Fatal Attraction: Redux (Part 4)
Title: Fatal Attraction: Redux
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG
Length: Another long short-story
Summary: Ten years later, a ghost from the past appears and turns Jaejoong's world upside down. Will be able to defend the new life he's built, or will he lose his life...and Yunho?
Jaejoong lay on his side, staring at the wall.
Hours had passed since the ceremony ended and though he was incredibly tired, he couldn’t sleep.
He and Yunho had come prepared to spend the night and they had graciously been given private - and separate - quarters. As much as he missed Yunho, he valued the brief solitude. Yunho had been an angel during the past two days, constantly by his side, never leaving him for more than a minute, but it had made him somewhat ashamed of his grief. Every time he got emotional, he felt like he was burdening Yunho. He knew that Yunho didn’t see it that way but he had always been a private person and having someone be there when he was completely falling apart was hard to adjust to. He couldn’t so much as shed a tear without Yunho swooping down on him and gathering him into his arms.
He hadn’t seen Yunho since the end of the first part of the ceremony and he felt a moment’s guilt. He had made sure his comfort had been seen to but he’d had to finish the ceremonial rights and, as an outsider, Yunho could not attend.
His father’s ashes had been gathered and placed in an urn, which he’d picked out himself years prior to his death. A procession had accompanied the urn on its journey to the mausoleum below ground where past leaders had also been interned. Only he, YeoWoon and a handful of elders had been in attendance. Prayers were spoken and then silence was observed. One by one, the elders left, until only he and YeoWoon remained. Then, after about an hour, YeoWoon rose and departed as well, leaving Jaejoong alone with his father. He’d knelt there, staring at the urn for two hours, thinking about the man that had once been so big and immovable to him. It was hard to think of such a great man, in every sense of the word, reduced to a pile of ashes.
As he thought of his father, his face floated into his mind. During their last week together when he’d made his daily visits, his father, sick as he was, had made an appearance on several occasions. He’d watched his sparring sessions with those hawk-eyes of his, keeping pace with every movement. Jaejoong’s sessions with YeoWoon were especially intense but he’d managed to keep up. Whenever his father was there, Jaejoong would glance over, wondering what he was thinking, if he was disappointed in him. He’d thought he’d seen something in his father’s eyes but dismissed it, not wanting to deceive himself. Now, thinking back, he was suddenly sure of what he’d seen shining in those black depths.
Pride.
His father had been proud of him. He was happy to have him back in the fold, albeit temporarily. He’d never come even remotely close to admitting anything of the like but Jaejoong knew with 100% certainty that he’d felt that way. His eyes, and even his lips, had smiled. Jaejoong couldn’t remember his father smiling even once in his life, not before he’d made his return a week ago, the prodigal son coming back to the fold. He remembered the way he’d felt ten years ago when he’d thought his father had cast him out, ashamed at the choice he’d made. How wrong he had been…
A slow smile spread across his lips even as tears brimmed and spilled from his eyes. Though his father may not have said it, he was sure that he had loved him. He only wished that he’d gotten the chance to tell him that he felt the same.
The ride back home was a somber one.
Once again, Yunho had been blindfolded until they got into the city proper and it was because of that that Jaejoong was able to to take evasive action without his notice.
About two blocks away from the compound, a dark sedan fell in three cars behind them. There was nothing particularly arresting about the car but his instincts told him not to ignore it anyway. When after another ten blocks the car maintained the distance, always three to five cars behind them, he knew for sure that they were being followed. To check his theory he had taken a wrong road and doubled back, losing the sedan, but a few minutes later, there it was yet again.
He had no doubt who was behind it and he’d driven normally until they got into the city but once they’d crossed city limits, he pushed the speed on his car and seamlessly dove in and out of mid-morning traffic. He made a few extra turns, heading away from his intended destination, until he was positive that he’d lost the tail. Then and only then did he head towards their condo, but to ensure their safety, he entered the underground parking lot through the back entrance instead of the side like he usually did.
“We’re home,” he announced calmly, not giving away that anything was amiss.
Yunho took off the blindfold and glanced at him in confusion. “I thought you were going to let me know when we entered the city.”
“Sorry, I forgot,” Jaejoong lied effortlessly. “My mind’s been a bit…preoccupied lately.” He let his voice trail off pathetically.
Yunho’s eyes immediately filled with understanding. “Of course.”
Jaejoong felt a stab of guilt but pushed it aside. He usually couldn’t lie to Yunho but when it was for Yunho’s well-being, it became a lot easier.
They made their way up to the penthouse, dropping their luggage as soon as the door closed behind them.
“I need a shower,” Jaejoong said.
Yunho followed behind him, watching closely as he stopped to kick off his shoes and drop his jacket and knife on the bed before continuing into the bathroom, where he closed the door behind him. Yunho sat on the bed and picked up the knife, his eyes and thumb tracing the engraving on the thin blade.
