Chapter Text
PETE
Pete wake up with the sudden rustling coming from the sheets as someone right beside him was moving, trying to get out of bed. It was difficult for him to open his eyes, not only because of the strong light that was directly on them, passing through the small crevices of the curtains of the room, but mostly because he was exhausted. The night before was still a little blurry for him to remember, but the constant banging inside his head was a vivid reminder of how much he exaggerated with the drinks last night.
- Where are you going? – He asked with his eyes half open. – What time is it?
- It’s early. – The voice that now was as familiar to him as his own face said. – Got a call from Kinn... we have a meeting at ten.
Pete frowned and was immediately rewarded with a light kiss on his forehead. Even when he just had wakened up, Vegas still smelled good, the faint perfume’s fragrance that he was wearing the night before was still attached to his soft skin. Pete couldn’t help but smile at that gesture.
- You can stay and sleep, though. – Vegas said with a gentle tone. – I’ll be back for lunch.
Pete wanted to protest and ask to go with him, but his heavy eyes and his aching head convinced him otherwise, so he just murmured something towards Vegas and turned to the other side, getting comfortable between the sheets.
He needed to wonder how Kinn was good enough to schedule a meeting after the night they had. While trying to went back to sleep, the memories flooded Pete’s head.
The sun was setting down and he and Vegas just got home from a monthly checkup at the hospital. Since the conflict at the main family’s house, where Vegas was brutally injured, they needed to go once a month to the hospital just to check if everything was healing okay and if he was healthy enough for the doctors being satisfied. Despite being already eight months since that day and being sure that Vegas was alive and healthy by his side every single day, Pete still have nightmares about that day. After all, the scars of that day were still very present on Vega’s body, everyday
Pete could see them in different situations of their routine. On the first few weeks, he would wake up in the middle of the night hyperventilating after a bloody nightmare of Vegas dying on his arms again and again. At first, he would carefully sneak out of the room to try to calm himself somewhere else where Vegas didn’t listen to his cries. Not longer after, Vegas found out about the nightmares and started to help him calm down, despite Pete’s inutile attempts to make him go back to sleep. He would stay up all night with Pete, despite having an important meeting to attend early on the next day or not.
Vegas always stayed.
They just got home when Pete’s cellphone rang and Tankhun’s name appeared at the screen. He calmly answered and was greeted with the high-pitched voice on the other side of the line. Tankhun was bored – as usual – and wanted to go out to grab a drink at Yok’s bar with him, Porsche, Pol and Arm. Pete was reluctant at first since he was already tired from the day and just wanted to stay the rest of the night with Vegas and Macau, maybe cook dinner for them, but ended up being convinced at the end.
- Can’t he just settle with Porsche and those other two? – Vegas asked, clearly annoyed with Tankhun’s request to take Pete out. – What you have to do with the fact that he is bored?
Pete just smiled and took a seat right beside Vegas’s side on the bed. He gave him a kiss on the cheeks and Vegas looked at him with the eyes that Pete was so in love with. Since his decision to renounce his position as one of the main family bodyguards to stay with the love of his life, Vegas had that look on his face every time he looked at him. The type of gaze that said that he couldn’t believe that Pete was really there with him. That Pete really left everything behind just to be with him, to love him. And Pete loved that look.
- You know how Tankhun is attached to me and know that he still hasn’t accepted that I’m no longer living there with him and the others. – Pete started. – Give him a break. You know he’s been through a lot.
Vegas sighed and took one of Pete’s hands. No longer after he was sure that Vegas was okay and out of danger, he asked Kinn to meet with the other bodyguards to tell them about his decision. At first, some of them tried to convince him otherwise, others were confused about when their relationship even started and why. But, Tankhun was definitely something else. He screamed at first, then, he cried. After a while of Pete trying to calm him down, he screamed again at Pete, asking how could he do this to them, to his true family. The first days he simply would not talk to Pete nor let anyone at the main family mansion mention his name. Then, he would call Pete crying and begging for him to reconsider all of this. He even tried to attack Vegas when Porsche and him went to their house to visit.
- Where are you guys going this time?
- Probably Yok’s bar. Maybe somewhere else after... You know how inventive he can be after a couple of drinks.
- Then... - Vegas looked like he was thinking about something, biting his upper lip. – I’m coming with you.
Well, at that Pete was certainly surprised. Vegas never was a big fan of the main family members, specially the Theerapanyakul brothers. But after all the events between the two families and the fact that he and Pete were a couple now, Vegas was clearly making a lot of efforts to be civil with them out of pure respect of Pete’s feelings towards the main family. It started with him allowing Kinn to visit him at hospital and shortly after agreeing to encounter him to discuss how they would proceed after his father’s death and with the decision of making Porsche the head of the second family. In some meetings, Pete could clearly see how Vegas tried to control his temper towards Kinn and how hard he was trying to understand Kinn’s plans for the family. And then, one day Vegas agreed to have dinner with Pete, Porsche and Kinn. Pete spent the entire day nervous and anxious about how the whole thing would unveil. For his surprise, even with a lot of wine and some sour comments from both cousins, the dinner went smoothly and him and Porsche were immensely relieved.
Those small gestures were proof enough to Pete that he has taken the right decision with choosing to stay with Vegas and he was more than happy with that.
- Really? – Pete asked, still surprised.
- Why? You don’t want me there?
- No, no, no. – Pete said trying to hide a smile. – It’s not that... is just... you don’t like them very much. You don’t even remember some of their names...
- ‘Course I remember! – Vegas protested. – There is Tankhun... - Pete tried to not laugh at the clear confusion inside Vegas head. – That idiot one with the glasses who loves to talk all the time...
- You mean Arm?
