Ep:5

...Masquerade of Lies...

The gala was a masterpiece of opulence, the kind of event that could swallow a person whole and leave them lost in a sea of glittering faces. The air was thick with perfume and the scent of expensive whiskey, the rhythmic clink of glasses punctuating every conversation. It was a world Taehyung had never been part of, but tonight, he was supposed to be. Tonight, he was here to tear it down.

Taehyung stepped into the grand ballroom, his black tuxedo hugging his lean frame in a way that made him look like a shadow drifting through the crowd. His eyes, however, weren’t focused on the extravagance of the room or the other guests. No, his gaze was fixed on one person only.

Jungkook.

The mafia boss stood at the far side of the room, his tall frame surrounded by a cluster of men who seemed both loyal and utterly terrified of him. His suit was sharp, the color a deep, almost unnatural black, the kind of black that whispered power. His dark eyes scanned the room with the same intensity they always held, but when they landed on Taehyung, the world seemed to stop for just a moment.

Taehyung’s pulse quickened as Jungkook’s gaze never wavered. Even across the crowded room, it felt as though the man could see right through him. The very air around them seemed charged, their connection an electric current that no one else in the room could feel—but both of them knew it was there.

He adjusted his cufflinks, forcing himself to break the eye contact, trying to focus on the task at hand. He had to remind himself why he was here: to gather information, to bring down the Syndicate. His emotions didn’t matter.

But his body disagreed.

The slow, heavy beat of the music seemed to echo in his chest, and as Taehyung moved through the room, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the eyes following him. Some of them knew who he was—his cover as an informant within the Syndicate had become known to a select few. But most of them had no idea who he truly was. That was the part that made this whole thing so dangerous.

As Taehyung worked his way around the room, exchanging pleasantries with those he knew and keeping his head low, he could feel Jungkook’s eyes on him the entire time. The weight of that gaze was suffocating, like a hand pressed firmly against his chest.

And then, when he was least expecting it, the brush of a warm hand on his lower back sent a jolt of electricity through him. The familiar scent of Jungkook’s cologne wrapped around him like a chain, pulling him in.

“Did you miss me?” Jungkook’s voice was low, dark, and impossibly close. It was a whisper meant for his ears alone, but it carried the weight of a thousand secrets.

Taehyung stiffened, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn’t seen Jungkook approach. He hadn’t even heard his footsteps. But now, the man was standing behind him, his hand pressed lightly against his back, his breath warm on the back of his neck.

“I didn’t come here to play your games, Jungkook,” Taehyung said, his voice betraying none of the nerves he was feeling. He kept his gaze forward, pretending to examine the art on the walls as if it were the most interesting thing in the room.

Jungkook’s hand slid from his back to his shoulder, a touch that was far too intimate for a public setting. The lightness of it was calculated, teasing—like a silent warning that he was in control.

“You never came here to play games,” Jungkook murmured, his voice like velvet. “But you’re already playing, Taehyun. You’ve been playing since the moment you stepped into my world.”

Taehyung clenched his jaw, his entire body tensing at the implication. “Don’t think you have me figured out, Jungkook.”

Jungkook’s fingers curled gently into his shoulder, just enough to make Taehyung’s breath hitch. “I know exactly what you are. You’re not as cold as you pretend to be.” He leaned in, his lips just barely brushing against Taehyung’s ear. “You want me as much as I want you.”

Taehyung stiffened, forcing himself to remain still, but his body betrayed him—his pulse quickened, his chest tight. He wanted to push him away, to brush off the words as nothing more than a game to Jungkook, but there was a part of him that knew Jungkook wasn’t lying. He wasn’t playing games.

And that thought terrified him.

“I’m not here for that,” Taehyung said, his voice a little firmer this time as he stepped away from Jungkook, putting some much-needed space between them. He couldn’t afford to let this continue. Not here. Not now.

Jungkook didn’t move to stop him, but his gaze—dark, calculating—never left him. “You think you can resist me forever?” Jungkook asked, his voice thick with challenge, and maybe, just a hint of something else. “I’ll make you see that you don’t have a choice.”

Taehyung opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, there was a sudden movement behind them. Several men from the Syndicate—Jungkook’s most trusted lieutenants—entered the room, their eyes scanning for their boss. One of them, a tall man with sharp features, approached Jungkook with a serious expression.

“Boss, we need to talk,” the man said, his voice low but urgent.

Jungkook gave Taehyung one last lingering look before turning his attention to the man, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips. “Give me a moment,” he said, his tone carrying an authority that made the man hesitate before nodding and stepping back.

Jungkook turned back to Taehyung. “Duty calls. But don’t go far, Taehyun.” There was an unmistakable promise in his voice, one that sent a shiver down Taehyung’s spine. “We’re far from done.”

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Taehyung couldn’t focus on anything other than the heat of Jungkook’s presence, the pull between them growing stronger with each passing second. He knew he should’ve been taking notes, gathering more information, but his mind kept drifting back to the man who held his attention so completely.

As the gala came to a close, and the guests began to trickle out into the night, Taehyung couldn’t shake the feeling that Jungkook was waiting for something—waiting for him.

He knew this was no longer just about the mission. It had become personal. The lines between agent and mafia king had blurred in ways that were becoming harder to ignore.

Taehyung didn’t have to look behind him to know that Jungkook had followed him outside. He could feel the weight of the other man’s gaze on his back like a brand searing into his skin.

“Going somewhere?” Jungkook’s voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, something darker beneath the surface.

“I need air,” Taehyung replied, keeping his tone cool, even though his pulse was racing.

Jungkook stepped closer, until he was right next to him. Taehyung didn’t dare look at him, knowing the moment their eyes met, everything would change.

“You’re mine, Taehyun,” Jungkook said, his voice just above a whisper. “And I’m not letting you go.”

...To be continued...💜...

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