Ep:4

...The Beast's Cage...

The sun had long since disappeared behind the steel skyline, and the only light that now flickered in the city came from neon signs and street lamps—faint, fleeting, like memories you couldn’t hold on to. Taehyung’s apartment was still, too still. The quiet pressed down on him like the weight of a thousand unspoken thoughts.

His mind wouldn’t stop replaying the night at the club. Jungkook’s words, the way he had touched him. Taehyung had known, from the moment he stepped into that garden, that he was playing a dangerous game—but he hadn’t realized how dangerous until now.

And now, he was addicted.

The addiction wasn’t to the power Jungkook held, nor to the danger that seemed to radiate from him. It was the feeling—the feeling of being seen. Of being something more than just a shadow, an undercover agent moving in silence.

Jungkook had made him feel... alive.

The doorbell rang, jerking Taehyung from his thoughts. It was a single, sharp sound that echoed through the silence of his apartment. He checked his watch—10:45 p.m. He had no visitors at this hour, and certainly no one he was expecting. His hand instinctively went to the gun tucked under his jacket.

He opened the door, the chain still latched, just in case. His breath caught when he saw the figure standing in the hallway.

It was Jungkook.

“What are you doing here?” Taehyung asked, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

Jungkook didn’t answer immediately. He just stood there, his dark eyes fixed on Taehyung with that unsettling calmness. He was dressed in all black, as usual, his leather jacket gleaming under the dim light.

“I came to see you,” Jungkook replied, his voice smooth, every word dripping with that dangerous charisma that made Taehyung’s heart race without warning.

“I didn’t invite you,” Taehyung said, his hand still gripping the door tightly. He wasn’t sure if it was for defense or to keep himself from stepping too close.

“Don’t need an invitation.” Jungkook’s voice was soft, but there was an edge to it that sent a chill down Taehyung’s spine. Without waiting for Taehyung’s response, he stepped forward, pushing the door open wider with ease. Taehyung didn’t resist—he couldn’t.

Jungkook’s gaze never wavered as he entered, his presence filling the room like a storm. He looked around briefly, his eyes sweeping over the sparsely decorated apartment before locking back onto Taehyung.

“You live like this?” Jungkook asked, his voice almost mocking. “Not even a painting on the wall?”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, trying to mask the rush of heat flooding his chest. “I don’t need art to survive.”

Jungkook smirked, walking further into the apartment without a care. “That’s not what you really want, though.”

Taehyung’s jaw tightened. “What do you want, Jungkook?”

The mafia boss stopped in front of him, standing close enough that Taehyung could feel the heat radiating from his body. He leaned in, his breath warm against Taehyung’s ear. “I want you,” he whispered, his voice low and dangerous.

Taehyung’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. He swallowed hard, trying to regain control of his senses. “I’m not yours to take.”

Jungkook pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Taehyung’s eyes. “You’re not mine yet,” he said, his lips curling into a slow, wicked smile. “But you will be.”

There was something about the way he said it—something that made Taehyung’s entire body tense with a combination of fear and desire. He knew Jungkook wasn’t just talking about ownership in a physical sense. He was speaking of something deeper. Something more dangerous.

“I didn’t come here to play these games,” Taehyung said, his voice firm. “I came here to end you.”

Jungkook’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but it quickly returned, darker this time. “End me?” He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. “You’re too close, Taehyun. Too close to the fire to get away unscathed.”

Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. “I can walk away from this whenever I want,” he said, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Jungkook or himself.

Jungkook leaned in again, his lips brushing against Taehyung’s jaw in a whisper of a touch that sent a shiver down his spine. “You think you can walk away? You can’t. I won’t let you.”

Before Taehyung could respond, Jungkook pulled back, his gaze dark and penetrating. “You’re already in my world, Taehyun. You’ve been in it from the moment you walked into the club.”

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Taehyung’s mind, but he quickly pushed it down. He wasn’t here for this. He wasn’t here for him. He was here to tear down the Syndicate, to bring justice, to make sure men like Jungkook didn’t get to rule over the weak.

“You don’t scare me,” Taehyung said, forcing the words out despite the tightening feeling in his chest. “I’m not like the others you’ve broken.”

Jungkook took a step forward, his expression hardening. “No, you’re not like them. You’re better. Smarter. You’ve been playing this game, but I know, deep down, you’re just like the rest of them.”

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Jungkook moved even closer, his voice dropping to a low, almost predatory whisper. “You want this just as much as I do, Taehyun. Don’t deny it. The moment you stepped into my world, you were already mine.”

For a moment, Taehyung didn’t speak. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, but he refused to let Jungkook see the effect he was having on him.

“I’m not yours,” Taehyung repeated, but this time, his voice lacked the conviction it had earlier. There was a part of him that wanted to believe it, but the more Jungkook spoke, the more the words felt hollow.

Jungkook chuckled, a dark, seductive sound. “You will be.”

The next few days blurred together, the mission becoming more complicated with every passing hour. Taehyung couldn’t escape Jungkook’s presence in his mind. The way Jungkook had looked at him, the way his touch lingered. He had never felt more torn in his life.

On the outside, Taehyung remained focused. He kept up the façade. He met with informants, gathered intel, and pieced together the fragments of the Syndicate’s empire. But every time he closed his eyes, Jungkook’s face was there, haunting him.

Jungkook didn’t make contact again until the night of the gala.

It was a rare event—an opportunity for the city’s elite to mingle, a show of power, wealth, and influence. It was also the perfect moment to bring down the Syndicate once and for all. Taehyung knew it was his chance.

But as he stepped into the grand ballroom, dressed to blend in, his eyes immediately found Jungkook across the room, surrounded by his loyal men. Jungkook’s eyes locked onto his, and Taehyung felt that familiar rush of tension flood his body.

And for the first time in a long time, Taehyung wasn’t sure if he wanted to finish this mission… or if he wanted something else entirely.

...To be continued...💜...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***