Promises [Epilogue A]
Title: Promises
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong, hints of Yoochun/Changmin
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Action, Drama
Summary: As secrets came to light, Jaejoong saw his life falling apart to the point where he realizes he knows nothing and suspects everyone - even, Jung Yunho.
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He stared down at Jung Jihye’s grave plot next to her parents’, and Jaejoong didn’t know it was possible for his heart to feel even more crushed. The recovery of the body had taken place a few days after he’d taken hold of the syndicate’s leadership position, and as the memories flashed through Jaejoong’s head, he felt all the more tired.
“Why is she dead?” Dojin demanded, pulling up the bruised man by the collar and slamming him against the wall, “If she was supposed to be returned as soon as Yunho was dead, why did you inject her?”
The man stuttered pitifully, and Jaejoong glared at him with disgust, “It wasn’t my idea! Jaewook, you see - Jaewook changed his mind. He made the call and -“
Dojin slammed the man against the wall once more, “She was innocent you sick bastard. What about during her capture? Did your men, did they -“
“Was she assaulted in any way?” Jaejoong questioned coldly from his spot at the doorway, “Was she raped?”
“No, no - she wasn’t. She, she was well behaved, so Jaewook just had her kept in the cell at all times, and I was the only one allowed close to her,” the man sobbed and shook in Dojin’s hands, “Please don’t kill me, I was only following orders -“
“Kill him.”
Jaejoong turned out of the room and shut the door softly behind him, ignoring the loud sound of a shot being fired as he walked down the empty hallway.
Jaejoong stared down at the violet chrysanthemums on Jihye’s grave and felt his heart tighten in his chest. He felt like crying all over again, and although he was sure that it was just some coincidence, a huge part of him wished that Yunho had been the ones to place them on the grave.
“You need to stop coming here,” Dojin spoke softly before he placed a hand over Jaejoong’s shoulder and squeezed gently, “We must also…I think it is time for us to report that Yunho has…”
“I want nothing of that until I have a body to bury,” Jaejoong choked out as he turned away from Dojin and began to make his way back to his car, “I want us to stick to the story that we gave the press.”
“Would you really like Yunho’s image to be that of a broken man? Jaejoong, please, it is time for honesty -“
Jaejoong whirled around and stared back at Dojin helplessly, “Is it so hard to believe that Yunho would be broken by the loss of his family?” he questioned, “Just from his loss, I find myself broken beyond repair. I have my family, but still, there is a gaping hole in my chest that I cannot fill. Every day, every night, I long for him. You do not know how much I wish that I was the one that died, and not him.”
“Jaejoong -“
The younger man shook his head and stared at Dojin with cold eyes, “We will stick to the story that we have, and I don’t want to hear any complaints. Is there any other reason why you wanted to see me?”
Dojin let out a soft sigh, and he nodded, “Yes, there is.”
“Well, what is it?”
“Changmin left a message for you at my bar,” Dojin noticed the alarmed look on Jaejoong’s face and quickly added to his answer, “He left it with one of my waitresses, so please, don’t judge me with such a look.”
Jaejoong glanced down at the sliver of paper that Dojin handed him and flipped it over to read the message.
We meet at midnight in the house where Yunho died.
He crumpled the note and looked up at Dojin, “How did no one know that he was back in the city?” Jaejoong questioned harshly, “I thought I told our men to make sure that the airports were -“
“Forget that mistake,” Dojin suggested, “There have been some skirmishes with the smaller syndicates, and I am sure you are aware of that. Our men have been focused on handling those situations.”
“I have to meet my family tonight, but I don’t want anyone there at the house when I meet Changmin,” Jaejoong ordered as he slipped the note into his pocket, “I will handle this on my own.”
o-o-o
“Is something wrong?”
Jaejoong lifted his head to look at Suyeon and forced a smile as he put down the book he’d been reading. He admired how healthy she looked, and how she was slowly getting stronger with each passing day. With each day that passed, she pushed back the past and looked forward to a better future.
He wished that he was capable of doing the same.
“No, I’ve just been thinking about some business matters. It’s all very boring, and I wouldn’t want to burden you with financial issues.”
Suyeon remained silent for a few seconds before she bit her lip and turned her eyes back to her brother, “How’s Yunho?”
“He’s…” Jaejoong’s throat seized up, and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe. He tried to think of words to say in order to maintain the lie that he’d fed to so many people, but nothing came to mind.
The only words that came to mind were he’s dead.
Just as Suyeon was about to repeat her question, Sohyang tapped Jaejoong’s shoulder and smiled at him, “Do you want to go out to the garden? I have something I want to talk to you about.”
Jaejoong nodded, and he apologized to Suyeon warmly before he got out of his seat and followed his eldest sister out of the room. They walked in silence for a few seconds, and as soon as they were outside, Sohyang linked her arm with Jaejoong’s.
“You’re not holding up so well,” she commented softly as they made their way past their mother’s prized flower bushes, “I can see it whenever your guard is down. I know you miss him.”
He was silent, so Sohyang continued speaking, “Soojung’s doing quite well in Paris, and I think she’s started seeing someone new, which is good. I don’t understand why Jaewook would just leave like that, but maybe it’s an artist sort of quality? I’ve never understood those wandering artist types.”
“Neither have I,” Jaejoong replied as he looked down at his feet while they walked, “I’m happy to know that Soojung’s moved on. The last time she called, she talked so quickly that I could hardly understand her.”
As soon as they reached the garden’s gazebo, Sohyang pulled away from Jaejoong and forced him to face her. She looked at him with a worried expression, “I worry about your happiness too. You’re so troubled Jaejoong…”
“It’s complicated,” Jaejoong answered as he shook his head, “I don’t know how to explain the situation, but please, I’m not worth the stress. Don’t worry about me.”
Sohyang sighed and crossed her arms, “When was the last time you talked to Yunho? How is he doing? Why haven’t you -“
“I can’t see him,” Jaejoong choked out, the words much closer to the truth than he wanted them to be. He felt like crying all over again, but he did not want to break down, not when he was about to meet Changmin, and not when he was right in front of his oldest sister, “It’s not possible at the moment.”
“Why?”
“He’s gone.”
“Jaejoong -“
He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, “Listen, I will…I will find some way to deal with this loss, okay? I’m strong, and I will get through this. I miss him so much, but I will live.”
Sohyang pulled him into a tight embrace, and she let Jaejoong rest the weight of his soul and body on her. She rubbed his back and whispered, “He loves you Jaejoong, and don’t worry. He’ll be back for you.”
“He won’t be coming back,” Jaejoong sobbed brokenly as he clung to his eldest sister in a manner that he hadn’t done in more than a decade, “He won’t ever be coming back to me. He’s too far away for me to reach.”
Sohyang shushed him softly and held him tighter, “He’ll come back to you Jaejoong. I know he will. Don’t lose hope.”
o-o-o
Jaejoong parked his car and immediately caught sight of a lone figure standing next to another car. He drew his gun out of his pocket and took it off safety mode before he got out and slammed the car door shut.
