Minho curled against the wall, wincing in pain as he watched Jae Hyun storm away with his lackeys following him. Jae Hyun had barely even looked at Minho since they fought, yet the best he could do was shove him to a wall the minute they came close.
He collected himself headed upstairs back to his room, and curled up on his bed, pulling the sheets to cover his head. That was his lowest moment because he knew he was fighting a losing battle, with no one to turn to.
Minho couldn't shake the memories of Jae Hyun pulling the trigger at Kinn's unresponsive body, just to avoid using the gun on him. Then, he was certain that his life was about to end, but the gunshot never came. Jae Hyun had managed to storm away, leaving him shaken and disoriented.
The rage stung him at his throat so badly that it felt as though something was strangling him, and when he couldn't fight it anymore, he let the tears flow free.
Harsh rapid knocks at the door snapped Minho out of his dark thoughts.
He turned himself debating whether to open the door or stay on his bed, because sure, he wouldn't fancy anyone seeing him that weak, let alone in bloodshot eyes.
When the knocks didn't stop, he hauled himself up, patting his eyes dry, and headed for the door. It was Tao, another one of Jae Hyun's men sneering at him.
"Boss wants to see you." Tao dropped the words on Minho like it was a matter of urgency.
Minho's heartbeat shot up into high gear. This could mean anything, maybe Je Hyun was ready to speak to him again, or maybe he wanted to tell him the reason for the shocking outburst. He scurried after Tao, gripping the staircase as they descended into a dark stairwell.
"Hurry up," Tao said, his pace too fat for Minho to keep up.
Minho didn't understand why he was being led down the dank stairwell again, because the last time he came through those stairs, he ended up in a dingy apartment locked up. Maybe Jae Hyun wanted to lock him up again for putting his nose in his business.
"Where's Jae Hyun?" Minho asked, bracing himself because he was beginning to doubt whether the boss called for him. After all, the boss was nowhere to be seen.
"You can already tell he isn't here," Tao said, cracking his knuckles and smirking devilishly. "So, tell me, what makes you think you're so special here, following Mr. Park everywhere? Look at you now, moping around like some sad little puppy." Tao sneered, scanning Minho with disgust. "Boss really did a number on you, no?"
Minho narrowed his eyes disbelievingly. Surely, Tao couldn't afford to be jealous of him. He was sick of this mansion and would have left if it weren't for Jae Hyun, yet here was Tao suggesting he was getting some sort of special treatment from Jae Hyun.
Minho balled his hands into fists, his body tensing. "Watch your mouth."
"Or what?" Tae Hyun challenged him, closing the distance between them with slow menacing strides. "You'll cry to Jae Hyun like the pathetic little bitch you are? That's right… call for your daddy."
Tao shoved Minho hard on the chest, forcing his back against the wall. He leaned close, his hot sour breath washing over Minho's face. Minho turned his face away–Tao's breath was disgusting.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, you can't. I mean, he almost shot you the other day, and just a few minutes ago, you were whimpering in the hallway like a helpless puppy. You are nothing to him, you know that, right?" Tao snarled.
Minho was flaring now with anger, his chest rising as he breathed heavily. Tao's words had struck a nerve. Acting on instinct, he headbutted Tao squarely in the face.
"Shit! You filthy little mutt," said Tao as he staggered backward, clutching his gushing nose as blood dripped from between his fingers.
Minho moved to tackle him, but with a swift kick to his side, Tao doubled him over, driving the air out of his lungs―something that had Minho sprawling on the floor.
Tao stood over him, looking down at him condescendingly, with blood still dripping from his nose. "You are going to pay for that."
Tao reared back, aiming a fire stomp at Minho's side, causing him to writhe and curl desperately on the floor. Tao's steel-capped boot slammed on the floor repeatedly as Minho rolled himself further and further away from Tao.
Minho scrambled to his feet, backing away from the man while scanning around for anything close to a weapon that he could use to defend himself. Unfortunately, it was scanty in there, with barely anything that he could use, just a few scattered crates.
Tao strode fast and perched beside him, yanking a fistful of his hair and slamming his face into the wall.
"You're dead meat," Tao growled into his ear, shoving his face against the wall forcefully.
Minho threw his elbow back blindly, catching Tao's, which sent Tao stumbling back and releasing his grip.
Minho seized the chance to his advantage, spinning around and launching himself at Tao then tackling him to the ground. The two grappled wildly, throwing fists and elbows as they both fought to dominate each other.
However, given Tao's size and strength, he began to overwhelm Minho. He grabbed both of Minho's arms, raining slaps on his face. Tao slammed Minho upright, and against the wall, pinning him with his forearm against Minho's throat.
Tao laughed sadistically. "I'm going to enjoy every minute of this." He leered at Minho while reaching for his belt with his free hand. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish the boss had just put you down that day."
Minho tried to pry the grip away, but Tao was in full-on predator mode and was far too strong for him, given he barely had any strength remaining. His lungs were now burning because he was starving for oxygen.
Jae Hyun burst through the door, frantic and heaving, his eyes immediately locking on the grisly scene unfolding. Tao had pinned Minho on the wall, with one of his hands wrenching Minho's neck to the wall and his other hand busy unbuckling his belt.
"What in the ever-loving fuck do you think you are doing, Tao?" Jae Hyun bawled angrily.
Tao's eyes went wide, as he let go of Minho, who slumped to the floor groggily. Tao shoved himself upright, trying to get his composure to face the now insanely angry Jae Hyun. Tao had seen different sides of angry Jae Hyun, just not this one that had veins bulging at the side of his head.
"S-sir…I was just…" Tao's eyes went wide as he stammered, but Jae Hyun was heaving, something that made Tao go pale. He slowly raised his hands in surrender.
Jae Hyun closed the distance between him and Tao in three strides, backhanding him with such force that sent him crashing into the wall. Tao slid into the corner seated and cradling his knees, dumbfounded and holding his surely broken jaw.
"Please, s-sir…I didn't mean to overs―"
Jae Hyun reached back and pulled his gun from its holster, aiming it at Tao, so angry that he was beginning to have bloodshot eyes himself.
"No, no, no sir…p-please…" Tao shook his head violently in pure terror. "I'll never touch him again, I swear..."
The gun went off with an earsplitting bang, and Tao went stiff, his eyes bulging in shock as chunks of his brain blew out through the back of his skull. Tao crushed on his weight heavily, and Minho curled himself far into a corner, covering his ears and shutting his eyes tightly.
Jae Hyun was still aiming his gun at the heap of a human on the floor, heaving heavily. He turned his attention to Minho.
"Please… please I'm begging you. I'm sorry…p-please, don't …" Minho's voice trailed, tears streaming freely down his cheeks.
"What were you doing letting him touch you like that?" Jae Hyun barked, shoving his gun back into its holster and approaching Minho fast, crunching beside him, scanning him.
"You're lucky you still have your bones intact. Where else are you hurt?" Jae Hyun asked, raising Minho gently to his feet while continuing to scan his body. Minho however out of instinct inched back in fear.
Jae Hyun held his jaw. "I said where else?"