Chapter 2
Nani was exhausted. All he’d wanted that night was a few drinks, maybe some dancing, and a good time. Instead, his ears were still ringing from the chaos, and he found himself slouched in the passenger seat of his brother’s car, waiting for Nanon to finally drive them home.
But Nanon seemed far more interested in his hushed conversation with Chimon a few meters away from the vehicle. Nani squinted, trying to make out what they were saying, but the words were lost in the night.
Nanon had draped his suit jacket over Chimon’s shoulders, a gesture that might’ve seemed sweet if Nani didn’t know better. He didn’t trust whatever scheme they were cooking up. Letting those two get chummy felt like tossing a match into a powder keg. Both were time bombs in their own ways, but a small, nagging voice in the back of Nani’s mind whispered that maybe—just maybe—they were the best shot at vengeance.
He could see it in the way Chimon’s eyes sparkled at the mere mention of trouble, like a predator catching the scent of prey. People called Nanon a psychopath, but they clearly hadn’t taken a good look at the deceptively sweet heir to the Jumpol Atthaphans. Chimon might’ve been the only person alive who could match Nanon’s ferocity—and worse, handle him at will.
Not that Nanon was any better. How was the so-called “prince of the night” letting himself be so easily influenced by someone who looked like an annoying elf?
Growing up with Nanon hadn’t been easy. His brother was practically born for this world, molded to thrive in it. Sometimes Nani wondered: if Nanon had been raised differently, in another life, would people still tremble at the mere mention of his name?
Nani sighed, leaning back in his seat. Maybe he should’ve taken Poon up on his offer to drive him home. Not that Nanon would’ve allowed it—he always insisted on keeping an eye on Nani, as if the world wasn’t already scared enough of the Korapat name.
His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a message. He hesitated for a moment before opening it.
Sky: Has Nanon taken you home yet? Or is he still playing Pinky and The Brain?
Nani couldn’t help but smile.
Nani’s smile lingered as he stared at the message. Sky. Always teasing, always infuriating. He’d known the guy forever, and yet, Sky Wongravee still managed to throw him off balance.
It wasn’t that Nani took him seriously—he couldn’t. Sky was a certified playboy, the type of guy who collected hearts like trophies and left nothing but chaos in his wake. Nani had told himself time and time again that Sky was nothing more than a fleeting distraction, someone you could flirt with but never trust.
And yet...
He shook his head, trying to stop his thoughts before they spiraled further. Sky was trouble wrapped in a charming grin and a tailored suit, and Nani wasn’t about to fall for it. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.
The sound of footsteps broke his reverie. Nani glanced up to see Sky strolling toward the car with his signature playful smile, holding the car keys like he owned the place.
Nani blinked. Sky had the audacity to interrupt his brother mid-conversation. Did he have a death wish?
Nanon and Chimon both paused, their intense discussion momentarily disrupted. Nanon shot Sky a look that could’ve frozen hell over, but Sky didn’t even flinch.
Instead, he sauntered right up to the vehicle, ignoring the tension in the air as if it didn’t exist. He stopped at the driver’s side, leaning casually against the door and peering inside at Nani.
“Waiting for your knight in shining armor?” Sky asked, his grin widening.
Nani rolled his eyes, hoping the flush creeping up his neck wasn’t obvious. “You’ve got a lot of nerve.”
Sky tilted his head, feigning innocence. “What can I say? I live dangerously.”
Before Nani could respond, Sky tossed the keys in the air and caught them with ease. “I’m driving,” he declared, not waiting for anyone’s approval.
Nani glanced toward his brother, half-expecting Nanon to explode, but his sibling merely narrowed his eyes before turning back to Chimon. Whatever they were planning, it clearly took precedence over dealing with Sky.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Sky shot Nani a wink. “Buckle up. I promise not to kill us.”
Nani let out a frustrated sigh, but as the car roared to life and Sky’s laughter filled the air, he couldn’t stop the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Trouble. That’s all Sky was. So why couldn’t he look away?
The drive home was unusually quiet, the hum of the engine filling the silence between them. Nani stared out the window, his mind flitting between the chaos at the bar and the man sitting beside him.
It wasn’t until Sky’s playful grin broke the tension that the quiet shattered. “You haven’t thanked me for saving you back there,” he said, his tone dripping with mock offense.
Nani exhaled sharply, turning his gaze toward him. “You wish you did. For all that big talk, I expected a bit more.”
Sky laughed, a low, carefree sound that seemed to fill the car. “Maybe I got distracted by your pretty face.”
The comment hit Nani harder than he wanted to admit. He rolled his eyes, masking the heat creeping up his neck. “Maybe you should start thinking with your other head,” he shot back, trying to sound unaffected.
Sky smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “That’d be a first.”
