The room hadn't relaxed after the introductions. If anything, the air had grown heavier.
No one moved with ease. Eyes lingered too long on faces, then slid away. It was a room full of predators measuring one another without saying a single word. Only Peter and Orina spoke in low, hushed tones, their calm voices sounding strange in a place that felt like the edge of a cliff.
I barely heard them. My thoughts were already miles ahead, drifting toward consequences I hadn't fully shaped yet. The weight of the deal pressed behind my ribs, cold and unsettling.
Then—he entered.
Junseo noticed him instantly. He leaned toward me, his voice a dangerous murmur. "That guy. The one from the alley. The one who couldn't keep his mouth shut."
I followed his gaze. It was the same man from earlier—the one with the gold tooth and the faint arrogance that only survives because it hides behind stronger men. He glanced at Junseo, his lip curling in disdain.
He thought we were just "local talent" he could look down on.
Orina's attention snapped to the shift in energy. "What's going on?" she asked, her brows knitting together.
Junseo didn't answer her. He didn't have to.
He stepped forward, his expression calm, almost polite. "Now that the deal is officially done..."
CRACK.
Junseo didn't finish the sentence. He just threw a clean, lightning-fast punch.
The sound was sharp and echoing. The man staggered back, shock exploding across his face as he hit the polished floor with a heavy thud. For a heartbeat, the room went silent. I expected the guards to pull their guns. I expected blood.
Then—laughter.
It wasn't mocking or cruel; it was amused.
Peter and the others watched with a familiar smirk, as if this kind of thing was just a typical Tuesday in their world. The man on the floor didn't retaliate. He didn't even curse. He just looked toward the doorway, a flicker of genuine fear crossing his eyes.
That told me everything I needed to know—he was a bottom-feeder, and he knew he'd messed with the wrong being.
Junseo straightened his jacket and rolled his shoulder. The tension drained from him instantly. He looked lighter. Satisfied.
I stayed silent. He needed that release. I already had enough weight in my head for both of us.
Footsteps approached, heavy and rhythmic.
Borislav entered the room, his gaze sweeping over the man on the floor without a pause or a comment. If he disapproved of Junseo's "greeting," he didn't show it. He crossed to the center table and slapped a thick stack of documents down.
"Both of you," Borislav said evenly. "Get ready."
Junseo blinked, rubbing his knuckles. "For what?"
"We leave tomorrow evening."
I picked up the papers. My eyes scanned the text—flight routes, extraction points, names, and timelines. "Where?" I asked.
Borislav met my gaze with those unblinking amber eyes. "Russia."
The word settled like lead.
"We were waiting for you to sign," Borislav continued. "Now we move—to where the real game begins. Welcome to your new beginning, Seolwol."
Junseo looked at me, searching for an answer. I didn't look back. I already knew that when we returned to our place tonight, I'd have a lot to explain. And none of it would be easy.
Back at our hideout, the silence was different. It was the silence of a home that was about to be abandoned.
I sat in my usual corner, a half-crushed beer can hanging loosely in my hand. Junseo lay on his side on the couch across from me, his head propped on his arm, watching my face. He was waiting for the moment I'd finally break and tell him it was all a joke.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. I didn't know when the paint had turned that dull shade of grey. It's funny how you can live somewhere for years and still miss the simplest things until you're about to leave them.
Junseo grabbed a cushion and hurled it at my face. It sailed over my head and hit the wall. I didn't even flinch.
"Missed," I said.
He clicked his tongue. "Hyung."
I glanced at him. "Yeah?"
"How can you do this?" he asked, his voice leaking irritation and fear. "Why take this deal? Why Russia of all places? It's freezing, it's dangerous, and we don't know anyone there."
"Don't you ever want to try something new?"
I said. The words sounded casual. Too casual. Inside, something was twisting slowly—a quiet, persistent doubt. Did I choose right?
I sat up, looking at him properly this time.
"Why do you always listen to me, Junseo?
You could've said no. You could've walked away while we were at the bar."
Junseo frowned as if the answer was the simplest thing in the world. "Why wouldn't I listen? We're brothers." He shifted closer, his voice steadying. "And brothers stay together. No matter what."
Something warm and uncomfortable settled in my chest. I smiled faintly. "Then let's wait and see. Maybe destiny has something good planned for us for once."
Junseo raised a brow. "You don't sound convinced."
"Or," I added lightly, "we retire early after this. Open a small shop somewhere warm. No more glass cutters. No more dogs."
He let out a long sigh, rubbing his face. "You always say ridiculous things when you're scared, hyung."
I didn't deny it.
After a moment, he spoke again, his voice much quieter now. "Whatever happens… if you're there, I can go anywhere."
The room fell silent. I crushed the beer can in my hand, the metal groaning under the pressure. This deal wasn't just about a job in Russia. It was about how far I was willing to drag us both into the dark—and whether I was strong enough to bring us back into the light.