression was thoroughly measured. They were playing a game of chess, hoping to outsmart the other. But everything was played based on appearances, and they both knew it. Every smile was fake, and every word was full of meaning, hiding another thought, another plan.

They were both playing a dangerous game, meticulously setting their pawns on the chessboard. What they seemed to forget, however, was that it was a card game being played, not chess, and their pawns would be overthrown, leaving them defenseless.

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What are we thinking about the storyline? What do you think is gonna happen? What would you like to see?