Changmin’s eyes turned to him, and they pointed their guns at each other.
“You better not fucking shoot Jaejoong,” Changmin ordered as he took careful steps in the direction of the driver’s seat of his car, “If you do, you’re going to lose out.”
“What else do I have to lose?” Jaejoong questioned as he slowly approached Changmin, his gun still pointed at the other man, “You’ve already killed Yunho. Who else are you going to kill?”
“He’s not dead.”
Jaejoong nearly dropped his gun, but he forced himself to be strong and gripped the cold metal in his hand even tighter than before, “You’re a good liar Changmin, but you’re not playing me this time. I was there that night, and I -“
“Did you see his body?” Changmin asked as he unlocked his car door with one hand. He kept his gun aimed at Jaejoong, “All you heard were the bullet shots, and all you saw was the blood, but did you actually see him dead on the floor?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Jaejoong shouted, his hands shaking as he gripped his gun so tightly that it felt like it could break underneath the strength of his grip, “Why did you betray him? You fucking bastard! He loved you like a brother!”
“He’s not fucking dead! He’s alive, but I don’t know where the fuck he is!” Changmin shouted back, his words resonating throughout the cold night air. He kept his gun trained on Jaejoong, “We had a plan, but he turned the tables on me and left!”
Jaejoong shook his head and gripped harder, “Why don’t you just -“
“Here, I have your fucking proof,” Changmin snarled as he reached into his coat pocket and held out a tattered note, “I’ve spent the past months trying to decipher his words, and trying to understand, but I’ve come to nothing. I’ve done what he asked, and there’s nothing left for me to do.”
He balled up the note and tossed it to Jaejoong’s feet, all the while keeping his gun focused on the other man, “If you gather some sense, you’ll welcome me back into the syndicate and then we can find him. Call off your man hunt.”
Before Jaejoong could say anything, Changmin fired a shot that had him ducking behind his car for cover, and as soon as he had left his position, Changmin was already driving away.
He stumbled to the crumpled sheet of paper with a phone number written onto it and quickly unfolded the note, his hands shaking as he did so.
I’m sorry.
It’s hard to explain why I’m doing this. They’ll think you’re a traitor, so I advise you to lay low, and do this until I come back and set things right. I need you to take down three people that are linked to Jaewook and threaten Jaejoong’s position - Choi Yongbae, Lee Jehoon, and Park Sangyeon.
I have other matters to settle that Jaejoong’s assent to the position is unrivalled, and. It is best to keep our plans secret because you are my right hand man in these issues. I cannot be around to distract Jaejoong, and I do this to protect him.
As soon as they’re dead, tell Jaejoong I’m alive, and I promise to contact you four months from now.
Yunho
o-o-o
“Choi Yongbae, Lee Jehoon and Park Sangyeon.”
Dojin raised his eyes and studied Jaejoong carefully, “They’re dead.”
“I know they are!” Jaejoong shouted as he slammed his hands onto the table. He stared furiously at the wooden countertop, “Why…why didn’t we think of getting rid of them ourselves? Why did -“
“They’re ex-members of the syndicate,” Dojin replied calmly, “Yunho had never even discussed the possibility of them being a threat - it had always been Jaewook, and as far as I know, they’d been lying low for the past years.”
“Obviously not low enough if they were a threat!”
Dojin shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, “Jaejoong, you must understand. There are certain levels of insulation in a syndicate, and people are only told things on a need to know basis. Yunho, and to some extent - Changmin, had access to information that I was not privy to.”
“Then we need Changmin,” Jaejoong muttered as he balled his fists, “There is no way that we will be able to find Yunho without him. He knows everything there is to know at the moment -“
“He asked you to help him find Yunho, correct?”
Jaejoong paused and looked up at Dojin before he nodded slowly, “He…he did.”
“It’s been a few days more than four months since Yunho’s supposed death Jaejoong,” Dojin said slowly, picking up on details that Jaejoong had missed, “If Yunho has not contacted Changmin yet, then something must have gone wrong.”
He let out a shaky breath, and Jaejoong shook his head, “If he…if he truly is alive, then you cannot assume that he is dead now. If he was dead, then we would be informed of that - I’m sure he would be recognized, and then -“
“I did not say he was dead, but…” Dojin trailed off, and as soon as Jaejoong’s eyes were on him, he continued, “You are aware that there have been recent skirmishes between the syndicates, correct? Perhaps this is connected to Yunho.”
“Those were smaller syndicates,” Jaejoong’s brow furrowed, and he frowned, “I should not have underestimated them. If they linked with one of the larger groups, then that would pose -“
“A threat to your position,” Dojin finished for him, “At the moment, we have the biggest control in the South Korean area. Although you have remained a good leader, you have yet to assert that you are capable of enforcing your authority through force.”
Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, and he sighed softly, “So is that what Yunho has been doing for me? He has been the one secretly ridding my problems for me?”
“It would seem so.”
“But you are right about what you had said earlier - something has gone wrong,” Jaejoong murmured as he opened his eyes and glanced at Dojin, “He has not contacted Changmin, so that must mean that something is wrong. He must be hurt, injured or -“
“Jaejoong -“
“Dead,” Jaejoong let out another breath, and he shook his head. “He has been my protector and savior for too long, and I have never repaid the debt I owe him, but while finding Changmin is our priority, we must focus on another issue.”
Dojin raised an eyebrow, “What would that be?”
“We need to rat out the spies,” Jaejoong answered coldly. “If Yunho feared that contacting me would endanger his plans and my safety, then that must mean there are spies, and we must get rid of them. I leave you in charge of that.”
Dojin stood up and nodded, “I will make sure it’s done right.” He glanced at his watch and turned his tired eyes back to Jaejoong, “This will be a long process, and you may not like my methods.”
“Do whatever gets the job done. I shall focus on finding Changmin. I already have a number written on that note, and I presume that it is his,” Jaejoong replied indifferently before he turned away and left the bar, intent on contacting the only lead they had to find Yunho.
As soon as he was outside of the bar, Jaejoong slipped his phone out of his pocket and dialed Changmin’s number.
Changmin picked up on the first ring, and Jaejoong spoke first.
“We meet tonight.”
o-o-o
They stood across each other warily in Jaejoong’s home, and Jaejoong fought his desire to reach into his pocket to grab his gun and shoot Changmin. He said nothing and turned his back to head for the table, Changmin following wordlessly behind him.
As soon as they sat down, Jaejoong spoke first.
“What were your plans?”
“They were in place even before you and Yunho got together,” Changmin answered quickly as he leaned back slightly into his chair, “Kangshik was our main target, and since Jaewook was his right hand, Yunho asked me to ally myself with him.”
Jaejoong clasped his hands together, “Then when Kangshik died, how did your plans change?” He questioned, stifling the question that was lingering in his gut.
“Our plans paid off - hours before the syndicate’s meeting, Jaewook contacted me and told me that I would kill Yunho. I told Yunho that, and Yunho came up with a plan of action the same night, during the time he left you behind at the safe house.”
“So you shot him.”
