A Forgiving Heart - 5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

‘Find out what’s important to you, Rafa.’

‘You’re important to me.’ Raphael smiled at Gabriel. ‘You and Talin, I’m happy when I see you two laughing and you include me…what more can I ask for?’

‘It’s not enough.’ Gabriel caressed his jaw with his thumb. ‘I want you laughing with your beloved too. I will be glad when it is you who includes me in your happiness. Think about it, Rafa, for me. Now…wake up.’

Raphael blinked, sitting up with a soft sigh when he realized he was dreaming Gabriel’s presence again. Every muscle in his body felt stiff, he rubbed the back of his neck with a small groan. His muscles complained at the abuse of sitting in the stiff armchair. He’d come to sit here after watching Hyun sleep.

The plane was silent, they’d landed.

“You’re finally awake.” Hyun’s voice dispersed all lingering sleep.

Raphael shifted in his chair to find Hyun settled on the couch, Raphael’s laptop on his thighs. He looked well rested.

“You should have woken me up,” Raphael said with a small yawn as he got up and stretched his arms over his head.

“Your guard dog wouldn’t let me.”

Raphael frowned, and Hyun nodded toward the corridor on his right. Christina emerged carrying a mug on a tray. The scent of strong coffee filled his nostrils when she reached him and he gave an appreciative moan.

“You beautiful woman,” Raphael took the mug and sipped.

Christina chuckled.

“Glad you’re awake, sir. We’ve landed. The guest you invited to join you will arrive shortly. All the equipment you requested is packed in the car outside.”

“Thank you, such a goddess.”

Raphael smiled and caught Hyun rolling his eyes.

Christina hurried away and he took his second gulp of coffee. The hot caffeine shocking his system into alert mode, he was going to need an alert mind this night.

“What’s next?” Hyun asked closing the laptop.

“I wonder what you were doing with that. Trolling the darknet again?”

Hyun blinked.

“No, I was working.” Hyun lifted a silver chain with a small flash disk. “My program still needs improvement. You were out, and I haven’t had time to think clearly until now.”

Raphael stared at the small gadget. He wondered how Lucian had known about Hyun’s project. The questions were many. Hyun would answer some, but not now. Not when Lee Mina was in trouble.

Taking a healthy gulp of his coffee, Raphael placed his mug on the table.

“Let’s go.”

Hyun jumped to his feet taking a warm leather jacket from the arm of the couch. He wore it with one swift move, a lock of hair falling over his forehead. Raphael paused, wanting to push Hyun’s hair out of his face. Hyun glanced at him, a frown on his handsome features.

Raphael abandoned his thoughts, instead turning to leave. He needed to check this growing attraction. Hyun was a powerful asset that needed to remain at arms’ length if his plans were to work.

The night air was cold, chilly. Raphael buttoned his coat and walked to the waiting black unmarked car. He went around to the driver’s side, and waited for Hyun to slip into the front passenger seat.

Putting on his seatbelt, Raphael adjusted the rearview mirror, and stilled when he saw the dark figure in the backseat.

“You made it,” Raphael said.

“You’re late.”

The deep voice startled Hyun who gasped and turned to look behind, his fingers gripping the edge of his seat.

An amused chuckle filled the interior.

“New toy?”

“More like a scared rabbit,” Raphael mused starting the car. “Hyun, meet my brother in-law, Dimitri. Dimitri, this is Hyun. We’re rescuing his sister.”

“Nice to meet you, Hyun,” Dimitri said from the back. “I hope Raphael has been good to you.”

Hyun let out a soft relieved sigh.

“Depends on how you define good,” Hyun answered, settling back in his seat.

Dimitri chuckled.

“Looks like you’ve been your usual self, Raphael.”

Raphael ignored the question, driving too fast out of the small airport. They needed to find Lee Mina by morning, and it was almost midnight. He’d slept too long.

One glance in the rearview mirror filled him with elation. He’d not been sure Dimitri would answer his call. That he had…Raphael straightened in his seat happy, and then Talin filled his thoughts.

“Did you tell him?” Raphael asked, meeting Dimitri’s blue gaze in the rearview mirror.

Dimitri shook his head.

“He’s on a business trip. If he knew I was here—

“Yeah, I know,” Raphael sighed, guilt riding him hard. “Perhaps I should let you off here. I won’t hear the end of it if you get shot.”

