Ep:3

...A King’s Hunger...

The city was a blur of neon lights and shadows as Taehyung walked through the streets, the cold air biting at his skin. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Jungkook. The mafia king had a way of slipping into his thoughts, like smoke weaving through cracks in a wall—unseen but inescapable.

The encounter in the garden replayed in his mind. Jungkook’s words, the way his fingers had lingered on his skin—every touch had felt too deliberate, too intimate. And yet, there was a part of Taehyung that couldn’t ignore the way his heart had stuttered, how his body had responded. He hated it.

Focus. You’re here for a job.

But the deeper he went into the world of the Syndicate, the harder it was to separate the mission from the man.

Back at the Eden Club, the tension was palpable. Taehyung was summoned again. This time, the message was simple: Meet me. Now.

When Taehyung arrived, the club felt even more suffocating than usual. The music throbbed through the air, a constant reminder of the power that lay in the hands of the man who ruled this place. He made his way past the bouncers, his heart steady, but his senses on edge. He wasn’t sure what to expect this time—Jungkook had a habit of doing the unexpected.

Taehyung entered the VIP section. Jungkook sat at his usual spot, his presence dominating the space. This time, his demeanor was different—he was no longer the man who had played with Taehyung in the garden. His expression was darker, more intense, like a predator who had caught the scent of prey. His eyes locked onto Taehyung the moment he entered.

“I didn’t think you’d come back so soon,” Jungkook said, his voice low and teasing, but there was something else in it—an edge of hunger. It made the hairs on the back of Taehyung’s neck stand up.

Taehyung ignored the chill running down his spine, stepping forward without hesitation. “You summoned me.”

Jungkook’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “And you came. Interesting.”

The air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken tension, thick enough that Taehyung almost felt suffocated by it.

“I’m not here to play games,” Taehyung said, his tone cool, but it was becoming harder to keep the calm mask in place. Jungkook’s presence had a way of making everything feel more charged, more dangerous.

“No? I think you’re already playing one,” Jungkook replied, his voice laced with amusement. “And you’re losing.”

Taehyung forced a smile, a response he knew was only a fraction of the way he truly felt. “I’m not losing anything.”

Jungkook leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. “You’re not as immune as you think, Taehyun.”

Before Taehyung could respond, a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist with surprising force. It was Jungkook—his fingers gripping tightly, possessively. Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat. The strength in Jungkook’s hold was intoxicating, but he quickly reminded himself to keep his distance.

He pulled his wrist away with purpose, meeting Jungkook’s eyes head-on. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’m here for anything other than business.”

Jungkook’s lips parted in that signature smirk. “Business? Is that really what we’re doing here? Because I don’t think you’re telling me the whole truth.”

Taehyung’s pulse quickened, but he managed to keep his composure. “You want to make me an offer, Jungkook?”

The mafia boss let out a breath, his eyes flicking to the men around them before focusing back on Taehyung. His expression was darker now, the playful edge gone.

“I’m offering you something much better than what you’re here for,” Jungkook said, his voice low, a warning hidden beneath the calm exterior. “I’m offering you the truth.”

“The truth?” Taehyung echoed, skeptical.

Jungkook’s gaze flicked to his lips, then back up to his eyes. The air was thick with tension. “The truth is that you want this. You want me.”

For a brief moment, Taehyung’s heart stuttered. He wasn’t sure if it was from the audacity of the words or the weight of their meaning. But before he could respond, Jungkook was already standing, his hand brushing against Taehyung’s arm with a deliberate softness that felt like a promise.

“If you’re here to bring me down, then you’ve already lost,” Jungkook whispered. “But if you’re here for something else, something... more,” he trailed his finger down Taehyung’s arm, lingering for a moment before pulling away, “then we’ll see how far this game goes.”

Taehyung’s head was spinning as he left the club. Every step felt heavier than the last, like the weight of his choices was starting to suffocate him. He knew he was walking a fine line, and he couldn’t afford to let his emotions get in the way of the mission. But the more he faced Jungkook, the harder it became to remember why he was here in the first place.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

“Mission update: Get closer to Jungkook. No mistakes.”

Taehyung read the message and sighed. He wasn’t making any mistakes. He wasn’t. But the harder he tried to stick to the mission, the more he found himself slipping.

The problem was, he wasn’t sure what he was slipping into.

Later that night, as Taehyung sat in his apartment, the city lights flickering in the distance, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being pulled in by something more than the mission. Jungkook had seen him—more than anyone had. And in some twisted way, he was starting to feel... alive in a way he hadn’t in years.

The knock on the door startled him from his thoughts. His hand instinctively went to the gun under his jacket, but when he opened the door, it was just Jimin.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Jimin said, his eyes scanning Taehyung’s face with an unspoken question.

“I’m fine,” Taehyung replied quickly, shutting the door behind him. “Just... thinking.”

Jimin raised an eyebrow. “About the mission?”

Taehyung didn’t answer immediately. “About him,” he finally said, his voice betraying him. “Jeon Jungkook.”

Jimin’s expression shifted to something more serious. “Tae... this is dangerous. You’re getting too close. Don’t let him mess with your head.”

Taehyung met Jimin’s gaze. For a moment, there was a flicker of something—something deep, something unsettling.

“I know,” Taehyung said quietly. “But I think I’ve already crossed that line.”

...To be continued...💜...

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