CONDEMNATION ✓

Chapter 87

Pulling yourself together took longer than expected. Tears flowed one after the other and Mono said nothing as you silently sobbed in the seat beside him. Rubbing your wrist into your eye sockets you took in a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. You two had been driving for nearly an hour when you finally paid attention to the situation at hand. 

"So..." Sniffles followed your introduction to speaking as you cleared your throat. "You really think I have a chance to escape him?" You were trying to gauge exactly how much Mono had planned out for you. He was always a 'work it out on the fly' type man, which didn't hold much promise in his plans. 

"Yeah." His shaggy black hair bounced as his head nodded in response. His head turned briefly to meet your gaze. "I'll make sure we do." Turning his head back he kept his eyes on the road. You surveyed his face, noticing his jaw clenched and dark eyes staring ahead with a sense of purpose. 

"We?" Reiterating your brow raised as you kept your eyes focused on your older brother. This was a different side that you weren't used to seeing. Sure, he played the macho man and talked himself up constantly, but the determination in his eyes was something unremarkable. Who was the man, and what did he do with your brother? 

"I'm done choosing anyone above my family." Mono's fingers curled against the leather steering wheel, fighting his grip around it so tightly he was distorting the material. "If R is going to hunt you, he'll have to go through me." He whipped his gaze back to you as he conveyed his certainty. "You are my family, Y/N. I won't leave you again." 

A ping of guilt hit your chest as you couldn't help but produce a low laugh. It had been years since your family's slaughter, and it had been that long since Mono knew how to be a brother. There was a time where you two were as close as siblings could be, the good old days. When all you had to worry about was failing grades and valley girl bitches at school starting drama. He used to be protective and incentive of his baby sister, but those skills had long since faded after your parent's death.  To think he was going to try and take up that reasonability again after all these years seemed laughable to you. Though you were the younger sibling, you always felt like the oldest. 

"Mono--" You readied your speech about not needing to be protected, that you'd manage on your own and that he shouldn't put his life on the line because of you. You had plenty to protest but didn't get quite far before Mono cut you off. 

"We're about the hit the drop off point." Mono steered the car toward the next right turn and onto a paved path. The road got rocky causing the car to bounce and rattle you in your seat. Your attention moved to your surroundings as you tried to gauge where we were going. Near the end of the mile-long driveway, you could see a large iron gate. 

"You found a place for us to lay low?" The closer the car got to the gate the clearer the picture became. There were two black SUV's outside, windows too tinted to see in from so far. "Shouldn't we be traveling a bit further out before stopping?" You were trying to pick apart his plans, not having much confidence that he thought this all the way through. 

"No. It's a drop-off point, not a hide-out house." Mono's speak still hadn't gone back to its usual improper state, which meant he was still on high alert of his surroundings and didn't feel comfortable letting down his guard. 

"What are we dropping off?" Truly you questioned if he knew what he was doing, doing an exchange in the middle of running for your lives didn't sound like a sound plan. The car began to drag to a stop in front of the gate. The car positioned on the left sprung its doors open as soon as you came to a stop. 

Mono killed the engine with a twist of the key, leaving it in the ignition as he turned back to you. "I'm dropping you off." Before you could reply, Mono grabbed the door handle and hopped out of the car, and shut the door behind him. 

Your eyes widened as they followed Mono's frame through the glass windows. He picked up his pace he jogged over to the left car waiting by the gate. It felt like your heart was struggling to pump properly as you once again questioned Mono's motives. Grabbing the passenger door you flung it open and hopped out of the car yourself. Slamming the door you headed for your so-called brother. Raising your voice you let the boom in your tone display your displeasure. "I thought you were going to stay with me?!" Should you be surprised? Were you going to admit you got your hopes up just a little, thinking the big brother you once knew and loved had finally come back. You couldn't acknowledge that it hurt to hear you were going to be all on your own again. 

Mono looked back at you as the driver of the car finally made their way out. Turning around Mono faced you, reaching out his hands as you got closer. He took your palms into his and gave them a firm squeeze. "It's only for a couple of days. No doubt, R is already searching for us. I have to divert his attention as far from you as possible. I just need a few days to make him think we're heading anywhere else but where you're going." 

"If he finds you, he'll kill you for this!" You weren't sure what was worse. Thinking your brother was abandoning you again, just like he had when he left you to rot in that mental institution. Or to think he was going to get himself killed because he was too proud to stay with you and take the risk together. 

"And if he finds you, he'll kill you both." A voice behind Mono gathered your attention. Raising your eyes you saw the lengthy figure standing behind him. Just to the sight of Seokjin Kim rendered you speechless. It threw off your entire train of thought as you could only focus on why he was here. He was R's business partner, and though you had confided in him and come to enjoy his company it didn't change the fact that he did business with the man that was going to hunt you for the rest of your life. 

"We're stronger together." Clenching your jaw you averted your gaze from Jin and tossed it back to your brother. Your hands grip his painfully tight as you tried to persuade him to change his mind and leave with you. "If you want me to trust you, to put my faith in you, then stay with me!" Begging was beneath you. Though in this case, you were already on the floor. There was nothing that was beneath you now, nothing you wouldn't do to earn your freedom. It was too late to go back to how things once were. 

"There are only two lives that matter right now, and I'm not one of them!" Mono yanked your hands forward as he let go of your palms and circled his arms up. His arms wrapped your shoulders and dragged you forward. He engulfed you in a death grip of a hug. His chin placed on your shoulder as he relished in the feeling for just a moment. You could smell the lingering scent of weed and cheap cologne on his jacket, yet it still came with a sense of familiar comfort. "Let's stop pretending I don't know already." Placing your hands at his sides your sight caught glimpse of Seokjin standing just a few feet behind the two of you, he offered a simple and silent nod of his head in agreement. Seokjin didn't mean you and your brother when he said 'both.' 

Pulling back Mono placed his hands at your shoulder, that cheesy grin - though forced - spread across his face like wildfire. His cheeks puffing out with his smile as he flashed those pearly whites. "I know it's your choice." He said with a breath, letting his smile falter. "And I'm going to make sure you have the chance to make that choice." Mono placed his hands on either side of your face as he pulled your gaze down. Leaning up he placed his lips against your forehead in an endearing gesture that he hadn't done since you were nothing more than a child. His kiss lingered for just a second before he pulled back and looked deep into his sister's gaze. "Until then, let me be a good brother... and a good uncle."