“It will be worse if you get shot,” Dimitri said. “Let’s get it done, and then we’ll deal with the reaction later.”

Raphael met Dimitri’s amused gaze.

“I’ll trust your judgment.”

“What are you two talking about?” Hyun shifted in his seat to look at Raphael. “Why is everything so cryptic with you?”

“What is cryptic?” Raphael asked overtaking a van keeping to the speed limit.

“Everything about you,” Hyun scoffed. “I don’t think I can take anymore of this life. Are you sure we’re going to get Mina?”

“Sure as I can be,” Raphael said. “We’re dealing with Lucian Pajari here.”

“He’s the best in the business,” Dimitri said. “He’s ruthless, and knows how to hit where it hurts most. The best we can do is hope your sister is not too important in the grander scale of Lucian’s plans.”

Hyun sighed again, and Raphael increased his speed.

They reached the outskirts of the farm in thirty minutes. Raphael parked the black sedan on the outskirts of the four-hundred acre farm. The best entrance into the facility Lucian had built underground was through an obscure service tunnel. It took him twenty minutes to find it on foot. When he did, he handed Dimitri the **metal cutters to remove the padlock on the heavy door.

Dimitri lifted the door and a dark tunnel yawned below.

***

“Stay beside me, and do what I tell you,” Raphael told Hyun when they’d climbed down into a dark tunnel at the edge of the farm.

Hyun breathed out nervous energy. The service tunnel was dark, too dark. The huge man Raphael called Dimitri was behind him, armed with what seemed like every weapon known to man. Raphael was in front of him, holding a small phone with an infrared map on the screen. His black coat packed with bullet clips, knives, and guns.

Hyun hoped Raphael knew what he was doing. Hyun wished Raphael had brought Himura with him. As they were now, Hyun worried they’d be shot down in the next two minutes. Dimitri looked like he could fight his way out, but Raphael…Hyun sighed and leaned on the wall.

“Don’t slow down,” Raphael warned then started off down the dark tunnel with only the small light on the phone he held.

Hyun gulped when Dimitri squeezed his right shoulder and pushed him after Raphael.

The trek through the dark tunnels was long; Hyun started sweating fifteen minutes into it. Raphael kept up a fast pace, walking with confidence. Dimitri forced Hyun to keep up with Raphael with a simple touch on his shoulder each time he slowed down.

To keep from complaining, Hyun focused on Mina: thinking of her bright smile when she was pleased, her voice when she was irritated with him. He missed her dearly. He filled his head with her, and the prospect of getting her back pushed him forward when he would have screamed out in protest.

Raphael stopped suddenly.

Hyun bumped into his solid back with a soft humph, gripping Raphael’s arms to steady himself. Hyun froze when he saw the gun in Raphael’s hand.

Raphael turned off his phone. Dimitri shifted forward, leaving Hyun in the back.

Hyun forced his fingers to let go of Raphael’s arms. The moment he took a step back, Raphael moved, disappearing into the dark tunnel, followed close by Dimitri. Hyun stood in the dark, peering into nothingness, his heart at his throat. Then there were two muted shots. The small light appeared and Raphael was taking his arm.

Hyun couldn’t explain the wave of relief that swept through him at the feel of Raphael.

“We’re close,” Raphael whispered into his ear. “You’re doing great, little rabbit. Come on.”

They ran after that, Dimitri taking the lead, Raphael beside him, pushing Hyun forward. The end of the tunnel came in the form of double doors. Dimitri stopped right before the right turn to the double doors. The tunnel leading up to the doors was well lit, with a security camera installed to guard the doors.

Raphael held Hyun against the wall. Hyun followed his gaze and frowned when he saw a vent right above them. The vent would lead into the facility.

“That would be ideal,” Raphael said with a small smile, he nodded to Dimitri. “But, his shoulders are too wide for that space.”

Hyun sighed in relief. He hated small spaces anyway.

“I’ll take the shot.” Dimitri crouched on the ground, his gun fitted with a silencer. He was fast, the two shots he took precise. “We have ten minutes before they come checking what happened to those two cameras.”

Raphael started a timer on his wrist watch walking up to the double doors.

“Ten minutes to find Mina and get out,” Raphael said.

