Vegas POV
"Porsche, I need to go to the hospital to talk to Dr. Top before heading to the port."
"Did something happen? Will you make it to the port in time? It's already getting late."
"I believe it won't take long. Dr Top wants to talk to me about some Venice scans. He asked me to go there."
"Without Pete?"
"Yes. But don't say anything to Pete. He can worry unnecessarily."
"OK. I won't."
...
"Venice's test results are ready, Dr. Top?"
"Yes." The doctor brings his body forward, resting his elbows on the table and crossing his fingers.
"Any serious problems?" I look at him expecting for a not-so-good answer.
"Some biochemical results caught my eye, Khun Vegas."
The doctor's face made me more apprehensive.
"You can speak clearly, doctor. I'm ready."
"I do not believe that Venice has any disease or syndrome."
"That's good, isn't it?" I felt a certain relief. "Then?"
"I believe he is being poisoned."
"What? Poisoned?"
"Coincidentally, I handled a few cases recently for a new drug on the black market. Side effects are similar to Venice. When I looked at the results of Venice's tests, I noticed a great similarity with the results of patients suffering from overdose of this substance. It's a synthetic drug. We don't have much information about it and whether it causes lasting effects."
"But how? He follows a strict prescribed diet. And the medicines are also prescribed."
"The fact is that substance has a very unique chemical marker. Which I only found in Venice's blood test and in the patients I mentioned."
"Will Venice be okay? Is his life in danger?
"It would be premature to give any conclusive answer now. I will continue investigating. Now that I have data from other patients, we can better study his case. Do not worry too much. He's not in imminent danger. I thought it best to talk to you first. Pete might despair. He has a very strong emotional bond with the child."
"I'll talk to him calmly about it. And the most important thing: I will find who is behind this."
...
I looked at the watch on my wrist. Screw the negotiation.
"Nop, where's Venice?"
"Baby Venice stayed at the mansion with Jenny"
"We need to get back to the mansion immediately. Drive fast."
"Did something happen, Khun Vegas? You're agitated."
"Order the bodyguards to lock the nanny in the basement." I yelled. "NOW!" (in English)
...
Arm's POV
When Vegas answered Pete's phone, I was almost unresponsive.
When Vegas was cordial to me, I was suspicious of him.
When Vegas granted me full access to his laptop, I was surprised.
When I accessed the folder named "Pete", and realized its content, I was shocked.
Then I closed it immediately.
I have too much respect for Pete to dare to watch any of those private videos.
And I don't need to do that to do my job.
I realized Vegas' intentions.
He's even willing to expose Pete in this way to send me an ultimate message.
I would be dead by now if it wasn't for Macau. I don't need a bigger message than that.
Also...I'm not blind. I'm not stupid.
From the moment Pete left his post as head bodyguard of the main family for Vegas...from the moment he stayed at the hospital with him day and night...I knew I would never have Pete's heart. And I accepted it.
But I pity you, Khun Vegas. You are the one who must be suffering much more than I am. The fear of losing Pete must be almost unbearable to you. I can move on...but you...you'll never have peace of mind.
You are a demon who creates your own demons.
And you will succumb to them eventually.
...
Vegas' POV
"Venice was sent to the main family mansion, Khun Vegas." Nop said.
I went down the stairs to the basement. My dungeon of truth.
I went to the workbench where my tools of joy are.
"Jenny, Jenny, Jenny...my dear. No tears, no asking for your life... it just irritates me and wastes my time."
"Are you sure of this, Khun Vegas? Shouldn't wait for Pete..." Nop asked me apprehensively. Certainly he was pitying the girl.
I just ignored him.
When I turned around, I noticed her face was impassive, just watching me. She was tied up, suspended by her wrists. She didn't say a word.
"You know, Jenny. I hate women. And I have a particular dislike for you." I pinched her face with my fingertips, holding a tool in my other hand. "I would gladly get rid of you for one reason or another." I smiled. "I'm sure you've been poisoning Venice. You're the only person who stays with him all the time. And come to think of it, what was just asthma got worse to seizures after you came here. Is it coincidence? I don't think so. I'm warning you. Make it less painful for you. Start talking."
Suddenly, she raised her head and smirked at me.
...
Pete's POV
"Damn! Why doesn't anyone answer?!"
"What is it, Pete?"
"I'm trying to reach Vegas, but he doesn't answer me. I forgot my phone in the minor family mansion. Maybe he doesn't recognize this number and doesn't answer me. Wouldn't Vegas come here?"
"Don't worry. He told me he needed to take care of a matter first."
"What matter, Porsche?"
"I don't know. Maybe something from the office. By the way, did you guys get it right now?
"I think so."
"Damn, he's crazy. And you are crazier, I guess!
"Hahaha. It's just...we understand each other...in our own way."
...
Arm's POV
FUCK!