The knife was one of the few mementos Jaejoong still had from his old life. That, and the scar on his stomach. The one on his forehead had faded and was all but invisible but although Yunho had offered to arrange for a plastic surgeon to get rid of the scar from the stab wound, Jaejoong had declined. A reminder, he’d said. Of what, Yunho wasn’t altogether sure. He knew that Jaejoong had considered himself a failure, at least in the beginning. He hated to think that that was what he wanted to remind himself of.
Lifting his eyes from the knife, he stared at the bathroom door so intensely he could’ve burned a whole through it.
Jaejoong had discarded everything but the clothes on his back…and his phone. Why would he need his phone in the bathroom? Something was up, he was sure of it. Jaejoong was hiding something from him. He couldn’t hear anything on the other side of the door, however. The heavy cascade of the shower drowned out all else.
He was tempted to march in there and demand to be told what was going on. Adrenaline flowed through his blood urging him to spring up. But he held it back. He would wait for Jaejoong to tell him. For all he knew it had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Just like he hadn’t made a big deal out of being abandoned after the first part of the ceremony, he didn’t want to cause a scene only to find out that whatever was afoot fell under the secrecy of the clan.
But he couldn’t shake that feeling…
“Are you heading up to the compound?”
“Yeah.” Jaejoong shrugged into his leather jacket, grabbing his car keys and phone as he moved briskly around the room. “There are a few details left to finalize and stuff.”
Since he knew he wouldn’t go into the “and stuff”, Yunho squashed the urge to ask.
Jaejoong’s secrecy since his father’s death was driving him crazy. He was gone all day, even though Yunho had taken a couple of days off from the office to be with him in his time of need, and when they were together, he seemed distracted, like his mind was elsewhere. It was always on the tip of his tongue to ask what the hell was going on but he held back. He trusted Jaejoong, thus he told himself that if he needed to know or Jaejoong couldn’t handle whatever it was on his own, he would come to him. But the wait was killing him. He didn’t know how much more he could take.
“I’ll be back soon,” Jaejoong said as he made his way through the penthouse to the front door. Hand on the ornate gold handle, he turned to look back at Yunho, an easy smile settling on his lips. “Hey, why don’t we watch a movie when I get back? Your pick. I’ll even suffer through one of you-know-who’s crappy flicks.”
Forcing a smile, Yunho nodded. “Can’t wait.”
As soon as Jaejoong was on the other side of the door, his smile disappeared. Yunho knew something was up: he could see it in his eyes. The fact that he’d managed to restrain himself from asking questions when they were obviously burning his tongue was admirable. But he knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep the charade going for much longer. This thing needed to come to a head soon.
Sighing, he made his way down the hall, satisfactorily noting that the guards were out of sight in their assigned spots. He’d arranged it for optimum POV and impact. From their positions, they could blow anyone standing outside the door to pieces. And he’d made sure they had the fire power to do it too. He’d also reinforced the terrace doors, changing the locks, so that once they were closed - which they always were now and would continue to be until his uncle was dealt with - they were almost impenetrable. He wasn’t taking any chances.
The drive to the compound had become so routine that he felt like there’d never been a day in his life where he wasn’t making it. It was like the past ten years just faded away. It was a good feeling in the sense that it erased the longing he’d harbored for his old life. But it was bittersweet since the most important part of that life was gone for good.
Before he knew it, he was driving up to those familiar gates, which parted for him like they always did. YeoWoon was waiting for him, also a familiar sight in his white robes. They exchanged greetings then wasted no time in getting down to business.
Two hours later, YeoWoon escorted him back to his car.
“Hopefully that will take care of it, though I’m doubtful as I’m sure you are as well,” Woon was saying.
Jaejoong nodded. “It may not stop him altogether but maybe it will delay his plans long enough for us to find out where he is.”
“I’ve ensured that word reaches him. He should know by now. Our little birdie is highly efficient after all,” YeoWoon said dryly.
Jaejoong smiled. “Have you decided what you’ll do with it once this is done?”
“The thought has crossed my mind a time or two. Whatever I decide will be more than fitting, I’m sure.” He flashed a wicked grin, one that would make a lesser man feel like death had walked over his grave.
Jaejoong laughed. “I’ll leave it to you then.”
They shook hands and Jaejoong climbed into the car. He was three blocks away this time when he noticed the SUV tailing him. He decided then and there that he wasn’t letting it go this time.
Making a quick right, he turned down a dirt road, following it all the way to its dead end. He didn’t even bother to turn off the engine, merely parked and jumped out. He took off his jacket and threw it through the window into the car, seamlessly extricating his knife from the right pocket as he did so.
The SUV came all the way up to his bumper before it stopped. He watched as three tall, bulky men emerged. They were dressed in black, with ski masks over their faces and sunglasses blocking their eyes.