At the doors, he slipped a master key into the lock and opened the doors. Hyun followed him into what looked like a generator room. Dimitri closed the door behind them, as Raphael consulted his phone.

“Five heat signatures in the facility,” Raphael said. “Three in one room on the furthest end of the facility, one walking the outskirts of the perimeter.”

“This is Mina,” Raphael said, pointing to the red dot in the middle of the facility.

“How do you know?” Hyun asked, meeting Raphael’s gaze, hope overflowing, though he tried to stop it.

“Two little birdies told me,” Raphael said. “We need to hurry.”

They left the generator room, entering a quiet hallway that reminded Hyun of a hospital. The walls were dull greens and whites, the lighting clinical.

“What is this place?” Hyun asked, following Raphael.

“The farm is above us,” Raphael said. “This facility is supposed to be used for agricultural research and development, however…”

Raphael paused, opening a door to his right and stepping back.

Hyun glanced inside and slapped a hand to mouth to stop his scream.

Jars of human organs lined one wall of the room, the tubes and Bunsen burners on the lab tables were off, but it was clear they were used for biological research.

“They develop lethal toxins here.” Dimitri pulled Hyun out of the lab and closed the door. “Toxins and poisons used to kill unsuspecting victims. Whatever terrible experiments that you can imagine, am sure they are done here.”

Hyun glanced at Raphael for confirmation.

Raphael gave him a short nod and continued down the hall.

Hyun hurried after him.

“What unsuspecting victims?” Hyun asked. “Do you mean like Mina? Is that why you knew to come here? Oh God, do you mean Mina—

“Keep your voice down,” Raphael said. “You don’t want to let everyone know we’re here, Hyun. We might all end up rotting from the inside out if we’re caught.”

Hyun felt bile rise. The thought of Mina suffering from poison made him ill. Nausea rose and he fought hard to keep from puking.

“It’s going to be fine,” Raphael said patting his shoulder but Hyun couldn’t breathe without fear.

The maze of corridors seemed endless, each one looked the same, and Hyun wondered how Raphael could tell the way. When Raphael stopped before a grey door with a small window, Hyun glanced in hoping to see his sister. But there was only darkness.

Dimitri shot the lock open. Hyun pushed the door open and hurried in first.

“Mina?” he called, his voice trembling with hope and fear.

The lights came on and Hyun gasped when he saw his little sister huddled in the furthest corner. The room was empty: no chair, no bed. Mina’s pale green dress was dirty. Her hair matted, and she stared at him with frightened eyes, trembling with fear.

“Oppa?” she cried, her beloved dark brown eyes filling with tears.

Hyun rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. She stunk, her captors hadn’t afforded her a bath, but he didn’t care. Hyun held his sister, relief flooding him for the first time in weeks.

Mina was alive.

“I’ve got you.” Hyun soothed his voice heavy with unshed tears. “I’ve got you, Mina.”

“We have to go.” Raphael touched his shoulder. “Time is running out.”

Hyun stood pulling Mina up with him. She was barefoot. He couldn’t tell if she was hurt.

“Can you walk?” Hyun asked her, pushing dirty hair out of her face.

She nodded, but Hyun didn’t think she could. He was holding her up and she was trembling, she wasn’t strong enough.

Hyun glanced at Raphael who’d moved to the door. Dimitri prowled outside in the hallway.

“Can you carry her?” Raphael asked.

Hyun took Mina’s left hand. He crouched on the floor so that she could climb on his back. He rose up, shifting her weight on his back, her arms tight around his shoulders. Her heat welcome against his back. She wasn’t heavy; he gripped her thighs tight worried that she’d lost too much weight.

“Thanks for finding me,” she whispered into his ear. “I knew you would.”

“We’re going to get you out of here,” he murmured to Mina.

Raphael guided Hyun out, turning off the light and closing the door. This time Raphael took the back, while Dimitri led the way out. Hyun kept up this time. He had Mina in his arms and he was not going to lose her again.

The first shot came as they entered the hall leading into the generator room.

“We’re discovered,” Raphael said, returning fire. Dimitri allowed Hyun to pass him, pausing to help Raphael take down the two guards running toward them.

