Taeyang lifted his hand, the handgun still clutched loosely in his grip, and rested the barrel against his forehead. The metal was cold, grounding in a way he didn't welcome.
His eyes stayed on the door.
A jagged hole marked where the bullet had torn through the wood. Splintered edges curled outward, frozen mid-burst. Through it, he could see Hajoon's body on the other side, collapsed face-first against the floor. He didn't move. He hadn't since the shot rang out.
Taeyang held the position for a second longer than necessary, then lowered the gun. He let it hang at his side before finally setting it down on the floor beside him.
A breath slipped out of him, slow and tired.
Footsteps approached quickly from down the hall. Boots striking the carpet in a controlled rhythm. The men in black closed in from both directions, their presence filling the narrow space outside the door.
They stopped just short of it.
Taeyang straightened slightly, his gaze still fixed on the hole in the wood. He didn't look back at them when he spoke.
"Dara's in there," he said evenly. "Along with Jeong-do."
He paused for just long enough for the words to settle.
"Hajoon's eliminated."
…
Taeyang stood exactly where he was, facing the jagged hole in the motel door, eyes fixed on the splintered wood framing the stillness beyond. Around him, the men in black shifted into position, boots scraping softly against the carpet as they spread out with practiced precision.
They surrounded the door.
Taeyang remained motionless.
Only when a gloved hand tapped once against the center of his back did Taeyang react.
He turned, the man behind him showed no expression. His posture was straight, shoulders squared, gaze level, neutral in a way that felt deliberate.
"Our boss demands your immediate return," the man said.
Taeyang looked at him for a moment, then turned back to the door.
"Tell him," Taeyang replied evenly, "I'm still occupied with this mission."
"You are required to return," the man said. "If you refuse, I will be authorized to apply force."
There was no threat in his tone. Just procedure.
Taeyang exhaled slowly. He slid his handgun back into his coat. Then he stepped out of the ring of men and began walking down the hallway.
"Taeyang."
He stopped.
"I believe the order is related to this."
Taeyang turned halfway.
"Two intruders were reported earlier," the man continued. "They appear to be siblings. A brother and a sister."
That made Taeyang glance back.
"The brother engaged a wolf unit alone," the man said. "All members were incapacitated. That is all the information currently available."
The man had already shifted his attention back to the door, raising a hand to signal the others forward. As he moved, Taeyang caught sight of the insignia stitched into the back of his jacket,
A tiger, rendered in sharp black lines.
The door began to creak under the men's pressure.
Taeyang held his gaze on the symbol for a brief moment longer.
Then he turned away.
He sighed quietly as he walked down the corridor, the sound nearly lost beneath the noise behind him.