Rated M for Mature.
Some of the coming scenes in this story deal with some topics which may be upsetting to some readers.
Proceed with caution if you are easily upset or grossed out. Please don’t read any more of this story if you find it upsetting.
Jungkook closed his eyes. Lee Kwangjo hated him. For good reason. Years ago when Jungkook had been active in the company, he had wounded Lee Kwangjo’s son. The only reason her father hadn’t hurt Jungkook already was because he couldn’t reach him.
“Your father is Lee Kwangjo? Of the Son gang?”
He had to clarify her statement. Just to be sure.
She glanced sharply up at him.
How did he know that?
She nodded.
It was him. Jungkook closed his eyes. This was bad. Really bad. He was going to start a war between his father and hers if he dated her.
“Is your brother Lee Hangil?”
She gasped. “How did you know that?”
He just looked at her. “He’s your brother? Are you close to him?”
The blood had just drained out of his face. He was staring at her with wide eyes. He was scaring her now. More than she’d already been.
She shook her head. “I am not close to him. He’s vicious. He’s actually my step-brother,” she shuddered, “but my father adopted him because he had no son. He wanted someone to pass the company on to.”
“Would you be upset with someone who had wounded your stepbrother?”
“What?”
His question jiggled a memory. It suddenly popped up. Five years ago, her brother had returned after midnight one night. He’d ripped his T-shirt and wound it around his leg to staunch the flow of blood. He’d been stabbed in the thigh by someone. The wound had bled profusely. She had thought he was going to bleed out.
He’d made her stuff the wound with gauze and wrap ace bandages around it as tight as he could stand. To this day, she could still see that wound if she closed her eyes and focused on it. She’d nearly vomited as she’d bandaged him. Shoving the gauze in had been the worst part. She gagged now just thinking about it.
“Someone did wound him once. I had to treat his leg and bandage it.”
“I’m sorry,” Jungkook whispered, “but he tried to kill me that night. That knife jab saved my life.”
She stared at him. After a shocked moment, her brain unfroze and began to work again. Her eyes grew wide. “You stabbed my brother?”
He nodded. “Do you hate me now?”
His expression was stark. His eyes black holes in the midst of his suddenly pale face.
Was this the moment when he lost her?
“You’re in the company?” She paused. “A different company?”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then he locked eyes with her again. “No. I am not in any company. I broke away from my father three years ago. I’ve lived in peace since. But my father and your father are mortal enemies.”
She gasped. “Your father is Gwan…?”
“…Bongju,” he whispered as he nodded.
She closed her eyes now. “No. No. No. That’s why my father was so insistent. He hates you. You. Gwan Bongju’s son. But your name is Jeon Jungkook.”
He shook his head. “My name was Gwan Jungkook. I had it legally changed to avoid any connection to my father when I broke away from him and his company three years ago.”
She closed her eyes as a tear slid down her face. This was hopeless.
“Jungkook, can you see now? Do you understand? We can’t ever be together now.”
He stared down at her. They were alone. In the privacy of her apartment. He was going to take advantage of that fact.
He bent his head and brushed her lips with his own. “I love you,” he murmured against those luscious lips.
She pulled away. “No! Jungkook, he’ll kill you!”
“No, he won’t. He’ll try, but he won’t succeed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s in my father’s best interest to keep me alive. At all costs.” He exhaled sharply. “I have a security detail that follows me everywhere.”
But then he realized she might be the one in mortal danger now. He would have to make it clear to his father that she was also off-limits. He was glad he had put that clause in about the avalanche also being triggered by any disappearance on his part.
Puzzled, she frowned. “How come I’ve never seen them?”
“They stay back a bit. But they’re there. I’ve told them not to interfere in my life. But if I were in danger, they would suddenly become quite deadly, I do assure you.”
“Why?”
“Because their livelihood depends on my continued existence.”
Was he telling her too much?
Holy, yes!!! I officially love you!