Not Bad Chapter 20
She’s called mom. I’ve never thought about it. To the child, yes, a mother. To me, just a woman.
Imagining someone running their fingers gently through my hair sent an odd shiver up my spine.
Hee-jae gently stroked Yeon-woo’s wet hair, then ruffled it wildly. The dense strands tangled in his grip, and he fought to pull free, thrashing with both hands. Even without tiring, he tossed the towel aside and dove back into the water. He sat in the shade, watching the sleeping boy.
That image still haunted me like a nightmare—the child swept away by the waves.
A handful of adults rushing toward one small child. Even one that had only been born for a year clung desperately to the hem of the boy’s clothes.
But he had been the first to reach the child, yet he still couldn’t reach me.
I blamed myself for ending up like that, and I turned my anger on the innocent child. I knew it was wrong, yet I became an adult who had no right to punish anyone.
And on top of that, I was scolding him not to climb anymore.
Twenty-six years old.
With his eyes tightly closed, he groped along the table for cigarettes and a lighter. He tilted his head to light one, and Manager Kang appeared from somewhere, carrying an ashtray for him.
“I’ve prepared the therapist. When you’re ready, please move when you’re finished.”
Manager Kang’s gaze directed toward two women in white uniforms standing nearby.
One looked local, the other Asian. The mixed background suggested someone who had lived overseas for a long time.
She lay back slightly, exhaling smoke, and I looked away from her watchful eyes.
“Manager Kang, isn’t it too much of a routine for you?”
The glowing end of my cigarette fell into the ashtray with a soft thud.
“It’s the most familiar work to me. Even if I leave this place, I’ll do something similar. I’m satisfied.”
“You’re still young. You should get married before it’s too late.”
“I turn fifty next year. I’ve just entered middle age, so I’ll think about it then.”
Manager Kang smiled faintly and approached the therapists. Her eyes met mine, the woman standing on the other side of her as she reminded them of the precautions.
I didn’t avoid the smile, but my eyebrows twitched.
I signaled to the housekeeper watching Manager Kang’s back. After crushing out the cigarette, I rose and said, “Keep a close eye on Yeon-woo.”
“Let’s go.”
The therapists, greeted by the man with the cane, led the way into the house.
“Who did she pick?”
“Ah, do I need water?”
Of course, it was Joo Seung-eon.
Following Manager Kang up to the second floor, Hee-jae entered the prepared room.
Manager Kang’s sense in naturally dividing the former bedroom space into a therapy room left me in silent awe.
“It’s perfect.”
“I’ll assign two guards.”
“Alright.”
Following Manager Kang’s instructions, the two guards posted outside entered the room and took positions at the far corners.
Changing into his gown, he lay face down on the bed. The tense hands removed the gown.
“If there’s any uncomfortable spot, please tell me.”
Contrary to my expectation, the Korean I heard carried no English accent. I answered by raising an eyebrow and closed my eyes.
“I’ll begin.”
***
Alexa 71.
Where had I heard that name? It was Dan’s yacht docked at the pier.
Calling his yacht “my lover.” I’d expected it, but this man was far from normal.
Following Dan inside, there were no sudden attacks this time—unlike last time.
Well, that made sense.
Recalling my first visit here, I clicked my tongue. He turned on the espresso machine and asked,
“Ice?”
“With syrup, please.”
“How about Shakerato?”
“I’ve heard of the name, but can you make it?”
“I can fake it.”
“Then make that.”
I leisurely explored the yacht and collapsed onto the long sofa. Watching me settle in as if at home, Dan pulled out the coffee beans with a smirk.
“It’ll take about an hour. Your face is a mess. Because of yesterday?”
I had my hands folded neatly over my chest and blinked. Bullet holes in the yacht ceiling—couldn’t be mistaken.
“Why were you late? You could have saved Yeon-woo faster.”
The rich aroma filled the cabin from the grinder, crushing the beans with practiced skill. He was a barista who knew his machines.
“That way you won’t get too close to the kid.”
The playful curl at the corner of his mouth held satisfaction—the plan had succeeded.
“Don’t do that again. I don’t want to get that close. I don’t want to be a fake hero by cornering people.”
“As long as you’re safe.”