Hyun ran ahead, opening the door into the generator room. Raphael and Dimitri behind him, they slammed the door closed, but the lock was broken. Their pursuers followed soon after, shots chasing them as they stumbled into the tunnel they’d taken into the facility.

Raphael shoved the phone he’d used to bring them in to the facility into Hyun’s hands.

“Follow the arrow,” Raphael said. “We’ll buy you time.”

“But—

“Don’t argue,” Raphael ordered. “The moment you hit fresh air, you get in the car and drive to the hangar. Go.”

Hyun stared at Raphael in shock.

“Get your sister to safety,” Raphael said pushing him deeper into the tunnel.

Hyun felt a heavy weight settle in his chest as he ran; his sister’s warmth against his back should have made it easy to obey Raphael. But…still, leaving Raphael and Dimitri behind didn’t feel right.

***

“You’ve turned selfless since we last met,” Dimitri teased, checking his ammunition. “Didn’t think you’d let him go with our only escape route.”

“Don’t worry,” Raphael said. “I don’t plan on making Talin a widower again.”

“I’m sure Talin will thank you for that when you see him.”

“How is he coping?”

“Better than you,” Dimitri said, leaning on the tunnel wall, waiting for the guards. “Talin worries for you. He thinks you’ve plunged back into illegal business.”

Raphael sighed.

“I’m a Yun, Dimitri. My life is filled with billions of grey spaces. I think you’re failing your job. You’re supposed to distract him, Dimitri. I left him in your care. Why do you allow him to worry this way?”

“I don’t allow Talin to do anything,” Dimitri chuckled. “He has a mind of his own.”

“You’re supposed to look out for him.”

“And I do everything I can to protect him,” Dimitri said, straightening up when he heard footsteps coming at them. “But, once you love someone, Raphael, you’ll find you can’t help but accept all their strengths and weaknesses. I love that Talin worries about you.”

“Ha, so you’re enabling him,” Raphael scoffed, standing with his feet wide apart, bracing himself. “If I ever get stupid enough to fall in love, he’ll have no choice but to do what I say.”

“Can’t wait to see that,” Dimitri chuckled, taking the first shot when the first guard appeared.

Raphael and Dimitri worked in harmony, covering each other as they inched their way out of the tunnels. The guards were well trained and when they realized Dimitri and Raphael were as good, they called in reinforcements.

Dimitri ran out of ammunition first.

Raphael shared, doing his best to cover Dimitri. When they got to the steps that would lead them to the top ground, Raphael pushed Dimitri up first.

“Come on, Raphael,” Dimitri called when Raphael paused in the middle of his climb to shoot a guard who’d reached the steps. Raphael continued climbing and was taking the last step holding his hand out to Dimitri when sharp pain burst through him on his left side.

Raphael lost his footing, gasping when he started to fall back. Dimitri grabbed his arm, tightened his grip so that he pulled him out of the tunnel. Raphael fell on the ground, pressing his right hand into his left side. His t-shirt was soaked with blood.

Dimitri slammed the tunnel door closed stopping the bullets. Dimitri placed a heavy stone on the cover, hoping to buy them time.

“Save yourself,” Raphael said, clenching his teeth when Dimitri to get him up. The pain was excruciating, he could barely think, there was no way he could run in this state. They’d need to run if Hyun had left already.

“Dimitri—

“Talin will never forgive me if anything happens to you.”

Dimitri picked him up fireman style and ran in the direction they’d left the car.

To Raphael’s eternal surprise, they found Hyun pacing by the car. Hyun opened the back passenger side, standing aside as Dimitri put Raphael in the backseat. Hyun’s sister was huddled in the left corner wrapped in a blanket.

“Is he alright?” Hyun asked when Dimitri settled Raphael.

“Get in the car,” Dimitri ordered closing the back passenger door. He hurried around to the driver’s side. “I don’t know what made you wait, but thank you.”

“What happened?” Hyun asked turning in his seat to look at Raphael.

“He got shot,” Dimitri said.

“We need to get airborne,” Raphael said through clenched teeth. He pressed his right hand into the wound on his left side, breathing hard. He was losing too much blood. “I need to fly back to New York. I can’t be away too long—”

“No,” Dimitri said, driving like a maniac to the nearest highway.

“Dimitri,” Raphael cursed under his breath when Dimitri took a turn too fast and pain slashed through him. “Shit.”

