Minho signaled that the chauffeur could leave. The man got out of the car but Minho didn't move. His head is about to explode. As if there were a Heavy Metal concert taken place in his head. Perhaps he has drunk more than he assumed, furthermore the lack of sleep was clearly not helpful. After a short time, he went through the garage which led to the living room and found Taemin sleeping on the couch. When was the last time that someone was home when he got back? He couldn't remember.

Taemin must have fallen asleep immediately after Minho left because the TV was still on. The younger had not even changed the channel. Minho wondered how this delicate person could bring someone like Mr. Hong to talk. His eyes scan Taemin from head to toe as if he were discovering something new, something very exciting. Just then, the scene from earlier was played again in his memory. He blushed. He blamed the alcohol for the "pretty face". What are the odds that Taemin didn't notice that?

And how was he going to explain what he said this morning? At that time, he definitely had no alcohol in the blood.

"If you failed, I can do anything I want to you." Minho felt a sudden shame. That sounded like a quote from a bad version of Fifty Shades of Grey.

And what would he have done if he won? What the hell did he expect? Minho tried to tell himself that he only wanted to play with Taemin and to scare him a bit.

He wanted to bring Taemin in his bed, but he feared the thought of having Taemin in his arm. What if he'd like it? Hours earlier, when they stood so close to each other, he did not hate the feeling. In the end, he covered Taemin with a blanket and went to his room.

____________________

Taemin knew he was dreaming. That dream again. Despite all the efforts, he couldn't wake up. All he could be watching as if he were caught in a movie. He saw the kidnapper pointed the gun at his face, or rather, at the face of his nine years old version. The small boy shut his eyes, therefore he could still hear the shot and seconds after the voices of several adults. The police stormed the hut, but it was too late. Someone was shot.

Everything Taemin saw was now covered in red as if someone had painted the room. Yet it was the blood that splashed in his eyes. Later, in the hospital, the doctor told him that it wasn't his own blood. It turned out it was the female kidnapper who was shot. He was too young to understand what happened. Many years later, the detective, who was also a friend of his father, told him she had embraced him as her partner had pulled the trigger. Taemin couldn't remember what happened after the first shot, but he was told that the male kidnapper had been shot by the police.

Until now he still wondered why she was willing to die for him. Why would a criminal do such a thing? At some point, his mother told him, it might be the motherly instinct that made her protect a child. The kidnapper was a mother a long time ago. However, she lost the child, even before it was born. She probably did not know that her partner never wanted to release Taemin. Whatever the reason was, Taemin would never know. He'd never have the possibility to ask her or to thank her. The only thing he knew for sure was that he owed his life to her.

Perhaps, she was the reason why he wanted to study psychology. He hoped one day he'd understand why people did what they did; why a woman was willing to die for someone else's child.

Taemin opened his eyes as a voice in his head woke him up from his dream. A voice which was clearly as if someone was whispering into his ear.

"He was willing to die for her."

Taemin was glad to wake up from the nightmare. He sat up and began to sort his thoughts. Mr. Hong knew he would die if he did not name the hiding to Minho. But it didn't seem to bother him until Taemin mentioned his daughter. Sounds logical at first. But why should he take the tortures? Why not telling Minho the truth to avoid the pains? He couldn't be that loyal to the Red Devils. Then why did he do that? If he spoke, the Red Devils would kill him. If not, the White Snake would kill him. Someone like him would never take the bullet for another person. Except for his daughter.

"Of course. He was willing to die for her. " Taemin mumbled and began to dial Onew's number.

"Come on, pick up." He looked at the clock. It was 6: am, Onew must be sleeping.

"Taemin? Did something happen? "Onew worried.

"Hyung, that friend of yours, that detective who sent us the information about Mr. Hong."

"What about him?"

"Does he have any connection in China, someone who can check if Mr. Hong's daughter was alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think it's possible that Mr. Hong betrayed Minho because they threatened his daughter?"
"It's not impossible. That would also explain why someone who worked for more than 10 years for the Chois, suddenly switched sides. "

"Can you call me if you know anything?"

"Of course. I'll call him now. "

Taemin wanted to lay his phone back on the nightstand. That was the moment he realized he wasn't in his room. Now it came into his mind that he fell asleep while was watching the news. However, he didn't remember having a blanket.