He observed them carefully. Their sizes didn’t intimidate him, he’d fought bigger men, but the fact that he couldn’t tell what weapons they carried, if any, was his biggest worry. One man was easy, two only slightly more challenging, but adding a third man to the mix made things tricky because while he was fighting the first two, the third could easily wrap things up by putting a bullet in him. He only prayed that his uncle hadn’t forgotten the moral code of the clan and still believed in fair play.
Legs apart, he looked at the men as they approached and asked, “Who’s first?”
The smallest of the three lunged at him and he went low, jamming his shoulder into the man’s solar plexis. He heard a loud whoosh as his lungs deflated on impact and quickly hooked his arm under the man’s knees, flipping him over his shoulder. He heard a crack as he landed on his head but didn’t have time to look to see if he was alive or dead because the other two came at him simultaneously, one from each side. He ducked and sprang forward so he was no longer caged in. As he spun around, he brought his leg straight up and sent up a silent prayer of thanks when his heel connected with one of the men’s jaw. If he hadn’t been immediately behind him, he would’ve opened himself to a direct attack from either one of them.
The man didn’t go down but the force of the kick was enough to make him stumble backward, which gave Jaejoong plenty of time to deal with his friend. The third and largest of the bunch was reaching into the inner pocket of his coat, having apparently decided that fisticuffs were a bad idea. Jaejoong didn’t give him the chance to use whatever he was reaching for, though. He flicked his wrist and dislodged his knife from the band around his wrist, throwing it in the same instance. It embedded itself in the man’s hand, and beyond if the howl he let out was any indication. He took advantage of the distraction and rushed the man, pressing the palm of his hand against the hilt of the knife, propelling the full twelve inches into the man’s stomach. He toppled over like a felled tree.
Jaejoong’s gaze swung to the second man, who had recovered but looked unwilling to participate further. He kept his wary eyes on Jaejoong but occasionally shot a look at the SUV behind Jaejoong, as if gauging the distance and his chances of making it.
Assuming a defenseless pose, Jaejoong gestured behind him and said, “Go ahead. I’m not going to kill you.”
The man looked back and forth between Jaejoong and the SUV a few more times before deciding to make a run for it.
Jaejoong honestly considered, for a split second, actually letting him go, but then he thought of his uncle and how determined the man was to kill him, and probably anyone else who got in his way. He’d turned his back on the life of an assassin, the bloodshed, and promised that he would never kill an innocent ever again. But this man was no innocent so he didn’t qualify.
With his mind settled, his hand snaked out so fast the man didn’t see him move. He grabbed him by the neck, the impact cutting off his air supply. For a few seconds, he listened to him choke, let him wriggle and claw at his hand trying to get free. When he felt like he had suffered enough, he applied a sudden intense pressure to two vital points and felt the man go lax. He released his hold and allowed the body to collapse to the ground.
He walked over to his car and grabbed his phone from his jacket. Woon picked up on the first ring.
“I have a situation here.” He briefly explained what happened.
“Are they dead?” was all YeoWoon asked.
“Two unconscious and one slowly bleeding out.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
YeoWoon disconnected the call and Jaejoong returned to the men, removing their masks and going through their pockets for anything that might help ascertain where his uncle’s hideout was. By the time he was done, he was positive that he hadn’t met or seen any of them before. None of the three had anything identifiable on them: no drivers’ license, I.D. or cell phone. His uncle was indeed a smart man.
He was starting to feel discouraged when it occurred to him to check the SUV. He made quick work of going through it, checking every cubby hole and under ever seat. When he flipped the visor down, he finally hit pay dirt but what he found made him go cold and pale.
A photo of Yunho.
It was taken when he was at a business lunch at a restaurant it seemed. He and other powerful looking men were talking and laughing over glasses of wine, expensive food and indiscernible documents. If his uncle knew who Yunho was then it was highly possible that he knew where he worked, or worse, where they lived.
Jaejoong dialed 1 on his phone, counting the seconds as he waited for Yunho to pick up. As the third and forth ring went by, his blood all but froze in his veins.
He quickly reversed the SUV a few feet, giving him just enough room to go around it as the road was wide enough. He jumped into his car and kicked it into high gear, reversing at a dangerously high speed, spinning out onto the blessedly deserted main road and gunning it as he raced home.
If anything happened to Yunho…
He couldn’t bear to think about it. He’d already lost his father, he didn’t think he would survive losing the love of his life too.
Jaejoong raced down the hallway to the door to the penthouse, not even pausing when the men he’d stationed came out of their hidey-holes, startled by his demeanor.
He pounded on the door, screaming Yunho’s name. The door gave way and there was Yunho, dazed and confused, but Jaejoong didn’t simply breathe a sigh of relief, he threw himself at him, squeezing him tightly as if to assure himself that he was really there.
