“You're lying.”

Kibum could only lower his head, conscious the things he had just told his mother were far from what the woman was expecting to hear about her youngest son. Still, he'd figured out that was the only thing he could do. His mother deserved to know the truth about who Taemin was and so did his father.

“Mom... you can ask Jonghyun... he'll confirm everything...” he said. “I know this wasn't what you wanted to hear, but I just couldn't hide it from you anymore. You and dad have waited for too long to have him back and I didn't think it was fair to hide this from you. He's criminal mom...”

Misook was staring at her son as if he'd grown a second head, obviously unable to process what she'd been told. The man she'd seen at the hospital earlier that day didn't look like a criminal, he'd changed physically, but she was convinced he was still the child she'd raised and boy that had fled her home so many years back.

All these things Kibum had told her described a different person altogether, a stranger she didn't believe her son had turned into.

“How can you say these things Kibum?” she asked with a broken voice. “You've always defended him... why...”

“And that was my biggest mistake.”

“No.” she retorted. “He's not like that. I saw him... he isn't–”

“He looked for you?!” Kibum exclaimed, raising from his chair. “That selfish bastard...”

“Kibum!” the woman reprimanded. “He didn't look for me... it was a coincidence, he was at the hospital for a check up... he's pregnant, honey...”

Kibum clenched his jaw. The idea of his brother having a child still very much odd to him, and knowing Taemin's lifestyle didn't help him with accepting the fact. To know his brother would bring a baby into the world and into a life of crimes had him sick.

“He's putting us all in danger.” he stated. “We've been openly threatened mom, you just have to look around the house to know I'm speaking the truth... you and dad need to be careful.”

“That's enough Kibum.” Misook demanded. “I've pushed him away for too long because I was blind to the things under my nose, I won't do it again. My Taemin isn't the man you're describing.”

With that said, Misook rose from her seat, took her bag and bid her son goodbye, stating she'd come back when he'd have calmed down to discuss things better.

Truth to be told, she couldn't help but let a part of her believe in what Kibum said. The last years Taemin had lived with them had been filled with to and fro to the police station and juvenile court, and she had to admit her eldest son's story about the raven head's out-law life didn't sound as absurd as it should. Yet, the other part of her refused to believe in that. Her son wouldn't have involved himself with such dangerous criminals and he definitely wasn't a murderer.

*

“And what is Minho-sshi doing about it?” Hyejeong asked, looking at Sulli with concern.

The younger woman sighed. She'd been frustrated with the pace things had been advancing. It was like her brother was taking his time to resolve the problems the clan was going through and while she understood her brother-in-law's disappearance had everything to do with Minho's slow acting, she deemed the elder had to do something before things got worse.

That was why she had taken it upon herself to give her brother a little help, even if it was from the shadows.

“I think he's found some intel on who might be doing that... but I have yet to be sure.” she answered. “I think we need to do something about Taemin oppa.”

Hyejeong frowned a bit at that.

“What do you mean?”

Sulli looked at the cup of cooling tea set on the table before her.

“He's been gone for three months, Unnie.” she informed.

At Hyejeong's silence, she looked up and saw the older woman frowning deeper at her.

“So it's true...” she muttered.

“What do you mean by 'it's true'? Sulli questioned.

Hyejeong ran a hand through her long light-brown hair.

“There is that rumor going around...” she started. “at first I didn't believe in it... but then every time I went to the mansion I never saw Taemin again and he hasn't called in a while or answered his phone–”

“Unnie, what rumor?” Sulli was growing impatient and worried.

If there was a rumor going around, that meant someone had already spilled – at least part of – the beans out. And that wasn't good.

“A rumor saying one of Jade Dragon's heads is vulnerable. That's it's the best moment to strike.” the elder replied. “They say that head has been separated from the body... I think that's directly referring to Taemin.”

Sulli frowned at the piece of information. Her brother would definitely snap when he'd hear of that.

“Why didn't you tell me sooner that he was gone?” Hyejeong asked, looking hurt.

Sulli bite her lower-lip, feeling guilty for hiding such fact from her friend. But she had only followed the orders she'd been given, and while Hyejeong was one of her and Taemin's closest friends, she wasn't from the clan and was supposed to be kept in the dark about her brother-in-law's disappearance.

Yet, seeing as now such rule had already been broken, she figured she had to do something to help her brother, even if that meant going against his orders by bringing an outsider into their private matters and confirming the rumors that been running around.

“I... I wasn't supposed to.” she said. “But things are getting complicated and oppa won't be able to solve anything as long as Tae is away.”

Hyejeong stared at her friend for a while, as if thinking of what she was supposed to say.

“What happened to him? Why is he gone?” she asked, urgency in her voice.

“I don't know.”

“Isn't it Mrs. Choi testing him again?” she inquired.

Sulli shook her head, though not sure herself of the answer she was giving.

