CHAPTER 26
BOO KI'S POV:
I look down at my chest in disbelief. The adrenaline pumping through my veins keeps me from feeling any pain at first. My body is in shock. I'm paralyzed.
I hear a chuckle and look up into the amused face of my grandfather.
"Foolish child. Did you really think I would let you live?"
"No." I croak. It takes so much effort to speak. "But I had to try."
His eyes narrow and he raises his gun again but a roar of rage and a furious Woo Bin slam into him, knocking him to the ground. My grandfather's gun gets knocked away as Woo Bin manages to kick it away from him. They roll and land blows against each other but it's hard for me to focus on them. All I know is that I'm losing too much blood and Woo Bin will die if I don't do something.
With what little strength I have left, I grip the gun in my hand tighter and force myself to focus on the two fighting men. I take aim and when my chance comes, I take it.
The bullet lands directly between my grandfather's eyes. His eyes stare at me in shock as he crumples to the ground.
I hear Woo Bin scream my name as my eyes slide closed.
I'm so tired…
(^_^)
WOO BIN'S POV:
Getting to Boo Ki is harder than I expected. With everyone fighting each other, they come after me as well.
I run out of bullets simply trying to protect myself from these idiots.
I finally spot her fighting someone farther down the street and have to fight my way to her.
I finally have her in my sight when I hear her gun fire along with another. Her eyes go wide and red begins to blossom across her chest.
A roaring sound fills my ears as I barrel full force into the man that shot her. It's only when his fist connects with my stomach that I realize the roaring was coming from me. Rage and hatred pound through my veins as I punch and kick this bastard with everything I have.
With all my skill and youth over this old man and even with his injuries, he is slowly gaining the upper hand over me. His experience and skill far outweigh mine. But I have determination and anger. He's hurt someone dear to me and for that, I will make him pay.
We collide into each other and hit the ground, rolling and trading blows. I barely flinch when I feel my shoulder being pierced by a large shard of glass. My only focus is to kill this motherfucker.
I manage to push him off of me and get back to my feet, landing a blow to his head with my foot. He recovers quickly though and avoids my second kick.
I manage to avoid a blow to my chest but not the punch to my kidney. I take a step back in pain but before I can retaliate, I hear a shot go off and my opponent freezes. I look up to see a bullet hole in his head as he stares over my shoulder where Boo Ki is. He sinks to the ground, dead and I turn towards Boo Ki.
The red stain on her chest has grown and blood stains her lips. The gun slips from her fingers and her eyelids begin to slide shut. Panic floods my body as I race to her side.
"Boo Ki! Boo Ki?!" I scream and pull her into my arms. "Wake up, baby. Come on! Open your eyes! OH GOD!"
I press my hand against her wound, trying to stop the flow of blood but I know it's bad. The only thing that keeps my hope alive is feeling her heartbeat beneath my palm.
I feel numb. It's as if I am in some kind of foggy nightmare. Is this real? This can't be happening. Everything happened too fast.
Arms enter my line of vision and try to take her away from me. I tighten my grip on Boo Ki and try to focus on the intruder. Their voice isn't making sense to me.
"-understand? I need you to let her go, Woo Bin-ssi. Please?" Ji Yong pleads and I reluctantly let him take her. Mo Nae puts pressure on the wound as Ji-Hoo begins to examine her.
"Fuck…" Ji breathes and runs his hands worriedly through his hair. "Dude, we need to get that glass out of your shoulder."
Ji-Hoo looks up for a moment at me and raises an eyebrow before turning back to Boo Ki. "No. We can't take it out yet till I can take a better look at it. Take it out now and he risks losing too much blood. We need to get them both out of here."
"I don't give a damn about the glass. Just save her Ji-Hoo-yah…Please…" I beg, tears streaming down my face.
"There are cops everywhere. Ji and I will take Boo Ki. You take Woo Bin and we will meet you at the hospital. We have to split up." Mo Nae says and motions for Ji.
"That's not a good idea. I need to stay with her." Ji-Hoo tries to argue but Ji Yong lifts her up in his arms.