“You’ll need to heal,” Dimitri said. “New York is not an option.”

Raphael started to protest and Dimitri slammed his foot on the brakes, stopping the car. He turned back and punched Raphael’s jaw hard, knocking him out.

***

“He looks dead,” Hyun said, watching Christina sew up Raphael’s wound. He’d never seen anything so gory in his life. He winced when she stuck a needle into Raphael’s skin. “Are you sure he’s going to be fine? Do you even know what you’re doing? Shouldn’t we call a doctor?”

“I’m a retired surgical nurse,” Christina said. “I’ve removed the bullet, cleaned the wound and given him antibiotics. He’ll be fine.”

Of course Raphael would make sure there was a quack close by to save his life. How many times did Raphael need Christina’s extra services?

Hyun sighed. Dimitri was talking to the pilot. His sister was asleep on the couch in the lounge. He should have been sitting with Mina, but instead, here he was, worrying over a man he didn’t trust.

Hyun went into the bathroom. He grabbed a clean hand towel from the shelf and wet it with warm water. He returned back to the bedroom to find Christina busy wrapping Raphael’s torso, hiding away the angry red wound on Raphael’s left side. When she was done, Hyun wiped Raphael’s face using the warm towel with gentle strokes. Together, they changed Raphael into a loose white t-shirt, and removed his pants leaving him in boxers.

They covered Raphael with a soft red blanket, and Hyun sat on the edge of the bed as Christina collected the used bandages and surgery tools.

“Call me if he wakes up,” Christina said. “I’ve medicated him but it might wear off. I will check on your sister.”

Hyun watched her leave, and then arranged the pillows under Raphael’s head. He sighed, touching Raphael’s long dark hair, now wild and unruly on the pillows.

Raphael’s eyes remained closed. Hyun kept expecting them to open and those green eyes would look at him, filled with amusement.

“Wake up,” Hyun whispered, caressing Raphael’s jaw with gentle fingers. “I owe you a debt.”

***

“Mina,” Hyun shook his sister gently.

She jerked awake despite his gentle efforts. Her eyes filled with fear, as she looked around.

“You’re safe,” Hyun said, meeting her gaze. He kissed her cheek, giving her a hug. “We’re here.”

Mina clutched his shirt, looking out the window. It was dawn. The sun rising in the horizon, casting beautiful colors in the sky over the lake.

“Welcome to Colston,” Dimitri said, drawing Hyun’s gaze. “It’s not much, but this is home. Please feel welcome.”

Hyun opened the back passenger door. He got out first, staring at the two-story house tucked in a nest of tall trees. It was a beautiful hideaway, he imagined a fairytale like lifestyle in this gorgeous setting.

A black van drove up behind Dimitri’s car, and Hyun sighed, reality filling his thoughts. He reached into the car to help Mina out of the backseat.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, and they stood watching four men carry out a stretcher from the van and head into the house. Dimitri had insisted that Christina keep Raphael under, otherwise, Raphael would have insisted on going back to New York.

“Come inside,” Dimitri said, urging them after the four men.

The front door opened and a handsome man with shoulder-length dark hair rushed out. Hyun stared as Dimitri was engulfed in a loving hug. Dimitri held the handsome man tight, kissing him with a passion so evident, Hyun felt like he was intruding standing so close.

They lovers broke apart. Then Hyun gasped when Dimitri was punched hard on his left arm.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Talin.”

“I came home to find you gone. I almost went crazy when I read your note. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Baby—

“Don’t ‘baby’ me,” Talin snapped. “You’re not getting out of this one with a smile, Dimitri Sedlackov. Raphael is on a stretcher. Both of you are driving me to an early grave.”

“God forbid,” Dimitri said.

Talin didn’t reply because his attention had turned to Hyun and Mina.

“Who are they?”

“Raphael’s rescue mission,” Dimitri said, turning Talin toward the entrance. “Your anger is scaring them. They have had a rough time. Don’t you want to calm down?”

“No.” Talin snapped moving out of Dimitri’s embrace. “Stop handling me.”

Hyun blinked when Talin hurried to his side.

“What’s your name?”

“Hyun,” he answered, meeting the kindest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

“And this lovely creature clinging to you?” Talin asked, touching Mina’s dirty hair, his fingers gentle as though he didn’t care that Mina was dirty.

