Few hours before…
Mr. Jun, Tae-hyun, and Do-yoon sat in heavy silence, the only sound the quiet hum of the air conditioner.
"So… what are we meant to do now?" Do-yoon finally asked, his leg bouncing.
Tae-hyun exhaled, pressing his lips together. "I didn't even think about that."
"You never think," Do-yoon muttered coldly, turning to Mr. Jun.
"What about that guy from the hospital? They seemed close. Think he might know something?" Do-yoon asked.
"Most certainly. I got his contact the other day." Mr. Jun's eyes sharpened as he pulled out his phone. "Let's give him a call."
Do-yoon nodded.
The line connected, and Seo-jun's voice came through, strained and shaking, a strange mix of fear, anger, and relief.
"Are you alright, Seo-jun?" Mr. Jun asked casually, though concern bled through.
"Soo-ji's been kidnapped."
"What?" Mr. Jun's composure cracked, and he immediately placed the call on speaker. Do-yoon froze, Tae-hyun's jaw tightened.
"I just got a call from her number, but it was a man's voice…" Seo-jun's breath hitched.
"Where are you right now?" Tae-hyun demanded.
"On my way to the warehouse. I'm paying the ransom."
"That's strange." Do-yoon's voice dropped to a cold analysis. "Kidnappers never give their exact address."
"How much is the ransom?" he continued.
"₩200 million."
Do-yoon let out a frustrated sigh. "It's a trap. They want to lure you in, catch you too, and call for a bigger ransom. That's why they made it affordable—so you'd rush."
Seo-jun's breathing turned ragged.
"Stay where you are. We'll pick you up." Do-yoon's voice was firm. "I have a plan."
---
Back to the present…
The warehouse smelled of rust and stale air. The light above flickered, casting monstrous shadows on the walls.
The boss stepped forward, an eerie smile twisting across his scarred face. "I wasn't expecting you to be here so soon."
"Where is she?" Seo-jun demanded, his fists clenched, eyes burning.
The boss chuckled darkly, glancing at his men. "He just asked me where she was." Without warning, he lunged at Seo-jun, throwing a brutal punch.
But the punch stopped mid-air, caught easily by Mr. Jun's hand.
"Sorry, did I interrupt?" Mr. Jun asked, his grip tightening.
The boss's eyes widened. "So you brought company."
"Why? Are you scared?" Mr. Jun's lips curved into a sinister smile as he twisted the boss's wrist until a sickening crack echoed, the boss screaming in pain.
Mr. Jun shoved him backward and turned to the watching minions, who froze.
"Hey! Are you idiots just going to watch your boss get humiliated? Come on." He smiled darkly. "Step closer."
The two hefty men exchanged a look, then cracked their knuckles and charged like raging bulls.
Mr. Jun tilted his head, unimpressed. "Really? Both of you?"
They lunged together. The first swung a heavy punch. Mr. Jun ducked, pivoted, and slammed his fist into the man's ribs with a dull crack, sending him stumbling back, gasping for air.
The second thug wrapped thick arms around Mr. Jun from behind, trying to pin him. Mr. Jun's eyes flashed, and he slammed his head backward, hitting the man's nose with a crunch. As the grip loosened, Mr. Jun slipped out, turned, and drove his elbow into the man's jaw, knocking him to the floor.
The first thug roared in rage and charged again, but Mr. Jun sidestepped, tripping him effortlessly. As he fell, Mr. Jun delivered a sharp kick to his side, forcing a cry of pain from him.
Both men lay groaning, defeated.
Mr. Jun calmly adjusted his sleeves, looking down with a smirk. "Next time, think twice before you call yourselves 'thugs'."
He turned to the remaining men. "What are you still waiting for?"
"Please… let us go…" they stuttered, trembling.
"Run before I change my mind."
They scrambled away, leaving behind only the sound of their hurried footsteps.
