Page 107 of Ruthless Touch

My eyes close to keep out the tears threatening release. I don’t know where to begin processing the fact that KD is really gone.

“We have to tell Priscilla,” I choke out. “She has a right to know…”

Gun glances at me in the rearview mirror. I can tell by the knowing flicker in his gaze that he understands I’m upset. He gets this is difficult for me.

He nods, resettling his attention on the expressway ahead. “We’ll go by there. Maybe it’s time for her to stay somewhere else. Your apartment isn’t safe if the Cheongryong come by looking for you.”

A half an hour later, we’re pulling up outside my apartment building. We ride up in the elevator with Joon making awkward conversation and me drowning in sorrowful silence. Gun is caught in between, still furious and thinking over what our next move will be.

But he’s also concerned about me—his hand rests at the small of my back as we stop outside the apartment door and I fish for my keys.

We enter to Priscilla in the kitchen fixing herself a snack. Her face lights up at the sight of us.

“Eli!” she says excitedly. “And Gun, you’re back! And… I don’t know who the third guy is, but welcome anyway! Are you all actually coming to hang out? Stick around, KD should be here soon. We’re going to watch that new crime-comedy on TV—the one about the con artist real estate agent!”

Me and Gun glance at each other. Even Joon’s fallen silent, scratching the back of his neck and staring anywhere but at Priscilla.

Priscilla realizes our silence means we’re not here to hang out and watch TV. She pads into the living room with her plate of rice cakes and milk tea. Her smile has turned from enthusiastic to more bemused.

“Okay… you’re freaking me out. What’s up? What’s wrong?”

Gun exhales a long breath to prep himself. “There’s been an unfortunate incident. KD… he’s dead.”

The confused smile on Priscilla’s mouth slowly fades as the words sink in. Her expression shifts from puzzlement to disbelief and then a reaction that can best be described as horror. She shakes her head like she has the option to reject what’s happened.

“KD?MyKD?”

“Yes,” Gun confirms. “He was on a mission trying to take out the Cheongryong?—”

“Eli, tell me what’s going on!” Priscilla interrupts, looking from him to me. “Why is your gangster boyfriend telling me KD’s dead? Why are you covered in blood? This isn’t funny!”

I cover my face with one hand, unable to meet her eyes. “It’s true, Cilla. He’s gone. He… he didn’t make it.”

“Make it? How could that happen? That can’t be true!” Priscilla snatches her phone off the sofa cushion and starts frantically dialing KD’s number, her fingers shaking as she presses the screen. The phone rings and rings before going to voicemail. She leaves a message that’s more sob than words before sending a barrage of desperate texts.

“KD, please call me back,” she whispers. “Please, this can’t be real. Call me back.”

When he doesn’t answer—when he never will again—she gives into more sobs. The sound is so heartbreaking and visceral that it makes my chest feel like it’s caving in on itself.

“Cilla, he’s not going to answer—” I start, reaching out to put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” she screams, jerking away from my touch like I’ve burned her. Her eyes are wild with grief and rage when she turns on me. “This isyourfault! KD really wanted to take care of the operation you’d been working together because he knew how important it was to you! How could you? How could you do this to him?”

I fall silent, rendered speechless by the accusation that hits too close to the guilt already eating me alive. She’s right—if I hadn’t gotten involved with Gun, if I hadn’t complicated everything, KD would still be alive.

This is all my fault.

“We only ever tried to be your friend!” Priscilla continues through her tears. “And you’ve done nothing but be cold and get KD into trouble!”

Gun steps forward, gently easing me back so he can address Priscilla himself. “It’s not Elise’s fault. She didn’t know KD was going to be there tonight. She tried to stop him when she found out.”

“Get out,” Priscilla sobs, clutching her phone to her chest. “All of you, just get out! I don’t want to see any of you!”

Gun refuses to budge. “We have to find you an alternate location for the time being. You’re not safe here.”

“I’m not going anywhere! I’m going to sit here and wait for KD to call me back!”

It takes over thirty minutes of patient coaxing and gentle reasoning before we can get Priscilla calm enough to pack a bag. She sobs the entire time, pausing every other minute to check her phone in case KD’s reached out after all.