Yunho’s arms came around Jaejoong, trying to soothe and comfort even though he hadn’t the foggiest notion what was going on. He shook his head at the men who appeared outside the door before closing it in their faces.
When he felt Jaejoong’s racing heart start to return to a normal pace, he gripped his upper arms and held him away from him.
“What is going on? And don’t give me some BS answer, Jaejoong. I know something’s up. I’ve been trying my hardest not to jump to conclusions or hound you for answers but you just blew the lid on that when you burst in here all frantic like someone died.”
I thought you had, Jaejoong thought.
Instead, he placed his hands on Yunho’s restraining arms. “I can’t tell you.”
Yunho opened his mouth to speak but Jaejoong shook his head.
“I want to, I really do, but I can’t tell you yet. I will tell you as much as I can, okay? But I want you to promise me something.”
“What?” Yunho gritted out between clenched teeth.
“I want you to take some time off from work.”
Yunho shook his head. “I can’t do that. Absolutely not.”
Jaejoong frowned. “You were already doing it since you’ve been staying home to be with me, what’s the difference? This is important, Yunho. I know how much work means to you, I wouldn’t ask you unless it was life or death.” Talk about an understatement.
Yunho latched onto the last three words. Something in Jaejoong’s tone made the hair on the back of his neck stand straight up.
Seeing an opening, Jaejoong pushed forward. “Just for the rest of the week,” he pleaded. “Please.”
Whatever was eating at Jaejoong was clearly more serious than he’d realized, Yunho thought. To put Jaejoong’s mind at rest, he would go along with it.
“Fine,” he agreed, “but tell me everything now or the deal’s off.”
Jaejoong nodded, pulling away from Yunho. He walked into the living room, dropping his jacket onto the sofa before sitting beside it. He waited for Yunho to join him before he began.
“Like I said before, I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you why I went back today. I am my father’s heir so upon his death the leadership of the clan should have directly fallen to me but since I left all those years ago, I gave up any right to my inheritance. It would still be mine had I wanted it, my father would’ve made it happen, but he knew I didn’t. My life is here with you now. So naturally, it went to YeoWoon. That should have been the end of it but…there are some…people who fear that one day I may change my mind and return to fight Woon for power over the clan.”
Yunho frowned. “What people?”
Shaking his head at the question, Jaejoong continued. “There’s a rat in the clan. We know who it is but we haven’t exterminated it yet. We thought maybe we could use it, today especially. I decided to legally forfeit any claim to the leadership of the clan, any properties associated with the clan, anything to do with the clan period. If and when I return, it will be as a guest, just like you were. My status as the former leader’s son and heir doesn’t matter anymore. The only one with the power to change that is the current leader: YeoWoon. We had a lawyer, someone we’ve used over the years whenever it was necessary, draw up papers and I went there to sign them today. We knew the rat would pass on the news and we hoped that it would appease the people who see me as a threat. Alas, it didn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Let’s just say that I had an interesting journey home.”
“Is that why you came rushing in here just now? You thought something had happened to me?”
He wouldn’t deny it. “Yes. I called and you didn’t answer.”
“I was probably in the shower. I haven’t checked my phone.” A few other things suddenly started to make sense to Yunho. “And the terrace doors? Is it because of this situation?”
Jaejoong nodded.
“And the extra security? Don’t think I didn’t notice that you swapped my usual guards for some hardcore looking guys. It’s exactly what you did the last time.”
Jaejoong blushed. “Guilty.”
“I wish you could tell me exactly what’s going on…” Yunho raised a hand to stop Jaejoong from interrupting him. “…but I understand that there will be things that you won’t be able to tell me. I loved and accepted you for who and what you are. I guess this comes with the territory.”
Jaejoong felt his love for Yunho flutter wildly in his chest. “I nearly lost my mind when I thought something had happened to you,” he admitted, unashamed. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
Yunho stood and walked over to him. Framing his face in his hands, he said gently, “Lucky for you that will never happen.”
“Come with me tomorrow,” Jaejoong said suddenly.
“Where?”
“To the compound. I want you there with me.”
Yunho was more touched than he could ever possibly say. “Are you sure?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Yes.”
“What about your cousin?”
“I’ll deal with him, don’t worry.”
Yunho felt excitement bubble up inside of him. He hadn’t felt like that since he was a schoolboy going on a class trip. Needing an outlet for his sudden energy, he tilted Jaejoong’s face up and kissed him hard.
Jaejoong laughed. “Well, gee, I should take you out more often.” His laugh broke off when he yawned hugely.
“Tired?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Too much excitement.”
Suddenly, Yunho swung him up into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I’m going to put you to bed. You need to conserve your energy for tomorrow.”
Jaejoong cocked a suspicious brow. “Why…?”
