Chapter 21 Gun
TWENTY-ONE
GUN
Today has been pure hell. From the long syndicate meetings at the headquarters to personal squabbles going on in my crew.
It’s been one thing after another.
Now the shitty day has turned into an even shittier night, culminating in a family event I never asked to attend.
I walk through the Bellmare’s revolving doors with the enthusiasm of a man heading to his own execution, my shoulders set in a sullen line that broadcasts my mood to anyone with eyes.
A couple of young Korean women glance over with obvious interest, probably drawn by the expensive suit and the dangerous energy I exude. They must know I’m Ho-seok’s younger, riskier, bad-behaved brother.
But it doesn’t matter to them—they see dollar signs when they look at me.
I completely ignore them, not in my usual flirtatious party mood. The truth is, I’d rather be at the loft with Elise.
Tonight was supposed to be our movie night, and she’d sounded disappointed when I told her I wouldn’t be home ’til later.
I’ve shut off my phone like the event requests, which means I’m cut off from her for the next three or four hours—easily the most boring evening I’ll endure this year.
My escape plan is simple: suffer through dinner, watch Ho-seok propose to his girlfriend as our families beam with pride, then sneak out before anyone notices I’m gone.
The familiar pressure behind my eyes warns of an incoming headache, so I dry swallow a painkiller and steel myself for the performance ahead.
The restaurant entrance looms before me like the gates of hell, all gold trim and crystal chandeliers.
That’s when I lock eyes with Yoon Mi-sook, my father’s ex-wife and Ho-seok’s mother, who’s socializing near the host station like she owns the place. She’s a petite woman—a couple inches under five feet—but she carries herself with a natural haughty air.
Her dark hair is pulled into one of her signature sleek updos that draw attention to the thick silver streak in the front. She’s dressed tastefully as always, wearing designers head to toe.
She and the woman she’s speaking with sip from champagne as they cast judgmental looks around the large dining room.
When she spots me, she excuses herself and approaches with a tight smile on her lips.
“Gun-woo,” she says in Hangul, her tone icy cool. “I must admit I wasn’t sure if you were coming. Tae-hwan said you’ve been on another bender. I found that unsurprising.”
I try to grin back politely, but it comes out as more of a grimace. “I’ve been busy. You understand that, right, ajumeoni? I have to work for money. But it would be nice to be able to do without, like yourself.”
Her lips purse together until they’re nothing more than a thin line. “Yes, you do work. You are just like Tae-hwan in that regard. I am grateful Ho-seok did not choose that for himself. He’s the number one doctor in Incheon.”
“That’s good to hear. Ho-seok is number one at everything. I’m glad it gives you bragging rights, ajumeoni. That’s very important when there’s little else to gloat about. Excuse me a moment.”
I leave her glaring daggers at my back as I spot Joon-gi across the room, predictably chatting up some young woman who looks like she could be the daughter of a politician or business mogul. I make my way over, dreading whatever ridiculous pickup line he’s probably using.
“What are you doing?” I ask when I reach them.
Joon-gi laughs good-naturedly, scratching the back of his neck with boyish charm. “Love is in the air, my friend. How could I not talk to all the beauties here?”
“For one night, I would like you to stop picking up women.”
“You’re lucky you have the sexy assassin at home,” he replies with a knowing grin.
I quickly shush him, glancing around to make sure no one overheard.
He waves a dismissive hand. “The syndicate is none the wiser. Latest intel still points to KD being our guy. You’re not even on the radar, Gun-woo. And the lieutenants aren’t concerned about your feline—they think she’s nothing more than a puppet.”
His intel should be enough to ease my mind, but I refuse to let my guard down. There have been one too many close calls, and I’m not all the way convinced we’re in the green yet.
Something about tonight feels wrong, like I’m not seeing the full picture.
Joon soon wanders after a curvy server carrying a tray of champagne flutes, leaving me with my achy head full of suspicious thoughts.
I could sneak my phone back on for a quick second and send a text to Elise.
Just to make sure she’s okay. Just to ease my mind and the odd premonition I have.
My hand slides into my pocket to pull out my phone when Ho-seok approaches first.
“Gun-woo-ya, you made it. We were unsure you’d show.”
I look up to see my brother in front of me, looking professional and impressive even in how he stands. His shirt is crisp, his slacks perfectly pressed, his hair neatly parted like he just stepped out of a magazine spread.
He’s like an Asian Ken Doll and seems to know it, which then relegates me to the grungy little brother role.
I stuff my hands in my pockets and shrug. “It’s an important occasion. I wanted to support you.”
Ho-seok eyes me skeptically, his head tilting in judgment. “I heard from Appa that he had to force you to come.”
I crack a grin, letting out a laugh with it. “You know me. I’m not one for formal events. But congratulations, hyung. This is a big deal—marriage, huh? Are you sure Shin Na-kyung is the woman for you?”
“We’ve been dating for seven years, Gun-woo.
She stayed with me through medical school and has been very respectable and well-tempered.
She’ll make a great doctor’s wife,” he explains in his natural patronizing manner.
“Someday, when you’re done partying and going on benders, you’ll understand.
You’ll find a respectable woman and settle down. .. if you grow up a little.”
My teeth clench. “I’ve grown up plenty. We hardly see each other, hyung. You don’t know my life.”
“I know enough. Appa has told me.”
Before I can respond with something that’ll probably get me kicked out of this overpriced circus, an announcement is made that dinner is officially beginning.
Ho-seok steps away to take his seat at the head of the table. I roll my eyes at the pompous way he walks, then head off to my seat.
