CHAPTER 20

[SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA]

GA-EUL'S POV:

I am in love with the two most handsome men in Seoul. One is my husband. The other is our gorgeous son Min Jae. I watch them in adoration as I walk behind them.

MJ gurgles happily as his father carries him in his arms around the Museum. We are currently making plans for a new exhibit of traditional Korean art and even though the date for the grand opening is fast approaching, we bring Min Jae with us everywhere. We both don't want to be parted from him and leaving him at home with a nanny is unacceptable to Yi-Jung. He wants to raise our son together and doesn't want him to have the same life that he and his friends had. It makes me love my husband even more.

As we turn the corner towards the pottery section, we are suddenly surrounded by several of Mr. Song's men.

"Sir, we have to get you and your family out of here now." One of them says and quickly begins to drag us towards the exit. My heart pounds with fear as I hold on tightly to Yi-Jung's hand.

Suddenly the glass on a display case shatters beside us and I scream in fear. Two of the guards quickly cover us and continue to drag us towards the exit. The other three remain behind and I glance behind me to see them begin to fall to the ground one by one. Blood pools around them and I feel myself grow faint. The last thing I see before we are pulled out the door is a masked figure watching me with the coldest eyes I have ever seen and I shiver in fear.

Once we are safely in the car, I huddle up against my husband, putting a protect arm around my son. I feel like crying but I'm too shocked by what just happened. I check my son over and over again for any wounds as my body starts to shake uncontrollably. Yi-Jung is just as shocked as I am. His face is pale as he kisses my forehead in comfort.

"What happened? What's going on?" Yi-Jung finally asks the men. These two have been our bodyguards since Ji-Hoo and Woo Bin died. I've come to know them pretty well and they look worried. The car speeds through the streets of Seoul and I have no idea where we are going.

"You will have to ask the Boss, Sir. We were just told you were in danger and to get you to the airport immediately."

"What about the others?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"…We aren't sure."

(^_^)

JUN PYO'S POV:

It's been a long day and my head hurts. I just want to get home to Jan Di and relax. Knowing her though, she is probably still at the clinic. It frustrates me when she isn't home with me. I need to get her pregnant so she will be too busy with our children to work… But then she won't have enough time for me…

Aish! That wife of mine is so infuriating!

When she gets home, I'm going to make it clear that she has to spend more time with me. No more neglecting her handsome husband! So many girls would die to be in her shoes! She should be more grateful!

Glancing in irritation at my unwanted bodyguards, I step outside of the building and I am suddenly grabbed by my arms and dragged towards the car.

"YAH! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!" I yell angrily but suddenly the man on my left releases me, half of his face missing from a gunshot. Another man quickly covers me and I am shoved into the waiting car. My legs feel like jelly as the car speeds off, memories of Ji-Hoo's white Escalade in flames fill my head along with my bodyguard's bloody face.

Digging my phone out of my pocket, I quickly dial Jan Di's number and throw my phone across the car in frustration when it goes directly to voicemail.

"What about Jan Di?" I bark at my men and one of them is talking rapidly into his cell phone.

"Mr. Song's men have already been sent to protect her, Sir."

"AND? WHERE IS SHE?" I roar.

"We are trying to reach them, Sir. We haven't heard back from them yet."

"Take me to the clinic."

"We can't do that, Sir."

"YOU WORK FOR ME GOD-DAMMIT! YOU'LL DO WHAT I TELL YOU!" I snarl but with a sinking heart I realize that they won't listen to me.

(^_^)

JAN DI'S POV:

Looking around the empty clinic in satisfaction, I reach for my bag and look forward to getting home. I'll be happy to have dinner. I'm starving! And maybe Jun Pyo will be home to eat with me tonight. We've both been pretty busy lately. I miss him and his annoying voice.

I turn off the lights and lock the door behind me when suddenly a hand clamps over my mouth as I am dragged into the shadows of the building. I squirm desperately against my captor but his voice makes me go still against him.

"Please be quiet. I'm one of Mr. Song's men. You are in danger."

