Fate loves the fearless.

James Russell Lowell

JENNIE

"Did you have to kill him?" I ask Lisa, my arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

We're in the office, standing disturbingly close to the three bodies Lisa killed in here.

"Yes." At my disgusted look, she explains, "He knew about the bulletproof clothes. He had to go. It's us or h—"

"Him," I finish.

Lisa's right. I can't fault that logic. I've seen firsthand how effective the clothes are and the potential they have for tricking enemies. But if people were to find out about them, they'd be prepared. They'd go for headshots and make sure that those who are down are dead.

It's us or them, and I'll always choose us.

That's just the way this world operates.

"So, it was Jiyong?" I ask, even though I know the answer to that. I just need her to confirm it, to make it real.

Lisa nods and pulls out her phone. When I glance at it, I see an email from Suho.

To: L.

Fr: S.

Subject: Emergency Board Meeting

Dear Ms. Manoban,

I am writing to inform you that the board has convened an emergency meeting in response to Mr. Kwon's actions tonight. In a unanimous vote, the board has decided to dismiss Mr. Kwon from his position at Black Enterprises, effective immediately. He will receive no pension nor severance pay, given his actions against your fiancée.

On a second note, we have also decided to cancel the upcoming vote regarding your position as CEO at Black Enterprises. We feel that you have suffered enough at the hands of Mr Kwon, and his claims against your competency are little more than a personal vendetta against you that has already been allowed to manifest itself long enough.

Mr. Kwon has just been sent a similar email, informing him about our decision to let him go effective immediately. He has also been made aware of the cancellation of the upcoming vote concerning your position at Black Enterprises.

We suspect Mr. Kwon will not take too kindly to his dismissal and will apprise you of the situation as it develops further. Until then, we suggest you brief your security detail on Mr. Kwon, and we will do the same with the company's security team.

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at any time.

Very Best,

Suho, COO

When I'm done reading, I say, "It was revenge."

Lisa nods. "It looks that way."

"And Rosé?" I ask, remembering what the guy said about a woman letting the attackers in. As far as I know, she's the only other woman with access to the penthouse.

"She'll be taken care of."

"How involved in this do you think she is?"

"She let them in and probably gave Jiyong access to the security detail."

I remember the late warning she gave Lisa about the polo match. "And the polo match?"

Lisa winces. "She probably thought I wouldn't reroute my flight to Dubai."

"But you did, and she was pissed off."

She nods. "I'm not sure why she's doing this, though. I was under the impression that she likes me. I had no idea that she wants me dead."

I cringe. "Maybe you're not the target for tonight either? I was the target for the last two shootings, after all."

I eye the dead bodies guiltily. It's their fault they chose this line of work, but it's also my fault they're dead. All this death for me. It hardly makes any sense.

"I know what you're thinking," Lisa says, her eyes intently on my face.

"Of course, you do."

"This isn't your fault."

"Not entirely. It's also Jiyong's."

"And mine."

I nod, because she's right, but it doesn't make me love her any less. "So, what are we going to do about this?" I gesture a hand toward all of the dead bodies.

There are over two dozen in total.

"I've called Vince, and we'll g—"

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"No, you'll call the cops."

"I can't. If I call the cops, I have to do this their way."

"Exactly. Do this by the book. You have enough evidence."

"Do I?" He eyes Jiyong men. "They're dead. They can't exactly testify against Jiyong."

She's right, but I'm sure there's something connecting them. "If that guy met him in person, then there has to be something to connect him and the rest of these guys to Jiyong. Footage of the meet? Wire transfers?"

"Are you willing to risk everything for that?"

I'm okay with Jiyong being free if it means Lisa keeps her company. I've seen how much she loves Black Enterprises, and I refuse to stand idly by while she risks her position there again. This isn't like punching Steve in front of the whole company.

This is, judging by what Lisa's capable of, killing Jiyong. If she does this, there's no going back, and I can't let that happen.

"Yes, I am."

"Well, I'm not."

"Think this through, Lisa." I take a step forward and wrap my arms around her waist, tilting my head up to look at her face. "If you do this, there's no going back. Jiyong isn't part of the underworld. He was on the board for your company, a company that only just cancelled their meeting to vote on whether or not you're a risk to its wellbeing. You do this, and you're as good as done at Black Enterprises."

"I don't care." There's a stubborn expression on her face. "I have to do this, Jennie."

"Why?"

"Because they went after you."

My heart warms, realizing yet again how much this woman is willing to risk for me.

But I can't let her.

"They went after you, too, so I get a say in this. And I don't want him dead. I want him to rot in jail." I grab her hand, unclench her fist, and intertwine our fingers together. "Please, do this for me, Lisa."

There's a long stretch of silence before she nods, and I sag in relief, my body swaying onto her.

She catches my weight and smirks. "Was that our first couple's fight?"

Rolling my eyes, I pull back and smack her playfully on the arm. Then, I walk towards the kitchen with Lisa trailing behind me. When I enter the kitchen, more of Lisa's security team is there, surrounding the kitchen island. Even Mino is standing here, which I assume means the bomb has been disarmed.

"The rest of the guards are calling contacts and setting up in a perimeter around the building," Mino says to Lisa, who nods.

I eye the countertops. A few bottles of tequila lay strewn across the marble, along with at least a dozen shot glasses. Mino pours me a shot and hands it to me.

I grab it. "What are we drinking to?"

"The fact that we still can."

I down the shot.