Vegas' POV
["Pete...hold my hand! I'll get you! Pete!"
This time he is not leaving me... (1)
He's just standing there, staring at me.
"..." He smiles...but his glare is disdainful.
Someone approaches him... don't tell me it's that scary nanny again...damn...doesn't she die?!
No...it's not the nanny...that shadow...
"PETE!" I call out to him again, trying to reach him, but I can't move. "No...no...you can't."
Damn it!
"NO!" ]
"HUFF"
I wake up disturbed.
Fuck!
"Geez, Vegas...what's wrong with you? You look like shit! Are you sleeping in the office again? What happened? Don't tell me you and Pete had a fight...?!"
"What are you doing in my office?"
"Don't be ungrateful. I came to see if everything was ok...I heard you screaming from my office... nightmare? Do you still act like a scared little boy? At this age? Do you want a suggestion? Don't nap listening to that song you're listening to...it's so sad!"
[Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side] (2)
"Don't be ridiculous...it's just a song. I wasn't sleeping... my eyes were just closed."
...although it pretty much portrays the fear I've been feeling since I got a video of Pete two days ago...
"Sure... about this empty bottle?!" Porsche makes a disapproving face. "What's happening? These last few days you've been weird... more than usual. Something I can help with?"
"Nothing..." I get up from the couch, adjust my suit and return to my desk. "We must do what must be done, don't we? But at what cost?!"
"Why are you having second thoughts right now?"
"If you'll excuse me...I have work to do..." Porsche sighes and leaves my office
I order Nop into my office.
"Have you found Sanya?
"Not yet, Khun Vegas...but we're looking for every escape route he could possibly have."
"Prepare my guns."
"Do you want me to prepare new targets too? Yesterday's were totally destroyed."
"Just reload all my guns and leave them in my car. I won't shoot fake targets today."
"Okay..."
"Leave."
Nop bows and leaves.
I call Arm.
"Have you found out who it is?"
"Sorry Khun Vegas...the algorithm still hasn't succeeded yet...it's scraping and comparing any faces found on police database, webpages worldwide...it takes time..we only have a shadow."
"Okay...let me know if you find anything."
"Okay..."
"Arm..."
"Yes?!"
"Don't tell anyone...not even Macau."
"Sure."
I hang up the phone.
And in this moment of frustration, I hurl my empty glass against the wall.
Why am I having second thoughts right now, you ask, Porsche?!
'Cause I don't want to lose the one a love for any reason...
...and there's someone I need to kill, but I don't know who yet...
...and those reasons are driving me crazy.
...
Pete's POV
"Assistant Lee, those payment orders...there's no trace after the payment, right?"
"No... the money was transferred in exchange for purchases that never took place, or at least are not recorded."
"Could those be transfers to the Minor family casino network?"
"Maybe...but these off-balance transfers would already be recorded in the minor family's black accounts, but they are not recorded either."
"The money has been diverted to another place that has no record in either white or black accounting, right?"
"Yes, Khun Pete. The values are not expressive. Those are small, non-standard amounts, transferred at a random frequency."
"So they do not attract the attention of the main family."
"Yes, Khun Pete".
"Understood. Please send me those financial documents I asked for."
"Sure. It will take you a few days to analyze everything, Khun Pete."
"No problem. About that warehouse from those videos?"
"Empty. I believe they suspected they were being followed and moved."
"The jet?"
"It's ready in the private hangar to take off anytime you want, Khun Pete."
"Khun Sanya?"
"Resting in a safe place. He reassured the green light for us to keep following your orders."
"Thank you, assistant Lee."
...
I hang up the phone.
It's past 8 p.m. Venice is sleeping peacefully in his crib.
For the last week I've spent all day with Venice while studying all documents Assistant Lee sends me. This way nobody dares to enter here to bother me or watch me for Vegas.
Vegas hasn't arrived yet.
He arrives late every day, as usual. The difference is that now I'm not sure about the real reasons.
In the videos Sanya gave me, Vegas drove several times to a warehouse far from the city...days he met Porsche in that very place, when he said they would only see each other much later.
I don't know what's going on...if it's some new secret deal they don't want to tell me about. If there's any danger involved that he doesn't want me to worry about.
Everything Vegas hides from me is usually because he wants to protect me...but this time...pernicious doubts invaded my mind. And every discovery I make about the Minor family's business increases its ramifications within me. I feel that these roots already touched my heart. Because it hurts. Apparently, those actions are not known to the main family... to Khun Kinn... and that worries me even more.
There is another feeling, however. One I'm ashamed to admit to myself has always been in here...well hidden, but not dead. I feel jealous of Porsche and Vegas together all the time. And it's worse because he's not telling me about everything.
I love them both. I tell myself it's wrong to distrust them, but... deep inside... not because I've seen any signs that lead me to perceive something different between them, I feel this insecurity, like a snake that envelops me and bites me from time to time, awakening this feeling in me. And this whole situation, so nebulous, makes the snake's venom spread inside me along with the pernicious doubt.
There is only one way to end this. There is only one antidote to combat the poison that comes from so many sources.
