"You know that if you go meet Chief, you won't come back?" Minji asks me. "Well isn't that convenient for you." I comment, not taking my eyes off of the road. She scoffs. "You're heading right into a trap! He has all of his men just waiting for the opportunity to eliminate you!" She continues. "You know you won't come out of this alive...right?" She continues. "What's it to you?" I ask her. "You have a kid you should be taking care of! If you're going to continue making rash decisions like this how are you fit to be a parent??!" She continues.

 

My eyes widen. How did she know about Taemin? He was the most private part of my life. I swiftly pull over to the side of the road and grab her by the arm. "How do you know about my son?? What exactly is your game here?" I growl at her. "Ya if you're going to keep grabbing me like that just yank it off!!!" She snaps. "How do you know about my son??!" I repeat. She smacks me hard in the face. "No matter how much you may hate me, I'm still a woman. Is this how you treat women now??" She asks, voice shaking. I look at her in disbelief. "Are you a woman now?" I ask her, earning another slap. "You're no different than your father. Just as degrading and worthless...what happened to you?" 

 

"Minji I don't have time to play your games!! How did you know about Taemin?" I ask her now through gritted teeth. "Because Chief's been watching you all your entire lives!! You know that!" She snaps. She was right. I did know. He sent me photos...god I should've taken him seriously! He was threatening my family...I couldn't go to or even trust the police, he practically owned them. So I just chose to ignore them thinking he was just trying to scare me. I should have at least warned Joon, Jisoo and EunGyul.

 

"Alex, he's going to kill all of you. Maybe he'll spare Jisoo for sentimental reasons...I'm telling you this because I don't want that kid to be without a father!"

 

"And since when did you start having values?" I snap at her. 

 

"You must really love the feeling of my hand striking your face."

 

"Why do you care Minji??!"

 

"I care because I feel guilty!! I have to survive too! I want to live too! How else would I pay off my family's debt owed to Chief?? Huh?? How else would I have paid? Should I sell my body??? The only way to survive and protect my family was to do these things! I'm not smart, so I can't go to college and even if I was I wouldn't be able to afford it! I've fallen to the bottom, don't you think I already know??! I didn't think it would turn out this way! I see that I've gone too far and that's why I'm trying to help you now!" She shouts, breathing hard and looking as if she's going to cry.

 

"And while you're here grinding me into the dirt and making me feel like nothing, you're putting the rest of your family in more danger by wasting time." 

 

I stare at Minji...I didn't like her, but she was right. How I was treating her was wrong, and she was still a woman. She seemed like she desperately wanted out of this life, but there were no other options. I open my mouth to apologize just a my car's Bluetooth began to buzz. It was Jisoo. Why was he calling again?? Then I remember. He was with the kids. I quickly press the answer button. 

 

"Jisoo what is it?" I ask, massaging my temples.

 

"Hyung!! Why the hell weren't you picking up? Then you call me back and hang up!!"

 

"I never called you."

 

"Whatever! Hyung, Taemin was kidnapped!" 

 

My breathing stops. Everything stops. What? Kidnapped?

 

"What did you say?" I ask, hoping that I heard him wrong.

 

"He's been kidnapped! Two of Chief's men came and snatched him."

 

"And where the hell were you??? I asked you to do one thing!!! This is why no one takes you seriously! You can't handle simple tasks Jisoo! You can't handle being an adult!!!"

 

"Listen I know you're angry..."

 

"You knew about this didn't you?" I ask Minji. She shakes her head. "Of course not!! But stop this now before that kid gets hurt." She says.

 

"HYUNG IF YOU'D JUST LISTEN TO ME!!!" Jisoo shouts.

 

"And what?? Waste more time??"

 

"While you're so focused on getting revenge who knows what they could be doing?? Again, you're the one wasting time! Come back to Busan. Let Chief wait. He'll get what's coming to him sooner or later." Jisoo assures me. "Right now we have to save your son."

 

"And how do you know Chief doesn't have him already? What makes you think Taemin is in Busan??"

 

"The men who took him didn't look familiar at all! I think they were members of the East Wing since that's the only place we aren't allowed in. We're all here to help you Alex. We just need you to put down your anger for a bit." Jisoo concludes.

 

I know he's right, and that made me more upset, but I have to save my kid. He's what's important. "I'll be there." I mumble.

 

"Hyung..."

 

"Jisoo. DON'T make me regret listening to you." I warn him before hanging up.

 

I continue driving for a while in silence, trying to calculate all aspects of this situation. I needed to know what exactly could go wrong so I'd know how to avoid the outcome. After a while I pull over. Minji looks at me in confusion.

 

"Get out." I tell her blankly, but she just sits there.

 

"But..."

 

"You said you wanted a chance to change, now I'm giving you one. Get out." I repeat. When she continues to stare, I unlock the doors.

 

"Please hurry, you're wasting the little time I have left. Minji get out."

 

"I want to help. This is partially my fault too...let me at least help you get the kid back." She practically begs.

 

"I'm trying to give you your life back. If you decide to tag along, I won't be able to guarantee your safety." I warn her.

 

"I'm not asking for protection. I'm asking for redemption." She clarifies.

 

I couldn't waste any more time. We had about an hour or so left for Busan.

 

"Whatever. Your life, your call." I conclude before pulling off again.