“Do we really have to sit uncomfortably like this?”
Hunter complained with his arms crossed. On either side of him sat Theo’s massive henchmen. Theo, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Hunter and said,
“Be thankful I didn’t tie your hands and feet.”
“Why not blindfold me too while you’re at it?”
“I’m already regretting that. Next time I’ll add a gag too.”
“What refined tastes you have.”
Hunter sneered. Theo snorted and fell silent. His expression quickly hardened.
“You’ve lost all your charm, Theo.”
Hunter remarked, quietly observing Theo’s change in expression.
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“In the past, you would have clung to me, begging to play, but now you’re the first to cut off the conversation.”
“You seem to have forgotten, you’re being dragged away right now. You should be grateful I’m even talking to you.”
“Well, I allowed myself to be caught. Out of consideration for our past relationship.”
“Haha, past relationship? Don’t bullshit me, Hunter.”
Theo’s eyes twisted fiercely.
“You and I aren’t the kind of people who would have anything like a ‘past relationship.'”
Hunter shrugged. He neither refuted nor responded to that.
In the very back seat, Hyungoh, squeezed between sturdy men like Hunter, silently watched their exchange. So there really was something between them that I don’t know about. From what he heard, it was vaguely understandable. Theo seemed to harbor some resentment toward Hunter, while Hunter was playing innocent.
Theo had wanted to find Hunter as much as Hyungoh did, and his feelings for him hadn’t disappeared. But looking at the current situation, it didn’t seem like he was searching for his uncle out of pure sentiment or longing.
Hyungoh stared intently at Theo’s grim face. Why? Why did he want to take my uncle away so badly that he even had to deceive me?
Still, there was something he trusted about him. After all, in the past, Theo had always been someone who helped him.
“You’re quiet,” Hunter addressed Hyungoh in Korean.
“From the looks of it, you’re digging yourself into a hole with worry again, but don’t be so scared. We still have Taylor.”
“…Is Taylor some kind of trump card?”
“Maybe not a trump card, but he’s someone who can help when it matters.”
“Both of you, shut up. No Korean allowed.”
“Haha. What’s the matter? This isn’t the first time. Shouldn’t you be figuring out Korean by now?”
“Fine. Hey, Hyungoh. How do you say ‘Elder, please shut the hell up’ in Korean?”
“……”
Theo turned to look at Hyungoh, who wasn’t responding.
“Why aren’t you answering? Are you upset?”
Hyungoh, who had been seriously considering the question, almost let out a chuckle but held it back. Upset? What am I, a child?
This isn’t being upset… Hyungoh caught a glimpse of his reflection in the rearview mirror and squeezed his eyes shut. I really do look upset. But that’s not it. He fidgeted with his protruding lips.
If he had to define it, he felt melancholic. How on edge had he been all this time? In the Gostin organization, there wasn’t a single person he could trust, so he couldn’t even relax when sleeping. Michael was completely inscrutable, and while Herick treated him well, his attitude had changed so drastically from before that Hyungoh couldn’t let go of his suspicions. Still, to survive, he had to adapt, so he reluctantly watched his step.
And then the crisis came because of Jake. Hyungoh slumped his shoulders, remembering the terrifying moment. And it was Theo who saved him from that crisis.
Come to think of it, he had always received help from Theo. From the very beginning. That’s why he trusted him. When he was kidnapped by Jake and tortured, feeling like he was going to die, not knowing how to escape, it was thanks to Theo that he saw a small glimmer of hope. Perhaps his life could become a little safer, or at least, perhaps he could live without tension for a while. Such a simple hope.
“You’re still making that face.”
Theo frowned slightly. Hyungoh, visible behind Hunter, looked as pitiful as an abandoned ugly duckling. His expression and aura clearly said “I’m hurt,” which made Theo feel wronged.
“Seriously, did you already forget that I saved your life?”
“That… I was grateful for that.”
“Think of this as payback for that. Honestly, if it weren’t for that old man, I wouldn’t have tried to bring you to the organization too.”
Theo said.
“This old man feels offended hearing that.”
