Stay With Me - Hwang Inyeop

Chapter 22: The Risk I would take for You (pt 2)

"I know the girl is with you. After you killed my boys, I heard from my sources you were ambushed by your boss in your own home because you kept the package," Mr. Yang said after sipping from his glass of whiskey. "Goddammit, Inyeop! You did not just kill one of my favorite group of killers, you even stole what I should have." The old man chuckled which made In-yeop stare at him like a lion ready to kill its prey.

"She is not your possession nor Mr. Han's," In-yeop said in his greeted teeth.

"Who's possession is she then?" Mr. Yang said and matched his stare. "Yours?"

"She's no one's possession," In-yeop answered right away and now both of them are having a staring match. Mr. Yang snickered at how brave the man is sitting across him. He laughed quietly at first but as he thought of In-yeop working for him, at last, made him ecstatic. He laughed so hard which made Chorong who is sitting next to In-yeop clasp his hands from fear.

Mr. Yang has seen In-yeop's skills and he knew he's good at his job given that he had made Mr. Han's dirty businesses unknown to the world. That is why he had offered the guy more money for him to work under the Yang's. However, the guy refused his offer even though he had offered him lumps of money. The guy is not just good at his job, he is also loyal. This is why Mr. Yang is now confused as to why In-yeop suddenly turned the tables and betrayed his boss.

"Tell me, In-yeop," Mr. Yang said almost like a whisper as he leaned over to In-yeop. "Why did you do it? Why keep the package?"

In-yeop looked at the old man with his stony expression and leaned over to match Mr. Yang's stare. "Do you want me to work for you or not?"

Mr. Yang chuckled at the courage being displayed by In-yeop. He once again leaned on the couch and crossed his legs. "Alright. I'll give you the protection you want. In exchange, I would like to know what the Han's are up to. He's planning something huge and I want to know all the details about it."

"Under two conditions," In-yeop said which made Mr. Yang chortle at his sudden demands.

"You've been given protection. What more do you want?" Mr. Yang's right hand man interrupted who's been listening to their conversation since earlier. Mr. Yang raised his finger to inform the guy that it is alright.

"Go ahead," the old man said to make In-yeop continue talking.

"I don't want to be tailed by your men. I'll call you if ever I need your protection," In-yeop said which made Mr. Yang nod.

"I could do that. What's the last demand?" Mr. Yang asked.

"However tight the situation is, never touch the girl," In-yeop said with his voice laced with threat. Mr. Yang stared at him, processing what he had just said. The old man's frown turned to a smirk. Now he gets why he's acting so anxious to get protection from him. In-yeop worries for the girl and he will do everything to make the girl safe.

"What a tragic love story," Mr. Yang breathed out in sarcasm which made In-yeop scowl. "Alright," Mr. Yang sighed. "Is that all your demands?"

"That's all," In-yeop answered. Mr. Yang stood up and went to his desk. He got a flip phone from his drawer and went back to the couch.

"Here," he said and tossed the phone to In-yeop. "Dispose of the phone you used to call me earlier. This is what we will be using for our transactions. There is only one number there. I'll call you if I need you to accomplish something." In-yeop stared at the phone and griped on it tightly.

"Are you sure about your decision, boss?" Chorong asked as they arrived home. After hours of driving, it was already dark when they arrived. The fat guy removed his helmet and stared at his leader, waiting for some answers. In-yeop stared at his helmet he just removed. He looks at Chorong but did not say anything, just giving the guy a blank expression. He knows he did not make the best decision but this is the right decision in this situation.

"I'm sure," he answered. Chorong sighed and hopped out of his motorcycle. He owes a lot to In-yeop and he swore to himself he'll do everything to repay what In-yeop had done for him. However, after they have encountered Soomi, In-yeop has changed and he doesn't know until when can he tolerate it.

They both walked to the house and wondered why the lights are off. Chorong turned the lights on only to see the house empty.

"They must be by the sea," Chorong said as he hanged his motorcycle keys on the key rack. In-yeop did the same. He was about to go change his clothes in his room when Chorong called him.

"They left a note, boss," Chorong said which made In-yeop walked to him in the kitchen where the note is placed. "They went to the organization."

In-yeop's eyebrows mushed at the note. He immediately grabbed his motorcycle keys and went out of the house.

"Where are you going?" Chorong asked as he stood on the patio, watching as In-yeop wear his helmet. In-yeop did not answer and just drove off. Chorong just sighed and went back inside the house.

In-yeop drove as fast as he can. He is starting to worry after knowing that Soomi is out in the open. Since her face was revealed in the news this morning, some people might recognize her. As he drove closer to the entrance, he noticed a lot of people swarming and running to the place. He also noticed a huge smoke coming from the organization's building. As he entered the property, his eyes widen upon seeing the building on fire.

As soon as he got out of his motorcycle and removed his helmet which he just tossed and fell on the ground, he immediately runs towards the commotion to look for Soomi. His heart hammers in his chest and now has difficulty breathing as each time passes by without him seeing the girl safe.

He saw Yumi helping out the others put out the fire. He runs towards Yumi and the girl was shocked to see him. Her face is now covered with dust and her eyes start to water because they are too near the spreading fire.

"Where's Soomi?" In-yeop asked. Yumi turned to her side and panicked when she did not see Soomi beside her.

"She was just here. She was just helping us put out the fire," Yumi said as she turns in different directions in the search for Soomi.

"We still have a group of children inside the building!" One of the caretakers shouted amidst the commotion.

"The girl who went inside to help the kids get out has not yet returned," another one from the caretakers said staring at the entrance of the building, waiting for the said girl to come out with the kids. As soon as In-yeop heard it, his heart hammered so fast and his stomach started to churn.

"Soomi," he breathed out and started running towards the building but multiple hands stopped him.