CHAPTER 22
[ROME, ITALY. 1 MONTH LATER]
BOO KI'S POV:
I can feel Lorenzo's disgusting breath against my neck as he tries to grope me from behind. Don't get me wrong, he's a handsome man but a total grease ball. Plus he isn't Woo Bin. I miss him so much. I hate letting this guy touch me but there was no way in hell I was going to let Saia do this. This is my problem and if I am going to find out where Botticelli and the Maeng family are hiding, then I have to do things I don't like. I refuse to sleep with this guy though. That's when booze and drugs come in very handy.
Yi-Jung and Jun Pyo arrived in Rome two weeks ago and they weren't very quiet about it. As for Woo Bin and Ji-Hoo, we received word that they arrived shortly after we did but they have been keeping a low profile. My guess is that they are using Yi-Jung and Jun Pyo as bait and as a distraction. Basically flaunting Botticelli's failed assassination attempts in his face. Since they are constantly in the public eye, Botticelli would be a fool to try it again.
I wish we could work with Ji-Hoo and Woo Bin but they have already been noticed and are being followed. We have yet to be discovered and it has to stay that way. I don't know if anyone realizes who Ji-Hoo and Woo Bin really are but someone at least knows that they are suspicious. Even after Mo Nae loudly forbade us from getting involved, we still try to keep a close eye on them. I don't want them to be hurt.
I look down at the dance floor at Saia and Ji as they dance sensually with the music. I know it's all for show but I have to admit that they do dance really well together. They are watching the crowd, looking for anyone that might be of use to us.
I am so grateful to Ji-Yong for being protective of Saia. She is like a sister to him as well and we don't want to lose her. As much as I trust her to be able to defend herself, I don't want her to be in a dangerous position if it can be avoided. But I am happy she is here. She is a valuable asset. None of us can shoot as well as her. It's nice knowing that she has our back.
"Come, il mio amore(my love)! Let us have another drink!" Lorenzo whispers in my ear. I reluctantly allow him to pull me away towards our table and join the rest of his friends. I really hope this weasel lets something important slip soon because I really just want to castrate him…
Stay focused, Ki. Do your job.
(^_^)
SAIA'S POV:
The club is loud and busy. The place is packed. Swaying my hips to the music, I dance with Ji-Yong as we keep our eyes open for anyone of interest. Ji keeps an arm protectively wrapped around me to keep other guys away. It doesn't make me uncomfortable. I know he's just trying to keep me safe and I'm grateful. I don't like how some of them look at me but I feel safe with Ji-Yong.
Little does he know he's protecting two of us. I muse.
Only Mo Nae knows about my condition. Ji and Boo Ki have been left in the dark. I want to tell Ki so bad. She's my best friend. But I know that it isn't the right time.
"Let's get something to drink!" Ji yells in my ear over the music. I nod and he takes my hand to lead me off the dance floor. He leans protectively against me as we wait for the bartender and I look at our reflection in the mirror behind the bar. Ji nods his head to the music as I stare at our reflection. I don't recognize myself. It scares me really. My make-up, my clothes, my colored contacts, and especially my jet black hair make me look like a totally different person.
The bartender gives us our drinks and I slowly sip on my club soda as I look up at the VIP room that Boo Ki and our current target are located. His name is Lorenzo Corelli and he is Angiolo Botticelli's right hand man. Boo Ki has been getting close to Lorenzo and he likes her very much. He even believes they slept together but Boo Ki actually drugged him. His men tried to hit on me as well but Ji-Yong made it seem like we are a couple and they backed off a little bit. They still try to grab my ass or corner me away from Ji and Ki but I've been training hard and I can easily take care of myself against thugs like these.
"We should go check on her." Ji says and tugs on my arm. Just as I turn to follow him, my eyes fall on two very familiar figures and my pulse speeds up. I keep my eyes glued on them as Ji guides me towards the stairs. I can see that they are being followed as well. My heart speeds up and I pick up my pace. Ji seems surprised at my sudden urgancy to get to Boo Ki but I need to know what to do.
As we enter the VIP room, I motion her over to me and we pretend to dance as Ji goes to grab another beer.
"The guys are here." I whisper in Boo Ki's ear as we sensuously dance against each other. We ignore the cat calls and the cheering from the drunks at the table as they watch our erotic cover. "They've been followed."
Boo Ki rubs her lips against my shoulder and up along my neck to my ear as I wait for her decision. We can't let our cover be blown. We have to leave before Ji-Hoo or Woo Bin spots one of us or we have to get them out of here and somewhere safe.
"Maengs?" She whispers against my ear and grabs my waist to pull me closer. I nod. I recognize the way the Maeng family moves and it means the guys are in grave danger.
"Get them out of here and distract them Lorenzo and I so that we can leave. Do what you have to so that our men are safe." Boo Ki tells me as she rains kisses down my neck. I nod my head in understanding and Ki steps away to go back to Lorenzo's side as the song ends.
"Baby, I'm bored. Can we go somewhere else?" She says to Lorenzo with a pout. He looks at her in surprise but nods his head with a greasy smile.
"What about your friend?" He asks her.
"She wants to stay a little longer. They can catch up to us later."
Her voice trails off as Ji-Yong and I descend the stairs to the dance floor. He slings an arm over my shoulders and pulls me close.
"What's going on?" he asks.