Nani turned his attention back to the window, determined to ignore the flutter in his chest. He’d deny the flush on his cheeks until the day he died.
Back at the bar, things had played out in a blur. Nani had managed to help Sky slip out unnoticed, weaving through the chaos as they made their way to the exit.
What he hadn’t realized—until it was almost too late—was the gunman lurking just beyond his line of sight.
It was Sky who noticed first. Without hesitation, he stepped in, moving with a precision that spoke of experience. The gunman didn’t even have time to react before Sky took him down, quick and efficient.
Nani had barely registered what happened when Sky turned to him, that same infuriating grin on his face. “You’re welcome,” he said, his voice light despite the tension in the air.
He’d been too close for comfort, Nani thought, his heart still racing. Too close in more ways than one.
As they pulled up to Sky’s house, the car rolled to a stop, and Nani didn’t waste a second. “Out,” he said curtly, already tired of Sky’s antics.
Sky, of course, didn’t miss a beat. He turned to Nani with that same infuriating grin. “You sure you don’t want to come inside? I could show you a good time.”
Nani rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. “Goodnight, Sky.” His tone was sharp, but the faint pink on his cheeks betrayed him.
Sky chuckled, stepping out of the car. “Sweet dreams, Nani.” He gave a little wave, watching as Nani sped off without so much as a glance back.
Sky lingered outside his house for a moment, his eyes trailing after the car as it disappeared down the street. He shoved his hands into his pockets, a small smirk playing on his lips as he thought about Nani.
There was something about the Korapat younger brother that he couldn’t quite put into words. In a world where he could have anyone he wanted—where people fell over themselves to catch his attention—Nani stood apart.
He didn’t chase. He didn’t flirt back. He didn’t even seem to care.
And that fascinated Sky more than he cared to admit.
He leaned against the gate, watching as Nani’s car pulled into the driveway of the grand Korapat estate. Sky’s smirk softened as he saw Nani step out, the younger man moving with an effortless grace that seemed so at odds with the chaos they’d just left behind.
Inexplicable, Sky thought, shaking his head. That’s what his attraction to Nani was. It didn’t make sense, and yet it was there, gnawing at him, pulling him in.
As Nani disappeared into the house, Sky finally turned toward his own door. “You’re going to be the death of me, Korapat,” he muttered to himself, his grin returning as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
-
Nani entered the house, the soft click of the door echoing through the grand but eerily quiet space. A pair of guards nodded in acknowledgment as he passed. He gave them a small wave, his mind elsewhere, before heading straight to his room.
Collapsing onto his bed, he grabbed his phone and sent a quick message to his brother.
Nani: Home safe. Try not to cause too much trouble.
Satisfied, he set the phone on his nightstand and closed his eyes, though sleep felt far away.
-
Meanwhile, in Chimon’s car, Nanon’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Surrounded by their usual security convoy, the two were a stark contrast to the chaos they’d left behind. Neither of them looked tired; they were creatures of the night, thriving in its shadowed embrace.
Nanon pulled out his phone, glanced at the message, and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief flickered across his face.
"You’re such a good big brother," Chimon teased, his voice smooth and laced with amusement.
Nanon shot him a look but didn’t respond immediately. He cared deeply for Nani, and while there wasn’t a significant age gap between them, Nanon had always felt an unspoken responsibility for his younger sibling.
Chimon noticed the flicker of emotion in Nanon’s eyes, and a small, knowing smile crept onto his lips. “You should’ve taken him home yourself,” Chimon said, breaking the silence. “I know how to take care of myself well enough, Non.”
Nanon’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his jaw flexing. “I wanted to, Chim.”
That answer hit exactly where Chimon expected it to. He leaned back in his seat, watching Nanon out of the corner of his eye.
Nanon and Chimon were a tale as old as time, a story that no one could quite define. They weren’t together, but they weren’t apart either. Whatever it was they shared, it was complex, layered, and impossible to pin down. Over time, those around them had simply accepted it as a part of their world.
“I’m staying at Venice’s tonight,” Chimon said casually, as though he hadn’t just dropped a grenade into the conversation.
The growl that escaped Nanon was almost primal, low and dangerous. He didn’t say anything, though. It wasn’t his place to dictate Chimon’s choices. If Chimon wanted to stay at his ex’s house, that was his decision.
Chimon, however, didn’t miss the way Nanon’s grip on the wheel tightened, his knuckles white.
Reaching out, Chimon took Nanon’s hand from his leg, his touch light, almost hesitant. “It’s not what you think.”
Nanon’s eyes flicked to him briefly before returning to the road. His voice was flat, unreadable. “It never is.”
And yet, the weight of those three words lingered, unspoken feelings simmering beneath the surface as the car disappeared into the night.