Chapter 3
It had been a week since the incident, and on the surface, life had returned to normal. The world kept spinning, and the city’s elite families carried on as if nothing had happened. True, extra precautions had been taken, but none of them could afford to appear rattled by what was, at least outwardly, a “minor inconvenience.”
Tay Tawan Korapat was a feared man, his name carrying weight in circles most people dared not even whisper about. But at this moment, sitting at the dining table with an AK-47 resting casually beside his fork, sipping coffee, he looked like any other father waiting for his sons to finish their morning routines.
In the kitchen, Nani stirred something in a pan with an intensity that suggested he was inventing rather than following any recipe. Across the room, Nanon sat at the table, flipping through a book with one hand while idly spinning a knife in the other.
“Nani’s cooking? Great. Should I grab the fire extinguisher?” Nanon quipped, not bothering to look up.
Nani shot his brother a sarcastic smile and raised his middle finger in response.
Tay, unfazed by their banter, sipped his coffee and turned his attention to Nanon. “I’ve arranged a meeting with the Japanese,” he said, his tone measured. “Apparently, they claim they had nothing to do with the attack.”
Nanon raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. “And you believe them?”
Tay let out a dry laugh, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Should I doubt their word?”
The sarcasm was evident, but the undercurrent of distrust in Tay’s expression said it all. The peace between the Thai and Japanese factions had lasted years, a fragile truce built on politeness rather than genuine trust. Tay had taught Nanon long ago that trust was a luxury their world couldn’t afford.
Tay motioned for the guards to leave the room, ensuring their conversation would remain private. Once they were alone, his tone shifted, becoming sharper.
“You were supposed to be at that meeting.”
Nanon stiffened, the faintest flicker of tension crossing his otherwise composed face. He was his father’s golden boy, the heir groomed to perfection, and missing a key meeting was not something Tay would overlook.
“Were you busy, brother?” Nani interjected with a smirk. “Maybe we should’ve asked Chimon to remind you.”
The playful jab earned a slight twitch of annoyance from Nanon, though he quickly masked it.
“It doesn’t matter,” Tay said, cutting through the tension. He turned to Nani, his gaze firm. “Nani, I need you to work with the Wongravees. Their youngest is recovering corrupted footage from that night, and they need someone who knows the architectural structure of the club.”
Nani frowned, glancing at his father. “Why doesn’t Nanon go?”
“You know that club better than anyone,” Tay replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The decision is final. I wasn’t asking.”
Nani sighed, muttering under his breath, but his frustration wasn’t lost on his older brother, who smirked faintly. Tay, as always, had the last word.
Nanon slipped out of the house, his expression cold and unreadable as always. He had business to attend to, and when it came to Nanon, "business" rarely meant anything aboveboard. Marc was already waiting for him, leaning casually against the sleek black car parked in the driveway.
“Ready?” Marc asked, his voice low and steady.
Nanon nodded, stepping into the car without a word. They weren’t the type to exchange pleasantries. Both men were calculated and ruthless, a perfect match in the dangerous world they navigated. Today’s agenda? Dealing with the informants Marc had taken in for “interrogation.”
As the car pulled away, Nani sat at the dining table finishing his breakfast. The house was quieter now, with their father long gone for his own affairs. Nani wasn’t thrilled about the task ahead, but he had little choice. His phone buzzed, breaking his thoughts.
Poon: Lunch is off today?
Nani: Yeah, I’ve got to deal with Sky.
Poon: Sky? Oh no, Nani, not the Wongravee playboy. Be careful—you might end up in his bed.
Nani rolled his eyes, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Poon never missed a chance to tease him about Sky’s shameless flirtations. Sky had made it no secret that he found Nani attractive, and somehow, the blatant charm had become a running joke between the best friends.
Nani: Funny. Really. I’ll be fine, thanks.
Poon sent back a string of laughing emojis, and Nani shook his head, tucking his phone away.
Sky lived just down the street, which only made the situation more irritating. The idea of working in such close proximity to someone who flirted as effortlessly as he breathed didn’t sit well with Nani. Still, duty was duty. He grabbed his things and left the house, resigned to face whatever chaos the Wongravee heir had in store for him.
Nani arrived at the Wongravee estate, an impressive blend of modern luxury and traditional Thai design. The towering gates opened smoothly as one of the many guards signaled him through. A maid greeted him at the entrance, bowing politely before leading him inside. The air was cool and smelled faintly of jasmine, a sharp contrast to the humid morning outside.
