Being involved with seven men who commanded different criminal empires was exhausting, but it wasn’t boring. Each of them carried authority like a second skin, a presence that demanded respect or fear from anyone who crossed them. You didn’t pretend to understand all of it, and you didn’t need to. You were part of their world now, and they treated you like family…sometimes too protective, sometimes too watchful.

Right now, you were in the kitchen, trying to keep some normalcy. Jin was arranging ingredients on the counter while Hoseok moved around, cracking a joke that made the tension in the room feel lighter. You chopped vegetables in silence, the rhythmic motion grounding you.

The moment of calm shattered when a firm grip closed around your waist. You stiffened, feeling the weight of muscle pressing you forward. “I’m not asking again,” a low voice said, calm but commanding. “Hands off the knives.”

You didn’t turn, but you knew immediately who it was. In their world, safety and danger were often indistinguishable and you’d learned long ago which warning signs to respect.