“She’s my sister,” Hyun said, rubbing Mina’s arms, hoping to stop her trembling. “Mina.”

“Mina,” Talin said his tone gentle. “What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

Mina’s trembling eased a bit.

“Let’s go in,” Talin said, wrapping an arm around Hyun’s shoulders. “We’ll get you guys comfortable and fed. I bet you’re tired.”

Talin led them into the house, and in minutes had Mina settled in a comfortable room on the second floor. Talin left him with a clean t-shirt and sweats for Mina.

“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything,” Talin said as he closed the door.

Alone, Mina insisted on a hot shower. Hyun sat on the neat bed waiting for her to finish. It took her twenty minutes to emerge from the shower, looking fresh, and almost like he remembered her. Her hair was damp, dark shadows under her eyes. She needed sleep and lots of rest. He missed her ready smile, and sparkling eyes.

He held out his hand to her and she took it without hesitation.

Hyun helped her to bed, tucking the covers around her shoulders.

Sitting on the side of the bed, he rubbed her fingers.

“Are you hurt?” Hyun asked, meeting Mina’s gaze.

She held his gaze for a full minute, before she shook her head.

“I’m fine,” she said in a whisper. “No one—, they didn’t do anything to me. They left me alone. I thought they’d forgotten about me.”

Hyun sighed in relief, squeezing her fingers. “I’m sorry it took so long.”

“I knew you’d come for me,” Mina said.

Hyun nodded.

“I always will, Mina. I’ll keep you safe, no matter what.”

Mina sighed, and nestled into the soft pillows.

“Who is the man with the long hair? The one who helped you get me out?”

Hyun dropped his gaze to their clasped hands.

“A dangerous man,” Hyun said. “I owe him a debt for helping save you.”

“He’s hurt.”

“Yes,” Hyun squeezed Mina’s fingers. “I—

“You’re worried about him,” Mina said, and he met her knowing gaze. “He saved me. He can’t be that bad a person.”

Hyun smiled. “I suppose you’re right.”

Mina closed her eyes. “I’m going to sleep now.”

“You do that,” Hyun pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Sweet dreams, little Sis.”

Hyun sat watching her sleep. When her breaths turned deep, and she settled, curiosity drove him downstairs. He paused in the hallway when he heard a heated argument coming from the living room.

“You could have been shot, Dim,” Talin said. “Why would you go without telling me? You and Raphael—

“He asked for help,” Dimitri cut in. “Did you want me to refuse? Lucian kidnapped the girl. I knew I could help him find her, so I asked Sean and Tomas to track her down. You saw how young she is…what did you want me to do?”

“I’m not upset that you helped. I’m upset that you didn’t tell me. I’m upset that you went off to put your life in danger, and you didn’t tell me.”

“Would you have let me go?”

“No.” Talin sighed. “I can’t—, Dimitri, I can’t see you in danger.”

“I know. I’m sorry,” Dimitri said.

Hyun peeped into the living room. Dimitri and Talin held each other. Their love so clear, Hyun felt jealous.

“What happens now?” Talin asked, his voice muffled in Dimitri’s shoulder.

“We help Raphael figure this out. He’s one stubborn bastard; he won’t tell me what’s going on.”

“His secret Yun family life,” Talin said with a sigh.

“Most likely,” Dimitri said. “The best we can do is keep young Hyun and his little sister safe.”

“What about Raphael?” Talin leaned back to look at Dimitri. “I can’t lose him, Dim. He’s family.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Dimitri swept fingers through Talin’s hair and kissed him.

Hyun stopped eavesdropping because it made him feel like an intruder again. He diverted to an open door at the end of the corridor, entering a bright room. The walls were made of glass that let the morning sun in. Hyun imagined Talin and Dimitri watching the sunrise in here over morning coffee.

He stopped in the middle of the room when he saw Raphael nestled on a comfortable daybed. Hyun moved closer, drawn to Raphael.

Raphael rested against white pillows, his long hair brushed and in a neat braid. He was in a clean white v-neck shirt, a warm comforter over his tall figure. His hands resting on his chest, an IV line in his left hand.

Hyun pulled up a chair and sat by Raphael. Feeling at ease, now that he could see Raphael sleep. He was eager to see Raphael’s green eyes again.