As Nani approached the door to Sky’s private wing, it swung open abruptly, revealing Sky himself—barely clothed, wearing nothing but a loose pair of sweatpants slung low on his hips. His hair was tousled as if he’d just rolled out of bed, and a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Like what you see?” Sky asked, leaning lazily against the doorframe, his tone dripping with mockery.
Nani’s face twisted into an expression of disgust, though the faint flush on his cheeks betrayed him. “Get yourself some proper clothes before I puke.”
Sky chuckled, unabashed. “You’re blushing, Nani. It’s okay to admit I’m irresistible.”
“Resistible enough that I’d rather gouge my eyes out,” Nani shot back, stepping past him into the room without waiting for an invitation.
Despite his laid-back demeanor, Sky Wongravee was far from the carefree playboy he portrayed to the world. His family, one of the most influential in the Thai underworld, controlled the tech side of the dark business. From high-level surveillance to hacking and cybersecurity, the Wongravees were the unseen puppeteers who ensured the operations of other families ran smoothly—or not, depending on their interests.
Sky himself was a prodigy, having built his first program capable of breaching high-security firewalls at the age of sixteen. He was the quiet architect behind countless successful ventures, though his charm and devil-may-care attitude often led others to underestimate him.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Sky said, finally stepping back to let Nani into the room. He disappeared into an adjoining walk-in closet, calling out over his shoulder. “Unless you’d rather stay here and admire the view?”
Nani rolled his eyes, settling into one of the leather chairs. “Just hurry up. I have better things to do than babysit you.”
Sky’s laughter echoed from the closet. “Sure you do, Nani. Sure you do.”
Sky emerged from the closet, now wearing a fitted black t-shirt that clung to his frame just enough to make Nani roll his eyes. Without missing a beat, Sky moved to his desk, where a sleek laptop sat open. He began typing rapidly, his focus shifting as his fingers danced across the keyboard.
“Give me a few minutes,” Sky said, his tone suddenly serious.
Nani leaned back in the chair, watching as Sky’s playful demeanor faded into something sharper. It was strange seeing him like this, fully absorbed and efficient. There was something fascinating about it—though Nani would never admit that aloud.
After a while, Sky stood, motioning for Nani to follow him. “Come on. I’ll show you something.”
They walked down a hallway into a room that could only be described as a tech lover’s dream. The walls were lined with monitors displaying live feeds, maps, and data streams. A massive central desk was littered with gadgets, wires, and glowing keyboards.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Sky said, sitting down in front of the largest monitor and spinning in his chair to face Nani. “This is where the magic happens.”
Nani crossed his arms, feigning indifference. “It’s okay.”
Sky smirked. “Don’t act like you’re not impressed.”
He turned back to the screen, pulling up a detailed map of the club from the night of the attack. As he worked, Sky’s voice filled the room, explaining the camera coverage, blind spots, and possible entry points. Nani listened, though half his attention was on Sky himself. Seeing him like this—focused, intelligent, and entirely in his element—was unexpectedly captivating.
Sky paused, tapping on a section of the map. “Chimon mentioned this area as a potential blind spot. Makes sense, given the layout.”
Nani snorted softly at the mention of Chimon. It made sense that someone like Sky would be friends with someone like Chimon. Both were evil geniuses, always one step ahead of everyone else. And, of course, both were unapologetically horny bastards. Not that Nani disliked Chimon—he just thought the guy was unpredictable, a wild card no one could truly figure out.
“Wait,” Nani said, stepping closer to the screen. “You missed something.”
Sky turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Missed something? Impossible. Show me.”
Nani pointed at a small section on the map. “Here. That’s a blind spot.”
Sky squinted at the screen, then leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “How do you even know that?”
“Please,” Nani said, flashing a smug grin. “I’m the king of Bangkok’s nightlife. I know things.”
Sky laughed, his playful smirk returning. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
Sky leaned forward, his tone dipping into something flirtatious. “I might just have to find out.”
Nani rolled his eyes, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Focus, Wongravee. We have work to do.”
Sky chuckled, turning back to the monitor. “Whatever you say, Your Majesty.”
Sky’s fingers flew across the keyboard as he navigated through layers of encrypted data. The map shifted to a live feed, then to a series of recordings, each one rewinding to moments before the attack. Nani leaned over Sky’s shoulder, watching the screen intently.
