A Marriage of Power

Part 22

Ryujin's POV

I was on edge, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I drove through the darkened streets. I had been searching for hours, scouring every lead, every piece of information I could get my hands on. Yujin's supposed death had been a devastating blow, but the news of Wonyoung's disappearance had shaken her to the core.

Wonyoung was like family to her, and I couldn't just sit by and wait. I had to act, to find her, no matter what it took.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was from one of her contacts, someone who had been keeping an eye on suspicious activities around the city.

"Warehouse on the outskirts. Possible sighting of the girl you're looking for. Be careful."

my heart leapt in her chest. It was the first real lead i had gotten, and i wasn't going to waste it. i floored the accelerator, my mind racing with thoughts of Wonyoung. i prayed I wasn't too late.

When I arrived at the location, the area was eerily quiet. The warehouse stood at the end of a deserted street, with only a few dim lights flickering around it. I parked a short distance away and made my way towards the building, my pulse pounding in my ears. I had to be cautious; she couldn't afford to make a wrong move and alert Mario's men.

I crept closer, sticking to the shadows, and peered through a small, dirty window. my breath hitched when i saw Wonyoung inside, tied to a chair, i head hanging low. Relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of anger. How dare they do this to her?

Without wasting another second, I pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to my team, who were nearby and ready to assist. i needed backup in case things went south.

I carefully approached the entrance, picking the lock quietly and slipping inside. The moment she stepped in, I could see Wonyoung more clearly—bruised, tired, but alive.

"Wonyoung,"I whispered, trying to keep my voice low. I hurried over to her, crouching down to untie the ropes. Wonyoung stirred, slowly lifting her head, and when her eyes met mine, they widened in shock.

"R-Ryujin?" Wonyoung's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "How... how did you...?"

"Shh, it's okay," I said, my hands working quickly to free Wonyoung. "I'm here to get you out of this place. You're safe now."

Wonyoung's eyes filled with tears. "I thought no one would find me... I thought..." She couldn't finish the sentence. Her body trembled as she finally let herself believe that she might actually be saved.

I helped her stand, supporting her as she stumbled. "We need to move, now. Can you walk?"

Wonyoung nodded, even though her legs felt weak. "I can... I just... Thank you, Ryujin."

"Save the gratitude for later," I said with a small smile. "Let's just get out of here first."

As they made their way toward the exit, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. I froze, quickly pushing Wonyoung behind a stack of crates. A group of Mario's men appeared, patrolling the area, their voices low and menacing.

my heart pounded as I calculated their next move. we were outnumbered, and if a confrontation broke out, it would be risky. But I wasn't going to let anyone lay a hand on Wonyoung again.

Just as I was about to draw my weapon, a loud crash came from the other side of the warehouse, startling everyone. The guards immediately turned their attention toward the noise, leaving an opening for I and Wonyoung to slip out unnoticed.

They moved as quickly and quietly as we could, my eyes constantly darting around for any signs of danger. When we finally reached the outside, I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived.