CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

LEE TAEMIN

Eunsoo, mum, Yoonho and I gathered around the coffee table without saying a word.

" Eunsoo you should go up and rest ". Mum said and glanced over at him.

" It's fine. I'm okay. Yoonho.....who was it? "

" Lee Byungchan. He did it "

" What the fuck are you talking about? My Uncle doesn't go around murdering people. He is a detective....he does the opposite "

" Taemin.....he is not who he says he is. Before Hyejin died, she told me who killed Shin Mirae. It was your Uncle. "

" There is no way he.....

Suddenly, I remembered all the warning signs. Sneaking around in mum's room, refusing to let us see Eunsoo's father, hiding Tiger Corp, being weird at the scene today and that conversation. Those men did say that he made a mess today and that he is someone who can sacrifice anyone.

" I saw him today. He stood a little far from the restaurant, instead of being with the other cops. I followed him and saw him with some men. They said something about him making a mess today, that the boss wanted to see him and that he was a traitor who sacrifices anyone for his own gain "

" He never left Tiger Corp. He betrayed your father and the others, just so he could win the favour of their boss. Apparently your Uncle holds a deep rooted grudge against your father ". Yoonho said.

" How do you know so much about all of this? What are you hiding?"

" My father was part of the crew....Choi Jihyun "

" Yoonho...that was a really long time ago. Why didn't you say anything? "

" I didn't want to come to terms with the horrible things my father did. I didn't want to find anything out anymore, so I hid it. When I heard that your father killed someone, it reminded of my dad. I got really frustrated whenever I thought of him and I foolishly channelled all my frustrations to you. When I heard the name of the victim, I realized it had something to do with Tiger Corp. I kinda stalked you too. I was trying to warn you. Byungchan was even following Taemin this morning and I had to knock him out "

Yoonho said as he stared at Eunsoo. I just sat there, feeling so confused and angry.

I placed Hyejin's box on the table and pulled out a bunch of flash drives and records.

" We have enough evidence to get the police on Tiger Corp ". I said and looked around the table.

" Let's face it. My dad's sentencing is tomorrow, my whole family is dead, Tiger Corp is on our tail, the police is with them and we don't even know who we are fighting against. It's all over "

Eunsoo said and stormed out of the room. I got up to follow him but mum stopped me.

" Let him be "

KYUNG EUNSOO

I lay in bed and just stared at the clock. I felt stuck. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't even protect my family. If only I had stopped when they had asked me too, mum and Minah would still be here. I felt someone behind me and looked down at the hands that were wrapped around my waist. He moved closer and laid his head on my back. The tears I had been battling, suddenly began flowing down.

" It's all my fault....I'm sorry.....I....

" It's not your fault Eunsoo. You did your best "

I heard him say as he tightened his grip around me. I wanted to shut my mind so these thoughts would stop. His arms around me and his scent in my nose, brought some comfort.

" Taemin I don't know what to do "

" Just close your eyes and say ' they are always with me "

I closed my heavy eyes and whispered, as I held his hands.

" They're always with me "

...

I woke up and tried to get out of bed but I couldn't. My hands and legs wouldn't move. I looked over to my hands and then my legs. They were tied to each side of the bed. I looked up and saw Yoonho and Taemin's mum, standing in a corner of the room.

" What's going on? "

I asked as I tried to wriggle my hands free.

" It's for your own good "

Taemin's mum said in a calm voice.

" My own good? "

" You were going to go to your father's sentencing right? "

" I have to "

" You are willing to risk your life and possibly ours for what? "

" I can't just stay here and leave him all alone. He'll think we don't care about him. I have to at least try something. I can tell them I know who did it "

" And after that? "

" I.....I'll go somewhere else. I won't come back here "

" Eunsoo.....listen to me. I know you're going through a lot right now but I can't let you leave. I don't want you to get hurt "

Taemin's mum said and walked out of the room with Yoonho.

I stared up at ceiling as I lay motionless. I had nothing left. I immediately tilted my head towards the door, when I heard it open. Taemin walked in with a tray, which he dropped on the table.

" Are you in on this too? "

He just gave me a little smile as he walked over to me. He untied my hands and helped me sit up. I stared as he walked over to me with the tray. Eating was the last thing on my mind right now. All I could think of was my dad.