Our hideout was tucked away where no one bothered to look.
It was an abandoned apartment building, half-collapsed and forgotten by the city's developers. But beneath the rubble sat a concealed floor with reinforced walls and dim, warm lights. It was home. Or at least, it was safer than any other hole we'd crawled into.
Junseo dropped the bag of money onto the sofa and flopped down right after it, his arms spread wide in victory. I stayed standing.
The alleyway fight kept replaying behind my eyes—the timing, the way they moved. It was too clean to be a random mugging, yet too sloppy for top-tier professionals. It was a message.
Junseo noticed my silence. He pushed himself up, resting his chin on his hands.
"Hyung," he said quietly, the joking tone gone. "That has never happened before. Not after a Byung deal."
"I know," I said honestly. "That's what's bothering me."
"Who were those guys?"
"I don't know yet." I looked at the reinforced door. "But someone is watching us. They weren't normal thugs, and they'll be back."
Silence stretched between us, heavy with the realization that our 'quiet' life was over.
Then, Junseo tilted his head, his eyes wide with fake horror. "So… does this mean we're staying in tonight? Hiding like scared kittens?"
I stared at him for a second. Then, a smirk broke across my face. "As if we've ever let a few thugs ruin our night."
Junseo burst out laughing, falling back onto the cushions. "Soju?"
"The bar," I corrected. "The good one."
He shot up instantly, his tension evaporating like mist. "Yes! Real liquor, loud music, and people who don't try to stab us. But first," he grinned, pointing at my dusty jacket, "go get fresh. You smell like alleyway bricks."
The bar was loud enough to drown out my thoughts.
Neon lights bled into the dark corners, and the bass from the speakers thumped through the floorboards. It was the kind of place where you could disappear in plain sight. I took a seat at the scarred wooden counter.
"Chamisul," I told the bartender. I paused, then added, "And a shot of Chivas."
Junseo whistled behind me. "Mixing like a true criminal. I love it."
The glass was cold and familiar. I took a sip, letting the burn of the alcohol clear the fog in my head. That's when a smooth, playful voice slid into my ear.
"Are you always this serious, pretty boy?"
I didn't turn. I just glanced sideways. She was leaning against the bar, watching me with an amused smile. "Rude," she laughed.
"My name's Suhee."
"Seolwol," I replied, finally facing her.
Her eyes lingered on mine a second too long. "Interesting name for an interesting guy."
"And I'm Junseo!" My brother appeared between us, leaning far too close.
"Technically we're brothers, but he's the old, grumpy one."
Suhee raised a brow. "I'm actually kind of interested in your hyung."
Junseo grinned. "Bad taste. He's a total playboy."
I didn't correct him. I just caught Suhee's eye over the rim of my glass. "Is that so?"
"I like playboys," she whispered, leaning closer.
For a moment, things felt normal. It was the fun kind of dangerous. Easy. But then—the music cut.
It didn't fade out. It stopped dead.
Conversations died mid-sentence. The air in the room grew heavy, like the pressure before a storm. People began backing away from the bar as thirty men in identical black coats filled the entrance. They weren't bouncers. They were soldiers.
I set my glass down. Carefully.
Junseo was at my side in a heartbeat, his eyes narrowing. "Aish… can we not have one night off?"
Suhee had already vanished into the shadows. I turned slowly, my irritation rising.
"Before I make every one of you unconscious," I said, my voice steady and cold, "tell me who sent you. And why you're following us."
None of them spoke. One man sneered, pulling a flick-knife from his pocket. He lunged—
"Enough."
The word was deep, heavy, and carried a thick Eastern European accent. The room froze. A tall man stepped forward, his presence swallowing the light. He had broad shoulders and eyes the color of old amber—sharp, unblinking, and terrifyingly calm.
"I sent them," he said.
The knife-wielder stopped instantly. Junseo lowered his stance slightly. "Oh. The boss has arrived."
The man ignored Junseo, his eyes locked onto mine. "Borislav Volkov," he said. "And I don't enjoy being ignored."
"Then you chose a very loud way to introduce yourself," I replied.
Borislav smiled. It wasn't a friendly look. "I disagree. You noticed me, didn't you?" He stepped closer, his boots echoing in the silence. "I have a deal for you, Kim Seolwol."
"You should've started with that," I said, "before bringing an army into my favorite bar."
Borislav chuckled. "Oh, my friend. This isn't the army. This is just the greeting party."
Borislav didn't blink. Not once.
"I don't like tests," I told him, leaning back against the bar to look relaxed.
"That's unfortunate," Borislav replied.
"Because you've already passed the first one. You and your brother are difficult to find, and even harder to corner. That makes you valuable."
"Try using a phone next time," I said. "It's less dramatic."
"I dislike men who pretend to be harmless," Borislav said approvingly. "And I know you are anything but harmless."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"There is something that everyone wants.
Governments. Corporations. Kings. I know you can get it for me."
Junseo looked at me sharply. "Hyung—"
I lifted a finger, and Junseo went silent.
Borislav's smile widened. "See? Even your brother knows when to listen."
That annoyed me more than the knives did.
"Get to the point, Volkov. Before I decide you're wasting my time."
Borislav finally blinked. Just once. "I'll give you forty-eight hours to hear my full offer. Meet me then."
"And if we say no?"
His eyes hardened like stone. "Then you walk away. Alive. For now."
"Wow," Junseo scoffed. "How generous."
Borislav ignored him, turning to leave. The men in black parted for him like a dark sea.
At the door, he paused and looked over his shoulder. "Oh, and Seolwol? You were followed tonight because I allowed it. Next time, I won't be so polite."
Then, they were gone.
The music kicked back in, but the vibe was ruined. The bar felt small and cold. I picked up my drink and stared into the amber liquid.
Someone had finally found us. Someone who wasn't afraid of us.
And for the first time in years, the "twin Brothers" weren't the ones doing the haunting.