“Kept me in a cage next to his bed. Made me kneel at his feet during business meetings. Used me whenever he felt like it.” I shrug, trying for nonchalant. “You know, standard crazy criminal behavior.”
“Standard—Yujeong, that’s notstandard, that’s fucking insane!” Wooil starts pacing, his hands going to his hair like he wants to pull it out. “You bonded yourself to a psychopath who kept you in acage. Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be standing here right now and not in several pieces scattered across the Han River?”
“I mean, the cage was pretty spacious actually—”
“I’m going to kill you myself and save him the trouble!” Wooil whirls on me. “How did you even escape? Please tell me you didn’t do something stupid.”
I flash him my best innocent smile. “I picked the lock on the cage when he left for a business dinner, stole some clothes, and climbed out a window.”
Wooil stares at me. Just stares, his mouth slightly open, like he’s trying to process whether I’m joking or not. When he realizes I’m serious, he makes a strangled noise and resumes pacing. “You’re going to die. You’re actually going to die, and I’m going to have to identify your body and explain to all of our friends that you got yourself murdered by a mob boss because you wanted to get your ass fucked.”
“Hey, it was really good ass-fucking though—”
“Not helping!” Wooil points at me accusingly.
I take another sip of coffee, considering this. “I don’t think he’ll kill me.”
“Oh, you don’tthink—”
“He’s too fond of my ass now, even if he’d never admit it.” I grin at Wooil’s expression of pure exasperation. “Besides, I’m his bonded. The bond goes both ways. He’s probably just as sexually frustrated without me as I was before I found him.”
Wooil closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, clearly trying to find patience.
“I know, I know.” I wave a hand dismissively. “That’s why I’m laying low for a while. His goons are going to be all over the city looking for me. I’ll probably have to move apartments again, maybe crash with you for a bit—”
“Absolutely not! You are not leading a crazy gangster and his attack dogs to my door!”
“Fine, fine. I’ll figure something out.” I drain the rest of the coffee and toss the can in the recycling bin behind his counter. “Point is, don’t worry too much if I go missing again. I’m probably just chained up in Suha’s basement or something.”
“That’s not reassuring! That’s the opposite of reassuring!” Wooil looks like he’s about to have an aneurysm. “You can’t just casually mention being chained in a basement like it’s a minor inconvenience!”
I shrug.
Wooil stares at me for a long moment, his expression cycling from exasperation to genuine concern and back again. Finally, he just shakes his head slowly and says flatly, “You’re a crazy motherfucker, you know that?”
I grin.
“I’m serious, Yujeong.” Wooil’s voice drops, losing some of its heat but gaining weight. “Don’t poke the bear. Playing games with someone like Yoon Suha is a good way to get yourself seriously hurt or worse. This isn’t some loan shark you can dodge or some underground fighter you can outmaneuver. This is abig time mobsterwho has the resources and the ruthlessness to make you disappear permanently.”
He steps closer, lowering his voice even though we’re alone in the shop. “You got lucky this time. But next time? There might not be a next time. He could decide you’re more trouble than you’re worth, bond or no bond, and put a bullet in your head.”
I can see the genuine worry in Wooil’s eyes, the fear for me that he’s trying to hide behind his usual sarcasm and irritation. He knows me better than anyone.
Which is probably why he knows his warning isn’t going to stick.
I laugh, the sound coming out lighter than I feel, and clap him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry so much. I’m just having fun.”
I head toward the back room, already planning my next move. “Now, you got any burner phones lying around? I need to replace mine and I’d rather not use anything that can be easily traced.”
Behind me, I hear Wooil mutter something that sounds like “fucking masochist” and “death wish,” but he’s already moving to dig through his inventory.
I grin to myself. Yeah, maybe I am crazy. But Suha’s pheromones are still lingering in my system, making my skin buzz and my body ache for more. The bond pulls at something deep in my chest, a constant awareness of him even when he’s not here.
And honestly? I’ve never felt more alive.
The next two weeks turn into the most fun I’ve had in years.
Suha’s henchmen come looking for me, just like I knew they would. They’re everywhere—staking out my gym, lurking around the noodle shop where my friends and I grab lunch, watching the entrance to Wooil’s pawn shop from across the street. I spot them easily enough. They’re good at what they do,professional and coordinated, but they’re also predictable. They move in patterns, stick to protocols, follow orders. I’ve spent my whole life running from people who want to find me, and these guys are just another challenge to overcome.
