Vegas' POV
[
"Pete...hold my hand! I'll get you!"
Why is he dodging me?
"Pete?"
Pete smiles at me in a cunning way and turns to leave.
"PETE!" I call out to him again, trying to reach him.
Suddenly, the hideous nanny Jenny appears in front of me. She clings to me, giggling darkly, her face all bloody.
]
"AHH! FUCK!"
"What happened? Pete asks me, startled.
"Damn woman...burn in hell!" I mumble
"What woman? Did you have a nightmare?"
"What time is it?"
"It's dawning...are you okay?" You are restless and sweaty.
"We made a fantasy come true..."
"What? What do you mean?!"
"That fucking nanny...she said we made a fantasy come true."
"Weird."
"It still bothers me."
"..." Pete looks at me with concern.
"Promise me you'll never do that again, Pete."
"Do what?"
"Make decisions without consulting me and risk yourself."
Pete is silent, his eyes trying to escape mine.
I hold his arms tightly and I am emphatic:
"Promise, Pete! We must share everything with each other! No more secrets! Look me in the eye, and promise for the lives of your grandparents, Macau and Venice!....and that idiot Tankhun too!"
Pete remains quiet for a few seconds. I grip his arm tighter.
"Okay, I promise."
"I won't forgive you if you break this promise. Even if it's to protect us. I mean it, PETE."
"I know."
...
I get ready to leave for the office. Before getting in the car, I talk to Nop.
"Have your men watch Pete 24 hours a day. I want to know every step he takes from now on."
"Alright, Khun Vegas."
"Nop, don't you dare betray me to follow Pete's orders again without telling me. I won't be merciful next time, whatever the reasons."
Nop bows to me, subservient.
...
Pete's POV
Three months later – Fancy party at The Diamond Private Club
We received an invitation from Khun Sanya to a party at The Diamond Private Club.
We cannot refuse.
...
"Long time no see. I'm glad you came."
Khun Sanya smiles cordially at me and Vegas, who just nods in boredom.
"Thanks for inviting us" I put my hands together and bow to him friendly.
"This is a party between business partners. It wouldn't make sense if you weren't here."
"That's what we are, isn't it?" Vegas shows his cunning smile.
"I consider you more than that for sure..." Khun Sanya winks at me.
The tension is palpable between the two. People are easily fooled by seductive, friendly smiles like those of Vegas and Khun Sanya.
But I am no longer deceived by them.
Khun Sanya is bold now. Much of his true personality is evident to me. He no longer tries to hide his true self. He's kind indeed...but dangerous like every mafia boss. He turns to talk to me.
"I remembered of you when I saw this object."
He hands me a black velvet box. Inside, a crystal and diamond chess piece.
Vegas frowns.
"It's a Knight." He smiles at me again "Oh! I have one for you too, Nong Vegas. Do not need to be jealous."
Vegas takes the black box unwillingly.
"A king." Khun Sanya smiles wryly at Vegas. Then he looks at the two of us. "Those pieces suit you both well, don't they?"
Vegas doesn't look at the object. He just keeps his menacing gaze on Khun Sanya.
"They do. Thank you, Khun Sanya. It was very kind of you."
"And you're always...so deadly cute, Pete." Khun Sanya reaches out to touch my face, smiling lewdly to me.
Vegas steps between us, giving him a death-glare. Khun Sanya retracts his hand and smirkes back.
"Please, enjoy the party...have fun."
He leaves us alone.
"I hate this guy. He can put this gift right in the middle of his ass."
"Those are keys, Vegas"
"Keys? That rat did it, then."
"Mhmm. Give it to me." I take the chess piece out of the box for a better look. "A beautiful key for a nasty place."
"I'll have a fancy chessboard made for you." Vegas grabs me by the waist.
"Stop this! There are other people here."
Vegas is increasingly shameless.
"What's the problem? I want everyone to know that you are mine... especially that bastard." He sniffs at my neck.
"Vegas!"
As Vegas turns to get a glass of champagne, I look at the two shiny chess pieces again before handing them to Nop. I glance up, where my eyes meet Sanya's looking back at us from the mezzanine. Khun Sanya raises his glass to me, smiling. Assistant Lee follows him and bows to me. Then they turn around and I don't see them anymore.
Damn psychopath. Maybe I should have killed him that day.
But now there's no turning back.
I've made a deal with the devil.
Flashback - Minor Family - Old Safe House
This scene happens two months before the party and one month after Pete was found at The Diamond Hotel.
Nop's POV
"Vegas come back the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes, Pete"
"Hmn...then make sure everything is cleaned up in time. Vegas likes everything very neat and clean."
"Ok"
A very beautiful woman approaches us. She is Khun Sanya's personal secretary, Assistant Lee. She greets us cordially, with a smile.
Assistant Lee delivers a box to Pete.
"Khun Sanya asked to deliver this gift to you as soon as we could provide it, Khun Pete"
"It's a good time then." Pete smirks.
Pete opens the box.
"Holy shit!" I yell, startled.
"I think Mr. Park (the client) won't be touching people so much anymore." There's a glint in Pete's eyes.
"Are these his hands?" I ask.
"If you want, we have the head too. It's in another box." Assistant Lee comments as if she's talking about earrings and necklaces.
I feel a chill.
I look at Pete, unconfortably...something is changing in him...or have I never seen this before?! Geez...a match made in hell.
Assistant Lee calls me for coffee and cake.
"How can you be so calm...and hungry after seeing this?"
"I'm used to. Don't you?"
She smiles sweetly to me.
Aish...psycho...
She reminds me a lot of nanny Jenny...so sweet...and so crazy... Gentle on the outside, deadly crazy on the inside. Like Pete?!
"Excuse me, Khun Pete, will it take much longer?" Assistant Lee asks Pete.
"You can have coffee in peace. I'll take a few hours yet. I will personally thank Khun Sanya for the gift." Pete smiles kindly to her.
What an awkward dialogue for the situation.
Assistant Lee bows to Pete.
He turns to enter the room again.
"Pete! There's a bloodstain on your face." I warn him.
"Oh! Pete takes a tissue and wipes his face. Is it clean now?"
"Yes, It is."
"Thanks, Nop"
Pete smiles and enters the room.
Such a creepy smile.
...