I recognize his voice. He's one of the men that Mr. Song assigned to protect me. Hearing a scuffle, I look up to see two men fighting a masked figure. The masked man raises a gun towards me and I am suddenly spun around. The man holding me uses his body to shield me from the shot. I feel him shudder but he grabs my arm and starts to run.

Throwing me inside the back seat of a black sedan, he leaps in after me and the car takes off. My bodyguard grips his shoulder in pain and I grab my bag. Everything that just happened is spinning crazily in my mind as I rip his shirt to get to the wound. I would be dead right now if it wasn't for him.

Years of being in the E.R. help my mind focus on the task at hand and not freak out but a million questions are going through my head.

"What's going on? Why was he after me?"

"I'm not sure." He says through gritted teeth.

"We just received a call from the boss that you were in danger and to get you out of there." The driver says. I swallow hard and nod my head.

"What about the others?"

"We're not sure. We'll find out soon." The driver replies and speeds through a red light.

"YAH! SLOW DOWN! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY DRIVING LIKE THAT!" I shout angrily.

(^_^)

DK'S POV:

She is so beautiful…

Whatever I have done in a previous life to deserve a girlfriend like Jae Kyung must have been something pretty fantastic. She's tough and funny with an innocence that melts my heart. She is an amazing woman.

My life so far hasn't been pretty but ever since I was assigned to be Saia's bodyguard, my life has gotten so much better. I haven't had to be in any fights or beat up anyone. I just have to protect her and honestly, I would gladly lay down my life for Saia. She has become like a sister to me and a valued friend.

I watch the two most important women in my life as they shop and like most men, I am completely bored out of my mind but I keep myself alert to anything that may want to cause them any harm. Jae Kyung's personal bodyguards keep their distance per their mistress's orders while I stay fairly close to Saia. I know these girls can pack a punch if needed but something about today has me on edge.

The girls walk inside a restaurant for lunch and I follow closely behind. It's another hole in the wall kind of place in a questionable part of town that Jae Kyung loves for some reason. I really wish they would stick to the better parts of town. Too much can go wrong here.

My phone starts to ring and I answer it when I see that it's Mr. Song. The reception in the restaurant is bad and I can't hear him so I step outside.

"What was that, Sir?"

"She's in danger! Get her out of there!"

Sprinting back inside, I make my way back to their table but they are gone. A loud crash comes from the kitchen and I bolt through the door. Jae Kyung is on the floor holding her head in pain. Her bodyguards hover protectively around her. Chen, the female bodyguard, points towards the exit and without a word I bolt for the door. Two men are running after Saia as she races around the corner and I sprint after them.

Following them into an abandoned building, my eyes struggle to adjust to the darkness. Making my way into a large room full of crates I look around desperately for any sign of them, my ears straining for any sound that could lead me to Saia.

The wind is suddenly knocked out of me as a lead pipe slams into my chest. I crumple to floor and barely dodge the foot aimed at my head as I roll away. I gasp for air as a foot lands solidly into my chest. My lungs feel like they are on fire as I manage to dodge his next blow and tackle him to the ground. We exchange blows to each other's face as we struggle to get the upper hand. He's stronger than me but I'm now pissed off and I am going to kill this mother fucker for attacking my girls.

A gunshot rings throughout the room and the bullet ricochets off of several metal containers.

My attacker manages to slam that damn pipe against my shoulder before I rip it out of his hands. All those years of baseball seem to pay off as I swing the pipe and connect solidly with his skull. With a crack, he spins around and crumples unconscious to the floor.

Something is on fire and I cough against the smoke. Stumbling towards the direction of the gunshot I desperately looking for Saia and the other attacker as the fire starts to spread. I need to get her out of here now! I realize as the fire creeps towards several large oxygen tanks.

I hear her shout and finally spot her as her attacker manages to block her kick. She's still holding her own but she's still not completely healthy and her exhaustion is showing. I sprint towards her in desperation as the man finally lands a blow to her shoulder and she spins away from him in pain.

But before I can reach her, a powerful explosion pushes me through the air and into a glass window. It shatters with my impact and I hit the ground rolling with the momentum of the blast. My clothes and hair are singed, glass is embedded in my skin, and I can feel burns on my exposed flesh but nothing compares to the pain in my heart as I look up at the building in front of me. Two more powerful explosions shake the structure as it is engulfed in flames.

