Joo-wan is wrong to dismiss them so easily.
“We strike,” I say, turning back to face them. “Tomorrow night. A coordinated hit on their operations in the contested zones. Enough to remind them that encroaching on Baekho territory has consequences.”
Joo-wan’s brow furrows. “With respect, Jin-tae, that might be an overreaction. It was just a dust-up. If we escalate?—”
“Your input is appreciated, Lieutenant,” I interrupt sharply. “But you are no longer in charge. I am. My decision is to ensure the Bulgeomhoe understand their place.”
Tension mounts in the room as Nam Joo-wan holds my gaze for a second longer than is wise then dips his head in a curt nod. He must not realize I’ve also noticed how his grip on his glass of soju has tightened or how his mouth presses into a thin line.
“As you command, Jin-tae,” he says simply.
“Min-gyu.” I turn to the younger man. “Assemble a team. I want this done cleanly. No unnecessary damage but forceful enough that they feel it.”
Min-gyu bows, his expression serious. “Understood.”
The two men file out of my office, and I remain at the window, watching the traffic navigate the city streets below.
The Bulgeomhoe are manageable. Annoying, but not an existential threat. The Baekho Pa has weathered worse and emerged stronger.
But this enemy of ours still needs reminding of who truly rules these streets.
The Baekho Pa does not tolerate disrespect.
And neither do I.
4.Jin
Monroe lies stilland asleep beside me, her body soft and warm under the bedsheets. Her breathing is slow and relaxed, eyelashes fanning against her round cheeks.
It’s minutes after eight a.m., and I’ve spent each one admiring my beautiful fiancée. The woman I’ve fallen in love with when I never even believed in love in the first place.
But I’ve realized that is what’s so special about her—she’s perhaps the only woman I could ever feel this way about.
I can’t help myself.
I lean in and press my lips to hers. Then I’m traveling elsewhere, dragging my mouth from her jaw to her throat and shoulder.
They’re slow, heavy kisses. Lazy kisses I drop as she stirs and a quiet murmur sounds from her throat.
Her eyes still don’t open, so I carry on teasing her. My lips graze the sensitive hollow between her neck and shoulder, and my warm hands slide under the sheets to palm her delicious naked curves.
Her eyes finally flutter open, and she peers at me groggily.
“Jin…” she murmurs, voice thick with sleep.
I grin against her supple brown skin. “Good morning, Tokki-ya. I thought I’d wake you the only way I know how.”
My hand fondles the soft swell of her breasts then the flat expanse of her stomach, coming to rest on her rounded hip. I’m still languid about it, every touch slow and unhurried.
Monroe doesn’t even begin to pretend she’s not interested. She hums along in approval, her hands finding my broad shoulders and back.
I travel back up to capture her mouth for a kiss she greedily accepts.
More heat shoots through me. Endless desire that will never truly be sated as far as she’s concerned.
I go to bed thinking about how I must have my little rabbit and wake up in the morning plagued by the same obsessive inclinations.
We’ve been together for more than a year now, yet rather than grow stale, the familiarity has only increased our hunger for each other.