Yunho grinned down at him. “Because you’re going to train me to be an assassin.”
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG
Length: Another long short-story
Summary: Ten years later, a ghost from the past appears and turns Jaejoong's world upside down. Will be able to defend the new life he's built, or will he lose his life...and Yunho?
Jaejoong lay on his side, staring at the wall.
Hours had passed since the ceremony ended and though he was incredibly tired, he couldn’t sleep.
He and Yunho had come prepared to spend the night and they had graciously been given private - and separate - quarters. As much as he missed Yunho, he valued the brief solitude. Yunho had been an angel during the past two days, constantly by his side, never leaving him for more than a minute, but it had made him somewhat ashamed of his grief. Every time he got emotional, he felt like he was burdening Yunho. He knew that Yunho didn’t see it that way but he had always been a private person and having someone be there when he was completely falling apart was hard to adjust to. He couldn’t so much as shed a tear without Yunho swooping down on him and gathering him into his arms.
He hadn’t seen Yunho since the end of the first part of the ceremony and he felt a moment’s guilt. He had made sure his comfort had been seen to but he’d had to finish the ceremonial rights and, as an outsider, Yunho could not attend.
His father’s ashes had been gathered and placed in an urn, which he’d picked out himself years prior to his death. A procession had accompanied the urn on its journey to the mausoleum below ground where past leaders had also been interned. Only he, YeoWoon and a handful of elders had been in attendance. Prayers were spoken and then silence was observed. One by one, the elders left, until only he and YeoWoon remained. Then, after about an hour, YeoWoon rose and departed as well, leaving Jaejoong alone with his father. He’d knelt there, staring at the urn for two hours, thinking about the man that had once been so big and immovable to him. It was hard to think of such a great man, in every sense of the word, reduced to a pile of ashes.
As he thought of his father, his face floated into his mind. During their last week together when he’d made his daily visits, his father, sick as he was, had made an appearance on several occasions. He’d watched his sparring sessions with those hawk-eyes of his, keeping pace with every movement. Jaejoong’s sessions with YeoWoon were especially intense but he’d managed to keep up. Whenever his father was there, Jaejoong would glance over, wondering what he was thinking, if he was disappointed in him. He’d thought he’d seen something in his father’s eyes but dismissed it, not wanting to deceive himself. Now, thinking back, he was suddenly sure of what he’d seen shining in those black depths.
Pride.
His father had been proud of him. He was happy to have him back in the fold, albeit temporarily. He’d never come even remotely close to admitting anything of the like but Jaejoong knew with 100% certainty that he’d felt that way. His eyes, and even his lips, had smiled. Jaejoong couldn’t remember his father smiling even once in his life, not before he’d made his return a week ago, the prodigal son coming back to the fold. He remembered the way he’d felt ten years ago when he’d thought his father had cast him out, ashamed at the choice he’d made. How wrong he had been…
A slow smile spread across his lips even as tears brimmed and spilled from his eyes. Though his father may not have said it, he was sure that he had loved him. He only wished that he’d gotten the chance to tell him that he felt the same.
The ride back home was a somber one.
Once again, Yunho had been blindfolded until they got into the city proper and it was because of that that Jaejoong was able to to take evasive action without his notice.
About two blocks away from the compound, a dark sedan fell in three cars behind them. There was nothing particularly arresting about the car but his instincts told him not to ignore it anyway. When after another ten blocks the car maintained the distance, always three to five cars behind them, he knew for sure that they were being followed. To check his theory he had taken a wrong road and doubled back, losing the sedan, but a few minutes later, there it was yet again.
He had no doubt who was behind it and he’d driven normally until they got into the city but once they’d crossed city limits, he pushed the speed on his car and seamlessly dove in and out of mid-morning traffic. He made a few extra turns, heading away from his intended destination, until he was positive that he’d lost the tail. Then and only then did he head towards their condo, but to ensure their safety, he entered the underground parking lot through the back entrance instead of the side like he usually did.
“We’re home,” he announced calmly, not giving away that anything was amiss.
Yunho took off the blindfold and glanced at him in confusion. “I thought you were going to let me know when we entered the city.”
“Sorry, I forgot,” Jaejoong lied effortlessly. “My mind’s been a bit…preoccupied lately.” He let his voice trail off pathetically.
Yunho’s eyes immediately filled with understanding. “Of course.”
Jaejoong felt a stab of guilt but pushed it aside. He usually couldn’t lie to Yunho but when it was for Yunho’s well-being, it became a lot easier.
They made their way up to the penthouse, dropping their luggage as soon as the door closed behind them.
“I need a shower,” Jaejoong said.
Yunho followed behind him, watching closely as he stopped to kick off his shoes and drop his jacket and knife on the bed before continuing into the bathroom, where he closed the door behind him. Yunho sat on the bed and picked up the knife, his eyes and thumb tracing the engraving on the thin blade.