“There,” Sky said, pausing a clip. He zoomed in on a figure moving through the club’s back corridors. The person was dressed in black, their face obscured by a hood, but their movements were deliberate. “That’s the one who cut the cameras.”
Nani squinted at the screen. “Can you enhance the image?”
Sky rolled his eyes dramatically. “What do you think this is, a spy movie? I’ll clean it up, but don’t expect miracles.”
After a few adjustments, the figure’s face became slightly clearer, though not enough to identify them outright. Sky saved the footage, adding a few notes before leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk.
“And that,” he said, spinning to face Nani, “is how it’s done.”
Nani nodded, grudgingly impressed. “I’ll admit, you’re good at what you do.”
“Good?” Sky feigned offense. “I’m the best. You should say thank you.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Nani shot back, though a small smile betrayed his amusement.
Sky grinned, but as he reached for the keyboard again, his elbow hit a small panel on the desk. A loud click echoed through the room, followed by the hum of electronic locks engaging.
“What was that?” Nani asked, straightening.
Sky froze, his eyes darting to the screen. A notification popped up: LOCKDOWN ENGAGED. SECURITY MEASURES ACTIVATED.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sky muttered, frantically typing to reverse the command. The system beeped in response, flashing an error message: ACCESS DENIED. LOCKDOWN IN PROGRESS.
Nani groaned. “You locked us in? Seriously?”
“It was an accident!” Sky said defensively, though the flush of embarrassment on his face was undeniable.
“Well, unlock it,” Nani demanded.
Sky glared at him. “What do you think I’m trying to do? This isn’t exactly a ‘press one button to fix everything’ situation.”
Nani sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Great. Just great.”
Sky leaned back, his hands raised in mock surrender. “Look, it’s not the end of the world. We’re stuck in here for a bit, but at least we’ve got AC and plenty of screens to keep us entertained.”
“Entertained?” Nani shot him a withering look. “This isn’t a joke, Sky. We have things to do.”
Sky’s grin returned, his tone dripping with mischief. “Oh, come on. Stuck in a room with me? You could do worse.”
Nani rolled his eyes, moving to sit on the couch in the corner. “Just get us out of here.”
Sky turned back to the computer, muttering under his breath as he worked to override the lockdown. Despite the situation, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Nani, who was scrolling through his phone with an air of irritation.
For some inexplicable reason, being stuck here didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world.
Sky leaned back in his chair, swiveling lazily as he watched Nani pace the room. “You know,” he began, his voice teasing, “I can think of a few ways to keep us busy while we’re stuck here.”
Nani shot him a glare, his annoyance palpable. “Don’t even start.”
Sky smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Relax, Nani. I’m just saying—”
“Don’t say anything,” Nani cut him off, pulling out his phone. He dialed Nanon’s number, turning his back to Sky as the line connected.
“What?” Nanon’s voice came through, sharp and impatient.
“I’ll be late,” Nani said, ignoring the irritation in his brother’s tone. “Sky and I are stuck in his computer room. He accidentally triggered a lockdown.”
“Of course he did,” Nanon muttered. “Can’t you two go one day without causing problems?”
Nani rolled his eyes. “I’m calling to give you the footage Sky pulled. We found the guy who cut the cameras.”
There was a pause on the other end before Nanon sighed. “Send it over.”
“I’m doing that now.” Nani quickly shared the files. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Too late for that,” Nanon replied dryly. “Just stay out of trouble, Nani.”
“Yeah, sure,” Nani muttered, hanging up.
He turned back to find Sky watching him with an amused expression. “What?”
“‘Don’t do anything stupid,’” Sky mimicked, his grin widening. “Do you think he says that to himself?”
“Shut up, Sky,” Nani snapped, sitting down on the couch with a huff.
-
Meanwhile, at the warehouse:
Nanon pocketed his phone, his expression darkening. He and Marc stood in the dimly lit space, the air thick with tension. Several men were tied to chairs in the center of the room, their faces pale and drenched in sweat.
Marc tilted his head, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. “Looks like we’ve got everything we need to start the party.”
Nanon nodded, his voice cold and steady. “Let’s make this quick. I don’t want to waste more time than necessary.”
Marc picked up a pair of gloves from a nearby table, slipping them on with deliberate precision. “Quick? Where’s the fun in that?”
Nanon didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the men in front of him. The faint sound of a chair scraping against the floor echoed as he stepped closer, his presence suffocating.