“I did,” Changmin replied, “Jaewook’s orders were never for me to kill Yunho on the spot, so I made sure that I didn’t injure him too badly to render him completely incapable of any action.”
“Then?”
“I killed the men that Jaewook had assigned to help me, and Yunho and I escaped to the home of a contact of mine -“
“Yoochun?”
Changmin’s face hardened, “Not Yoochun.” He stared Jaejoong down for a few seconds before he continued, “We heard of Jaewook’s death from my contact that same night, and in the morning, I had discovered that Yunho was gone, leaving behind only the note I showed you last night.”
Jaejoong was silent and mulled over Changmin’s words. He stared down at his clasped hands before he raised his eyes and met the other’s gaze, “You know nothing of his current state?”
“I patched him up the night I shot him, but I do not know how well he is now which is why I need your help to find him. Yunho had so many contacts and so many secrets, but if there is one thing I know, you understood him best.”
“How do I…”
Jaejoong’s eyes screwed shut, and he clasped his hands tightly before he let his face fall into his hands. He breathed in and out heavily, and after a few tense seconds had passed, he raised his face and looked at Changmin.
“How can I help you when he has told me nothing? How can I help you when he has left me in the dark for so long? How can I help you when I question if he ever really trusted me at all? How can I help you if I doubt how well I even knew the man I loved?”
“Yunho loved you, and he did everything to protect you,” Changmin spoke, his eyes flashing with irritation, “If Yunho had told you that he was putting himself in a dangerous position, do you think that things would have still gone through? Would you have allowed him to risk his life?”
Silence fell between them, and Changmin allowed his words to sink in before he continued, “He sacrificed everything for you because you were the only thing he had left that was worth sacrificing his life for. Do you think you’d even be alive right now if Yunho hadn’t parted from you? Do you think you’d be enjoying the life you have now if Yunho hadn’t left you in order to kill those people that threaten your security?”
Changmin shook his head, “His methods may not be that of a genuine white knight, but he has protected so many people, and he has saved so many lives - including my own. Are you content to believe that he is dead? After everything that Yunho has done, for your family - for you, are you willing to abandon him?”
“I -“
“Every man has his secrets, but if there was one thing that Yunho was truly honest about, it was that he loved you.”
“I know,” Jaejoong spat, “I know he loved me, and I loved him back. Do you think that I have spent these past months content to know that he has gone? There has not been a single day that I’ve spent not missing him, just longing for him to just be with me again. I have also spent those months furious with you because of your supposed betrayal, so please, forgive me for not being a fool and believing you immediately without further proof of your loyalty!”
Jaejoong took a deep shuddery breath and exhaled. He ran a hand through his hair and met Changmin’s softened gaze, “Ever since Yunho and I recognized our love for one another, I have had faith in him and have trusted him, but it is human for faith to weaken and trust to waver. Don’t judge me so harshly.”
They sat in silence, and Jaejoong stood up, his chair scraping across the tiled floor. He turned his back to Changmin, “I have called off any orders to seize or kill you, and you’re allowed to stay here tonight if you want to.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know how you and I will find Yunho, but…I still have faith that he is alive,” Jaejoong sighed softly, “I have faith that we will find him and that he will come back to me.”
o-o-o
They were in Japan, going off a lead that Changmin wasn’t even sure was reliable, but it was all they had. Jaejoong had wanted to go off with Changmin in order to question several leads, but the moment he’d slipped to his family that he would be going to Japan, they insisted that he visit Soojung, who’d be on vacation and in Japan around the same time as him.
Jaejoong fidgeted and exhaled softly before he realized that Soojung was standing right in front of him. She’d changed quite a bit - she’d dyed her hair a dark shade of red, her clothes were more free flowing, but all in all, she looked very happy.
He pulled a seat out for her, and despite the stress that was present at the back of his mind, he found himself talking to her freely.
“What are you planning on doing in Japan?” Soojung asked as she poked at the tomatoes on her plate, “Are you here for business or just some casual affairs? I heard there’s this a big financial group having a gala in a few days.” Jaejoong shook his head and took a tomato off his sister’s plate, “No, I’m not attending that - it’s for Tokyo based businesses only.” He tried to look for some other excuse for his visit and pulled out a brochure for an art exhibit from his bag.
“Choi Minhyun?” Soojung questioned as she took the brochure from his hands and looked down at it, “Oh right, he’s a Japan based Korean sculptor…” she trailed off, and Jaejoong looked at her worriedly.
“Are you alright?”
Soojung shook her head and smiled, “I just remember him as one of Jaewook’s friends. I remember Jaewook used to talk to him over the phone quite often about shipments and such - he was after all, an art dealer.”
Jaejoong tilted his head, “Really? I’ve never heard of Choi Minhyun before…do you know anything more about him?”
His sister pushed her tomatoes to him with her fork and shrugged, “Not much. Jaewook didn’t talk about him with me that often. He just mentioned in passing that Minhyun’s not as famous as he should be. I guess he should be happy now that his friend is going to have a big exhibit.”
“Excuse me for a bit, I just remembered I have to make a call,” Jaejoong said before he placed his napkin down onto the table and stood up. He quickly made his way into the bathroom, made sure all the cubicles were empty, and then proceeded to lock the door before he called Changmin.
“Hello?”
“Did you find anything?”
“No, I didn’t. I don’t think Yunho’s been dealing with anyone from Japan. It seems like a dead end. We should travel to Shanghai, it seems like there’s nothing related to Jaewook or anything here in Japan -“
“Have you heard of Choi Minhyun?”
Changmin was silent for a few seconds before he replied.
“No, I haven’t. Why? Is he important?”
“My sister just mentioned that the same Choi Minhyun that is having an art exhibit tomorrow was a close friend of Jaewook’s. I think he’s our lead Changmin. If Yunho planned to meet you, then I’m sure by the end of his deadline, he must’ve been close to Korea by then. Something must’ve gone wrong.”
“Do you know anything about him? What kind of work he deals in -“
“All my sister knows is that he used to deal with Jaewook. If he dealt with Jaewook, then I am more than sure that it probably had something to do with drugs.”
“I’ll look into it. Is he Japan based?”
“Apparently.”
“Fucking drug dealers are always so hard to catch,” Changmin muttered on the other end of the line, “Yunho hated dealing with drug dealers. It’ll be hard for me to find someone to look for information from, but I’ll try.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d advise you use your position and ask for some backup,” Changmin suggested, “If you and I are going to be doing something, it’s best if we had help -“
“I know.”
“Okay then, goodbye Jaejoong.”
As soon as Changmin hung up, Jaejoong slipped his phone into his pocket and clenched it tightly in his hand. He let out a slow breath and shut his eyes tightly.
They were going to find Yunho.
o-o-o
“Everyone still thinks Yunho’s dead?” Jaejoong asked as he and Changmin made their way to the art exhibit, “Not a single person has suspected that he’s been behind any recent killings?”
“There’s not a soul in the world - well, aside from his contacts I suppose,” Changmin replied as he drove the car to the hotel where the exhibit was being held, “But as far as I know, none of the major players even suspect that Yunho is anywhere but at the bottom of Han River.”