__________________

Taemin heard footsteps and he knew it was Minho. He didn't think of the other boy as an early bird but Minho really surprised him. Taemin went to the kitchen to get his morning glass of water. It was already the fourth morning he woke up here, and yet he still couldn't get used to this house nor get used to living alone with another man.

Minho was sitting at the dinner table, drinking his coffee. His eyes didn't leave his iPad even though he noticed Taemin.

"Yesterday, did you cover me up?" Minho still didn't react.

"Anyway, thank you." Then none of them said a word until the silence became unbearable.

"What are you going to do about Mr. Hong?" Taemin tried to start a conversation.

"Nobody would miss that bastard," Minho replied dryly.

"He has a daughter who would miss him." That was what Taemin wanted to say.

"You promised me you wouldn't do anything to him."

"No, I said I would not kill him. That's something completely different." Minho stood up and called for his driver.

"Are you going to see him? Let me accompany you?" Taemin Minho him to his car.

"Why are you bothering me? Where's Onew? "

"It's still early, he must be sleeping," Taemin lied. He just wanted to ask Mr. Hong by himself, whether his daughter was in danger or not.

"I won't talk. You won't even notice me."

"Please." He added. Minho sighed but gave in.

"Come on, get in," he said impatiently. A childish smile appeared on Taemin's face. He hastened as if he were afraid Minho could change his mind.

Taemin kept his promise. He didn't say a word, instead, he looked out the window during the whole ride. The streets looked on daylight a lot different, much livelier. So many people and everybody seemed to know where to go and what to do. Taemin wondered what went through their mind when they see Minho and him. Did they sense that something was wrong or did they only see two young men in a passing car and forget them immediately? It fascinated him how insignificant they both were for some people, and yet at the same time, they were significantly changing some other's lives.

Minho still hadn't mentioned anything about last night. He should be very angry that they lost the drug. But for some reason, he was not. Maybe it had comforted him that many of the Red Devils were arrested. Onew erupted with joy yesterday but Minho hadn't shown any reaction. What exactly was going through his mind? To Taemin, Minho was a real mystery?

They left the busy street and the environment gradually changed. After a short time, they arrived at the warehouse. By day it didn't look haunted like in Taemin's memory. Taemin followed Minho silently while the driver waited outside. With every step he made, Minho moved slower. Taemin also got an uneasy feeling which he couldn't explain but he knew something was wrong. It was too quiet. Not a single sound could be heard. Minho instinctively reached for the weapon hidden under his jacket and signaled Taemin to come closer as if he wanted to protect Taemin.

As Minho stood still, Taemin looked over his shoulder and discovered Mr. Hong. His throat had been cut. About five meters from him the lay his overseers on the floor, also dead. They were shot. The amount of blood could turn anyone's stomach. It looked like a scene from a horror movie. Taemin knew these men were dead and yet he hastened to them. That had become a reflex since his year working as an EMT volunteer. He remembered his mother was strictly against it. It took him months to change her mind.

"Stay behind me, their killers might still be around," Minho warned him, talking as quietly as possible.

"No, I think they are long gone."

"How do you know?"

"Rigor mortis is almost fully developed. These three are dead for hours already." Taemin explained. If he would have turned back, he would have seen how impressed Minho was. It was something that rarely happened.

"You talk like a cop."

"I'm not a cop," Taemin replied, now facing Minho. Did Minho become suspicious?

"Those damn bastards! They'll pay for this" Minho said, not taking note of Taemin's tension.

"Let's get out of here, I'll call someone to clean this up," Minho said after a while.

To clean up? As if they were garbage.

"Aren't you calling the police?" Taemin asked.

"Why should I? We know who did this. We take care of our business by ourselves."

After bringing Taemin home, Minho disappeared the whole day. Taemin was alone in the garden as Onew found him. His mind repeated pictures of Mr. Hong's death body consistently. Hundreds of scenarios were playing in his head. Did Mr. Hong see it coming? Did he think of his daughter? Did he regret it?

"I came as quickly as I could, are you sure they are dead?" Taemin heard Onew asked.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"Minho believes it was the Red Devils. What do you think, hyung?"

"That is possible. But..."

