Chapter 33: CRIMSON OBSESSION

 

Setting the Trap

Jimin had barely stepped out of Taehyung’s office when his phone buzzed. The sharp vibration jolted him from his thoughts, his pulse already unsteady from the confrontation he had just endured. He glanced down, expecting a message from Jungkook, but instead, a number he didn’t recognize flashed across the screen.

Unknown: “Be careful. He’s watching you.”

Jimin froze mid-step. His breath hitched, fingers tightening around the device. His mind raced—who could it be? Jungkook? One of Taehyung’s men? A warning or a taunt? The weight of the words settled deep into his bones, adding another layer of paranoia to an already suffocating situation.

He quickly glanced over his shoulder, scanning the hallway outside Taehyung’s office. The air felt charged, heavy with something unseen but undeniably present. His gut told him he was being watched, even if he couldn’t see by whom. He tucked his phone into his pocket and exhaled slowly, forcing his heartbeat to slow. Whatever was happening, he couldn’t afford to show weakness.

Back inside his office, Taehyung leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. He swirled his whiskey lazily before taking a slow sip, eyes glinting with something dark. The tension in the air had been palpable when Jimin stood before him, the smallest flicker of hesitation betraying him.

Jimin thought he was safe.

That was his first mistake.

Taehyung had already set things in motion. A little bait, a little pressure, and soon, Jimin would show his true colors. If there was any hint of betrayal, he’d make sure to snuff it out before it could grow into something dangerous. His fingers tapped against the rim of his glass as he thought about what would come next.

Tonight, everything would be decided.

The night air carried a sharp bite as Jimin made his way to the designated location—a warehouse on the outskirts of the city, one of many Taehyung controlled. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his black coat, but beneath the cool exterior, his mind was working in overdrive.

Something wasn’t right.

The first sign was the atmosphere. The usual routine of these transactions followed a predictable rhythm—a few guards stationed outside, an exchange carried out swiftly, and everyone dispersed without unnecessary conversation. But tonight? The air was thick with something unspoken.

Too many guards. Too many eyes.

As he approached the entrance, he noted the subtle shift in their stance, their gazes lingering on him just a fraction too long. His stomach twisted, but he forced himself to keep walking. If he showed even the smallest hint of hesitation, he was as good as dead.

His phone buzzed again.

Unknown: “Turn back. It’s a setup.”

His blood ran cold.

He couldn’t turn back now. It would confirm everything Taehyung already suspected.

So he inhaled deeply, masked his unease, and stepped inside.

The warehouse was dimly lit, the overhead bulbs casting long, eerie shadows against the concrete floor. Stacks of crates lined the walls, some marked with codes he recognized from past dealings. The scent of dust, metal, and something faintly chemical clung to the air.

A voice rang out from the shadows.

“Right on time.”

Jimin didn’t flinch. He turned his head slowly, his expression schooled into indifference as Taehyung stepped forward from the darkness, his presence commanding, suffocating. He moved with deliberate ease, his gaze sharp as it landed on Jimin.

Behind him, several men stood in the periphery, their hands resting near their concealed weapons. It was a silent message.

Jimin was not among allies here.

He swallowed hard, keeping his voice steady. “You asked me to be here.”

Taehyung smirked. “I did. And now we’re going to see just how loyal you really are.”

Jimin tensed, his every instinct screaming at him to tread carefully. “What do you want me to do?”

Taehyung tilted his head, feigning amusement. “There’s been a little… disturbance in our operations. Someone’s been feeding information to the wrong people. That’s a problem.”

Jimin’s heart pounded against his ribs, but his expression didn’t waver. “And you think that someone is me?”

Taehyung took a step closer, and the air between them grew razor-thin. “You tell me, Jimin.”

Silence stretched between them, taut and unbearable.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, one of Taehyung’s men stepped forward, dragging a bound and beaten figure into the dim light. The man groaned, his head lolling forward, blood staining the collar of his torn shirt. Jimin’s stomach turned when he recognized him.

It was one of the lower-ranking men who had worked under him in past operations. Someone who had been loyal—or at least, loyal enough to stay quiet.

Taehyung crouched beside the man, gripping his hair and forcing his head up. “This one says he heard whispers. Whispers about you sneaking around, meeting with people you shouldn’t be meeting with.”

Jimin clenched his fists. “That’s a lie. i never betrayed you and never will.”

Taehyung’s gaze flickered with something unreadable. He let go of the man’s hair, standing to his full height. “Then prove it.”

Jimin’s throat went dry. “How?”

Taehyung pulled a gun from his holster, turning it in his hand before extending it toward Jimin. The weight of the moment settled over them like a suffocating fog.

“Kill him.”

The words hit Jimin like a physical blow. He stared at the weapon, then at the man at his feet. The man’s eyes met his, desperate and pleading, barely able to keep himself upright.

Jimin had killed before. He had done what needed to be done to survive in Taehyung’s world. But this? This was different. This was a test, a carefully laid trap, and no matter what he did, he knew there was no way to walk away unscathed.

If he refused, Taehyung would know. If he pulled the trigger, he would cross a line he wasn’t sure he could ever return from.

His fingers curled around the gun, his pulse hammering in his ears. He lifted it slowly, the cold metal pressing against his palm. The man whimpered, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Jimin forced himself to meet Taehyung’s gaze.

And then, in a split second, he made his choice.

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the warehouse.

The body slumped to the floor.

Silence followed.

Jimin let out a slow breath, lowering the gun. His hands were steady, his face unreadable. He turned back to Taehyung, waiting for his reaction.

Taehyung studied him for a long moment before smirking. “Good.”

He gestured for his men to clean up the mess, then leaned in close, voice barely above a whisper.

“Let’s hope, for your sake, that I never find out you’re lying to me.”

Jimin held his gaze, unflinching.

But inside, he knew this was far from over.

And he had just sealed his fate.

 

 

To Be Continued...

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