Jaejoong stiffened, “You shouldn’t talk about him like that.”
“It’s the truth, and I’m being blunt,” Changmin shot back as he drove the car up to the extravagant entrance of the hotel, “You do know the plan, right? You look for Choi Minhyun and try to find something. I’m sure he knows you - in fact, I’m sure most of the people at the party will know you, but he will know your other side.”
“I can handle him easily enough,” Jaejoong muttered, “Are you going to kill him?”
Changmin said nothing for a few seconds before he answered, “If I find out Yunho’s dead, I’ll kill the bastard. If something goes awry, I’ll shoot him. If nothing goes wrong, I probably will kill him eventually.”
He glanced at Jaejoong, “He is our only lead. Nothing should go wrong.”
Jaejoong said nothing and opened the car door, brushing past the surprised bell boy and staff. They greeted him and escorted him over to the exhibit, and as soon as he was inside, Jaejoong immediately scanned the room for Minhyun and found him with two women at his side.
He placed a charming smile on his face and made his way across the room. The women smiled back at him pleasantly, but he noted that Minhyun’s face flashed in worry before it got masked by a polite smile.
“Girls, could you leave us alone for a bit?” Minhyun asked, turning to the women at his side. They cooed and asked to stay, but he was firm, and eventually they left with flirtatious smiles and promises to talk to Jaejoong later in the evening.
As soon as there was no one beside them, Minhyun began to walk away and Jaejoong followed him, remaining at his side. They walked in silence until they reached an oil painting of a blood red canvas splattered with black spots and littered with ink letters.
“I presume you’re not here to look at art, are you?” Minhyun asked as he kept his eyes on the painting in front of them, “Are you here to make a deal with me?”
Jaejoong glanced at Minhyun, “Personally, I’m not interested in the things you deal with,” he spoke before he turned his eyes to the painting, “But unfortunately, it seems like business opportunities have me pointing in your direction.”
“It seems like you are a better businessman than Jaewook let on,” the older man said slowly, “Although, since you did dispose of Jaewook personally, I still can’t trust that you are here to do business with me.”
“Did you ever consider that perhaps I just did not want to do business with Jaewook?”
Minhyun looked away from the painting and studied Jaejoong, “Maybe, but I know that Yunho had a strong grip over your beliefs. Although your lover is dead, I am quite firm that you share his ideologies due to his influence on you.”
“I am not as impressionable as you believe me to be. What Yunho lacked, I made up for as his equal,” Jaejoong snapped coldly, “I am a man with my own beliefs, and I make my own decisions. I am not a fool.”
“How can I trust you?”
“There is no need to play around with flowery speech - the language of money should be enough to finish this conversation,” Jaejoong eyed Minhyun and observed him, “You doubt my strength as a person due to Yunho, but remember, before I was ever his and he was ever mine, we were our own people.”
“And who do you belong to now?” Minhyun questioned, “Your relationship with Yunho was not a secret to those of us who are well informed and highly important. I have heard that his death has affected you greatly. Am I to trust a person that may be unstable?”
Jaejoong swept his hair back and glanced at the older man, “You have made several insulting comments to me throughout our time together. Perhaps you have forgotten that I control one of the largest crime syndicates in Asia?”
Minhyun was silent, and Jaejoong pressed on, “I am a vicious creature when I need to be, and don’t think that I shall hesitate in having you disposed of in the same way that Jaewook was if ever you cross me. You are not the only contact I have Mr. Choi, there are others who would be more willing to work with me and more respectful as well.”
The older man fell silent, and Jaejoong felt a gush of pride. He called over a waiter and picked up two glasses of champagne off the tray, handing one over to Minhyun who accepted it wordlessly.
A well acted smirk crossed Jaejoong’s lips and he turned to Minhyun, “I have heard that several of your sources have gotten arrested, and it won’t be much longer until someone tips off an agency about you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a cautionary word of advice and also an offer of protection - protection that I shall be willing to provide you with” Jaejoong spoke breezily, “I have also heard that there have been a series of deaths among that little circle of friends that you and Jaewook were a part of -“
“I know they’re coming for me,” Minhyun hissed, “I was attacked a week ago and barely made it out alive.”
Jaejoong straightened up, “What happened to the assailant?”
“All I know is that my bodyguards managed to shoot the bastard. He slipped away, and I lack the resources to find him due to my current situation. If you find the assassin and find out who he’s working for, I’ll be willing to start business with you.”
Jaejoong was silent for a few seconds before he replied.
“Where did you get shot?”
o-o-o
“We can find him,” Changmin muttered as he drew his coat closer to his body and exhaled onto his hands, “I know we can. I have the best understanding of how he works, and you know his other side best.”
Jaejoong looked around the alleyway, “Would he really be here?”
“He would,” Changmin replied as he kicked away a stray can, “It’s a good distance away from the scene of the shooting, and I’ve worked with Yunho well enough to know how he goes about things.”
Both men sighed, and Changmin shook his head, “Come on, we have to find the closest apartment building and see if anyone has recognized Yunho there.” He buried his hands deeper into the pockets of coat and dragged him inside a rather old building.
They looked around, and an old woman going down the stairs paused as soon as she saw them.
“What do you want?”
Before Changmin could speak, Jaejoong cut in first, “We’re looking for a friend of mine,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed a picture of him and Yunho and handed it to the old woman.
She squinted down at the photo before she raised her eyes to study him, “He seems familiar…I’m not too sure of his face, but I think the man you might be looking for lives upstairs.”
Jaejoong let out a surprised gasp, “What? What’s his room number -“
“I haven’t seen him in a while though,” the woman spoke as she handed him back the photo. “He came back late a week ago, and I haven’t seen him come out of his room since.” She shook her head disapprovingly, “If you see him, tell him I want him out. I don’t want a drug addict living under my roof.”
“We’ll tell him,” Changmin said quickly, “Now please tell us what his room number is.”
o-o-o
They raced up the stairs, and as soon as they saw the door, Changmin banged on it. It creaked under the force of his pounding, but no one answered. They glanced at each other, and Changmin banged on the door one more time.
“I’d knock it down if I could,” Changmin muttered, “I’ll just -“
“I’ll go to the landlady and ask her -“
“No need,” Changmin said as he dropped to his knees and grabbed a tool out of his pocket before he began working on picking at the lock, “It’s a simple enough lock, and it’s old. I came prepared.”
After a minute or so, the door’s lock clicked, and Changmin put his hand on the door knob. He glanced back at Jaejoong and rose to his feet, “We should say something…he might fire, or -“
Jaejoong pushed the door open slightly, “Yunho? It’s me and Changmin. We’re going to come in, so please…” his voice cracked, and he bit his lip, “We’re coming in.”
Changmin looked around the corridor for anyone before he drew his gun. He pushed the door open slowly before kicking it open and rushing in. Jaejoong followed after him, and they stopped as soon as they were inside.
The room was a mess - the bed sheet was partially ripped and sprawled all over the floor, the glass cabinet sported a broken pane, and things were strewn across the carpeted floor.