The dinner plays out like I predicted it would—an overly rehearsed and scripted affair where people asskiss and flaunt themselves.
Course after course appears before us, dishes like bulgogi that’s been marinated for days, kimchi aged to perfection, japchae with vegetables so fresh they’re straight from the fields, and banchan arranged like tiny works of art.
The food is undoubtedly expensive and expertly prepared, but I’m not hungry. My migraine has grown worse, the pressure in my skull a constant.
I glance around at the other tables, noting the different servers weaving between guests.
My mind wanders to Elise again. If she could’ve at least attended as my date, tonight wouldn’t be so unbearable.
Toward the end of the meal, Ho-seok clears his throat and taps his glass with a knife. “I have a declaration to make.”
He turns to Na-kyung, a cute but dowdy girl with an overbite who’s been sitting quietly at his side all evening, looking like she’s honored to even be invited let alone his future bride.
I watch in boredom as he goes through the motions of asking her to marry him. This dinner is obviously nothing more than a formality.
In reality, Ho-seok’s parents and Na-kyung’s parents have already discussed the union in great detail and given their approvals. This is just theater for the extended family and business associates and society at large.
She says yes to predictable cheers and applause, officially beginning social hour.
I use the distraction to try and slip away unnoticed.
“Gun-woo, I hope you’re not trying to slither out of here like a snake.”
I stop at the sound of Father addressing me. It’s the first time we’ve been alone all night. He’s looking flashy in his usual button-up attire and gold watch. But despite the celebratory mood in the air, he’s as stony as usual.
We’ve wound up near the restaurant entrance. Everyone else is on the opposite side of the room, laughing and chatting away.
“I have a migraine and need to go.”
“Stop lying. I know you’ve been up to no good. If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll let you suffer at the Cheongryong-je’s feet.”
“I don’t need help from anyone,” I say plainly. “Least of all you.”
“You say that now when it’s easy,” he retorts. The corner of his lips curl in a sneer as he steps closer. “Will you say that when things get hard and you’re in too deep?”
“What is it you think I’m guilty of, Appa? Tell me quickly.”
“Your disappearances have been suspicious. Your loyalties are being questioned.”
I open my mouth to respond—maybe even tell him exactly where he can shove his questions about my loyalty—when the restaurant doors flip open and a group of uniformed security personnel stride in.
They start positioning themselves around the room like sentries. A couple others approach us directly.
“Sir,” one of them says in Hangul, an urgent note in his voice. “There’s been an incident. A security breach. We need you to follow us.”
Father glares from me to the security guard, then nods and follows him out the restaurant. I come up the rear.
It’s as we walk out that murmurs have started rippling through the dining room. The dinner guests are already scandalized and wondering what could be happening.
I follow Father and the security guards to the back of the restaurant. When we reach the service area behind the main dining room, I stop dead in my tracks.
My blood runs cold, hackles rising at what I’m seeing.
The guards have both Elise and KD kneeling on the floor, weapons trained on their heads.
Elise’s server uniform is torn at the shoulder and there’s a cut on KD’s lip that suggests they didn’t go down easily.
One of the guards steps forward, addressing my father in Hangul. “Sir, I caught them fighting near the kitchens and realized they were Black Suits. When we searched them, we discovered all their surveillance equipment and weapons.”
Another guard roughly shoves KD’s head and holds up the smartwatch that’s been stripped from his wrist. “This one has a device linked to Vanguard. All their communications are routed through it.”
The watch is passed over to Father for him to examine. He eyes it with cold, silent interest before pushing it back into the guard’s hands.
My gaze is stuck on Elise, my head and heart pounding as I wonder how the fuck I’m going to get her out of this alive.
“Black Suits,” my father finally grunts. “I figured they would show up to an event like this. So easy to bait. How could they resist the opportunity? And you—I recognize you. You tried to kill me that night at Noir Norae, didn’t you?”
He’s gestured to Elise, his tone venomous and bitter.
I step forward, desperate to interject. “We should take them into custody and figure this out back at headquarters.”
Father shoots me a disapproving look. “What for? So they can try to escape in transit? No, this will be handled right here, on the spot. And you’ll be the one to do it.”
I try and fail to hide the reluctance that must be written all over my face. My father picks up on it instantly, his eyes narrowing and expression hardening.
He snaps his fingers, and one of the guards immediately places his weapon in my hands.
“Kill the Black Suits,” he orders. “Now, Gun-woo. Both of them.”
The gun hangs limply at my side as I look from Elise to KD to my father. The fucking weight of what an impossible situation this is crushes down on my shoulders. I try one more time to smooth talk out of this.
“We don’t even know their identities yet.”
“Didn’t you yourself tell me Black Silk is a woman?” Father snarls. “What’s the problem, Gun-woo? Do as you’re ordered. You have five seconds.”
KD seems to realize what I do—there’s no getting out of this easily.
So he takes matters into his own hands and does something I’d never expect.
“Black Silk is no woman,” he says cockily, grinning wide. “I’m Black Silk. I was here tonight to kill you, Tae-hwan. And you didn’t even know it.”
It occurs to me only as he makes his false claim what the hell he’s doing.
And why.
As it turns out, me and KD have more in common than we realized, viewing this situation in the same way.
Anything to ensure Elise lives another second.
It works so well everything explodes all at once. Father’s face contorts with rage. He wrenches the gun from my hands.
“NO!” I shout and step forward, assuming he’s about to execute Elise right in front of me.
But instead, he points the weapon only at KD, squeezing the trigger and shooting him in the face.