One of the men whimpered, his voice trembling. “P-please, we don’t know anything—”
“Wrong answer,” Marc interrupted, his tone almost cheerful. He reached for a tool from the table, his movements fluid and unhurried.
The fun was about to begin.
-
Hours had passed, and the once-amusing situation of being locked in the computer room had grown stale. Sky was seated at the main console, fingers flying over the keyboard as he muttered under his breath.
“Are you seriously taking this as a challenge against yourself?” Nani asked, exasperated. He was sitting cross-legged on the couch, his arms wrapped around himself.
Sky glanced back with a grin. “Why not? It’s my programming versus my hacking. If I can’t break into my own system, it means I’ve done a great job.”
Nani rolled his eyes. “Great job keeping us trapped, you mean.”
“Details, details,” Sky said, turning back to the screen. The faint glow of the monitors cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp focus in his eyes.
Nani shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his arms. The temperature in the room had dropped considerably, thanks to the high-tech cooling systems keeping the equipment from overheating.
“Is it just me, or is it freezing in here?” he muttered.
Sky paused, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. He turned to look at Nani, his expression softening when he noticed the slight shiver in his shoulders.
Without a word, Sky stood up and walked over to him. Before Nani could protest, Sky pulled him into a warm embrace, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
“What are you doing?” Nani asked, stiffening at first.
“Keeping you warm,” Sky replied matter-of-factly, resting his chin on Nani’s shoulder. “Relax, I’m not trying anything. You’re shivering.”
Nani hesitated, his body tense, but the warmth of Sky’s arms was undeniable. Slowly, he allowed himself to lean into the hug, though his voice remained sharp. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Sky chuckled, his breath tickling Nani’s ear. “Maybe. But don’t act like you hate it.”
Nani scoffed, though his cheeks flushed faintly. “Just fix the damn door.”
Sky smirked, his hold on Nani tightening briefly before he pulled away. “Alright, alright. Back to work. But you owe me for this.”
“For hugging me?” Nani asked incredulously.
“No, for making me lose focus,” Sky teased, winking as he returned to the console.
Nani rolled his eyes, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
The hours dragged on, and the tension in the room had finally given way to exhaustion. Sky’s fingers had slowed on the keyboard, his eyes growing heavy. Nani, too, was starting to drift off, his mind too tired to keep up with the constant flow of information from the screens.
As Sky adjusted his position in the chair, he glanced over at Nani, who had shifted to lie on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest. A soft sigh escaped Nani’s lips as he shifted again, his head falling to one side, his eyes closing.
Sky leaned back in his chair, taking in the sight of Nani’s relaxed form. Despite the chaos of the situation, there was something oddly calming about having Nani nearby. It was easy to forget the tension between them when they were in close quarters, the playful banter replaced by a comfortable silence.
Before he realized it, Sky had slipped into a light sleep himself, his head nodding forward as his body finally gave in to the weariness.
The hours passed, and the room was filled with the quiet hum of computers, the only sound breaking the stillness.
When Nani woke, the first thing he noticed was the warmth surrounding him. His head was resting against something soft, and the faint scent of cologne lingered in the air. His eyes fluttered open, and he froze when he realized where he was—curled up against Sky, who was still fast asleep, his arm draped over Nani’s shoulders.
Nani’s face turned crimson as he tried to pull away without waking Sky. His heart raced, and he cursed himself for letting things get so out of hand.
Sky stirred slightly, his hand tightening around Nani’s waist, pulling him closer.
“Sky,” Nani muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Sky mumbled something in his sleep, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Nani’s cheeks burned hotter, and he carefully maneuvered himself out of Sky’s embrace, trying not to disturb him. As soon as he was free, he stood up and moved toward the door, his heart pounding in his chest.
Sky stirred again, his eyes blinking open just as Nani reached for the handle.
“Nani?” Sky’s voice was groggy but warm.
Nani froze, his hand hovering over the door. He turned to glance at Sky, who was now propped up on his elbows, his eyes filled with a lazy affection.
“I, uh... I should go,” Nani stammered, his face flushed.
Sky’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “You’re adorable, you know that?”
Nani quickly opened the door, not trusting himself to stay any longer. “I’ll see you later,” he muttered, barely looking back before stepping out into the hallway.
Sky watched him go, his smile lingering as he shook his head. “You’re not fooling anyone, Nani.”