I could fucking kill someone right about now.
This wasn't how I'd planned to spend my night. Unlike these two dipshits, I had plans—a night with a sexy brunette who gave mind-blowing head. Instead, I was at the damn pier, dealing with a body.
I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, jaw clenched.
This wasn't even our job. My father's men usually handled clean-up. But tonight? This was punishment. Dad's idea of discipline. Always the fucking cock-blocker.
We pulled up to the edge of the shore. No one said a word. Just the hum of the engine and the sound of our collective resentment.
We parked, stepped out, and masked up. One glance at Chen and Kang, and I already regretted being here.
"How the hell did you not know she was a dirty cop?" Chen snapped as he slammed the passenger door shut.
Kang growled, matching his energy. "Chen, líkāi tā. (Leave it.) I'm not in the mood."
I leaned against the car bonnet, watching with bored eyes as my two idiot brothers started to square up—again.
"Leave it?" Chen repeated, coming around the front of the car. "You brought this shit on all of us."
Kang balled his fists. "Shì. (Yes.) I'll do whatever the fuck I want. You're not the boss of me."
"I'm not trying to be," Chen muttered, shooting him a glare. "But I thought all that cocaine shit was left behind in China."
Kang slapped his hand away. "What are you now? My Mǔqīn? (Mother) If I want to snort coke, I'll snort coke."
Chen's voice rose. "And overdose again?"
Oof. Too far.
I pushed off the car and stepped between them before fists started flying.
"Enough," I growled. "Kang, get the damn body. Let's get this over with."
Kang shouldered past Chen and yanked the trunk open. "Mind your own business," he muttered, pulling out the body wrapped in a white sheet, stained deep red. He hauled it into the ocean without hesitation.
Job done.
I shook my head and chuckled dryly. "One brother's screwing cops, the other's acting like our mother. What a picture-perfect family, huh?"
I turned to Chen. "Look, Kang can screw up all he wants. If he burns, that's on him. You don't need to play mom—we already lost one."
Kang exhaled sharply. "For the hundredth time, I didn't know she was a cop."
I whirled on him. "Of course you didn't. You were too busy snorting coke off her ass to realise who you were sticking your dick into. Spies are everywhere, and guess who they love spying on? Us. Sons of crime lords."
"I didn't know!" Kang shouted. "I wouldn't have touched her if I did!"
"Dàn nǐ zuò dàole," I snapped. (But you did.)
"Yuta—" Chen tried to interrupt, but I ignored him.
Kang sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I should've been smarter."
"I'm not the one you owe an apology to," I muttered. "Just don't drag the family into your mess."
Kang clenched his jaw and turned away.
"You fucked up," I said.
"You don't think I know that!?" he snarled.
I slapped him. Not hard, just enough to make him look at me.
"Get your shit together. Otherwise, next time, it's your body we'll be tossing into the ocean."
"Yuta!" Chen snapped.
"What, Chen?" I barked.
He didn't respond at first. Just pointed silently toward the pier above us.
I followed his gaze.
Long blue hair caught the moonlight.
Shit.
Our neighbour.
"Is that…?" Kang started.
"Shì," (Yes) I said. "That's our neighbour."
"Do you think she saw everything?" Kang asked.
I glared at him. "Does it matter?"
Right then, she bolted.
"Fuck."
I lunged forward, but Chen grabbed my arm.
"Don't," he said quickly. "It's dark. She might not have seen clearly. We're masked."
"I'm not taking that risk."
I shoved him off and chased after her.
Maggie
The second I started to run, panic seized my chest. I gasped for air, my legs moving on instinct. I glanced back—and screamed when a hand yanked my hair.
"Let me go!" I whimpered, trying to claw at the grip on my scalp.
Laughter. Dark. Familiar.
I bit the arm around my waist hard enough to taste skin. Whoever it was cursed and let me go. I hit the ground, scrambled, and kept running.
"Huí dào zhè lái!" (Come back here!)
The shout boomed behind me.
I ignored it and ran faster.
But someone was gaining on me. Fast.
An arm wrapped around my waist again.
"Get your hands off me!" I shouted.
A hand slammed over my mouth.
"Shut the fuck up before I cut out your tongue," the voice hissed.
My heart stopped.
That voice.
Yuta.
I thrashed wildly in his grip. He grunted, holding tight. I bit his palm—hard.
"Shit!" he cursed.
I slipped free—only to be caught again.
Kang.
He spun me around, pressed me to his chest.
"Well, well. We meet again."
"Get off me, bil-eomeog-eul saekki!" (Fucking bastard!) I screamed.
"Yes," he whispered into my ear, his breath hot. "Keep talking dirty in that language. It's turning me on."
His hand groped my breast.
I slammed my hip back, connecting with his groin. He howled and shoved me away.
I turned to run again—but Yuta stood in my path.
"Move," I snapped.
He didn't.
"I said move!" I shrieked.
Hands grabbed me from behind. Chen.
He didn't meet my eyes.
"Please," I begged. "I won't say anything. I promise."
Yuta tilted his head. "And what exactly did you see?"
I hesitated.
Kang's voice was low and threatening. "My brother asked you a question."
I swallowed. Hard. "I… I saw you dump a body."
Silence.
Then, without warning, Yuta stepped forward and backhanded me.
Pain exploded in my skull. I dropped to the ground.
He knelt beside me, brushing hair behind my ear.
"Open that pretty mouth of yours about tonight, and I'll kill you. Understand?"
I glared at him, breathing hard.
He grabbed my chin roughly. "Don't make me repeat myself. I know where you live. Where you sleep. Where you breathe. You can't hide from me. Understand?"
"Yes," I whispered through clenched teeth. "I understand."
Yuta stood. "Good girl. Let's go."
Kang groaned. "That's it? We're letting her walk?"
"She knows the price if she talks," Yuta said coldly.
Kang grinned and ran a finger across his throat.
Asshole.
I stood up, shoved Chen off, and looked each of them in the eye. "I said I won't say anything. I keep my promises."
No response. Just stone faces.
Then they turned, climbed back over the railing, and vanished into the night.
I stood alone.
Shaking.
"What the fuck…"
"Maggie?"
I spun around.
My mother walked toward me, two coffee cups in her hands.
"Mother."
"Sorry for the wait. The queue was mun bakk- eulo." (Out the door.)
I tried to focus. Tried to seem normal. But my head was still reeling.
"If it was so long, why didn't you go somewhere else?" I asked.
She shrugged. "The Coffee Lounge is the best. Everyone knows that."
I nodded. "Dangsin-i maj-ayo." (You're right.)
She handed me a cup and winked. "I know I am."
I took a long sip, the warmth grounding me. "Shall we head home?"
"I thought we were going to talk about your first time?"
I sipped again, hiding my expression.
She watched me. "Actually, I'm feeling tired."
"Want me to drive?" I asked softly.
"Gwaenchanh-a." (Okay.)
She dropped the keys into my hand and slid her arm through mine.
Together, we walked toward the car.
In silence.