Fair Trade

“Then why did he bring that gun home? Did you forget something? Dad brought the gun home and gave it to Uncle Albert. If it’s as you say, he should have handed it over and finished the order on the spot!”

The past events passed before her eyes like afterimages. The moment Uncle Albert died bleeding in front of her, the modest small funeral held for him, and the moment she left the house with Uncle’s things.

Yuri placed his hand on Sei’s shoulder. He carefully pulled her hair out of her shirt, then leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head.

“I’ll explain that. Right after your father stole it, I appeared. I was a little different from what I look like now. I looked a bit rough during that time. In the mess, your father got lucky and escaped to Albert’s house. Then he seems to have entrusted the thing to him. He must have believed that one day it would bring him money.”

Sei wrapped her arms around her as if to soothe the goosebumps. She never imagined that what she thought was a simple theft case would become entangled like a spider’s web and continue to this day.

“It is true that I was protecting Jang Young-guk. He only knows the face of the person who bought it, but he doesn’t know his name or affiliation. But none of the people invited to the event were ordinary people. Because that party was also hosted by Mackenzie Evans.”

“I think I know what you’re going to say next… Go on.”

“Imagine your father getting out of prison in this state. I could bet my entire fortune on him being retaliated right away. That’s why I was actively trying to find things to keep him in there since this is what I started. To avenge Logan, I stole Yuri’s thing and sold it to Giulio Parenti. Blinded by revenge, I only thought of one thing. I just wanted Yuri Petrov to kill Giulio Parenti. I should have considered the other things…”

“… So, are you saying all this is some tragedy caused by a reckless desire for revenge?”

“Rose, I sincerely tried to help Jang Young-guk. Wouldn’t it be better to know who the instigator was to finish the job? Anyway, to do that, I needed someone to attend Mackenzie’s event and I figured you’d do a better job than anyone. I was sure if they heard you are going to attend the event… the person who instigated your father will approach you.”

A chilly silence lingered in the bedroom. Sei gathered her knees together and buried her face while lost in thought while Kirill threw the knife he was holding into the calendar. Yuri stroked her hair and moved in front of Gavin.

“So, what’s the conclusion? I think you’ve said everything you wanted to say, now say what you have to say.”

Gavin hesitantly looked up at Yuri with a somewhat frightened look on his face, and uttered,  “Sorry. I’m sorry, Rose.”

Sei said in a low voice, “To say it was for my dad is nothing but an excuse. You just… wanted to catch something big.”

“It’s not like that!”

“Yuri, can I hit this guy?”

As she sluggishly got up, Gavin, puzzled, lifted his head with gritted teeth. Yuri made another suggestion while stroking his smooth chin.

“How about dropping him into the sea while tied to the chair? That should be enough to ease your anger. Do whatever you want. I will take responsibility.”

Gavin’s agitated eyes fluttered wildly. He tried to gain sympathy from Yuri, Sei, Kirill, Stefan, and others who had ill will toward him.

“I think that would be good too. However… let’s just hit him once.”

As Yuri shrugged his shoulders, her small fist clenched and landed on Gavin’s face quickly and accurately. Gavin’s face then turned to the left and the chair that he was sitting on staggered backward.

With a thump, Gavin touched the back of his head and shook his head in agony. But there was no mercy.

“Ouch, damn it!”

As she turned around, the gang members, who had been looking up at the ceiling, surrounded the fallen Gavin, at Yuri’s signal. With eyes flickering wildly, his body went limp.

* * *

An old jazz-pop song with no title kept playing. It might be to someone’s taste, but it wasn’t for the two in the room.

“How many times would you make me say the same thing… It has turned red. It must’ve hurt quite a lot. I don’t like to see any mark on your body unless it’s because of me.

Yuri carefully peeled the jeans off her body. When he saw the red marks on her pale skin, it reminded him of a face that shamelessly harped about cause and justice.

He rinsed Sei’s legs in cold water and pressed his lips over her marks. There were more older scars on her slender legs. Yuri studied her legs closely, kissing every trace of her. The most impressive scar was a long cut on her shin. It even changed its color a little as if it had been rubbed by something.

He touched Sei’s little toe and placed it on his shoulder. He leaned over and bit her inner thigh lightly.

“Sei.”

Only then did she come out of her thoughts and smiled.

“My life has been so terrible that it got me thinking about what he said earlier.”

“I agree it was exhausting enough to make one get fed up.”

“What should I do? He said he would somehow get me invited to the party… I never thought it would be like this.”

“Do as you please. I like you because you always look sexy even when you’re worried about something like this.”

Sei raised her head. Her black eyes were trembling. He loved her eyes and the way they resembled black jewels that peered out of her face. Sei knew the horrors of life. That was why she was not easily swayed by false sweetness. Yuri raised his torso and moved in search of her lips.

“Let me in.”

At his request, her jelly-soft lips parted and his limp tongue rolled in.