He was gone.
Part B →
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong, hints of Yoochun/Changmin
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Action, Drama
Summary: As secrets came to light, Jaejoong saw his life falling apart to the point where he realizes he knows nothing and suspects everyone - even, Jung Yunho.
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He stared down at Jung Jihye’s grave plot next to her parents’, and Jaejoong didn’t know it was possible for his heart to feel even more crushed. The recovery of the body had taken place a few days after he’d taken hold of the syndicate’s leadership position, and as the memories flashed through Jaejoong’s head, he felt all the more tired.
“Why is she dead?” Dojin demanded, pulling up the bruised man by the collar and slamming him against the wall, “If she was supposed to be returned as soon as Yunho was dead, why did you inject her?”
The man stuttered pitifully, and Jaejoong glared at him with disgust, “It wasn’t my idea! Jaewook, you see - Jaewook changed his mind. He made the call and -“
Dojin slammed the man against the wall once more, “She was innocent you sick bastard. What about during her capture? Did your men, did they -“
“Was she assaulted in any way?” Jaejoong questioned coldly from his spot at the doorway, “Was she raped?”
“No, no - she wasn’t. She, she was well behaved, so Jaewook just had her kept in the cell at all times, and I was the only one allowed close to her,” the man sobbed and shook in Dojin’s hands, “Please don’t kill me, I was only following orders -“
“Kill him.”
Jaejoong turned out of the room and shut the door softly behind him, ignoring the loud sound of a shot being fired as he walked down the empty hallway.
Jaejoong stared down at the violet chrysanthemums on Jihye’s grave and felt his heart tighten in his chest. He felt like crying all over again, and although he was sure that it was just some coincidence, a huge part of him wished that Yunho had been the ones to place them on the grave.
“You need to stop coming here,” Dojin spoke softly before he placed a hand over Jaejoong’s shoulder and squeezed gently, “We must also…I think it is time for us to report that Yunho has…”
“I want nothing of that until I have a body to bury,” Jaejoong choked out as he turned away from Dojin and began to make his way back to his car, “I want us to stick to the story that we gave the press.”
“Would you really like Yunho’s image to be that of a broken man? Jaejoong, please, it is time for honesty -“
Jaejoong whirled around and stared back at Dojin helplessly, “Is it so hard to believe that Yunho would be broken by the loss of his family?” he questioned, “Just from his loss, I find myself broken beyond repair. I have my family, but still, there is a gaping hole in my chest that I cannot fill. Every day, every night, I long for him. You do not know how much I wish that I was the one that died, and not him.”
“Jaejoong -“
The younger man shook his head and stared at Dojin with cold eyes, “We will stick to the story that we have, and I don’t want to hear any complaints. Is there any other reason why you wanted to see me?”
Dojin let out a soft sigh, and he nodded, “Yes, there is.”
“Well, what is it?”
“Changmin left a message for you at my bar,” Dojin noticed the alarmed look on Jaejoong’s face and quickly added to his answer, “He left it with one of my waitresses, so please, don’t judge me with such a look.”
Jaejoong glanced down at the sliver of paper that Dojin handed him and flipped it over to read the message.
We meet at midnight in the house where Yunho died.
He crumpled the note and looked up at Dojin, “How did no one know that he was back in the city?” Jaejoong questioned harshly, “I thought I told our men to make sure that the airports were -“
“Forget that mistake,” Dojin suggested, “There have been some skirmishes with the smaller syndicates, and I am sure you are aware of that. Our men have been focused on handling those situations.”
“I have to meet my family tonight, but I don’t want anyone there at the house when I meet Changmin,” Jaejoong ordered as he slipped the note into his pocket, “I will handle this on my own.”
o-o-o
“Is something wrong?”
Jaejoong lifted his head to look at Suyeon and forced a smile as he put down the book he’d been reading. He admired how healthy she looked, and how she was slowly getting stronger with each passing day. With each day that passed, she pushed back the past and looked forward to a better future.
He wished that he was capable of doing the same.
“No, I’ve just been thinking about some business matters. It’s all very boring, and I wouldn’t want to burden you with financial issues.”
Suyeon remained silent for a few seconds before she bit her lip and turned her eyes back to her brother, “How’s Yunho?”
“He’s…” Jaejoong’s throat seized up, and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe. He tried to think of words to say in order to maintain the lie that he’d fed to so many people, but nothing came to mind.
The only words that came to mind were he’s dead.
Just as Suyeon was about to repeat her question, Sohyang tapped Jaejoong’s shoulder and smiled at him, “Do you want to go out to the garden? I have something I want to talk to you about.”
Jaejoong nodded, and he apologized to Suyeon warmly before he got out of his seat and followed his eldest sister out of the room. They walked in silence for a few seconds, and as soon as they were outside, Sohyang linked her arm with Jaejoong’s.
“You’re not holding up so well,” she commented softly as they made their way past their mother’s prized flower bushes, “I can see it whenever your guard is down. I know you miss him.”
He was silent, so Sohyang continued speaking, “Soojung’s doing quite well in Paris, and I think she’s started seeing someone new, which is good. I don’t understand why Jaewook would just leave like that, but maybe it’s an artist sort of quality? I’ve never understood those wandering artist types.”
“Neither have I,” Jaejoong replied as he looked down at his feet while they walked, “I’m happy to know that Soojung’s moved on. The last time she called, she talked so quickly that I could hardly understand her.”
As soon as they reached the garden’s gazebo, Sohyang pulled away from Jaejoong and forced him to face her. She looked at him with a worried expression, “I worry about your happiness too. You’re so troubled Jaejoong…”
“It’s complicated,” Jaejoong answered as he shook his head, “I don’t know how to explain the situation, but please, I’m not worth the stress. Don’t worry about me.”
Sohyang sighed and crossed her arms, “When was the last time you talked to Yunho? How is he doing? Why haven’t you -“
“I can’t see him,” Jaejoong choked out, the words much closer to the truth than he wanted them to be. He felt like crying all over again, but he did not want to break down, not when he was about to meet Changmin, and not when he was right in front of his oldest sister, “It’s not possible at the moment.”
“Why?”
“He’s gone.”
“Jaejoong -“
He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, “Listen, I will…I will find some way to deal with this loss, okay? I’m strong, and I will get through this. I miss him so much, but I will live.”
Sohyang pulled him into a tight embrace, and she let Jaejoong rest the weight of his soul and body on her. She rubbed his back and whispered, “He loves you Jaejoong, and don’t worry. He’ll be back for you.”
“He won’t be coming back,” Jaejoong sobbed brokenly as he clung to his eldest sister in a manner that he hadn’t done in more than a decade, “He won’t ever be coming back to me. He’s too far away for me to reach.”
Sohyang shushed him softly and held him tighter, “He’ll come back to you Jaejoong. I know he will. Don’t lose hope.”
o-o-o
Jaejoong parked his car and immediately caught sight of a lone figure standing next to another car. He drew his gun out of his pocket and took it off safety mode before he got out and slammed the car door shut.
Changmin’s eyes turned to him, and they pointed their guns at each other.
