Chapter Text
VANTE
It was silent.
So fucking silent. I hated it.
I was silently munching on the pork steak carefully prepared my by Chef as I slowly grasped the napkin from the table and wiped the corners of my lips. My eyes remained glued to the plate that was still full. I had no appetite for food whatsoever.
I could hear the clock ticking on the wall and that irritated me more. I grasped my gun and aiming at that annoying object, I pressed the trigger. It all happened in literal seconds. The bulled pierced through the vintage expensive wood and the clock finally stopped ticking.
Much better.
I heard a small gasp and as soon as I lifted my head, I saw the rabbit sitting at the further end of the long dining table. I swallowed my bite carefully and grinned at his horrified expression. Those warm brown rabbit eyes stared at me with such fear that I just couldn't help but want to scare him more.
"You should've gotten used to it by now, rabbit." I murmured out muffled, carefully placing the gun back on the table as I reached over for the crystal glass of red fermented grape liquid, bringing it to my lips. My eyes kept gazing at his pale face.
He didn't answer. Actually, he refused to talk to me. He'd only answer in short words if I asked him things from time to time but that was it. I think I was finally starting to break him and this was such a fucking win for me.
"You know . . . " I trailed off quietly after I've taken my sip and licked my lips, "if I haven't heard you talk, I'd have thought that you have no tongue at all." I cooed, leaning back against my chair. "Maybe I should just cut it so you don't talk for real." I added and I saw him flinch in pure horror.
He wore a white silk shirt, his hair was shiny and clean, a little messy but he was far different than the person I saw in the dungeons. His skin had that rosy glow now and even if he was shitting bricks, I could see that he had gained some healthy weight. I could be good if I wanted to be, well, sometimes. . . If I don't get fucked over that is. The wound on his eye was still covered as Jin almost passed out seeing him. It was cute, really.
"Why am I here?" he finally spoke out a full damn sentence.
"Here?" I asked amused, "here where?"
"Here. . . in this room, having a dinner with you."
I let out a soft "tsk"-ing sound with my tongue and leaned my elbows on the table.
"Because you need your strength for what's about to come. Besides, sometimes I am kind of lonely having dinner alone." I admitted, tilting my head. He was so amusing it was unreal.
I could hear his thoughts racing, it was obvious he had so many questions to ask but he was so scared to ask.
"Why did you changed your mind?" The rabbit asked and I huffed, rolling my eyes. I was starting to get annoyed just as I was minutes prior to that damn clock ticking. And for a second an intrusive thought passed through my head - maybe I should use that fucking gun to shut him up too?
"Speak fully, rabbit. I cannot understand the context of your questions. If you don't do it, I'll have to use the same approach as the clock."
I heard him intake a sharp breath and he nodded his head hurriedly.
"Why did you changed your mind when it was clear that the offer you had given me had expired?"
"Oh, that." I murmured, taking a deep breath. "No reason, I just wanted to break you and have you work for me."
Rabbit pursed his lips together, and a small frown graced his features. He looked skeptical.
"Okay." he finally gave up.
"Good boy," I praised and If he wasn't scared of me right now, he'd have probably gagged because I saw the disgust in his eyes. However, I wasn't really fazed by that. I stared at the full plate of food on the table in front of him that was untouched.
"Eat." I commanded in a demanding tone as I slowly pushed the chair I was sitting on back. It made a loud screeching sound as I was finally back on my feet.
Rabbit began eating immediately and that made me chuckle muffled.
Such a fucking dog he was. Obeying so fast. He was starting to learn.
"So, August, tell me, what information did you obtain regarding this situation?" I asked in a calm tone, playing with my silver pen which easily slid between my fingers. I was comfortably leaning on my leather chair, back pressed against the rest and legs thrown over the desk and neatly crossed.
The blonde chuckled as he slid a black matte folder on my desk without saying anything.
"How about you see yourself." he murmured, backing away and flopping on one of the black couches. I narrowed my eyes and slowly reached over. Opening the folder, my eyes landed on the large picture attached to the document.
"So this is our rabbit's little girlfriend, huh?" I asked in amused tone. "I wonder if he knows about this?" I trailed off as my eyes scanned what was written inside. I was growing more and more interested in this.
"I doubt it that he knows really. He was mostly focused on another parts if you know what I mean." August spoke out, typing something on his phone.
I scoffed and glanced at August. Closing the folder with a loud thud, I threw it back on my desk and my attention was focused on him again.
"Did you even read the file?" I asked.
"Uhuh." he answered.
"August." I said in a commanding tone. He immediately locked his phone and looked up at me. "How's the situation with your baby Mommy going?" I asked but I wasn't really interested, I just wanted him to keep his damn head when he was at work.
He huffed and shrugged.
"It's been hectic, she insists that it is mine, but I don't think so. We are going to do DNA test tomorrow to be certain. This bitch just wants my money, I tell ya." he grunted.
"Better keep your mind clear when you are at work, this is my last fucking warning."
"Yes, Big Brother." he mumbled lowly. I slowly rose up from my chair and walked to the large wall-like windows observing the view outside. It was still snowing.
"I think we should organize an event..." I finally changed the subject and of course, I heard August snort in response to my idea.
"My introverted ass can't agree." he trailed off.
I frowned and turned to stare at him.
"We need to do that in order to attract more clients for future deals." I spoke out calmly before turning my attention back on the landscape. "It's gonna be a Winter Gala Event and you will be the head of it."
"Huh? Told you I was introverted as fuck, you really want me to screw this up?" August protested. I heard him shuffle and that made me laugh. It was funny, he was indeed introverted but he also murdered people without a blink of an eye. I shook my head and finally turned to look back at him. He was now standing up, hands on his waist, as if he was trying to argue with me.