I would rather be wrong.
I've tried calling Vegas' phone, but there is no answer.
"Hey, Arm!"
"Pete?!" I jolted.
"What are you doing? We have to go! Porsche is waiting in the other car with Nong Yim. The secondary port is far from here, almost outside the city. At this time we will not draw the attention of the police. We have to go now."
"Sorry, I was just checking some information. Let's go."
"Is everything alright? You seem worried?"
"Yes...yes. Just a little nervous. Let's go now"
I was going to tell Pete that Vegas gave me access to his laptop. Of course I would report everything to Pete first. However... now I can't.
I have no courage.
I need to warn Vegas first.
...
Vegas' POV
"Do you think you can intimidate me, Khun Vegas? Her gaze challenged me.
"Do you wanna bet with me? You're the one who broke into our security system, aren't you? You're making Venice sick to make sure you stay with us. Why? Who are you? Who sent you?
I ask the questions as I cut the flesh of her thigh very slowly. Nop turns away. Seeing a pretty girl being tortured makes some men's hearts weak. Not mine.
Jenny tried to contain her groan by gritting her teeth. She is tough.
"Come on, sweetheart. Tell me everything?" (In English)
My phone vibrates on the workbench. I turn to take my phone. I hadn't paid any attention to it. The signal is weak in the basement. There are messages. I see Arm's name and lots of missed calls from Arm, Yim, Porsche and a number unknown on the phone screen.
I widen my eyes. I get paralyzed, reading Arm's message. I feel my anger rising to the max. I turn to Jenny and grab her neck. I feel the fragile bones of her neck in the palm of my hand. I squeeze her neck.
"Who's behind this?" I yell at her. "Have you messed with my computer...? Where were the videos sent to? For whom? Talk, damn it! Talk! I grip her neck tighter."
Arm left a message saying that he verified that the images transmitted to my laptop were being redirected to some other computer. But he couldn't locate it. It's got layers of encryption he hasn't been able to break yet. He had to go to the port. FUCK! FUCK! All I could think about was Pete.
"You are going to kill her, Khun Vegas!"
I released her throat.
"SPEAK!" (in English)
Jenny starts to laugh.
Maybe Jenny has more in common with Pete than just a taste for spicy food.
"He must already know by now."
"HE? Who is HE"?
"You know, Khun Vegas. I'm already dead...even so I dare not betray him. You are no match for him. He is pure evil."
"I'm not done with you yet. Dying would be too easy for you."
Jenny turns her face to Nop.
"Your people searched the entire mansion."
Nop frowned. "Did you know...?!"
Jenny smiled.
"Tell me, Nop. Have your people been here? the basement? Where all truths are revealed?" Jenny laughed again.
Nop's eyes widened.
"Fuck, Nop!!" I feel the urge to choke Nop.
"I'm sorry Khun Vegas...This place is forbidden to come...I didn't think..."
"You are not killing me. HE is.
"No one can approach you here. Now, who is HE? What does he want?Speak! And I can spare your life."
"You are a fool, Khun Vegas" Jenny smirked. All I can say is...you just made a fantasy come true." Jenny started laughing uncontrollably. Freak. She's getting on my nerves.
"What? What do you mean? What do you..."
Jenny looked at her chest, toward her heart. Suddenly she screamed. And blood flowed from her mouth. Her eyes closed."
FUCK!
What's happening? I'm confused...making a fantasy come true...what does that mean...?!...I feel anguish...Pete...Pete...I need to find Pete.
I ran out of the basement. Nop came right behind me.
"Have the guards search the damn basement!"
"Yes, Khun Vegas..I'm sorry..."
"We need to get to the port. Fast!"
...
Pete's POV
We're at the port. The client is about to arrive. The armament is already inside the ship. I try to call Vegas one more time. No reply. I call Nop. Also unanswered. I start to feel anxious.
Yim calls Khun Sanya. He's on speaker.
"We haven't been able to reach P'Vegas, Hia. He doesn't answer his phone."
"Damn it, Yim. You know I don't like to expose myself in open places."
"I'm sorry. I'm warning you as this is an important deal."
"Okay, I'm close to the port anyway. I'll be there in a few minutes.
"Thank you, Hia."
"That's what it takes to let an adult business be run by children."
"I'm sorry, Hia."
"Your brother is pissed, Yim"
"Do not tell me, Porsche. Khun Vegas didn't send any news?" Yim looked at me.
"No"
Damn it, Vegas...where are you? I feel restless.
...
Vegas' POV
We are in the road, half way to the port. I try to call everyone's phone, but no one answers. They must be in the middle of the transaction. Four cars start to chase and shoot us. They take my bodyguards' cars off the road.
Nop is forced to throw the car onto the side of the road. It's just me and Nop. I pull out my gun. There are about eight men pointing guns at us.
We are surrounded .