"Like it or not, we will all be arrested if the cops get to us. You two can get out of here safely because of who you are. We won't be so lucky. We have to split up." Mo Nae sternly says. I try to follow them but Ji-Hoo grabs my arm.
"Wait!" I croak. I don't want to leave her. But Ji-Hoo pulls me away. My injuries are finally taking their toll and I'm too weak to resist him.
"Just do as she says. Boo Ki doesn't have time for us to be arguing." Ji-Hoo murmurs.
I take one last look back and see Ji Yong disappearing through the smoke with my heart in his arms.
Don't you dare die on me, Maeng Boo Ki…
(^_^)
[3 WEEKS LATER]
It's been weeks since the clash between us, the Maengs, and Botticelli's men. The Rome police have had their hands full trying to piece together what happened. Any Maeng's that managed to survive that mess have disappeared.
The whole city is in an uproar over Botticelli's assassination. They don't know what kind of man he really was. Ji-Hoo left Italy with Saia for her own safety. Even though linking his death to her is highly unlikely, we weren't willing to take any chances. She's safer in Seoul.
I had to stay in Rome because the woman I love disappeared again. I knew I shouldn't have let Mo Nae and Ji Yong leave with her. I searched every hospital for two days before I finally admitted to myself that they weren't coming. Even Seung Joon, Boo Ki's father, has disappeared. He needed medical attention as well. Their injuries would not be easy to hide.
If the Maeng's took them, then I may never know what happened.
"Did you find anything?" Yi-Jung asks as I enter my hotel room. I shake my head and sink into a chair with my palms against my eyes. My right shoulder is still stiff from my wound but it's bearable. It was a bad wound and is still healing. It itches like a motherfucker though.
I'm exhausted. I've barely slept. Ji-Hoo has scolded my constantly over the phone to sleep more but I can't help it. I'm worried.
I hear Yi-Jung sigh and sit down on the sofa across from me. I look up at him and see him fighting with himself over different emotions. He's still hurt and frustrated but also worried and concerned. We were once the closest to each other. We understood each other. We knew each other better than anyone.
But now?
This past year has changed me. I've seen and done things that I never thought I would. I've always had people do the dirty work for me in the past. But now I've done the dirty work with my own two hands. They are covered in blood. And the craziest part? I don't regret it. I was fighting to protect what matters most to me. But it changed me forever.
Boo Ki changed me as well. She helped me accept that dark part of myself that I have to keep hidden. Like it or not, it's who I am and because of it my friends are safe.
But at what cost? My friendship with Yi-Jung and Jun Pyo will never be the same. And I may have lost the woman I love to this…war.
"Maybe Jun Pyo found something. He should be here soon." Yi-Jung tries to reassure me.
I hold back my scoff and just nod instead. I highly doubt Jun Pyo will find anything on the Maengs if my own men are unable to. These are people that are experienced in living in the shadows. Not some thug that anyone with money can easily find.
"Woo Bin-ah talk to me. You used to always tell me everything. I can tell you are frustrated but you keep holding it in. You need to let it out before you explode and do something rash."
I stare at my old friend and a flash of irritation courses through me. He's right. We did always use to talk about everything. We were constantly talking about something. I realize now how much I've come to rely on Ji-Hoo's quiet strength and support. He listens when I rant and he never pushes me to talk. It used to bother me but I've come to admire that about him.
"I'm just frustrated." I grumble, hoping he doesn't push the issue.
He sighs in irritation and opens his mouth to say more but my phone goes off, interrupting him. I glance at the screen before answering it quickly.
"Yes?" I say tiredly and lean my head back on the chair.
"You haven't slept yet."
I can't help but chuckle at the disapproving tone in Ji-Hoo's voice and Yi-Jung raises an eyebrow at me.
"Ani. How exactly am I supposed to sleep with Boo Ki missing?"
"You will have to sleep on the plane then. You're coming home."
"Excuse me?" I say darkly and sit up.
Who does he think he is? He knows I don't respond well to being told what to do. Unless…
"What do you know? Did you find her?"