“Sorry to hear that. I was hoping you’d feel a bit of fear, not offense.”
After that, the two fell silent as if by agreement. The atmosphere in the car quickly turned cold, but the men from the Cenaline organization, who had been quiet from the start, seemed rather comfortable with it, as if they were used to it. Am I the only one feeling uncomfortable? Hyungoh turned his eyes toward the window. The closed space was filled with masculine energy, making it hard to breathe.
After driving like that for several hours, they arrived in Las Vegas. Against the darkening sky, the dazzling buildings caught the eye. So this is where the Cenaline Family is based. Hyungoh looked around.
Heavily armed police officers were stationed throughout the streets, and Hyungoh shrank back whenever they looked his way, feeling needlessly guilty. In contrast, Hunter and Theo seemed unconcerned, which was quite ironic. Whether to call them confident or brazen, Hyungoh couldn’t shake the thought that the two were very alike in this respect.
The car approached a hotel with a large fountain in front as its destination. A fountain show was in progress, drawing many spectators. The fountain, shooting powerfully into the air with the golden hotel building as its backdrop, also captivated attention.
Einhild. Hyungoh tilted his head back to see the name of the hotel gleaming at the top of the building. Einhild Hotel.
The security guard who was about to stop the car at the entrance noticed Theo in the passenger seat and nodded. When Theo casually nodded back, the security guard took out his radio, muttered something, and then extended his arm to guide the way.
“Be nervous, Hunter.”
“I already am.”
At his calm response, Theo asked with surprise. Nervous? You? Even though he had told Hunter to be nervous first, Theo hadn’t actually expected him to be.
“Is it so surprising that I’m nervous?”
“I always thought you could only pretend to be superior and relaxed.”
“That’s not pretending, it’s the truth.”
“Tch, just get out.”
Theo opened the door and was the first to exit. The men followed him out of the car. When one of them reached out to pull Hunter, who was moving sluggishly, Theo stopped him with a menacing look.
“Only do what I tell you to.”
Seeing Theo leaning in close and muttering to the man, Hyungoh thought he definitely looked the part of an executive. That’s still unfamiliar to me. Hyungoh obediently got out of the car, following the men. The gazes of other security guards turned toward Hyungoh and Hunter.
“Come to think of it, it seems like you and I have been on opposing sides before, but never on the same side,” Hunter said in Korean.
Although you were one-sidedly against me. Hunter added slyly.
“So?”
“Just saying, this time let’s be on the same side.”
After all, we are blood relatives. Hunter nudged Hyungoh’s side with his elbow. Let’s form an alliance here where we’re surrounded by enemies.
Hyungoh frowned. Me and my uncle? Isn’t that the most mismatched combination? Just then, Theo waved his hand, urging them to hurry.
Hunter and Hyungoh, surrounded by men on all sides, stopped in front of an elevator. When the doors opened, only Theo, Hunter, and Hyungoh got in. The men stood firm like well-trained dogs until the doors closed.
Theo pressed the button for the 74th floor, the very top. Damn, that’s high. Hyungoh stood against the back of the elevator, glaring at the rapidly changing floor numbers. Where are they taking us first?
Surely not… Hyungoh stared at Hunter, trying to make eye contact. He wanted to grab his uncle’s pant leg and ask if his suspicion was correct.
Hunter’s rigid expression truly looked tense. He even let out a deep sigh when they reached the top floor. Hyungoh turned his head to look at Theo. Even Theo seemed tense.
Finally, the doors opened. Befitting the top floor, the beautiful night sky was clearly visible through the glass walls. But Hyungoh paid no attention to the spectacular view. All his focus was on the person sitting with their back to the scenery.
She smiled. Hyungoh’s expression turned cold. No, the same was true for Theo and Hunter as well.
From his vague 11-year-old memory, Hyungoh recalled her face that he had seen through the window of Theo’s car.
Narrow eyes with thin lips, and two eyes gleaming dark green. Wrinkles on her face and hair that had faded to white. Her gaze was still sharp enough to pierce through Hyungoh.
