Vegas' POV
Taipei - Taiwan
Assistant Lee's limousine pulls up in front of a luxury hotel in the capital.
Two bodyguards deliver Tankhun's various shopping bags to the hotel staff.
He made us stop at several clothing stores before we got to the hotel.
"Why do you have to buy so much stuff?"
"Do not complain, Vegas. I'm not your wife."
"Thank God! I would face bankruptcy"
"I can't go on a trip without something to wear, obviously. You also bought clothes!"
"I didn't buy enough to spend a year here."
"Well, it depends on how long it takes us to find Pete and Arm."
"Welcome to Taipei, Taiwan, every one! It was a pleasure having you all." Assistant Lee says after taking the last Tankhun package out of the car. "Enjoy your stay in my beautiful country. My mission with you all is finished!"
"...Uh...are you leaving us already, Assistant Lee? Can't you help us?Why can't we team up to find Arm and P'Pete?!" Macau asks naively.
"Unfortunately, I can't, my dear. I have my clan's own interests to safeguard. But we mean no harm to Pete or Arm."
"You can't even give us a clue where P'Pete and Arm might be?"
"I don't know either, kid. I don't even know if they are here in Taipei. Khun Pete can be unpredictable sometimes." Assistant Lee looks at me. "But let's look for them and keep them out of unwanted trouble.
"Okay...thank you, Assistant Lee...I hope to see you soon."
Tankhun has Pol and Macau carry some bags as they enter the hotel.
"Is he really your brother? So cute."
"I practically raised him myself."
"Good job, Khun Vegas!"
"..."
"...You made a smart move to bring the eldest with you, bye the way. You could have simply taken the chess piece from his hand. He doesn't seem to be like the fighting type." Assistant Lee smiles.
"He's a nightmare. However, I've came into this game to play, Assistant Lee...not to be a piece on the board. For that I need to think of a worst-case scenario and prepare myself for it."
"The eldest can be an easy entry pass to the chess room... or your shield against your uncle... or your bargaining chip in any clash with other mafia families here...what else?!"
"Whatever else is convenient".
"Would you sacrifice him?"
"For Pete? Without thinking twice. But I hope I don't have to."
"You don't talk like you would have a lot of trouble deciding otherwise."
"I'm willing to do anything for my family."
"...but your family is Theerap..." Assistant Lee looks at me, confused.
"Pete, Macau and Venice only."
"I see...I wish you luck. We are also willing to do anything for our family, Khun Vegas."
"We'll only have a problem, you and I, if you harm mine to do so."
"..." Assistant Lee just smiles and enters her car. She leaves.
My phone rings.
["Khun Vegas, Venice and I are already on Chumphon Island. The ghost team is with us. I told Pete's grandparents you two are traveling."]
"Good."
["I'm sending you now a list of mafia families who own a Mil MI-26 helicopter and addresses."]
"Well done, Nop."
...
Assistant Lee's POV
"Finally back home! I was missing speaking my own language." (Speaking Mandarin)
I throw myself on the couch at Lian's office.
Lian doesn't take his eyes off documents he's signing, but he talks to me with attention.
"How do you want me to believe that Pete tricked you and ran away?! You alone would have detained Pete and his friend easily. You let them get away on purpose. Why?"
"Let Pete go through the way he wishes, Lian. It will be the fastest way for the white queen to return. For now he doesn't know anything...but I'm sure he'll figure it out for us if he gets a chance to put the pieces together. Let's give him time to do his job. He was purposely trained in that family for that. He'll lead us to the white queen without even realizing it. Not even the Theerapanyakul family will realize that in time."
"I hope it happens soon, Lee. You disobeyed my orders. And most of all you brought Vegas and Tankhun with you."
"I've never let you down before, cousin. Vegas was going to come here anyway. At least we'll know every step he takes. Oh! By the way, I think I've found a good bishop...their tech guy...Arm...a genius...he got your name for Vegas based on a shadow!!Amazing... but don't worry...he didn't have time to tell him...so...you're safe...for now...at least."
"Should I feel relieved he didn't get the time to report to his boss?!"
"Technically, Vegas is not Arm's boss... he's kind of his in-low ... but yes, you're lucky. Macau is dating him...or trying to...that kid...he wants to save his boyfriend and Pete. I don't think they want Pete dead. The red queen was not with Vegas. In fact... for all I've seen all these months, Vegas is obsessed with Pete...I think he really loves P..."
"This is irrelevant, Lee. Vegas can't change the past and he can't stop the future."
"True, but..."
Lian stops signing those documents.
"He can't even solve his problems within his own family. I don't want us to get involved in other people's family affairs."
"Pete is investigating this on his own..."
"So he better start investigating what really interests us. Shouldn't you be looking for him and his friend to guarantee that?"
My boss motions for me to get up from the couch.
"I just arrived ..."
"Once you find him, watch from afar and see how far he goes on his own."
...
Pete's POV
"Thanks for flying us to Taipei on your jet, Jade."
"No problem, Pete"
"Can't you tell us when and where the chess room meeting will be?"
"I'm sorry, Pete...but without your key, I can't tell you. I would literally be killed if I tell you. Why don't you look for Lian? He must be waiting for you."
"I have no interest in meeting your boyfriend."
"I've told you so many times that he's not my boyfriend. But I could have a smart-good-looking Thai boyfriend." Jade glared at Arm.
"Ahem...I'm sorry I'm dating..."
"I don't care, do you...?!"
"Excuse me..." I place myself between Arm and Jade... "I appreciate your help. I hope you don't say anything to anyone..." I fold my hands in thanks...
"Sure...I don't want Lian to be mad at me. If you want to know what goes on in the Taiwanese mafia underworld, look for a specific nightclub here in Taipei where the young bosses hang out. Even heads of families from other countries usually go there. You might discover something that helps you." Jade hands me a card with the address on it. "Look for Andy, the owner".
"Why are you helping me again?!"
"Curiosity"
"Sure..."
Jade says goodbye to us. He winks at Arm.
"Can we trust that guy, Pete?"
"Not at all..."
"So..."
"No other options left..."
"I thought you had a plan"
"And I had... caught a plane ride over here."
"And then...?!"
"Think of another plan when I get here."
"Jesus, Pete..."
"You should go back home, Arm."
"And miss the fun?!"
We get into a taxi and head to the address Jade gave us.
Arm speaks better Mandarin than I can. He asked the taxi driver to take us to the nightclub.
"Thanks, Arm... for deciding to accompany me."
"I was looking forward to getting some rest from those Theerapanyakul cousins, anyway."
...
Arm's POV
Pete leans on me.
"Hey, hey... what the heck!"
"Is it your scent?" Pete sniffs my neck.
"My what?!" I push Pete away, feeling embarrassed.
"You've been getting hit on a lot lately, pal."
"Is it written 'cheated' on my forehead? People must be feeling sorry for me."
"Mhmm...probably..."
Pete hits my head.
"Why are doing this?!"
"For saying nonsense. You really don't think Macau has cheated on you, do you?
"I know there is a logical explanation for this...as curiosity...maybe..."
"Do you know who he was kissing?"
"Porsche's little brother...Porchay."
"They're just friends...if it was supposed to happen, it would have happened before you started dating."
"But maybe I unlocked something in Macau... that made him more confident. They are always together. They study at the same university. Because they spent so much time together maybe something has changed. Perhaps some pent-up desire that has been released. I really don't know. I think that feeling has always bothered me...I think deep down I expected that...they're the same age...they have similar tastes...they're almost from the same family...they can see each other as equals... I'm just a bodyguard. It makes sense. Maybe I was just hoping I was wrong."
"This logic applies to me then."
"No, Pete...my case has nothing to do with yours."
"Really? Why do I not see any difference? Vegas had a thing for Porsche...we all know it. They spend practically all day together...late into the night...even when Vegas tells me he's somewhere else...how do I know?! I have someone who watches over him every day. I know a lot of things, Arm...a lot more than I care to know. But I really don't know how I would react if I saw Vegas kissing someone else. Would I die? Would I kill?! Turn my back and walk away like you did?!... I would probably do that but... at times I think I would be able to do the exact opposite of what is expected of someone like me. So I hope that never happens." Pete gives me a faint smile.
"That wouldn't happen between us, Pete."
"I guess not... look!" Pete looks out the car window. "I think it's that place!"
We pay the taxi driver. The nightclub appears to be closed. It opens only at night and it's still morning.
I see a job advertisement pinned to the wall.
"Pete, looks like they're hiring a bartender and a waitress. Wait here...I'll talk to that guy."
There's a worker sweeping the sidewalk.
After talking to the worker, I go back to Pete.
"Is the owner there?"
"Looks like he arrives a later. They're actually hiring, but that worker said his boss wants a waitress. He doesn't want a waiter at all because..."
"Because?!"
"Harassment. It seems waiters are more likely to be harassed bys customers than waitresses."
"Really?! And about the bartender position?"
"He said a man is ok...according to him, customers don't usually harass those who prepare their drinks..."
"My God...then I will apply for this job"
"You don't know how to make any drinks, Pete...I know."
"I won't let you go in there alone...no way!"
"Well...there is another way then."
...
We go to some stores nearby to buy clothes for our disguises.
"Hey Pete! Let me see."
"It's not that bad, but...he'll figure it out...we'd better think of something else."
"Come on! Let me see you!"
Pete opens the store bathroom door.
"What do you think?"
"Holy shit, Pete!"
"I've told you! Let's think of something else."
"No! It's perfect! Makeup works miracles."
"Are you sure?!"
"Tankhun would be proud, Pete"
Lian's POV
"KNOCK, KNOCK"
"Come in."
"Mr. Wang, you have an unscheduled visit."
"Who is it?"
"Mr. Vegas Kornwit Theerapanyakul"
...