“You better not fucking shoot Jaejoong,” Changmin ordered as he took careful steps in the direction of the driver’s seat of his car, “If you do, you’re going to lose out.”
“What else do I have to lose?” Jaejoong questioned as he slowly approached Changmin, his gun still pointed at the other man, “You’ve already killed Yunho. Who else are you going to kill?”
“He’s not dead.”
Jaejoong nearly dropped his gun, but he forced himself to be strong and gripped the cold metal in his hand even tighter than before, “You’re a good liar Changmin, but you’re not playing me this time. I was there that night, and I -“
“Did you see his body?” Changmin asked as he unlocked his car door with one hand. He kept his gun aimed at Jaejoong, “All you heard were the bullet shots, and all you saw was the blood, but did you actually see him dead on the floor?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Jaejoong shouted, his hands shaking as he gripped his gun so tightly that it felt like it could break underneath the strength of his grip, “Why did you betray him? You fucking bastard! He loved you like a brother!”
“He’s not fucking dead! He’s alive, but I don’t know where the fuck he is!” Changmin shouted back, his words resonating throughout the cold night air. He kept his gun trained on Jaejoong, “We had a plan, but he turned the tables on me and left!”
Jaejoong shook his head and gripped harder, “Why don’t you just -“
“Here, I have your fucking proof,” Changmin snarled as he reached into his coat pocket and held out a tattered note, “I’ve spent the past months trying to decipher his words, and trying to understand, but I’ve come to nothing. I’ve done what he asked, and there’s nothing left for me to do.”
He balled up the note and tossed it to Jaejoong’s feet, all the while keeping his gun focused on the other man, “If you gather some sense, you’ll welcome me back into the syndicate and then we can find him. Call off your man hunt.”
Before Jaejoong could say anything, Changmin fired a shot that had him ducking behind his car for cover, and as soon as he had left his position, Changmin was already driving away.
He stumbled to the crumpled sheet of paper with a phone number written onto it and quickly unfolded the note, his hands shaking as he did so.
I’m sorry.
It’s hard to explain why I’m doing this. They’ll think you’re a traitor, so I advise you to lay low, and do this until I come back and set things right. I need you to take down three people that are linked to Jaewook and threaten Jaejoong’s position - Choi Yongbae, Lee Jehoon, and Park Sangyeon.
I have other matters to settle that Jaejoong’s assent to the position is unrivalled, and. It is best to keep our plans secret because you are my right hand man in these issues. I cannot be around to distract Jaejoong, and I do this to protect him.
As soon as they’re dead, tell Jaejoong I’m alive, and I promise to contact you four months from now.
Yunho
o-o-o
“Choi Yongbae, Lee Jehoon and Park Sangyeon.”
Dojin raised his eyes and studied Jaejoong carefully, “They’re dead.”
“I know they are!” Jaejoong shouted as he slammed his hands onto the table. He stared furiously at the wooden countertop, “Why…why didn’t we think of getting rid of them ourselves? Why did -“
“They’re ex-members of the syndicate,” Dojin replied calmly, “Yunho had never even discussed the possibility of them being a threat - it had always been Jaewook, and as far as I know, they’d been lying low for the past years.”
“Obviously not low enough if they were a threat!”
Dojin shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, “Jaejoong, you must understand. There are certain levels of insulation in a syndicate, and people are only told things on a need to know basis. Yunho, and to some extent - Changmin, had access to information that I was not privy to.”
“Then we need Changmin,” Jaejoong muttered as he balled his fists, “There is no way that we will be able to find Yunho without him. He knows everything there is to know at the moment -“
“He asked you to help him find Yunho, correct?”
Jaejoong paused and looked up at Dojin before he nodded slowly, “He…he did.”
“It’s been a few days more than four months since Yunho’s supposed death Jaejoong,” Dojin said slowly, picking up on details that Jaejoong had missed, “If Yunho has not contacted Changmin yet, then something must have gone wrong.”
He let out a shaky breath, and Jaejoong shook his head, “If he…if he truly is alive, then you cannot assume that he is dead now. If he was dead, then we would be informed of that - I’m sure he would be recognized, and then -“
“I did not say he was dead, but…” Dojin trailed off, and as soon as Jaejoong’s eyes were on him, he continued, “You are aware that there have been recent skirmishes between the syndicates, correct? Perhaps this is connected to Yunho.”
“Those were smaller syndicates,” Jaejoong’s brow furrowed, and he frowned, “I should not have underestimated them. If they linked with one of the larger groups, then that would pose -“
“A threat to your position,” Dojin finished for him, “At the moment, we have the biggest control in the South Korean area. Although you have remained a good leader, you have yet to assert that you are capable of enforcing your authority through force.”
Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, and he sighed softly, “So is that what Yunho has been doing for me? He has been the one secretly ridding my problems for me?”
“It would seem so.”
“But you are right about what you had said earlier - something has gone wrong,” Jaejoong murmured as he opened his eyes and glanced at Dojin, “He has not contacted Changmin, so that must mean that something is wrong. He must be hurt, injured or -“
“Jaejoong -“
“Dead,” Jaejoong let out another breath, and he shook his head. “He has been my protector and savior for too long, and I have never repaid the debt I owe him, but while finding Changmin is our priority, we must focus on another issue.”
Dojin raised an eyebrow, “What would that be?”
“We need to rat out the spies,” Jaejoong answered coldly. “If Yunho feared that contacting me would endanger his plans and my safety, then that must mean there are spies, and we must get rid of them. I leave you in charge of that.”
Dojin stood up and nodded, “I will make sure it’s done right.” He glanced at his watch and turned his tired eyes back to Jaejoong, “This will be a long process, and you may not like my methods.”
“Do whatever gets the job done. I shall focus on finding Changmin. I already have a number written on that note, and I presume that it is his,” Jaejoong replied indifferently before he turned away and left the bar, intent on contacting the only lead they had to find Yunho.
As soon as he was outside of the bar, Jaejoong slipped his phone out of his pocket and dialed Changmin’s number.
Changmin picked up on the first ring, and Jaejoong spoke first.
“We meet tonight.”
o-o-o
They stood across each other warily in Jaejoong’s home, and Jaejoong fought his desire to reach into his pocket to grab his gun and shoot Changmin. He said nothing and turned his back to head for the table, Changmin following wordlessly behind him.
As soon as they sat down, Jaejoong spoke first.
“What were your plans?”
“They were in place even before you and Yunho got together,” Changmin answered quickly as he leaned back slightly into his chair, “Kangshik was our main target, and since Jaewook was his right hand, Yunho asked me to ally myself with him.”
Jaejoong clasped his hands together, “Then when Kangshik died, how did your plans change?” He questioned, stifling the question that was lingering in his gut.
“Our plans paid off - hours before the syndicate’s meeting, Jaewook contacted me and told me that I would kill Yunho. I told Yunho that, and Yunho came up with a plan of action the same night, during the time he left you behind at the safe house.”
“So you shot him.”