The knife was one of the few mementos Jaejoong still had from his old life. That, and the scar on his stomach. The one on his forehead had faded and was all but invisible but although Yunho had offered to arrange for a plastic surgeon to get rid of the scar from the stab wound, Jaejoong had declined. A reminder, he’d said. Of what, Yunho wasn’t altogether sure. He knew that Jaejoong had considered himself a failure, at least in the beginning. He hated to think that that was what he wanted to remind himself of.
Lifting his eyes from the knife, he stared at the bathroom door so intensely he could’ve burned a whole through it.
Jaejoong had discarded everything but the clothes on his back…and his phone. Why would he need his phone in the bathroom? Something was up, he was sure of it. Jaejoong was hiding something from him. He couldn’t hear anything on the other side of the door, however. The heavy cascade of the shower drowned out all else.
He was tempted to march in there and demand to be told what was going on. Adrenaline flowed through his blood urging him to spring up. But he held it back. He would wait for Jaejoong to tell him. For all he knew it had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Just like he hadn’t made a big deal out of being abandoned after the first part of the ceremony, he didn’t want to cause a scene only to find out that whatever was afoot fell under the secrecy of the clan.
But he couldn’t shake that feeling…
“Are you heading up to the compound?”
“Yeah.” Jaejoong shrugged into his leather jacket, grabbing his car keys and phone as he moved briskly around the room. “There are a few details left to finalize and stuff.”
Since he knew he wouldn’t go into the “and stuff”, Yunho squashed the urge to ask.
Jaejoong’s secrecy since his father’s death was driving him crazy. He was gone all day, even though Yunho had taken a couple of days off from the office to be with him in his time of need, and when they were together, he seemed distracted, like his mind was elsewhere. It was always on the tip of his tongue to ask what the hell was going on but he held back. He trusted Jaejoong, thus he told himself that if he needed to know or Jaejoong couldn’t handle whatever it was on his own, he would come to him. But the wait was killing him. He didn’t know how much more he could take.
“I’ll be back soon,” Jaejoong said as he made his way through the penthouse to the front door. Hand on the ornate gold handle, he turned to look back at Yunho, an easy smile settling on his lips. “Hey, why don’t we watch a movie when I get back? Your pick. I’ll even suffer through one of you-know-who’s crappy flicks.”
Forcing a smile, Yunho nodded. “Can’t wait.”
As soon as Jaejoong was on the other side of the door, his smile disappeared. Yunho knew something was up: he could see it in his eyes. The fact that he’d managed to restrain himself from asking questions when they were obviously burning his tongue was admirable. But he knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep the charade going for much longer. This thing needed to come to a head soon.
Sighing, he made his way down the hall, satisfactorily noting that the guards were out of sight in their assigned spots. He’d arranged it for optimum POV and impact. From their positions, they could blow anyone standing outside the door to pieces. And he’d made sure they had the fire power to do it too. He’d also reinforced the terrace doors, changing the locks, so that once they were closed - which they always were now and would continue to be until his uncle was dealt with - they were almost impenetrable. He wasn’t taking any chances.
The drive to the compound had become so routine that he felt like there’d never been a day in his life where he wasn’t making it. It was like the past ten years just faded away. It was a good feeling in the sense that it erased the longing he’d harbored for his old life. But it was bittersweet since the most important part of that life was gone for good.
Before he knew it, he was driving up to those familiar gates, which parted for him like they always did. YeoWoon was waiting for him, also a familiar sight in his white robes. They exchanged greetings then wasted no time in getting down to business.
Two hours later, YeoWoon escorted him back to his car.
“Hopefully that will take care of it, though I’m doubtful as I’m sure you are as well,” Woon was saying.
Jaejoong nodded. “It may not stop him altogether but maybe it will delay his plans long enough for us to find out where he is.”
“I’ve ensured that word reaches him. He should know by now. Our little birdie is highly efficient after all,” YeoWoon said dryly.
Jaejoong smiled. “Have you decided what you’ll do with it once this is done?”
“The thought has crossed my mind a time or two. Whatever I decide will be more than fitting, I’m sure.” He flashed a wicked grin, one that would make a lesser man feel like death had walked over his grave.
Jaejoong laughed. “I’ll leave it to you then.”
They shook hands and Jaejoong climbed into the car. He was three blocks away this time when he noticed the SUV tailing him. He decided then and there that he wasn’t letting it go this time.
Making a quick right, he turned down a dirt road, following it all the way to its dead end. He didn’t even bother to turn off the engine, merely parked and jumped out. He took off his jacket and threw it through the window into the car, seamlessly extricating his knife from the right pocket as he did so.
The SUV came all the way up to his bumper before it stopped. He watched as three tall, bulky men emerged. They were dressed in black, with ski masks over their faces and sunglasses blocking their eyes.