***

The scent of pancakes woke Raphael up. A delicious scent: orange pancakes, they made his mouth water. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred for a moment. He blinked and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. The sunlight streaming into the room was too much. He started to sit up, but pain stabbed across his stomach and he fell back on the pillows with a gasp.

“Stop,” Hyun’s voice said. “You’re going to undo Christina’s meticulous work.”

“Where am I?”

“A small town named Colston,” Hyun said coming into view. “Dimitri brought us here. I’m surprised you know such nice people.”

Raphael scowled and closed his eyes. Damn Dimitri. Colston was the last place he wanted to be.

He heard hurried footsteps enter the room.

“I heard you talking. Is he awake?” Talin said, coming to the bed.

Hyun must have nodded because Talin sat on his right side, careful not to jostle the bed.

“Raphael.”

Cool fingers pressed against his forehead.

“Open your eyes,” Talin coaxed. “I know you’re awake.”

Raphael couldn’t resist a request from Talin. He opened his eyes if only to see his beloved brother in-law’s handsome face. Talin smiled when he winced at the light assaulting his senses.

“Sorry about that, you’re in the sunroom. Dimitri refused to take you upstairs. He said you’d start walking up and down the stairs, better to have you down here.” Talin sighed. “I was so worried when your men came in carrying you. You were out, not moving. Do you know how worried—

“I’m sorry.” Raphael interrupted the tirade.

“I don’t want your sorry. You pulled Dimitri into this. What dangerous plot are you devising now?” Talin pinched Raphael’s right ear. “What am I going to do with you?”

A soft chuckle caught his attention and Raphael turned his head slightly to see Hyun still standing a few feet away. Hyun bit his lip to keep from smiling, but his amusement was evident in his eyes.

“Help me sit up,” Raphael said.

Talin ignored him and instead pulled the comforter down so that he could check Raphael’s bandage. He gave a small nod when there was no evidence of blood on the white bandage. Tugging Raphael’s t-shirt back in place, Talin got up.

“Hyun, help me,” Talin ordered.

Hyun came to his left side, slipping his arm under Raphael. Raphael turned his head slightly so that he could take in Hyun’s scent: clean soap and soft spice. The younger man looked relaxed. No doubt relieved now that Mina was safe.

“I’ll bring you rice porridge,” Talin said. “Once you eat, we’re going to have a long talk, Raphael Yun.”

“I’m shaking in my boots,” Raphael joked, watching Talin hurry out. He glanced at Hyun with a scowl. “What’s so funny?”

“Watching him scold you,” Hyun said pulling up an armchair. He sat with a wide grin. “I doubt anyone else has the guts to do it. I can barely believe you’re the man I was terrified to meet in that loft on Fifth.”

“Talin is special,” Raphael said, unable to keep his affection for Talin hidden. He sighed and leaned back on his pillows. “I’m not nice to anyone else.”

Hyun nodded. “I know.”

“Your sister?”

“She’s sleeping in a guest room upstairs.” Hyun stared at his hands on his lap. “Your family has been generous. Dimitri’s sister brought new clothes for Mina.”

“I’m glad,” Raphael said, making Hyun glance at him. “If you were looking for the best part of me, you would only find it among these people.”

“Is that why you didn’t want Dimitri bringing you here?”

“I’m not good for Talin’s happiness,” Raphael said thinking of Gabriel’s death. “We need to leave as soon as I get out of this bed.”

“Raphael—

“Hyun?” a soft voice interrupted.

Raphael glanced at the door to see a young woman, barely in her twenties standing there. Her long black hair shiny in the morning light, she and Hyun had a strong resemblance. She was pretty.

“Mina,” Hyun got up from his seat and hurried to his sister. “What are you doing out of bed? You need to rest.”

“I woke up and you weren’t there. I wanted to see you.”

Raphael watched Mina touch Hyun’s jaw, then his shoulder as though she was reassuring herself he was real. He couldn’t pretend to understand her ordeal. What was curious was that apart from neglect, there was nothing wrong with her.

No injuries, no wounds—, how strange of Lucian Pajari.

“I’d like to introduce someone to you,” Hyun said, taking Mina’s hand and bringing her closer to the bed. “Raphael—

“Raphael Yun,” Mina said, surprising both Hyun and Raphael. She held her brother’s hand tight as she took a step closer to the bed.