“I did,” Changmin replied, “Jaewook’s orders were never for me to kill Yunho on the spot, so I made sure that I didn’t injure him too badly to render him completely incapable of any action.”
“Then?”
“I killed the men that Jaewook had assigned to help me, and Yunho and I escaped to the home of a contact of mine -“
“Yoochun?”
Changmin’s face hardened, “Not Yoochun.” He stared Jaejoong down for a few seconds before he continued, “We heard of Jaewook’s death from my contact that same night, and in the morning, I had discovered that Yunho was gone, leaving behind only the note I showed you last night.”
Jaejoong was silent and mulled over Changmin’s words. He stared down at his clasped hands before he raised his eyes and met the other’s gaze, “You know nothing of his current state?”
“I patched him up the night I shot him, but I do not know how well he is now which is why I need your help to find him. Yunho had so many contacts and so many secrets, but if there is one thing I know, you understood him best.”
“How do I…”
Jaejoong’s eyes screwed shut, and he clasped his hands tightly before he let his face fall into his hands. He breathed in and out heavily, and after a few tense seconds had passed, he raised his face and looked at Changmin.
“How can I help you when he has told me nothing? How can I help you when he has left me in the dark for so long? How can I help you when I question if he ever really trusted me at all? How can I help you if I doubt how well I even knew the man I loved?”
“Yunho loved you, and he did everything to protect you,” Changmin spoke, his eyes flashing with irritation, “If Yunho had told you that he was putting himself in a dangerous position, do you think that things would have still gone through? Would you have allowed him to risk his life?”
Silence fell between them, and Changmin allowed his words to sink in before he continued, “He sacrificed everything for you because you were the only thing he had left that was worth sacrificing his life for. Do you think you’d even be alive right now if Yunho hadn’t parted from you? Do you think you’d be enjoying the life you have now if Yunho hadn’t left you in order to kill those people that threaten your security?”
Changmin shook his head, “His methods may not be that of a genuine white knight, but he has protected so many people, and he has saved so many lives - including my own. Are you content to believe that he is dead? After everything that Yunho has done, for your family - for you, are you willing to abandon him?”
“I -“
“Every man has his secrets, but if there was one thing that Yunho was truly honest about, it was that he loved you.”
“I know,” Jaejoong spat, “I know he loved me, and I loved him back. Do you think that I have spent these past months content to know that he has gone? There has not been a single day that I’ve spent not missing him, just longing for him to just be with me again. I have also spent those months furious with you because of your supposed betrayal, so please, forgive me for not being a fool and believing you immediately without further proof of your loyalty!”
Jaejoong took a deep shuddery breath and exhaled. He ran a hand through his hair and met Changmin’s softened gaze, “Ever since Yunho and I recognized our love for one another, I have had faith in him and have trusted him, but it is human for faith to weaken and trust to waver. Don’t judge me so harshly.”
They sat in silence, and Jaejoong stood up, his chair scraping across the tiled floor. He turned his back to Changmin, “I have called off any orders to seize or kill you, and you’re allowed to stay here tonight if you want to.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know how you and I will find Yunho, but…I still have faith that he is alive,” Jaejoong sighed softly, “I have faith that we will find him and that he will come back to me.”
o-o-o
They were in Japan, going off a lead that Changmin wasn’t even sure was reliable, but it was all they had. Jaejoong had wanted to go off with Changmin in order to question several leads, but the moment he’d slipped to his family that he would be going to Japan, they insisted that he visit Soojung, who’d be on vacation and in Japan around the same time as him.
Jaejoong fidgeted and exhaled softly before he realized that Soojung was standing right in front of him. She’d changed quite a bit - she’d dyed her hair a dark shade of red, her clothes were more free flowing, but all in all, she looked very happy.
He pulled a seat out for her, and despite the stress that was present at the back of his mind, he found himself talking to her freely.
“What are you planning on doing in Japan?” Soojung asked as she poked at the tomatoes on her plate, “Are you here for business or just some casual affairs? I heard there’s this a big financial group having a gala in a few days.” Jaejoong shook his head and took a tomato off his sister’s plate, “No, I’m not attending that - it’s for Tokyo based businesses only.” He tried to look for some other excuse for his visit and pulled out a brochure for an art exhibit from his bag.
“Choi Minhyun?” Soojung questioned as she took the brochure from his hands and looked down at it, “Oh right, he’s a Japan based Korean sculptor…” she trailed off, and Jaejoong looked at her worriedly.
“Are you alright?”
Soojung shook her head and smiled, “I just remember him as one of Jaewook’s friends. I remember Jaewook used to talk to him over the phone quite often about shipments and such - he was after all, an art dealer.”
Jaejoong tilted his head, “Really? I’ve never heard of Choi Minhyun before…do you know anything more about him?”
His sister pushed her tomatoes to him with her fork and shrugged, “Not much. Jaewook didn’t talk about him with me that often. He just mentioned in passing that Minhyun’s not as famous as he should be. I guess he should be happy now that his friend is going to have a big exhibit.”
“Excuse me for a bit, I just remembered I have to make a call,” Jaejoong said before he placed his napkin down onto the table and stood up. He quickly made his way into the bathroom, made sure all the cubicles were empty, and then proceeded to lock the door before he called Changmin.
“Hello?”
“Did you find anything?”
“No, I didn’t. I don’t think Yunho’s been dealing with anyone from Japan. It seems like a dead end. We should travel to Shanghai, it seems like there’s nothing related to Jaewook or anything here in Japan -“
“Have you heard of Choi Minhyun?”
Changmin was silent for a few seconds before he replied.
“No, I haven’t. Why? Is he important?”
“My sister just mentioned that the same Choi Minhyun that is having an art exhibit tomorrow was a close friend of Jaewook’s. I think he’s our lead Changmin. If Yunho planned to meet you, then I’m sure by the end of his deadline, he must’ve been close to Korea by then. Something must’ve gone wrong.”
“Do you know anything about him? What kind of work he deals in -“
“All my sister knows is that he used to deal with Jaewook. If he dealt with Jaewook, then I am more than sure that it probably had something to do with drugs.”
“I’ll look into it. Is he Japan based?”
“Apparently.”
“Fucking drug dealers are always so hard to catch,” Changmin muttered on the other end of the line, “Yunho hated dealing with drug dealers. It’ll be hard for me to find someone to look for information from, but I’ll try.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d advise you use your position and ask for some backup,” Changmin suggested, “If you and I are going to be doing something, it’s best if we had help -“
“I know.”
“Okay then, goodbye Jaejoong.”
As soon as Changmin hung up, Jaejoong slipped his phone into his pocket and clenched it tightly in his hand. He let out a slow breath and shut his eyes tightly.
They were going to find Yunho.
o-o-o
“Everyone still thinks Yunho’s dead?” Jaejoong asked as he and Changmin made their way to the art exhibit, “Not a single person has suspected that he’s been behind any recent killings?”
“There’s not a soul in the world - well, aside from his contacts I suppose,” Changmin replied as he drove the car to the hotel where the exhibit was being held, “But as far as I know, none of the major players even suspect that Yunho is anywhere but at the bottom of Han River.”
