Crave You Forever
Chapter 28: One weak link ruins everything

Chapter 28: One weak link ruins everything

Yeongsoo’s phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting the peaceful moment as he stood near Haeun. He glanced over at Haeun, still resting on the couch, his face serene despite the nausea earlier. Sighing, he pulled the phone out and answered the call, his voice sharp.

"What is it?" he asked, he didn’t need anyone to tell him something had gone wrong.

"Boss, we’ve got a problem," came the tense voice of his right-hand man, Sangwoo. "The authorities are poking around the docks, asking questions. The shipment is stuck, and the men are getting jittery. We need your call on this."

Yeongsoo’s expression hardened instantly. "I thought you had it handled."

"We did, but things escalated. There’s too much heat, and if we don’t move fast, we could lose the entire shipment. We’re holding down the warehouse, but if you don’t get here soon, it could blow up."

Yeongsoo clenched his jaw, the frustration evident in the tightness of his voice. "How bad is it?"

"Bad enough that the crew’s starting to lose their nerve. We’ve managed to keep it quiet, but this could bring unwanted attention from other parties if we don’t move now."

There was no room for hesitation. The situation required his immediate presence, but leaving Haeun behind grated on him. Still, duty called, and his world didn’t allow for delays.

"Alright," he said, his tone commanding. "I’ll be there soon. Tell the men to sit tight and wait for me."

He ended the call and pocketed his phone, he sighed. Haeun was still fast asleep, unaware of the brewing storm. For a moment, Yeongsoo knelt by the couch, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Haeun’s face. His expression softened, torn between the need to protect this peaceful moment and the chaos waiting for him outside.

"I’ll be back soon," he murmured quietly, as if promising himself as much as Haeun.

Before he left, he made sure to call in his men stationed outside the penthouse. They entered silently, waiting for his instructions as he slipped on his jacket.

"I’m heading out. You make sure he’s safe if he loses a strand of hair, you lose your hand," Yeongsoo ordered, his voice cold and businesslike once again. "He’s not to leave this place alone, and I don’t want anyone near him. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the lead bodyguard replied, bowing his head slightly.

Satisfied, Yeongsoo glanced at Haeun one last time before heading to the door. His heart was heavy, but there was no time to dwell on it. The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped inside.

When the doors opened in the underground parking garage, his car was already waiting. He slid into the backseat, and the driver, knowing what was at stake, immediately set the car in motion.

"To the docks sir?"

The docks were filled with the echoing sounds of flesh meeting steel, followed by the wet thud of bodies hitting the concrete. Ten men were lined up, each bound and kneeling before Yeongsoo, their eyes filled with terror. His face, now spattered with their blood, was a blank canvas of controlled fury.

The first man who had been brought to him barely had time to speak before Yeongsoo’s blade had found his throat. The others, seeing this, began to plead, shaking and crying, but it didn’t matter. Their fates were sealed.

"You thought you could betray me? Thought I wouldn’t know?" Yeongsoo’s voice was deceptively calm, his steps slow and deliberate as he paced in front of them, holding a long, bloodied knife. "I don’t care which one of you talked first. You’re all guilty. One weak link ruins everything."

A second man tried to stand, shaking his head desperately. "Please, boss—"

Before he could finish, the knife was lodged into his gut, and Yeongsoo twisted it, pulling it out with a sickening squelch. Blood sprayed from the wound, covering his chest and dripping down his hands. The man collapsed forward, gasping for air, blood pooling beneath him.

"Next?" Yeongsoo’s gaze turned to the rest. No one spoke.

Seungho watched from the side, his face stoic but his eyes betraying a slight flicker of unease. This wasn’t the first massacre he had witnessed under Yeongsoo’s command, but the sheer coldness with which his boss operated never ceased to amaze him.

"I don’t have all night," Yeongsoo continued, wiping the blood from the blade onto his coat. His voice was a low growl. "If none of you are going to talk, then I’ll make sure you all regret being born."

Another man began to sob, begging for mercy. "Boss, I didn’t know anything, I swear! Please, I have a family! I—"

Yeongsoo didn’t even let him finish. He shot the man a cold, dead stare and raised the knife. In one swift motion, it sliced across his throat, blood spurting out in a violent arc. The man crumpled, gurgling as he choked on his own blood.

"Your family should’ve raised you better."

One by one, the remaining men were dealt with. Some tried to fight, their hands bound and desperate, but they were no match for the precision and brutality of Yeongsoo. By the time the last body hit the ground, he was drenched. Blood covered his shirt, his hands, even his face. It dripped onto the concrete in steady, rhythmic droplets, pooling at his feet.

Seungho took a step forward. "Boss, the cleanup crew’s on their way. You should head home and rest."

Yeongsoo ignored him for a moment, staring down at the lifeless bodies, his mind miles away. Finally, he turned, his voice low and cold. "Make sure this never happens again. Anyone else thinks about crossing me, this will be their fate."

Seungho nodded. "Understood."

Without another word, Yeongsoo walked away, the echoes of his footsteps mixing with the distant sound of waves crashing against the docks. His men stayed behind to clean up the scene, but for him, the night was far from over. There was still Haeun waiting for him at home.