The sea was a sheet of black glass under the gray dome of the sky. Black Gold Island rose from the water like a sleeping beast, its spine of highrises and cranes catching the last light of dusk. Yedong City sprawled across its belly, a maze of neon and narrow streets where Chinese met Korean and the law was just another commodity.
Park Dae-geun stood at the end of Pier 17, his squat frame planted like a stump. He was only a hundred fifty-five centimeters tall, but his shoulders were wide as a door, and his neck merged into his trapezius without apology. The sea wind tugged at his cheap suit jacket, revealing the thick handle of a pistol tucked into his waistband. He checked his watch for the fourth time in as many minutes.
“They’re coming,” said Han Sang-chul, his second-in-command, a tall man with a scar that split his left eyebrow.
“I can see that, you idiot.” Dae-geun squinted at the approaching vessel. It was a sleek Chinese patrol boat, repurposed for civilian use, its hull painted in the deep green of the Qinglong Gang. On its deck, two figures stood at the bow, their silhouettes sharp against the fading sky.
The larger figure was unmistakably a woman. Even at this distance, Dae-geun could make out the generous curves, the long hair lifted by the breeze. Beside her stood a man, shorter and leaner, his posture relaxed.
The boat docked with a soft thud against the tires. A crewman threw a line, and another secured it. The gangplank lowered, and Im El stepped onto the pier with the easy confidence of someone who had never been told no. She was a hundred seventy-five centimeters tall, her legs endless inside tight black jeans. Her blouse was silk, unbuttoned just enough to hint at the cascade of cleavage beneath. Her hair was a storm of brown waves, and her face was all soft lines and warm eyes, the kind of face that made men want to confess their sins.
Behind her came Li Qing. He was a full five centimeters shorter than his fiancée, with narrow shoulders and a face still carrying the softness of youth. His jacket hung loose on him, and he moved with a quiet, watchful grace.
Dae-geun stepped forward, his hands clasped in front of him. “Welcome, honored leaders of the Qinglong and Xuanwu gangs. I am Park Dae-geun, acting head of the Daimon. I have arranged a seaside hotel for your stay. Please, allow me to escort you.”
Im El’s smile was gentle, almost motherly. “Thank you, Mr. Park. The journey was smooth. We appreciate your hospitality.”
“This island has a certain charm,” Li Qing added, his voice light. “I’ve heard stories about the night markets.”
Dae-geun gestured toward a black sedan idling at the curb. “Then you’ll have plenty of time to explore. Please, after you.”
They rode in the back seat together, Im El and Li Qing side by side, their shoulders touching. Dae-geun sat in the front passenger seat, twisted around to face them. The car smelled of pine air freshener and old cigarettes.
“I won’t waste time with pleasantries,” Dae-geun began. “The Takegumi has been encroaching on our territory for months. They injured my father. They think they can claim the underworld of this island for themselves. But Daimon has deep roots here. We have the loyalty of the merchants, the dockworkers, the taxi drivers. What we lack is allies.”
Im El listened, her hands folded in her lap. “Our gang has noticed the Takegumi’s movements. They’ve been expanding aggressively. But we need more information before committing to anything.”
“I understand,” Dae-geun said, his voice earnest. “But time is not on our side. They are planning something big. I can feel it.”
Li Qing leaned forward. “Brother, I get it. You’re fighting for your family’s legacy. But Qinglong is still the biggest power here. Those Takegumi bastards won’t move too fast. How about this—let’s take a few days to see the island. My father’s people handle our business here, but I’ve never set foot on this soil myself. Im El neither. A little rest, a little sightseeing. What do you say?”
Dae-geun hesitated, then nodded slowly. “You’re right. I’ve been too tense. Let me first take you to your respective gangs’ island headquarters. Pay your respects. After that, I’ll take you to the hotel.”
The car wound through streets lined with shops selling dried squid and knockoff electronics. They stopped at a nondescript building with a green dragon painted above the door, where a few Qinglong enforcers greeted Im El with respectful nods. Then a similar stop at a building marked with a black turtle, where Li Qing exchanged a few quiet words with the Xuanwu men stationed there.
Finally, the car pulled up to a two-story hotel built into the cliffside, its balconies overlooking a dark stretch of beach. The building was clean but modest—white stucco, blue shutters, a small sign reading “Sea Breeze Inn.”
“I had hoped to book you at the Grand Glass Hotel,” Dae-geun said apologetically. “But it’s under renovation. When it reopens, I will personally host you there to make up for it.”
“This is perfect,” Im El said. “Thank you, Mr. Park.”
Dae-geun shook hands with both of them, his grip firm. “If you need anything, call me directly. I’ll have a car ready whenever you wish to explore.” He got back into the sedan and drove off, his headlights cutting through the dusk.
The hotel room was simple but clean. A king-sized bed dominated the center, its white linens crisp. Sliding glass doors opened onto a small balcony with a view of the ocean, the waves a whisper in the dark.
Li Qing flopped onto the bed, grabbed the remote, and cycled through channels until he found a variety show. He watched in silence while Im El disappeared into the bathroom.
The shower ran for a long time. Steam curled under the door. When she emerged, wrapped in a thin towel, Li Qing barely glanced up.
Then she returned from the closet wearing something that made his thumb freeze over the remote.
Black lace. Thin straps. A bra that barely contained her breasts, and panties that were more suggestion than fabric. Her skin was still damp, her hair twisted into a messy bun that exposed the elegant line of her neck.
“You’re staring,” she said, her voice soft and playful.
“You’re distracting,” he replied, setting the remote down.
She padded across the carpet and fell onto the bed beside him, stretching like a cat. Her body arched, her arms reaching above her head, the movement making her breasts strain against the lace. She turned her head and looked at him with those warm, loving eyes.
“My little turtle,” she murmured, reaching for him. “Come here.”
He let her pull him close. She kissed him, soft at first, then deeper. Her hand slid down his chest, over his stomach, and lower. He was already hard, but he knew what she would find. Eight centimeters at full erection. He had measured it once, alone, in shame.
She never made him feel ashamed.
“You’ve been thinking too much,” she whispered against his lips. “Let me take care of you.”
She slid down the bed, her hair brushing his thighs. Her mouth found him, warm and wet, and she took him fully. He gasped, his head falling back against the pillow. Her hand cradled his testicles gently while her tongue worked in rhythm with her lips.
“Ah… ah… Im El…” He moaned.
She stayed on him until he was trembling, then lifted herself. She straddled him, her hips hovering. She reached down, guided him, and slowly lowered herself. He was inside her, but even she knew he didn’t reach deep. His length was not enough to touch her cervix. But she didn’t care. She rocked her hips, her thighs squeezing him, her eyes closed in genuine pleasure.
He thrust up into her, his hands gripping her waist. The smallness of him didn’t matter. The wetness of her, the heat, the love in every touch—that was enough.
After five minutes, his body locked up. “Im El—I’m—”
He came with a shuddering gasp, a few thin spurts of fluid. His release was barely there, almost translucent, with hardly any smell. But his whole body shook as if lightning had passed through him.
“Unngh… aah… I need to rest for two weeks after that,” he breathed, his eyes glazed.
Im El leaned down and kissed his forehead. “You did well, turtle.” She kissed him on the lips, a gentle, loving press.
She lay down beside him, and he turned onto his side, pulling her against his chest. She fit perfectly in his arms, her back to his front, her curves soft against his lean frame. He nuzzled the back of her neck.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” she said.
They fell asleep tangled together, the sound of the waves filling the room, two leaders from rival gangs who were nothing more than a boy and a girl in love, holding onto each other against the dark.