Jaejoong stiffened, “You shouldn’t talk about him like that.”
“It’s the truth, and I’m being blunt,” Changmin shot back as he drove the car up to the extravagant entrance of the hotel, “You do know the plan, right? You look for Choi Minhyun and try to find something. I’m sure he knows you - in fact, I’m sure most of the people at the party will know you, but he will know your other side.”
“I can handle him easily enough,” Jaejoong muttered, “Are you going to kill him?”
Changmin said nothing for a few seconds before he answered, “If I find out Yunho’s dead, I’ll kill the bastard. If something goes awry, I’ll shoot him. If nothing goes wrong, I probably will kill him eventually.”
He glanced at Jaejoong, “He is our only lead. Nothing should go wrong.”
Jaejoong said nothing and opened the car door, brushing past the surprised bell boy and staff. They greeted him and escorted him over to the exhibit, and as soon as he was inside, Jaejoong immediately scanned the room for Minhyun and found him with two women at his side.
He placed a charming smile on his face and made his way across the room. The women smiled back at him pleasantly, but he noted that Minhyun’s face flashed in worry before it got masked by a polite smile.
“Girls, could you leave us alone for a bit?” Minhyun asked, turning to the women at his side. They cooed and asked to stay, but he was firm, and eventually they left with flirtatious smiles and promises to talk to Jaejoong later in the evening.
As soon as there was no one beside them, Minhyun began to walk away and Jaejoong followed him, remaining at his side. They walked in silence until they reached an oil painting of a blood red canvas splattered with black spots and littered with ink letters.
“I presume you’re not here to look at art, are you?” Minhyun asked as he kept his eyes on the painting in front of them, “Are you here to make a deal with me?”
Jaejoong glanced at Minhyun, “Personally, I’m not interested in the things you deal with,” he spoke before he turned his eyes to the painting, “But unfortunately, it seems like business opportunities have me pointing in your direction.”
“It seems like you are a better businessman than Jaewook let on,” the older man said slowly, “Although, since you did dispose of Jaewook personally, I still can’t trust that you are here to do business with me.”
“Did you ever consider that perhaps I just did not want to do business with Jaewook?”
Minhyun looked away from the painting and studied Jaejoong, “Maybe, but I know that Yunho had a strong grip over your beliefs. Although your lover is dead, I am quite firm that you share his ideologies due to his influence on you.”
“I am not as impressionable as you believe me to be. What Yunho lacked, I made up for as his equal,” Jaejoong snapped coldly, “I am a man with my own beliefs, and I make my own decisions. I am not a fool.”
“How can I trust you?”
“There is no need to play around with flowery speech - the language of money should be enough to finish this conversation,” Jaejoong eyed Minhyun and observed him, “You doubt my strength as a person due to Yunho, but remember, before I was ever his and he was ever mine, we were our own people.”
“And who do you belong to now?” Minhyun questioned, “Your relationship with Yunho was not a secret to those of us who are well informed and highly important. I have heard that his death has affected you greatly. Am I to trust a person that may be unstable?”
Jaejoong swept his hair back and glanced at the older man, “You have made several insulting comments to me throughout our time together. Perhaps you have forgotten that I control one of the largest crime syndicates in Asia?”
Minhyun was silent, and Jaejoong pressed on, “I am a vicious creature when I need to be, and don’t think that I shall hesitate in having you disposed of in the same way that Jaewook was if ever you cross me. You are not the only contact I have Mr. Choi, there are others who would be more willing to work with me and more respectful as well.”
The older man fell silent, and Jaejoong felt a gush of pride. He called over a waiter and picked up two glasses of champagne off the tray, handing one over to Minhyun who accepted it wordlessly.
A well acted smirk crossed Jaejoong’s lips and he turned to Minhyun, “I have heard that several of your sources have gotten arrested, and it won’t be much longer until someone tips off an agency about you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a cautionary word of advice and also an offer of protection - protection that I shall be willing to provide you with” Jaejoong spoke breezily, “I have also heard that there have been a series of deaths among that little circle of friends that you and Jaewook were a part of -“
“I know they’re coming for me,” Minhyun hissed, “I was attacked a week ago and barely made it out alive.”
Jaejoong straightened up, “What happened to the assailant?”
“All I know is that my bodyguards managed to shoot the bastard. He slipped away, and I lack the resources to find him due to my current situation. If you find the assassin and find out who he’s working for, I’ll be willing to start business with you.”
Jaejoong was silent for a few seconds before he replied.
“Where did you get shot?”
o-o-o
“We can find him,” Changmin muttered as he drew his coat closer to his body and exhaled onto his hands, “I know we can. I have the best understanding of how he works, and you know his other side best.”
Jaejoong looked around the alleyway, “Would he really be here?”
“He would,” Changmin replied as he kicked away a stray can, “It’s a good distance away from the scene of the shooting, and I’ve worked with Yunho well enough to know how he goes about things.”
Both men sighed, and Changmin shook his head, “Come on, we have to find the closest apartment building and see if anyone has recognized Yunho there.” He buried his hands deeper into the pockets of coat and dragged him inside a rather old building.
They looked around, and an old woman going down the stairs paused as soon as she saw them.
“What do you want?”
Before Changmin could speak, Jaejoong cut in first, “We’re looking for a friend of mine,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed a picture of him and Yunho and handed it to the old woman.
She squinted down at the photo before she raised her eyes to study him, “He seems familiar…I’m not too sure of his face, but I think the man you might be looking for lives upstairs.”
Jaejoong let out a surprised gasp, “What? What’s his room number -“
“I haven’t seen him in a while though,” the woman spoke as she handed him back the photo. “He came back late a week ago, and I haven’t seen him come out of his room since.” She shook her head disapprovingly, “If you see him, tell him I want him out. I don’t want a drug addict living under my roof.”
“We’ll tell him,” Changmin said quickly, “Now please tell us what his room number is.”
o-o-o
They raced up the stairs, and as soon as they saw the door, Changmin banged on it. It creaked under the force of his pounding, but no one answered. They glanced at each other, and Changmin banged on the door one more time.
“I’d knock it down if I could,” Changmin muttered, “I’ll just -“
“I’ll go to the landlady and ask her -“
“No need,” Changmin said as he dropped to his knees and grabbed a tool out of his pocket before he began working on picking at the lock, “It’s a simple enough lock, and it’s old. I came prepared.”
After a minute or so, the door’s lock clicked, and Changmin put his hand on the door knob. He glanced back at Jaejoong and rose to his feet, “We should say something…he might fire, or -“
Jaejoong pushed the door open slightly, “Yunho? It’s me and Changmin. We’re going to come in, so please…” his voice cracked, and he bit his lip, “We’re coming in.”
Changmin looked around the corridor for anyone before he drew his gun. He pushed the door open slowly before kicking it open and rushing in. Jaejoong followed after him, and they stopped as soon as they were inside.
The room was a mess - the bed sheet was partially ripped and sprawled all over the floor, the glass cabinet sported a broken pane, and things were strewn across the carpeted floor.
He was gone.
Part B →