Page 41 of Ruthless Touch

The same pulse of jealousy that had beat through me earlier returns. I didn’t like seeing him put his arms around her; I didn’t like how familiar they looked with each other.

The taxi brakes outside the alley. I toss a wad of won at the driver and get out with intentions of interrupting whatever the hell she’s doing in that warehouse.

And if it’s with the bastard from outside the subway station, then?—

I slow up as shadows engulf me inside the empty warehouse and voices echo. I pick up on Elise’s strained voice and another that sounds antagonistic.

Adversarial.

Who the fuck is here with her?

I’m soundless creeping through the dark warehouse, carefully making my way up the metal staircase that leads to the second level where the voices are coming from.

I slow up as the main floor spreads out in front of me and the scene I’m walking in on reveals itself.

Immediate, intense, near-blinding rage floods me.

Almost to the point I attack without any thought or foresight.

Instead I go still, my body suddenly rigid and taut. Tension cords through every muscle and makes me feel like I’m made of stone.

My fists damn sure feel as if they have the same kind of crushing impact.

Elise is chained to a chair, bloodied and bruised, barely able to lift her head up. And standing over her with a rusty pipe in his hand is none other than Nam Gi-tae, a low-level enforcer in the syndicate.

He’s kept around only for his brawn and stupidity. He’s exactly the kind of dumb oaf high-ranking members like to have as foot soldiers and muscle.

Somehow, he’s tracked Elise down and chained her up. He’shurther if the fresh bruises and blood are any indication.

“Even bloodied and bruised, you’re a sexy lady,” he says menacingly. He’s holding her face in his hand, forcing her to look up at him like she’s subservient. “I know how to make a woman like you cry, even when she acts so tough.”

Elise gives him no reaction other than defiance to the very end. She glares back up at him despite the fact she’s completely at his mercy.

He doesn’t seem to care—his clumsy mitten for a hand travels from her face, down her throat, to her chest. He grips her shirt fabric like he’s preparing to tear it open.

“I want to see you beg me, Black Silk,” he taunts, laughing crudely. “I want to make sure you know your place?—”

“I wouldn’t touch her if I were you,” I interrupt, barely able to keep my voice level. I step out of the shadows and reveal myself.

Gi-tae looks like he’s seen a ghost. The rusty pipe drops from his grasp and clangs on the floor at his feet. He immediately lets go of Elise as if I didn’t just see him accosting her, his entire face paling like he’s fallen ill.

“Yongsa-nim Gun,” he chokes out, using my formal rank and address. He gives several deep and quick bows. “I didn’t hear you?—”

“What were you doing, Gi-tae?” I ask simply.

He stutters over his words, looking from me to a chained-up Elise. “I… ah… Yongsa-nim… errr… I… I found… Black Silk…” he finishes lamely.

I take another step deeper into the room, my face and tone cold. “And then what?”

“Ahh…” he stammers. “I… I… Yongsa-nim Gun. She’s a woman. Black Silk. She killed Sin-won.”

“So you took it upon yourself to capture her,” I say, stepping closer. “You thought you would make her suffer?”

Relief eases his features. His eyes light up as he gives a fervent nod. “Yes, Yongsa-nim! I was doing it for the Cheongryong. To avenge Sin-won and make our enemies pay.”

The glowing expression on his face tells me he expects praise. He thinks I’m about to congratulate him. He’s likely already fantasizing about all of the amazing accolades he’ll be given for his excellent work.

Praise from his superiors. Mountains of cash. Any call girl he wants. Possibly even apromotion.