"Ji-Hoo and Woo Bin are here. They are being followed by a Maeng. We have to get them to leave and lose the guy tailing them."
"Great. Too bad we can't just kill the mother fucker." Ji says irritably. "I'm assuming you've got your man and I got Ki's?"
I nod and look around. Ji-hoo and Woo Bin split up, which is lucky for us. It won't be hard to get Ji-Hoo's attention. Ji-Yong and I part ways and I weave my way through the crowd towards Ji-Hoo. The Maeng is standing in a spot where he can keep an eye on both men so it will be interesting to see who he decides to follow.
I sneak up behind Ji-Hoo and run my hand from the base of his neck to the bottom of his spine as I brush past him. His spine has always been sensitive to my touch and I feel him shiver as my hand drops away. Waiting till I'm several feet away, I finally look over my shoulder at him. His narrow eyes are staring at me intently but widen in shock when he sees my face. Giving him a smile, I resume my course towards the darker parts of the club and I know he is going to be following me.
Slipping into a dark hallway that leads to some private rooms, I wait till Ji-Hoo starts to pass by and then I grab his arm, pulling him into the darkness with me. Knowing there isn't much time I slam him against the wall and crash my lips onto his. He stiffens against me for a second before he realizes who I am and hungrily responds to our kiss. I pull the right side of his body towards me so that I can look over his shoulder and watch for the assassin. Ji-Hoo's kiss is intoxicating and he's making it hard for me to concentrate but I stay focused and watch as the Maeng only gives us a passing glance as he goes by. I managed to fool him into thinking that Ji-Hoo and I were just some couple looking to hook up and not the guy he's after.
I reluctantly break the kiss and look up at Ji-Hoo. We are both breathing hard after our quick make-out session and he rests his forehead against mine.
"Saia… god baby… I was so afraid-" I place a finger over his lips to stop him and step away from the wall. Our reunion is going to have to wait.
"You are being followed. We have to leave."
I can feel his eyes searching my face. I know he's surprised at my cool tone and demeanor but I can't afford to be emotional right now. Grabbing his arm, we slip out of the hallway and towards the rear exit of the club. I'm not really sure what Boo Ki intends for us to do with them but I can only think of one safe place to go.
Aunt Mo Nae is going to kill me… I inwardly groan and make my way to the sleek, black motorcycle I drove here. I hand him one of the helmets and quickly get on. He sits behind me and grips my waist tightly as we speed down the alley towards the street. I can hear another bike following us and I weave through traffic to try and lose them. We speed through countless side streets and alleyways till I am certain I have finally lost him.
Turning down a familiar back alley, I slow the bike as I approach the entrance to our hideout. As I pull into the shadows of an old building, the pavement curves down into an underground entrance. I stop in front of a door and scan my handprint for it to open. Once inside the garage, I stop the bike and we both dismount.
Ji-Hoo looks around curiously at all the different black unmarked cars parked here. I leave my helmet with the bike and head for the stairs in front of us. I can feel Ji-Hoo follow me but my heart is racing. Whether it's because I am so close to Ji-Hoo or because I am nervous about what awaits me inside, I have no idea.
(^_^)
JI-YONG'S POV:
As I make my way towards Woo Bin, I can see Saia has already caught Ji-Hoo's attention and also the attention of the asshole that is following him. I know Sai can lose him but I still got to get Woo Bin out of here just in case there is another Maeng lurking close by.
Grabbing a beer out of some guy's hand, I make my way towards Woo Bin and "accidently" bump into him. The beer goes all over him and he looks at me in annoyance. This part of the club is dark enough that he can't see my face clearly.
"What the fuck?" he hisses and I grab him by the collar of his jacket.
"That's right asshole! What the fuck? Can't you see where you're walking?" I yell in his face. With his face now inches from mine, I see the recognition spread in his eyes and I smirk at him. Maybe I don't give this rich Mafia boy enough credit. "Let's take this outside."
Grabbing him by the back of his neck, I push him forward and out a side entrance of the club. I can tell I just hurt his pride by pushing him around and I smile to myself in satisfaction. This punk still needs to prove himself to me before I will believe he is worthy of my sister.
My eyes continue to scan the street for anyone suspicious as I let go of his neck and head for my car.
"Let's go. We don't have much time." I say evenly.
"Ji-Hoo-"
"Is safe." I cut him off and he follows me. He watches me suspiciously from the passenger seat as I pull onto the busy street and weave through traffic. I keep my eyes on the road and behind us, looking for anyone in pursuit but we seem to be clear.
"What happened? Where have you been? Where is Boo Ki?" He growls at me. A month ago I would have made a snide remark but after the conditioning that Mo Nae put Ki, Sai, and I through, I keep myself focused on my task. We have numbed our emotions and frozen our hearts because our enemy is dark and unforgiving. We can't afford to have doubts or hesitation. All of our lives are on the line.
"I can't answer that." I calmly reply. "I can only take you to someone who might." I know that taking him to Mo Nae is risky. Her wrath is not to be taken lightly but I honestly don't know what else to do with this guy. Ki wants him safe and there's only one safe place in Rome.
Dammit… I am never going to hear the end of this…
A/n: A reader mentioned in previous chapters that I ended a couple of them with Ji-Yong and here I am again. Lol. I guess I like using him as the "closer". ^_^