“Instead, you’ll get trauma. Kwon Hee-jae would probably shudder at the sight of the sea too?”
“Hmm, your mental fortitude is weak.”
“He’s very fond of children.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he produced a cup filled with foam and thick sugar crystals on the rim, like a cocktail. No ice visible, just pure coffee.
“Drink. Even if it’s bad, pretend it’s good.”
“What? I’ll drink it.”
“I didn’t say make it with the kid. Lee Da-in, don’t get too immersed. After we finish the mission, we’ll vanish like ghosts.”
The first sip was sweet, cold, smooth, and subtly bitter—the very first coffee I’d ever tasted.
“Let’s have the strategy meeting. Today I’ll check their hideouts first. Do you want to strike now or wait to see their movements?”
Striking now or later—either way, it was the same. Dan, who had poured the hot coffee, grabbed the remote and pressed a button.
With a beep, a detailed map of Waikiki city traffic appeared on the table.
I noticed the lens in the ceiling and slid the magazines aside.
“Check the hideouts I mentioned. See how well I guessed.”
“Looking at the list, most are the type who just swing a sword. I think they’ll act obviously. Even if Maya is the head, it’s just setup. We probably don’t need to show all of it.”
Agreeing, he sat beside me with a thud and nodded.
“I see a clear intent to probe. Let’s not skip the easy ones.”
“Then here. They probably don’t want to waste time, so this is the only option. But one more thing. What if it’s not simple revenge?”
I pulled out the phone I’d received from Clara and opened their list. Dan leaned toward me, raising an eyebrow as if urging me to continue.
“Killing traitors is one thing. I understand criminals’ psychology, but the issue is if there’s a purpose, there must be a result. Killing just because you don’t like the look? That’s too premeditated.”
“So?”
“The inheritance issue isn’t fully resolved yet. There are people in Korea who hold influence over Kwon Hee-jae’s death, and the child can’t exercise property rights until he’s an adult. In other words, it’s property that’s already dead. What if Kwon Hee-jae changes his mind before that happens?”
The easiest way to change a man’s mind was obviously through the child. If not, he’d likely kidnap and torture the party involved.
Dan set down the half-empty coffee cup and slowly stroked his chin. He turned his head slightly and looked at me with a sidelong gaze.
“You were clearly trained wrong.”
My brows furrowed tightly.
“Why?”
“We follow orders, not reverse them from above. Protect the drug dealer if told to, kill the religious fanatic if ordered. But right now, you’re questioning the client?”
Exactly right. That was why I earned big money and didn’t hesitate to use illegal paths.
But Dan was wrong about one thing: because I hated such work, I’d only taken C-class missions until now.
If they were going to hire someone, they should have picked another operative, not me.
“Still, your expression earlier looked exactly like a cop’s.”
Dan rested his chin on my shoulder with a grin.
“Don’t think about anything else. Let’s just enjoy it. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten my body warmed up.”
At that moment, a knock sounded from outside. Checking the CCTV, he stood and climbed the stairs.
I shrugged casually. Dan’s actions were just one of the many flirtations I’d endured during my mercenary life.
Perhaps not even real love or dating, just a sugar-coated way to satisfy the intense arousal born from extreme tension.
“Take it.”
Dan stood at the stairs connecting to the entrance and handed over a massive duffel bag.
Despite its enormous weight, he handed it over with one hand as if nothing. Wanting to see? After loosening my shoulders, I took the bag and placed it on the table with a thud.
On the bag handle, a barely visible tattoo caught my eye. Clara Demon’s mark.
“Weapons?”
“Yes.”
I unzipped it. Opening the neatly arranged square sponge boxes revealed perfectly aligned firearms. Exactly the items Dan had ordered, and the Colt I’d added.
“If anything happens to the kid, I’ll withdraw from this mission.”
“Leave me here alone?”
“Another operative will join.”
I didn’t want anything to happen to Yeon-woo, but I didn’t want to see a man go insane over the child either.
And I didn’t want to face that resentment.
Responding with a flat voice, I spread out the building blueprints I’d assumed were their hideout.
Right above the 34th floor of the hotel booked under Keith Kwon’s name. Looking down at the diagram, I lifted my head.
“Let’s go on a vacation together?”