"What's wrong?"

"It surprises me. Why would they bother to kill him by themselves? By Minho's reputation, anybody should know a traitor wouldn't survive. "

"Minho wouldn't have killed him. He promised me. "

"But no one knew about that."

"Then you don't think it was the Red Devils?"

"I can't tell. But something seems off to me."

"I see. What's about Mr. Hong's daughter? Is she safe? "

"I'm still waiting for the recall from China."

"Do you think she's also...?"

"I don't know, Taemin."

Onew sat down, looked around to make sure that no one could hear them.

"It's getting too dangerous here. You have to get out of here right away. I can't organize a jet again without calling your father, so ... "

"No, please, don't tell my parents anything."

"Well, I could take you to the airport, but you have to promise me that you will get on the plane and go home."

"No. We had discussed this already. I'm not leaving like this. "

"Do you not understand that things have changed? Mr. Hong's murder means war between the Red Devils and us."

"Don't persuade me to leave you alone, hyung. I've made my decision and I'll stand by it." Onew took a deep breath. He didn't say anything for a while, trying to find a solution. Yet his mind was blank.

"You've grown up." Onew was worried and yet proud of Taemin.

"Trust me, hyung. I think I have an idea already. "

"Really? Tell me."

"You know I was out with Minho this morning. Without you."

"Yes, and that was very stupid. Don't ever do that again. "

"But that's the point. If I can run away when I'm alone with him, he won't have anyone to blame."

"That sounds simple. Theoretically. But Minho is almost never alone. And I don't like the idea of him being alone with you. He's dangerous." Onew rejected the suggestion.

"Then I'll gain his trust, so he won't harm me."

"Taemin, do you know how long I needed to make him trust me? And it's not just about trust. Minho had trusted Mr. Hong. Do you see what it did for him?"

At that moment Onew's phone rang and he picked it up quickly. While he was talking on the phone, Taemin wondered what could probably be more important than trust?

"That was the call from China," Onew said.

"You were right. Mr. Hong's daughter didn't come home three days ago. Her roommate reported her as missing. The police looked for her until this morning."

"Did they find her?"

"Kinda, she escaped."

"She was able to escape by herself? Is she ok?"

"Yeah, she said her kidnapper left to buy cigarettes and didn't return. She could free herself after a few hours?"

"He worked alone?"

"Yes, they said he isn't a pro, only a known junkie of town. Until now he has been arrested a few times for stealing and robbery. Kidnapping is new. "Onew said.

"No way that was a coincidence."

"Certainly not. The police caught him at a gas station not far away from there." Taemin breathed out.

"Did he say something?"

"Only that an anonymous person hired him for the job. He doesn't even seem to know who she is."

"So he has no idea who actually hired him?"

"My friend meant it didn't look like he lied."

"And what if he works for the Red Devils and is too afraid to betray them?" Taemin asked.

"That'd be very unlikely. He's such an amateur, they wouldn't even let him park the cars. "

"And I don't get why anonymous," Taemin added.

"Me neither," Onew lied. He didn't want to worry Taemin, but he knew why. Things would make sense if Mr. Hong wasn't blackmailed by the Red Devils but someone he knew. Someone from his own gang.

There was another traitor.

______________________

The hotel guest, clad in black, walked past the front desk.

"Your suit was just delivered, sir," the young receptionist informed him.

The man took the private elevator directly to the rooftop. He took off his coat as soon as he entered the suite. His figure was tall and thoroughly fit. He was someone who would turn anybody's heads. Under the black coat, his white shirt was blood smeared. He unbuttoned, threw it into the bathtub and turned on the water. At the same time, the red liquid filled the tub and disappeared down the drain. He was washing his hand as his phone vibrated.

"He's under arrest?"

"Of course he won't talk. He knows nothing."

"You know what to do. "

The suit was duly delivered and lay on the bed, carefully wrapped. The man changed into it and left the room. His car was immediately brought to him, even though two couples who were there first are still waiting for theirs.

"Your car, Mr. Choi," said the uniformed staff at the entrance as he handed him the keys with both hands.

The guest still hadn't said a word. He drove off until he arrived at Minho's house. He rang the bell and as Taemin opened the door, he smiled charmingly.

"Hello Beauty," he said.