Chapter 12: Brennus
Woo Bin's P.O.V
It had been about a week since Ga Eul had moved in with my family and me. Unfortunately I had needed to leave soon after her assimilation in the mansion. Even though I was currently in Chicago, my sisters would call me all the time with nothing but good things to say about Ga Eul.
Sitting in a large boardroom in the penthouse of a hotel I pressed my hands together as I assessed the group of men in front of me. They were not the usual kind of people you'd expect at a business meeting. As far as Ga Eul and my sisters were aware, I was helping dad with a problem that had arisen in the construction company. They didn't need to know that the truth was a lot darker.
The man nearest me on my right opened his mouth to speak. I raised an eyebrow. He closed his mouth again, wincing slightly. He knew there wasn't any defense for what these idiots had done.
Standing up, I gave a wicked grin that sent cold shivers down the spines of all who saw it. Peering at the man kneeling in front of me, I noticed a thin bead of sweat dripping down his face. His pin striped suit indicated that he was a businessman inside and outside the family.
"Prince Song." A woman in a long white sleeved shirt and thin black pants came in, handed me a folder, eyed the quivering bundle of sweat in front of me, snorted in disgust, and then retreated through the door that she'd come from. As I scanned the document in front of me, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh Hye Choi Suk you are in so much trouble man." I spoke jovially as I patted the man hard on the back. His associates who were clad in similar business suits grimaced. "You didn't even wait a year before you started stealing did you?" Stealing from the family was tantamount to felony in our circles. This was not something you'd take lightly. "Why'd you do it?" I queried, adjusting my gloves as I circled him and his gang. "Desperation? Greed? Sick children?"
"I've done nothing wrong." To his credit the man's voice was still steady. That didn't change the fact that he had indeed stolen money from Llsim.
"You should think twice before you lie to me." With lightning quick reflexes I snapped his wrist. He gave a cry of agony. "I'm not a huge fan of hurting people uselessly, something you'd best keep in mind. Now, this is your last chance to come clean calmly, and where your testimony may be taken into consideration. "
"I'm sorry! I have a sick boy! He's only 4!" Choi Suk moaned desperately. I narrowed my eyes.
"Really? See here," I indicated the folder my secretary had brought in, "it states that you are an only child, parents dead, no wife or kids, probably because of your gambling problem and tendency to beat those close to you. Care to explain how a sick 4 year old boy comes into play?"
"Please!" The fear at realizing that his last ditch attempt to save himself had failed stole across Choi Suk's face.
"I gave you time to tell the truth. You have repaid my kindness with lies. I don't like to hurt people, and I don't like those who believe they can take advantage of others."
"Bit rich considering you're part of the mafia, huh?" The man behind Choi Suk snarled.
"Did I ask you for your input?" I hissed. I was in a bad mood. The money Choi Suk and his cronies had stolen, had actually been scheduled to be donated to a new foundation that I'd set up with help from Ji-hoo. It was a foundation for the study of Epilepsy. These worthless human beings had stolen from children with a neurological disorder. And they thought I was a slug.
"So what are you going to do with us?" Choi Suk spoke as he was dragged to his feet by a guard. I denied him an answer. The silence in the room was deafening, with most of the other members currently in the room, glancing away from the spectacle at the front of the table.
A loud riff of a guitar startled everyone, causing several people to jump. Recognizing my ringtone, I let it ring a moment, watching the worms in front of me squirm, then answered it.
"Hello world's best baby-sitter! How are you?" The picture of serenity, I doodled on a piece of paper as I chatted. "Are the girls doing well?"
I received an incredibly enthusiastic overview of everything my sisters had done in the space of the 5 days we'd been apart.
"Well I'm glad you're there to keep an eye on them. They can be a mountain of trouble. No, I should be home in a few days, there was a problem that came up and father needed me to sort." I eyed the men in front of me with distaste. "Yes, of course. That'd be wonderful. Yes, I'll talk to you later. Ok, bye."
Hanging up the phone I heaved a sigh. "You'll be questioned individually. There can be no doubt Hye Choi Suk is guilty of his crime, but I want to be assured that none of you(his accomplices) acted under coercion or against your will. As I said, I don't like useless violence." Waving my hand dismissively I ended the mini trial. As the men were taken from the room, I sipped my coffee from a mug. Sighing, I gazed at the mug fondly. Min Ji and Min-Young had customized it for me, decorating it with a picture of a dragon and the word "Brennus" italicized on it. He always thought it funny, that one of his main jobs was an enforcer in the Korean Mafia, yet his mug said "protector".
Ga Eul's P.O.V
I'd been staying at Woo bin sunbae's home for about a week when I got the letter. I'd been sitting at the kitchen counter, just gotten off the phone with Woo bin, and I sat on a tall stool making cookies for Min-Ji and Min-Young.
*Flashback*
"Ga Eul unni!" Min-Young bounced into the huge marble kitchen toting her purple backpack, and emitting an aura of happiness.
"Hello Min-Young." I smiled as I continued to roll dough on the dark grey counter top. "How was school?"
"It was fun! But boys are really stupid!" She pouted, blowing her cheeks out so that she looked like a chipmunk.
"Min-Young, that's not a nice word." I admonished gently. Lifting her up onto a stool next to me, I gave her some dough to roll while I continued listening. "Why do you think they are stupid?"
"Jun keeps pulling my hair and telling me that Oppa is a "Stupid gangbanger". What's a 'gangbanger' Ga Eul unni?"
I grimaced inwardly. I didn't want to tell her that her father and brother were leaders of the Korean Mafia. That would NOT go down well. And that wouldn't be any easier for Min-Young to understand either.
"A gangbanger is someone who is part of a gang."
"Oppa is part of a gang though. He says it's like a family though. Why does Jun say he's stupid?"
"Probably because Jun is jealous of Woo-bin sunbae. After all, you and Min-Ji spend more time talking and bragging about your brother than anything else." I stroked her hair back from her face soothingly. "Jun's just being spiteful, trying to get to you."
"Then Jun was just being mean?" Min-Young inquired, her eyes shining with honest curiosity.
"Yes." I grinned and then nodded to the door to the garage. "Why don't you get the mail?"
"Min-Ji was gonna get it."
"Ok. Then go wash up. I'm going to put the cookies in the oven, and then we can look at your homework, alright?"
"Yes Ga Eul-unni."
As she scampered off, I sighed. I had finally finished shaping the cookie dough into stars. Gently placing them on a tray, I slipped them into the oven.
"Unni!" I nearly banged my head on the top of the oven in shock. Standing right behind me was Min-Ji.
"Allah!" I gasped, rubbing my head. "Min-Ji, what have I told you about sneaking up on me?"
"Sorry Ga Eul-unni!" Chocolate eyes widened innocently. I smiled.
"It's alright, you just startled me."
"There's a letter here for you unni. Where should I put it?" A letter…maybe something from my parents?
"Just put it on the table. Min-Young is in the den working on her homework. You go on in; I'll be there in a second."
"Okay." Caramel curls bouncing, Min-Ji trotted off to find her sister. After I set the timer, I took washed my hands and went in search of the twins. Homework time.
*end of flashback*
If I'd known the contents of the letter, I'd have opened it right away. But, of course I didn't. And, because of that, something would occur that would haunt me for the rest of my life.