"…I need you to come back quickly. I don't want to discuss anything over the phone. This is important, Woo Bin-ah." Ji-Hoo's tone is urgent and I feel my heart start to race in my chest.
"I'm on my way."
I hang up the phone and dial Jun Pyo's number.
"What is it?" Yi-Jung asks but I can't answer him right now.
"Jun Pyo. I need your private jet ready as fast as possible."
(^_^)
The flight to Seoul feels like it has taken forever. Jun Pyo and Yi-Jung grill me for answers but I simply don't have any. Ji-Hoo wouldn't have told me to come back without a good reason.
He told me to sleep but the most I could get was a couple of hours. I'm too anxious to get home.
Ji-Hoo is waiting for me at my father's house when we finally arrive.
"What's going on, Ji-Hoo-yah?" I ask as he greets us.
"Yi-Jung, Jun Pyo Mr. Song is waiting for you in his office. Woo Bin you need to come with me." He says but Jun Pyo stops us.
"Wait. What is going on? Don't leave us in the dark again. We are in this together, remember?"
Ji-Hoo actually smiles at Jun Pyo and nods his head. "Don't worry. Mr. Song will fill you in on everything. I'll meet you there in a few minutes."
They reluctantly turn away as Ji-Hoo motions for me to follow him. He leads me up the stairs and I feel myself relax. I'm anxious to hear what news he has but Ji-Hoo's calm demeanor puts me at ease. It can't be anything bad if he's being like this. I know him too well now.
I frown when he opens the door of one of the guest bedrooms but follow him in. Saia looks over at me from the side of the bed but it's the person who is in it that has my full attention.
"Woo Bin-ah." Boo Ki softly calls and I'm at her side in an instant. I cup her face in my hands and cover every inch of it in kisses.
Ji-Hoo and Saia quietly leave as I carefully embrace my heart in my arms.
There's a large bandage beneath her shirt and I can tell she is still recovering but she's alive and she's here. That's what matters most.
"Oh god, baby! I was so worried! Where have you been?" I ask and she smiles weakly at me.
"The last thing I remember is shooting grandfather and when I woke up we were in Seoul. Mo Nae only told me she had to get us out of Italy. She didn't give me any details. I insisted on seeing you and Saia so Ji Yong brought me here. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too. You owe me big time for making me worry and for scaring the shit out of me."
"I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you everything but I couldn't. I had to fight this battle for myself. I know you wanted to fight beside me and it was selfish of me to keep you in the dark. What can I do to make it up to you?" She cups my cheek in her hand and I see the regret in her eyes. But I don't like seeing it. The only things I want to see in those gorgeous eyes are love and happiness.
"You can start by giving me forever. I want it all with you, Maeng Boo Ki. I love you and I want us to stand by each other in everything from now on."
Her eyes grow moist as she listens to the sincerity of my words. I kiss her softly on the mouth and rest my forehead against hers.
"I love you too Woo Bin-ah and I want nothing more than to be with you forever. You've always been the Song in my heart."
"Aigoo… When did my woman become so cheesy?" I snicker and roll my eyes.
She pecks my lips softly and smiles up at me. "I only learned it from the best."
"Well there is still so much more for me to teach you, baby." I grin wickedly and pull her close.
"I can't wait."
A/N: Final chapter. Epilogue anyone? Thoughts? I honestly don't' have many thoughts on an epilogue but I might do one for the F4 if anyone's interested. For those of you that asked for Ji-Hoo's unreleased epilogue, it will be added to Heart's Song today as well.
This story has been a definite journey with ups and downs on paper and behind the scenes. These last few chapters were a trial for me simply because I wasn't sure how to write the end. I knew what I wanted but not how to get there. I left the F4's relationship as is because every friendship goes through challenges and I believe that if these men were real their evolution into men would also change their relationship. But I firmly believe they would still remain friends. They would forgive and remain loyal to each other.
With that said, I want to thank each and every reader that has taken the time to read and/or comment on this story. Your words have made me smile and laugh. You are truly the best readers an author could ask for and I am grateful you came on this journey with me. *giant bear hugs* to you all. ^_^
Much love~
Nariko