"You are my right hand, aren't you?"
He pursed his lips together and sighed quietly.
"You better let me murder someone for stress relief after that."
"Of course, reward for doing such a good job for me." I grinned at him as he stared at me without blinking. That bastard was too fucked up to be living in the normal world amongst normal people. I remember August's mother being the maid of a very wealthy family. She got raped by one of the sons and got pregnant with August shortly after that. During that pregnancy she took some hardcore drugs so this was probably the reason of August's disturbed mind.
"Such a freak, you got fetish for praisin' or somethin? Weirdo." August spoke, murmuring to himself. I laughed loudly at that, shaking my pointer finger at him.
JUNGKOOK
"Chase?" I muttered quietly, slowly pushing the door of the kitchen open as I looked around. The maids and a few of the guards were sitting around one of the large tables, whispering and possibly gossiping about something. Oh boy, I could already tell who they were gossiping about.
As soon as I walked in the room, their whispers stop and everyone's gazes were at me. Not gonna lie, the stares at the bandage on my face made me more insecure than I actually was.
"Is Chase here?" I asked quietly, one of the girls looked at the rest as if she was seeking for permission to answer me.
I was getting more annoyed by the second. I desperately needed to talk to someone, because during the last two weeks I've been healing physically but I just couldn't shake it all off me. I would wake up screaming, covered in sweat with racing heart every damn night ever since that girl was murdered right before my eyes.
She didn't deserve to die.
And somehow I was blaming myself because of this. It was all my fault.
I blinked a few times and before I knew it, I was alone in the large kitchen. The doors were closed and I took in a sharp breath. Nobody wanted to talk to me. Chase was nowhere to be found, and I would spend a suspicious amount of time with Vante. He'd invite me to have dinner with him two or three times during the last weeks and I did not know how to react to this.
He treated me like shit, as if I was the lowest creature in those grounds and now he was acting nice?
I am not lowering my guard. Never will. I was also irritated because he wouldn't give me the answers I wanted so desperately.
"You heal quickly." someone's voice distracted me. I slowly turned around and saw August standing by the door with hands in his pockets ever so casual and his brown eyes piercing through me. I noticed he wore all black and he had some bruises on his hands. Has he been fighting someone? Or. . . killing someone?
I slowly backed away until my back hit the counter.
He just stood there, shoulders and chin straightened.
"I love it when they are scared," he cooed and made his way toward the fridge. I was silent, begging for him to just leave so I wouldn't deal with this brute. I felt his presence by my side and felt cold shivers. It was as if he was a fucking monster breathing down my neck.
I looked at August as his eyes scanned me up and down.
"Vante can collect you from the ground, but he can also crush you like the little cockroach you are." he spoke in a low flat tone. I swallowed thickly in fear, there was a limp down my throat.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice was shaking. I saw him grin and shrug his shoulders.
"I just like bullying your pathetic self." he trailed off. Before I could say something, I was already staring at his back before the door slammed shut and I was left alone again. What the hell was wrong with this guy? He looked mentally unwell, I could tell.
"I would be careful if I were you." I heard a familiar voice and commotion behind me. I saw Chase walking into the kitchen from the back entrance, carrying some boxes.
"Chase, you are okay." I spoke softly, examining the man before me. He stopped for a moment and stared at me.
"I am?" he asked quite confused and I let out a nervous chuckle, leaning on the counter.
"I thought that Vante did something to hurt you."
He opened the boxes and slowly began pulling bottles of wine.
"He wouldn't hurt his personal Chef." he trailed off as he was clearly focused on doing his task. I noticed that there was a lot of wine bottles.
"What's going on, why is there so much alcohol?" I asked.
He remained silent for a second.
"There is going to be a Winter Gala party in here after a week or so. I am preparing the drinks from now per Vante's requests."
Winter Gala party? Fuck, maybe this could be my chance to escape? My heart began racing. Okay, I had to be swift. I had to be also extremely careful.
"Am I. . . going to attend it?"
"Ask Vante." Chase glanced back at me. I frowned. He was acting very cold toward me in comparison to last time.
"Listen if it is because of the girl-"
"She is dead because of you, Jungkook." It made a sharp pain pierce my chest as he said those words. It was the truth and I could see the sorrow in his eyes.
"I am sorry." I spoke quietly.
"Sorry won't bring her back." Chase retorted and kept pulling out the wine bottles.
I couldn't stand here any longer. Backing slowly away, I ran out of the kitchen not wanting anyone to see me like this. The good thing was that Vante left me with no gorillas to chase after me, instead, he put gorillas all around the mansion so, I guess I could roam free in some territories without being pushed around or disturberd.
I was walking with fast steps, just circling around the corner of the long hallway before my body met a hard surface and I swayed back and stumbled.
I looked up and my eyes were met with a pair of brown ones. The tall man was standing there, wearing a black turtleneck, blue casual jeans and a long caramel coat. He extended his hands and gently grasped my elbows to keep me balanced. I noticed he also wore leather gloves.
"I am sorry," I trailed off, avoiding his eyes. He was staring at my damn bandage, wasn't he.
"No, it's alright, are you okay?" he spoke in a smooth honey voice. I nodded my head.
The man soon backed away, giving me the space I needed as he looked around then back at me. We kept staring at each other.
"Fuck- sorry, where are my manners, uh, my name is Kim Namjoon." he extended his hand covered in leather gloves and I wondered who this could be. Perhaps another criminal? This house was full with damn criminals.
"Ah, uh-" I gently grasped his offered hand as I was curious about this man. My eyes roamed up and down his body in pure curiosity. I noticed a badge handing from around his neck. Upon further examination, I read what was written on it and my eyes grew wide as my heart stopped.
What was a police officer doing here?