“I don't think so... mother really doesn't seem like she knows anything... Oppa has already confronted her about it and apparently she's clean.”

Hyejeong didn't seem convinced with the statement, but didn't push the matter further. Instead, she straightened herself in her seat.

“You want me to help you find him?” she asked. “Do you think he's in danger? Why would he leave?”

“Unnie... he left a letter, telling oppa not to look for him and I think that's what my brother is trying to do but with the threats and all... I think he's in the verge of snapping. We need to find Taemin oppa before that happens.”

“Of course.” Hyejeong said. “Do you want me to try talk to him?”

Sulli looked surprised for a moment before a small smile appeared on her face. She'd forgotten how close Minho and Hyejeong once used to be and somehow, she thought that despite the fact they'd grown significantly apart since the older woman had been appointed as her father's successor, Hyejeong could still try to get Minho to talk to someone and relieve his nerves.

“That would be great.” she conceded.

*

“Jinki, what are you going to do once you're there?” Goeun asked her nephew as she observed him close a small suit-case.

Onew set the luggage on the floor and turned to the woman. When he'd come back from Daegu a few weeks ago and she had confronted him about his whereabouts, he knew she already had a pretty good idea of what he'd been doing.

Even as he tried to make up an excuse for his absence, he'd clearly seen she wasn't buying his story; so he'd spilled the beans out to his aunt.

He honestly hadn't known what to expect from her reaction, the anger she had sported at first was very much normal, yet the concern that she'd showed when he'd exposed the whole situation, was the last thing he thought he'd ever see her express towards her son-in-law.

Her relationship with Taemin was far from what one could qualify as peaceful or good. They were constantly bickering and she always made sure to put him in hard-to-escape situations that had Minho fuming in anger towards her. Still, even with her son's obvious distaste for her attitude with his husband, she never ceased trying to make Taemin's life harder. Onew was actually surprised the younger had been able to put up with it for so long. So, to have her showing concern towards him was bewildering.

“I'm still thinking about it aunty.” he said. “But now that Minho explicitly asked me to look for Tae, I can do things in the open and it'll be easier.”

“You know you won't find him that easily right?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “As much as it pains me to admit it, he's smart and because you already found him once, your chances of doing so again are almost null.”

Onew grimaced.

“Thanks for the encouragement.” he chuckled humorlessly.

“It wasn't supposed to be one.” Goeun retorted. “Listen Jinki, if he's being blackmailed as you think, for whatever reason; you have to consider there's a real danger hovering him and my grandchild.”

“I know aunty...” Onew sighed.

“I want you to bring Jongin and Sehun with you. Every help is welcome isn't it?”

The male's eyes grew large at the demand and he took a while to react.

“But aunty... they're too young and they're Minho's–”

“I know, I'll deal with my son. And besides, they know Taemin better than anyone, they'll be more useful in the search for him.”

Onew nodded, seeing no room for arguing with his aunt. That didn't mean he wasn't worried however, with bringing the two with him.

While they were only ten years younger, Jongin and Sehun were like sons to Minho. He had always made sure to provide the two of them with the proper education and training since he'd taken them in when they were ten.

They'd been caught trying to steal food from the mansion's cuisine and Minho had been intrigued with how two boys had been able to sneak in such a heavily guarded property. Making the decision to take the two boys in, despite Goeun's disapproval had been the first time Minho had gone against his mother's wishes and that had proved to work very well with the woman.

The two nineteen years-old had grown to be very skilled and smart and while Minho rarely showed it, it was no secret he took pride on the teenagers. He hadn't allowed them to go on too risky missions however and had strictly forbidden them from taking part in trades or interrogating; which Onew knew was the younger male's way of sheltering the two boys from the horrors their lifestyle presented.

"I better tell them to get ready, we're leaving in two hours."

Goeun only nodded and watched as her nephew bowed his head at her before leaving the room.

With a sigh she left the bedroom as well before walking towards her own.

~ Seven Months Ago ~

“I have a mission for you.”

Taemin didn't bother looking up from the book he was reading as his mother-in-law approached him in the veranda. Every time she said those words, he knew there was trouble awaiting him and he had no wish to get involved in some any time soon.

“You know, it's very rude to ignore someone talking to you.” Goeun said, taking a seat on one of the chairs around the small table and setting a brown folder on it.

“Not as much as trying to send one to their death every month.”

Goeun repressed a slight smile at the retort and observed as the raven head's eyes never lost focus of the pages of the book he had in hands.

“I at least can say I try.” she said. “But you're worse than a parasite.”

“Thank you.” Taemin replied, looking at her with a gorgeous smile. “Coming from you, that's a touching compliment.”

The woman could only huff and shake her head.

“You know if you don't go, I'm sending one of your boys right?”

