---
Deadly Roses
Chapter 1: The Deadly Invitation
The rain drizzled over the dark alleys of Seoul. Neon lights flickered, reflecting dimly on the wet pavement. Baek Haneul walked alone, his black jacket pulled tightly around his frame as his body trembled—not from the cold, but from the way his heart pounded violently in his chest.
He knew someone was following him.
Footsteps echoed behind his own, steady and calculated. Through the reflection of a store window, he caught a glimpse of a tall figure in a long coat, eyes as sharp as a predator's.
Jang Taekwon.
A name feared in the underworld. A man who never failed to take what he wanted.
Haneul quickened his pace, but a deep, commanding voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Don't run, Haneul."
The voice carried an undeniable authority. Haneul swallowed hard. He could try to escape, but he knew one truth—running from Jang Taekwon was a death sentence.
Slowly, he turned. Under the dim glow of the streetlamp, Taekwon stood tall, his dark eyes piercing straight through him. His face was emotionless, but the storm of danger surrounding him was undeniable.
"Get in the car."
A sleek black car pulled up beside them, its back door swinging open. Haneul frowned, refusing to move.
"Why should I?"
Taekwon didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand—between his fingers, a single red rose rested delicately. Its petals were flawless… except for the small stain of blood on its stem.
Taekwon's signature.
Haneul clenched his jaw. This wasn't just an invitation. It was a warning.
Before he could respond, another voice cut through the tense air.
"Tsk, playing dirty again, Taekwon?"
From across the street, another man appeared—Seo Ryujin. A smirk played on his lips as he leaned casually against a streetlamp, his leather jacket slightly open, revealing the silver chain around his neck.
"Sorry, but Haneul hasn't decided yet. You can't just claim him as yours."
The tension thickened, almost suffocating.
Haneul stood frozen between two of the most dangerous men in his life, both wanting to possess him in their own way.
And he knew—this was only the beginning.
---
To be continued...