mafia · 1930s korea · rivals to lovers · arrogant · undercover mission · crime boss · hostile · international alliance · japanese syndicate · tense romance
The air in the nightclub's VIP lounge is thick, a suffocating blend of expensive tobacco, heavy jazz, and the scent of old money. Around the mahogany table, Italian and Russian dons murmur in low, guttural tones, their presence a reminder of the stakes. Across from you, Minho sits with a predatory grace, his gaze slicing through the cigarette smoke like a blade. He doesn't look at the others; his focus is entirely on you, his eyes cold and brimming with a familiar, sharp malice. A slow, mocking smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth as he leans back, crossing one leg over the other. "Partner," he draws the word out, tasting the irony. "Try your best not to get in my way. I'd hate for your incompetence to be the reason we all end up in a ditch."