Raphael met her surprised brown gaze, his senses alert.

“You’re Raphael Yun?” Mina asked.

He nodded.

“I—, I have a message for you.”

Of course, Lucian would never have allowed her rescue to be that easy without an agenda. Raphael glanced at Hyun’s concerned gaze. Patting the spot Talin had sat a few minutes before, Raphael smiled.

“Sit, Mina,” he said. “Your brother is worried about your health. He’ll cry if you faint from exhaustion.”

Mina chuckled, relaxing a little and did as he asked.

“You’re nicer than the man who took me,” she said.

"Am I?" Raphael smiled at her.

Hyun scoffed behind her.

“I’m sure your brother’s opinion is different.”

Raphael winked at Hyun, keeping his smile for Mina’s sake.

“Do you know the man’s name, the one who gave you the message for me?” Raphael asked Mina.

“I-Ilia Pajari,” Mina said. “He told me you’d come to save me, take me back to Hyun.”

“How could he know that?” Hyun asked, placing his hand on his sister’s shoulders. “Mina—

“What else did he say, Mina?” Raphael cut him off.

Mina reached up to pat Hyun’s hand on her left shoulder.

“He said to tell you that your family will die if you don’t help destroy Petrov.”

Raphael scoffed.

Damn Ilia. The Pajari brothers were using him as a pawn. Him, Raphael Yun, as a pawn...this wouldn't stand.

Shaking his head, he pushed the covers aside, anger raging inside him.

Of course the fucking rabbit hole would lead him back to his father’s schemes. He should never have agreed to find Hyun. Still...

Why take Mina? Why send Hyun on a race to find him?

Ilia and Lucian could have called him and asked for help. Why turn him into an idiot running across States, getting shot, Raphael cursed under his breath.

Hyun pulled Mina to her feet, turning her around when Raphael kicked the blankets away.

“Mina, why don’t you go to the kitchen? I need to stop Raphael from hurting himself.”

“Okay,” Mina said her tone hesitant. “You’ll come soon, won’t you? I—

“I’m right behind you,” Hyun assured her.

Raphael watched Hyun hurry his sister to the door. He swung his feet over the bed and started to get up, and promptly let out a painful groan, his side hurt like a mother—

“Shit,” Raphael cursed and sat back. “Fuck! I hate pain. Come here, help me up.”

“Where are you going?” Hyun demanded.

“Help me up, damn it!” Raphael glared at Hyun. “Your sister is out of the woods, but you are drowning in shit. We can’t stay here.”

Hyun sighed and reached for the pair of dark pajama pants hanging on a comfortable armchair. He crouched at Raphael’s feet, putting the pants one leg then the other. He glanced up at Raphael.

Pain filled green eyes held his.

“I’m sure you shouldn’t be standing,” Hyun said.

“You have no choice but to help me up.”

Hyun sighed and got up. “Is this part of me paying back my debt?”

“It’s a start,” Raphael said gritting his teeth when Hyun wrapped his arms under his shoulders and helped him up. His abdomen felt numb at the same time full of sharp metal…he closed his eyes, barely able to keep his balance. If it weren’t for Hyun’s arms around him, he might have fallen.

“You’re going to need to hold on,” Hyun said.

Raphael placed his arms around Hyun’s shoulders, holding on tight. He buried his nose into Hyun’s shoulder, taking in his scent.

Hyun reached down and pulled Raphael’s pants up. Straightening the waist band, he started to step back, but Raphael wouldn’t let go.

“What’s next?” Hyun asked, dropping his arms to the side, though the temptation to wrap them around Raphael’s waist was strong.

Raphael lifted his head, pressing closer to Hyun, he met Hyun’s gaze.

“Your scent is intoxicating.”

Hyun blinked, staring into green eyes.

There was so many reasons why he couldn’t get closer to Hyun…Raphael frowned. So many reasons not to kiss him, not to drag him into the nearest bed and ravish him...taking away the sweet innocence that clung to him even now.

When Hyun kept staring at him, he forgot those reasons and decided to take what he’d been craving since that night in an elevator. Licking his lips, Raphael bent and kissed Hyun hard, slipping his tongue into Hyun’s molten hot mouth, taking…until they were both breathless.

***