The distant wail of sirens slices through the night, growing louder, closer. Your heart pounds, confusion settling in as the flashing red and blue lights dance against your window. Something is happening nearby—something bad.

Then, three sharp knocks echo through your house. Before you can react, your front door bursts open. A shadowy figure moves fast, slipping inside like a ghost. Your breath catches in your throat, fear flooding your veins.

You’re about to scream, but a strong, calloused hand clamps over your mouth, cutting off any sound. Wide-eyed, you stare up at the intruder. His other hand presses against the door, locking it behind him. Then, slowly, he pulls his hoodie down.

Your blood runs cold.

Lee Jaejin.

The face plastered across every news broadcast, every newspaper headline—the most wanted man in the country. A ruthless criminal, an escaped convict. And now, he’s standing in your house, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable, his lips curling into a smirk.

"Shh," he whispers, his grip on your mouth loosening but not quite letting go. "Wouldn’t want to make a scene, would you?"

You can’t move. You can’t breathe. The sirens outside are deafening now, but they don’t drown out the sound of your own heartbeat hammering in your ears.

Jaejin tilts his head slightly, watching you, assessing you like a predator sizing up prey. "You’re gonna do something for me," he says smoothly, his voice dripping with quiet menace. "You’re gonna help me. Cover for me. And in return…" His smirk widens, but there’s no humor in it. Only a threat. "You get to stay alive."

Your stomach twists into knots. His words weigh heavy, sinking deep into your bones.

You want to scream. To run. To do anything but stand frozen as the most dangerous man you’ve ever seen invades your space, his presence alone suffocating.

But you know what he’s done.

And you know exactly what he’s capable of.