I was too late…

(^_^)

MR. SONG'S POV:

I end my call to Woo Bin and look up as several black cars begin to pull up beside my private jet. It is essential that I get these kids out of Seoul immediately. I've decided to put them under the protection of another Mafia leader. He's a good friend and we frequently do business together. He is someone that the Maeng's or these damn "Associates" would never suspect. It will give us time to decide on a plan of action. I've also decided that it's time to tell the other F4 members what has really been going on.

Yi-Jung and his family step out of the car looking very shaken and tired. I pat his shoulder and nod towards the jet.

"Get in. We need to leave. I'll explain everything soon."

Jun Pyo practically tackles his poor wife the moment they both step out of their cars. But when a very pale and torn up DK emerges with Jae Kyung my heart starts to sink. He's in bad shape and Saia isn't with him. Jan Di manages to pry Jun Pyo off of her and runs to check on DK as I quickly approach him.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"There was an explosion. I was too late." He gasped. His eyes are full of pain and shock. I cringe inwardly at the glass imbedded in his flesh and the burns all over him. His face is beaten up too. I've seen much worse of course but it's always harder to see one of MY men in this state. DK protected Saia like he would his sister. He became very attached to her. I can see he blames himself. But nothing can be done right now.

"I've sent people to check out the building. Maybe she..." Jae Kyung trailed off as DK shook his head miserably.

"Let's get all of you on board so that we can take off and Jan Di can take care of your wounds." Two of my men help him into the plane and once everyone is situated, the plane takes off.

Everyone is silent, even Min Jae. I look around at their tired and worried faces. Why has it come to this? They are too young to die. These boys feel like my sons, like my family. Even though I was too busy when they were growing up to spend time with them, I still kept a close eye on them. I've protected them from my place in the shadows, wanting to ensure their safety from the evil in this world. I want a better life for my son than what I've had. I am determined to give it to him.

But first, I need to make them all safe again.

"I think the best place to start, is the night of Ji-Hoo and Woo Bin's 'death'. It's time all of you know what really happened…" I begin.

(^_^)

[LONDON]

WOO BIN'S POV:

My phone rings and I look down at it in surprise to see that my dad is calling me. Before I can greet him properly his voice reaches my ears.

"Everyone has been compromised Son. You need to drop whatever you are doing and go to the address I'm sending you right now. It's our safe house in London."

"I understand. What's happened?" I ask as I go to get Ji-Hoo.

"I'll explain everything once we get there."

"We?"

"I have to go. I'll see you soon." He says and the line goes dead.

We? Who is he bringing with him?

"Ji-Hoo we're leaving now. We may have been compromised." I say and march towards the door with him quickly at my heels. I dial Boo Ki's number and I am relieved when she answers her phone.

"Baby, I need you to meet me at the address I just sent to your phone. Bring Ji-Yong with you. We may have been compromised."

"What? How?"

"I don't know. My father is on his way here. He should have some answers."

"Arrasso. I'm on my way."

"Be safe. Saranghae."

"You as well. Nado Saranghae."

We hang up as Ji-Hoo and I slide into the car. Something is off. I can feel it. It worries me. No one knew about our little operation so what the hell happened?

(^_^)

BOO KI'S POV:

This is bad.

Ji and I have both been uneasy all day. Now I know why.

We have been following Lydia for the past three days without being sighted but after Woo Bin's call, I no longer care if anyone sees me approach him. I'm not leaving without my brother.

Ji-Yong isn't with the other bodyguards today. He's been assigned to watch the crowd at the top of the stairs as the other guards escort her into the building. Today is an important voting day and Lydia is here to greet her supporters. There's a huge crowd and I'm lucky that he is in a secluded spot.

"Ji we need to leave. Now." I whisper once I reach him. He turns to look at me in confusion when suddenly a shot rings out from above us. Lydia crumples to the floor and people scream in terror. My eyes widen in shock as blood begins to pool on the floor.

Lydia Churchill is dead…

A/N: Shit… Is it sad that this author is excited/nervous about what is going to happen next? It's not like I don't know! But still… lol