But when Mr. Jun turned back, the boss was already holding Soo-ji, a knife pressed to her throat, his arm tight around her trembling shoulders.
"Don't take another step, or I'll slit her throat," the boss hissed.
"Hey! Hey!" Seo-jun's voice cracked with fear.
"Seo-jun, what were you doing when he took her?" Mr. Jun snapped, eyes burning.
"It happened so fast! I'm sorry!" Seo-jun's voice shook.
"I mean it!" the boss screamed, pressing the knife closer to Soo-ji's skin.
Suddenly, the sharp crack of a gunshot shattered the air. The boss screamed, the knife clattering to the ground as his arm jerked, blood spilling.
Tae-hyun stepped out from the shadows, smoke drifting from the barrel of his gun, his expression calm.
"I got bored waiting. What took you so long?" he asked coolly.
Seo-jun rushed to Soo-ji as she collapsed, catching her before she hit the ground. She clung to him weakly, her face pale and streaked with tears.
Tae-hyun approached, bending forward to meet Soo-ji's eye level. "Are you alright, Ms. Kim?"
She nodded faintly, tears dripping onto Tae-hyun's coat as he draped it gently around her shoulders. "You must have been terrified."
His eyes shifted to the boss, who was clutching his bleeding arm, trembling.
Tae-hyun squatted down, his voice calm and cold. "What did I tell you would happen if we ever met again?"
"Hee Tae-hyun…" the boss's eyes widened, horror overtaking him. He dropped to his knees, bowing despite the pain. "I didn't know she was yours. Please, spare me."
Tae-hyun exhaled, standing, brushing off imaginary dust. "What do we do now?"
"Please, please, spare me," the boss begged, tears streaming down his face.
Tae-hyun tilted his head, studying him. "You hurt my precious doctor," he said softly, lifting the boss's head by his hair, forcing him to look at Soo-ji. "Look at her face."
"I'm sorry, sir. Please…" the boss whimpered.
"Get up," Tae-hyun ordered softly.
"What?" The boss's voice cracked, but he stood shakily, blood dripping.
Tae-hyun circled him slowly. "You know, I don't enjoy getting my hands dirty…"
The boss gulped, eyes darting to the exits.
"But I can make exceptions." Tae-hyun's eyes turned cold as winter.
He grabbed the boss by the collar, yanked him close, and slammed his knee into the man's stomach, folding him in half with a gasp. Before the boss could recover, Tae-hyun's fist connected with his jaw, the crack echoing in the warehouse. Blood splattered, the boss crashing to the ground.
Tae-hyun drew his gun again, pressing the cold barrel to the man's forehead.
"Please, please, don't—"
"Stop!" Soo-ji's weak voice broke through. "It's enough…"
"Soo-ji…" Seo-jun said softly, holding her steady.
"No… please don't kill him…" she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.
Tae-hyun's gaze flickered, his finger loosening on the trigger before he clicked his tongue and lowered the gun.
"You got lucky today. Apologize to her."
The boss dropped to his knees, sobbing, "I'm so sorry, ma'am. Please forgive me…"
"Run away before he changes his mind" she said faintly.
The boss scrambled to his feet and bolted from the warehouse, disappearing into the night.
Tae-hyun let out a tired exhale. "What a nuisance."
Mr. Jun tossed him a bottle of water. "You good?"
"Yeah." Tae-hyun wiped his brow, "Take Ms. Kim back to the penthouse. Call the doctor."
"I'll go with them. I'll check her wounds," Seo-jun said, his eyes never leaving Soo-ji.
Tae-hyun nodded. "Do-hyun and I need to return to the Hee mansion. Take care of Ms. Kim."
"Yes, sir," Mr. Jun replied firmly.
Tae-hyun turned on his heel, the warehouse behind him echoing with the remnants of chaos, as Soo-ji leaned into Seo-jun's arms, safe, her eyes fluttering shut as the night finally surrendered to dawn.