212 Ambush (2/2)

”Knife...?” Yeo Ri muttered. She managed to sneak a peek at what the leader had taken out. Without anyone's notice, Yeo Ri held her bag closer and subtly slipped her hand inside, grasping a certain item in her hand. She lowered her head and drew her shoulders in, acting scared, as she slid the item into her sleeve in one fluid movement.

”Why do you need the girl?” Secretary Kwon asked. ”Who ordered you to do this?!”

”Hey, do you think someone like you is qualified to know that?” The leader barked. ”Out boss wants her, so he'll have her!” With a gesture, he signalled his men to rush at the duo, not wasting any more time speaking to the man.

Secretary Kwon immediately grabbed the closest person lunging at him, throwing him at his accomplices in an attempt to block them. He managed to land several hits on his enemies. However, he was clearly on the losing side; they outnumbered him twelve to one, and they even had weapons on them—he was bound to lose.

He pulled Yeo Ri in his arms, shielding her with his body as he tried to rush past the attackers.

”Uhgk—!” Secretary Kwon was suddenly kicked to the side, and somebody pried Yeo Ri out of his arms.

Yeo Ri stifled a scream as the leader trapped her, aiming a knife at her throat. ”Don't move, girly, or you might cut yourself.”

”Wait!” Secretary Kwon coughed as he tried to stand up. ”Didn't you say your boss wanted her?!” He glared at the sharp, pointy end of the knife that was digging into Yeo Ri's skin. A dot of red appeared, causing him to tense.

The leader shrugged with a nonchalant expression. ”Boss never specified that he wanted her alive,” he stated.

Yeo Ri's heart was palpitating. Being cornered like this brought back her bad memories. She breathed heavily, trying to control her emotions. The knife pierced deeper into her skin, yet she could barely feel the pain.

The leader seemed distracted by her movements. He pulled the knife back slightly, leaving some space so that he wouldn't accidentally stab her throat if she fussed too much. It would be a shame if she died before the boss could 'play' with her, after all.

The leader tilted his head towards Secretary Kwon, ”Kill him,” he ordered his men.

”Wait—!” Secretary Kwon shouted, as if in desperation.

”What now?” The leader sighed exasperatedly, waving the knife lazily as if annoyed. ”Are you going to beg for mercy? Don't bother—you're going to die today, and I'll make sure that not even the doctors upstairs can save you fast enough!” The way he acted, it was obvious that he had already thought of the man before him as dead.

His lackeys moved, hurling hits after hits on the lone man.

Screeeeeeech—

The sound of tires screeching against the somewhat slippery cement floor assaulted their ears.

”Miss Yeo Ri, get away!” Secretary Kwon shouted as the silhouette of a car approached the group. ”To the car!”

Upon hearing Secretary Kwon's voice, Yeo Ri strongly jabbed the man holding her captive with the item hidden in her sleeve.

”Aaahk—?!” The leader felt a sudden pain on his side. Unable to recollect himself quickly enough, the girl broke free from his hold and pushed him away.

Yeo Ri ran quickly to Secretary Kwon's car, hiding behind it.

Before any of the attackers could catch up to her, two black cars appeared and ran over some of the attackers, including the leader.

In disciplined uniformity, the doors of the two black cars swung open, and more people in black suits came out.

”Mr. Kwon, are you alright?” One of them spoke, bowing his head politely as he greeted the battered man.

”Apprehend these people and teach them a lesson,” Secretary Kwon instructed. He wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. Walking towards the leader writhing on the ground in pain, he spat out some blood, ”It was a good thing that you were so talkative. Bought my reinforcements some time to get here,” he said, kicking the man. He'd called for them the moment he noticed something was awry, and luckily, they got there just in time.

With an elite group of bodyguards by his side, Secretary Kwon made a quick work out of the ragtag group of thugs. Alone, he had been helpless, but with his team behind his back, the attackers could barely fight back.

”Get them to spill everything they know and send it to the man upstairs,” Secretary Kwon said to his men as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his bloodied knuckles.

”Yes, sir,” the men bowed politely, sending him off while keeping the group of attackers in check.

After the commotion died down, Yeo Ri finally came out of her hiding spot. Her hand shook as she stared grimly at Secretary Kwon as he walked towards her.

The man returned her stare with a similar look. ”Miss—you're hurt,” his brows furrowed as he noticed the trickled of blood on her neck. He wanted to look at the wound more closely, but Yeo Ri evaded his hand.

He pursed his lips at her rejection. Turning away from the girl with slight frustration, he informed her, ”There's a first-aid kit in the trunk. I'll get it for you, so please wait inside the car.” He unlocked the car and opened the backseat door for her before moving to get the kit.

”...Thanks,” Yeo Ri murmured to the man as he walked past her.

Secretary Kwon nodded in acknowledgement, his eyes glancing at her hand that was still trembling slightly.

Blood dripped down slowly from the pointy tool peeking out of the hem of her sleeve.