He observed them carefully. Their sizes didn’t intimidate him, he’d fought bigger men, but the fact that he couldn’t tell what weapons they carried, if any, was his biggest worry. One man was easy, two only slightly more challenging, but adding a third man to the mix made things tricky because while he was fighting the first two, the third could easily wrap things up by putting a bullet in him. He only prayed that his uncle hadn’t forgotten the moral code of the clan and still believed in fair play.
Legs apart, he looked at the men as they approached and asked, “Who’s first?”
The smallest of the three lunged at him and he went low, jamming his shoulder into the man’s solar plexis. He heard a loud whoosh as his lungs deflated on impact and quickly hooked his arm under the man’s knees, flipping him over his shoulder. He heard a crack as he landed on his head but didn’t have time to look to see if he was alive or dead because the other two came at him simultaneously, one from each side. He ducked and sprang forward so he was no longer caged in. As he spun around, he brought his leg straight up and sent up a silent prayer of thanks when his heel connected with one of the men’s jaw. If he hadn’t been immediately behind him, he would’ve opened himself to a direct attack from either one of them.
The man didn’t go down but the force of the kick was enough to make him stumble backward, which gave Jaejoong plenty of time to deal with his friend. The third and largest of the bunch was reaching into the inner pocket of his coat, having apparently decided that fisticuffs were a bad idea. Jaejoong didn’t give him the chance to use whatever he was reaching for, though. He flicked his wrist and dislodged his knife from the band around his wrist, throwing it in the same instance. It embedded itself in the man’s hand, and beyond if the howl he let out was any indication. He took advantage of the distraction and rushed the man, pressing the palm of his hand against the hilt of the knife, propelling the full twelve inches into the man’s stomach. He toppled over like a felled tree.
Jaejoong’s gaze swung to the second man, who had recovered but looked unwilling to participate further. He kept his wary eyes on Jaejoong but occasionally shot a look at the SUV behind Jaejoong, as if gauging the distance and his chances of making it.
Assuming a defenseless pose, Jaejoong gestured behind him and said, “Go ahead. I’m not going to kill you.”
The man looked back and forth between Jaejoong and the SUV a few more times before deciding to make a run for it.
Jaejoong honestly considered, for a split second, actually letting him go, but then he thought of his uncle and how determined the man was to kill him, and probably anyone else who got in his way. He’d turned his back on the life of an assassin, the bloodshed, and promised that he would never kill an innocent ever again. But this man was no innocent so he didn’t qualify.
With his mind settled, his hand snaked out so fast the man didn’t see him move. He grabbed him by the neck, the impact cutting off his air supply. For a few seconds, he listened to him choke, let him wriggle and claw at his hand trying to get free. When he felt like he had suffered enough, he applied a sudden intense pressure to two vital points and felt the man go lax. He released his hold and allowed the body to collapse to the ground.
He walked over to his car and grabbed his phone from his jacket. Woon picked up on the first ring.
“I have a situation here.” He briefly explained what happened.
“Are they dead?” was all YeoWoon asked.
“Two unconscious and one slowly bleeding out.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
YeoWoon disconnected the call and Jaejoong returned to the men, removing their masks and going through their pockets for anything that might help ascertain where his uncle’s hideout was. By the time he was done, he was positive that he hadn’t met or seen any of them before. None of the three had anything identifiable on them: no drivers’ license, I.D. or cell phone. His uncle was indeed a smart man.
He was starting to feel discouraged when it occurred to him to check the SUV. He made quick work of going through it, checking every cubby hole and under ever seat. When he flipped the visor down, he finally hit pay dirt but what he found made him go cold and pale.
A photo of Yunho.
It was taken when he was at a business lunch at a restaurant it seemed. He and other powerful looking men were talking and laughing over glasses of wine, expensive food and indiscernible documents. If his uncle knew who Yunho was then it was highly possible that he knew where he worked, or worse, where they lived.
Jaejoong dialed 1 on his phone, counting the seconds as he waited for Yunho to pick up. As the third and forth ring went by, his blood all but froze in his veins.
He quickly reversed the SUV a few feet, giving him just enough room to go around it as the road was wide enough. He jumped into his car and kicked it into high gear, reversing at a dangerously high speed, spinning out onto the blessedly deserted main road and gunning it as he raced home.
If anything happened to Yunho…
He couldn’t bear to think about it. He’d already lost his father, he didn’t think he would survive losing the love of his life too.
Jaejoong raced down the hallway to the door to the penthouse, not even pausing when the men he’d stationed came out of their hidey-holes, startled by his demeanor.
He pounded on the door, screaming Yunho’s name. The door gave way and there was Yunho, dazed and confused, but Jaejoong didn’t simply breathe a sigh of relief, he threw himself at him, squeezing him tightly as if to assure himself that he was really there.