Frank communication.
Vegas and I need to talk. I know there is a good explanation for all of this. I need to open my heart about everything, including the white king.
And that's what I'll do once he arrives. I can't prolong this situation.
I have enough information that he can't avoid from being honest with me. But really sincere. Not the way he said, without saying, that he was going to kill Sanya. Vegas is smart and sly. He manipulates truth. So, I need to be smarter than him.
But there's one thing I need to do first...and I can't put it off any longer.
Lian Wang.
That's the name Jade told me to look up. That's what I did.
I've never heard of this name...never seen this face before. He appears to be a famous executive from Taiwan. Apparently, his business is lawful. But what happens in the underworld nobody knows, right?
Shall I make a call to my friend the white king?
The time difference isn't big between Bangkok and Taipei...still...it's already night time...
Maybe he's not in his company... although executives often work late.
What am I going to say?
Hey, are you the guy who walked into my hotel room in the dark, said you are my friend and saved my life, then kissed me?"
No! skip this part, Pete! It is not something to remember.
Hey, Lian Wang...are you the white king?
Damn...
Well let's be SPONTANEOUS.
The right words will come.
I call the company.
The attendant speaks in Mandarin. My mandarin is poor...but I try to communicate with her.
She asks my name.
"Pete Phongsakorn Saengtham"
She asks me to wait and then comes back to me.
"...thank you."
Lian Wang did not accept my call.
Apparently, he doesn't know me.
That kid Jade lied to me?
Or this Lian Wang is trying to avoid me.
I pick up my phone to call Lian Wang and insist again. I haven't found any audio or video of Mr. Wang...only some pics and articles praising him.
He appears to be young, smart, good-looking...like any wealthy conglomerate heir.
Aren't these people born ugly and dumb?
I'm going to ask Vegas if he's ever been ugly in his life...I bet he hasn't! From the pictures I've seen, he's always been adorable. I doubt he had pimples on his face.
None of these guys.
They are not ordinary like me...
Okay, let's call Mr. magazine cover again.
Before I can redial the company number, I hear a noise...a signal...coming from the white chess piece on my table. White king invitation card is flashing. This is the first time a code has appeared.
I access my computer and enter 'the lobby' of the chess room using the code that appears on my key, the white horse.
Jade said I would be able to use it.
I tried to enter the chess room a few times, but I was always stuck in the lobby, unable to proceed.
This time there is a message for me.
'The white king opened a chess room. Enter the invitation code.'
I enter the flashing numbers.
It's a video conference.
I position myself in front of the computer.
A male figure seated greets me.
The office looks modern and luxurious...some skyscraper.
"Hello, Pete. Are you looking for me?"
Lian Wang asks me politely, with a smile.
"You are the white king..."
"Do you mind if I ask how you found out who I am?"
I'd say it was your crazy jealous boyfriend, mister...but I might still need him.
"I have my sources."
"I see..." He's watching me with a mysterious smile on his face.
"So how can I help you?"
"Me?!"
"Yes, you called to my company."
"And you said you don't know me."
"It was not a secure communication. Here in the chess room we can speak freely."
"Okay...I have a couple of questions. How do you know me, 'cause I don't know you. At least I don't remember your face at all. In some meeting with Khun Korn perhaps? Why did you say you're my friend? Why have you saved me? Who wants to kill me and why?
"How many questions. I was not expecting you to remember me, although I was hoping you would. We are friends. One day you will remember that. I saved you because I like you. And you like me."
"No, I don't."
"You just don't remember that you do." He smiles again. "And finally, who wants you dead?"
"Do you know who?"
"Minor Family wants you dead, Pete."
"You are lying. You are lying about everything."
"If you don't believe it, come to Taipei as I told you. I will prove it to you."
"That's a trap."
"You've been in a trap your whole life."
"Why do you talk in riddles. Just tell me the truth."
"I'm telling you the truth." Lian Wang answers in a serious tone. "Come to Taipei. I will be waiting for you."
He speaks so firmly. But born liars are just like this. I live with Vegas. I know that.
"I will judge it myself. But rest assured, I'll never suspect the Theerapanyakun family."
"Okay, Pete... but maybe you will regret trusting so much in a family that is not yours. Even if you don't trust me yet, I'll be here waiting for you to prove my words. The king's crown of the chess piece I gave you...if you spin it, a signal will be sent to me. And I'll know you want to talk to me. Don't use your phone. I will meet you... whether in the chess room or wherever you are...we won't be apart anymore."
"KNOCK, KNOCK"
"Pete? Are you awake?" Nop asks on the other side of the door.
"I'll be waiting for you in Taipei, Pete."
"Hey!"
I'm not done talking to you yet, asshole!
The white king closes the chess room before I can say anything more.
I open the door slightly.
"Venice is already sleeping"
"I'm sorry, Pete. Khun Kinn is here. "
"Khun Kinn?"
"Yes, he's downstairs."
"Vegas hasn't arrived yet, has he?"
"No, but Khun Kinn asked for you"
"For me?"
"Yes."
...