“It's cowardice to take advantage of your son's absence to send one of his children to dangerous missions, don't you think?”

Goeun merely shrugged before pushing the folder across the table, towards him.

“Do I need to kill anyone?” the raven head asked, glancing at the folder with disdain.

“Would I send you anywhere you wouldn't have to do what you know best?”

*

Goeun sighed as the door to her office was pushed open, without even a knock before, to announce the coming of the visitor. She watched with a risen eyebrow as Taemin came in with a serious expression on his face and a small package in hands. Once in front of her, he made sure to throw the package on her desk.

“Next time,” he said with obvious anger in his voice. “make sure I won't come back alive from your little tests, or you will be the last one to see the barrel of my gun.”

Goeun stared at the object in her desk, not even regarding her son-in-law's words and the raven head couldn't say he'd expected much anyway. Honestly, he didn't know to what extent his threats could be treated as real and he knew the woman was conscious of that too.

Clenching his jaw in exasperation, he let our a scoff before turning on his feet to leave the room.

“Taemin.” Goeun called as he approached the door, making him stop on his tracks.

He didn't bother turning over to face the woman however.

“You know the rules right?” she inquired.

He rolled his eyes at the question before leaving the office and slamming the door behind him without giving a spoken answer. Of course he knew the rules, after three years of submitting himself to them, he was even surprised Goeun still asked.

No one, not even Minho, was never to know of these dirty jobs he did in the shadows for his mother-in-law.

~ Present Day ~

Entering her bedroom, Goeun closed the door and rested her back against the wooden surface. She wished she could do more about the matter regarding her son-in-law, but her hands were tied like everyone else. Despite disapproving of him, she had to admit he was the best thing that had happened to her son and she knew just how much his departure was affecting Minho.

And even if she hated to admit it, his absence was also affecting her more than she ever thought it would.

She was angry at the raven head for leaving like this, yet couldn't blame him for fleeing, even more if it was in order to protect her grandchild. Something told her Jinki was right to think Taemin was running from something – someone –, she just had to discover who. If there was one thing she couldn't accept, was someone trying to harm her family. Even if the one being harmed was the most stubborn and defiant person she had ever encountered.

Only her could make Taemin's life a living hell and anyone else had to pay for doing the same.

*

Minho stared in surprise at the woman having just entered his office. Her visit was definitely not something he'd expected to have.

"Hyejeong-sshi..." he rose from his chair to greet the younger, still not over his surprise. "What do I owe your visit?"

"Hello... Minho oppa." the woman looked nervous. "I... wanted to talk to you about something..."

It was odd to hear her calling him that after all these years. It was like going back to a time when they were still just kids and not the heirs to two criminal organizations. Although Anubis was an affiliate of Jade Dragon's, their power was still consequent on its own and, even if he had once been friends with her, business always came first for him.

Yet, despite being the only daughter to Shin and inheriting his business, Hyejeong had never really changed, while he, he had grown cold and indifferent, making sure to put boundaries to his interactions with her, a possible enemy.

The fact she had never grown apart from Jinri and had befriended his husband should've told him long about her personality, but he couldn't help but keep his guard up around her, even if he had to admit he felt slightly guilty for shafting her away because of business.

“Of course, please take a seat.” he gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

She did as she was told, her expression showing just how much the situation had her feeling awkward.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

“No, thank you.”

Nodding, Minho sat back on his chair.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

Hyejeong bite down at her lower-lip.

“I wanted to offer our help in discovering who is causing you trouble.”

The statement had Minho raising a questioning eye-brow.

“Does your father know of this?” he inquired. “Because last time I spoke to him, he made it clear he wasn't willing to provide any kind of assistance.”

Hyejeong pursed her lips and ran a hand through her hair in a sign of discomfort. Minho almost smiled, noticing that particular habit of hers had never changed.

“I might not be fully in charge yet,” she said. “but that doesn't mean father controls everything.”

“I apologize, I didn't mean to offend you.”

Hyejeong smiled as she looked at him with her twinkling eyes. “Oppa... don't you think this cool act of yours is totally overdue now?”

The man frowned slightly before his lips mimicked hers.

“It's been years since...” he replied. “I guess I got used to it.”

The woman chuckled. “Whatever... just stop it.”

Minho nodded, figuring out there was no reason for him to be acting so formal with someone he'd practically been raised with. Despite his dislike towards her father and his methods, he wasn't sure if he could put Hyejeong in the same category.

“So... what is it you want to help with?” he asked.

“I heard you had some information already. Kwon Kijoo.”

Minho rose an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”

The woman just smiled mysteriously. “I have my contacts.”

The elder didn't even know why he'd asked. Shin's organization was one of the best when it came to stealing and passing on information.

“It didn't get anywhere.” he admitted.

“You might want to look further into it. I've had word of something rather disturbing. Something involving the fall of Jade Dragon.”