Yunho’s arms came around Jaejoong, trying to soothe and comfort even though he hadn’t the foggiest notion what was going on. He shook his head at the men who appeared outside the door before closing it in their faces.
When he felt Jaejoong’s racing heart start to return to a normal pace, he gripped his upper arms and held him away from him.
“What is going on? And don’t give me some BS answer, Jaejoong. I know something’s up. I’ve been trying my hardest not to jump to conclusions or hound you for answers but you just blew the lid on that when you burst in here all frantic like someone died.”
I thought you had, Jaejoong thought.
Instead, he placed his hands on Yunho’s restraining arms. “I can’t tell you.”
Yunho opened his mouth to speak but Jaejoong shook his head.
“I want to, I really do, but I can’t tell you yet. I will tell you as much as I can, okay? But I want you to promise me something.”
“What?” Yunho gritted out between clenched teeth.
“I want you to take some time off from work.”
Yunho shook his head. “I can’t do that. Absolutely not.”
Jaejoong frowned. “You were already doing it since you’ve been staying home to be with me, what’s the difference? This is important, Yunho. I know how much work means to you, I wouldn’t ask you unless it was life or death.” Talk about an understatement.
Yunho latched onto the last three words. Something in Jaejoong’s tone made the hair on the back of his neck stand straight up.
Seeing an opening, Jaejoong pushed forward. “Just for the rest of the week,” he pleaded. “Please.”
Whatever was eating at Jaejoong was clearly more serious than he’d realized, Yunho thought. To put Jaejoong’s mind at rest, he would go along with it.
“Fine,” he agreed, “but tell me everything now or the deal’s off.”
Jaejoong nodded, pulling away from Yunho. He walked into the living room, dropping his jacket onto the sofa before sitting beside it. He waited for Yunho to join him before he began.
“Like I said before, I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you why I went back today. I am my father’s heir so upon his death the leadership of the clan should have directly fallen to me but since I left all those years ago, I gave up any right to my inheritance. It would still be mine had I wanted it, my father would’ve made it happen, but he knew I didn’t. My life is here with you now. So naturally, it went to YeoWoon. That should have been the end of it but…there are some…people who fear that one day I may change my mind and return to fight Woon for power over the clan.”
Yunho frowned. “What people?”
Shaking his head at the question, Jaejoong continued. “There’s a rat in the clan. We know who it is but we haven’t exterminated it yet. We thought maybe we could use it, today especially. I decided to legally forfeit any claim to the leadership of the clan, any properties associated with the clan, anything to do with the clan period. If and when I return, it will be as a guest, just like you were. My status as the former leader’s son and heir doesn’t matter anymore. The only one with the power to change that is the current leader: YeoWoon. We had a lawyer, someone we’ve used over the years whenever it was necessary, draw up papers and I went there to sign them today. We knew the rat would pass on the news and we hoped that it would appease the people who see me as a threat. Alas, it didn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Let’s just say that I had an interesting journey home.”
“Is that why you came rushing in here just now? You thought something had happened to me?”
He wouldn’t deny it. “Yes. I called and you didn’t answer.”
“I was probably in the shower. I haven’t checked my phone.” A few other things suddenly started to make sense to Yunho. “And the terrace doors? Is it because of this situation?”
Jaejoong nodded.
“And the extra security? Don’t think I didn’t notice that you swapped my usual guards for some hardcore looking guys. It’s exactly what you did the last time.”
Jaejoong blushed. “Guilty.”
“I wish you could tell me exactly what’s going on…” Yunho raised a hand to stop Jaejoong from interrupting him. “…but I understand that there will be things that you won’t be able to tell me. I loved and accepted you for who and what you are. I guess this comes with the territory.”
Jaejoong felt his love for Yunho flutter wildly in his chest. “I nearly lost my mind when I thought something had happened to you,” he admitted, unashamed. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
Yunho stood and walked over to him. Framing his face in his hands, he said gently, “Lucky for you that will never happen.”
“Come with me tomorrow,” Jaejoong said suddenly.
“Where?”
“To the compound. I want you there with me.”
Yunho was more touched than he could ever possibly say. “Are you sure?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Yes.”
“What about your cousin?”
“I’ll deal with him, don’t worry.”
Yunho felt excitement bubble up inside of him. He hadn’t felt like that since he was a schoolboy going on a class trip. Needing an outlet for his sudden energy, he tilted Jaejoong’s face up and kissed him hard.
Jaejoong laughed. “Well, gee, I should take you out more often.” His laugh broke off when he yawned hugely.
“Tired?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Too much excitement.”
Suddenly, Yunho swung him up into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I’m going to put you to bed. You need to conserve your energy for tomorrow.”
Jaejoong cocked a suspicious brow. “Why…?”
Yunho grinned down at him. “Because you’re going to train me to be an assassin.”