- Arm! Yes... What a weird name... – Pete tried so hard to not laugh at that comment. - That other one who I’m very convinced that is a moron, who is always following the one with the glasses around... - Vegas face contorted in a confuse look. – Wait, did they have anything with each other?
Pete couldn’t hold his laugh anymore. He burst out laughing, leaving Vegas even more confused. Well, to be honest, neither him know how to answer that question. Since Pete’s first day as a bodyguard there, he could notice that Arm and Pol were very close to each other, and, at first, Pete just brushed the curiosity off as them being best friends. But after some stuff that Pete witnessed, he started to doubt at this statement.
- Hey! I’m being serious here, Pete! – Vegas yelled on top of Pete’s laugh, but he was also laughing too. – I love you... - He said abruptly, making Pete blush. – That’s why I’m going. We didn’t have that much time to spend together doing trivial things such as going out to drink with you and your idiotic friends, but I really want to do that now.
- Hey! They’re not idiotic. – Pete protested. – But I’ll accept you coming with us only because I agree that we need to go out more.
With that being said, Vegas and Pete drove to the main house to encounter with the others there. During all the way, Pete just watched how hot Vegas looked while driving, all his attention focused on the road ahead of them. But, even with his attention being caught by the traffic, Vegas didn’t waste the opportunity of placing one of his hands on Pete’s thigh, squeezing here and then, making Pete feel hot even with the air conditioning on.
In the minute that they were inside the main family property and Pete saw Kinn along with Porsche, his heartbeat became a little faster. Of course that if Porsche was coming, Kinn was coming as well; these two couldn’t keep themselves apart from each other lately. But, one thing was having dinner or a meeting with both of them. Having a night out with Kinn and Vegas together was a whole other conversation.
- I guess being the leader is not that burdensome since Kinn has time to spare to go out and drink.
- Vegas... - Pete warned.
- I thought it was just Tankhun and the other two.
- I told you Porsche was going to be here. So, it makes sense to Kinn show up as well. – Pete was trying to sound as calm as possible.
- Are you nervous? – And of course, he couldn’t. Vegas knew him enough already to know when he was hiding something. – You are! You know we went out with them before... Not that I liked that, but still.
- I know. – Pete replied. – But I still don’t like the idea of the two of you being in a bar, surrounded by alcohol and breakable things.
Vegas went silent at that. Even if Vegas was trying his best to be civil with Kinn, Pete knew that it didn’t mean they’ll start being friends or even not hate each other too much. And Vegas knew that too.
- Just... behave, okay? – Pete said with his gentle tone. – If it’s being too much for you, just tell me and we can go home.
Vegas only nodded while turning the cartwheel towards the front of the house, where the group was already gathered and waiting for them. There was a driver waiting for take their car to the main house parking lot so Vegas just casually handed him the car keys while Pete greeted the man that he knew for years now.
- How are you, Pete? – The man asked.
Before Pete could even answer, a high-pitched voice screamed towards him and a tall figure dressed all in neon colors ran fast towards him as well.
- PEEEEEEEEAAAAAAATTTT!
Tankhun threw himself at Pete with all his might, grabbing his neck with both arms and attaching himself to him with his legs on his hips, making him almost fall to the ground, being stopped only by Vegas’s quick grip on Pete’s back.
- Are you out of your mind? – Vegas asked with his threatening tone. – I know you miss him, but can you at least leave some of his body intact?
- Oh! Shut up! – Khun said out loud. – Pete is not a doll, he was my bodyguard before, remember? You can go now, he’s staying with me tonight, right Pete?
Pete adjusted the clear button up shirt that Vegas choose for him that now was a little messy after Khun’s hug. He looked between Tankhun and Vegas with a guilty look on his face.
- Actually... Vegas’s coming with us tonight. – Tankhun’s eyes widened, but before he could protest, the rest of the group catch up on them and Pol gave Pete a tight hug.
- How are you? – He asked. – Is the second family treating you well? You seemed to have lose weight!
- With all due respect, Khun Vegas – Arm said while clasping his hands together to show respect.
Pete laughed. He also could tell that he was thinner than before, but he blamed all on his current worries about Vegas’s health these past few months.
- You literally saw me last week, Pol. – Pete said. – Although I must admit that I miss the old main family spicy food.
- You could have told me that! – Arm said.
- What? Don’t tell me you would bring him over to eat with us... - Porsche said while shaking Vegas hand. – Good night, Vegas.
- Porsche. – Vegas said with a little bow of his head.
Porsche gave Pete a pat on the back and went to Kinn’s side, who just compliment both of them with a small smile and a little nod with his head. It was good enough for Pete anyways.
- So, Time, Tae and Tem are late. – Tankhun said. – I vote that we should get going without them.
- I can call them and say that we’re already on our way to Yok’s bar. – Porsche said while grabbing the phone and going away so he could talk better without all the noise that Tankhun was making.
- I thought you had better things to do instead of going out with us. – Tankhun said to Vegas.
- I can always postpone things when Pete is involved. – Vegas said while grabbing Pete protectively by the waist, which never failed to make him shy. – And today I didn’t have any plans anyways.
- Come on, Khun! – Pete said. – I promise it’s going to be fun.
- With him, I doubted very much... - Tankhun was looking at Vegas as if he wanted to run him over with Porsche’s bike.
- So! – Porsche came back from the corner. – Let’s get going. They’re going to meet us there.
***
They went in two separated cars. Porsche, Tankhun and Pete were riding with Kinn; and Pol and Arm were riding with Vegas. Of course, Vegas was not happy when Tankhun immediately stated that Pete needed to ride with them instead of going with him, but after Pete convinced him, he agreed with a little bit of reluctance still. So, after a small debate between Tankhun and Vegas, they were finally inside the car with Porsche and Kinn in the front seats and Pete and Khun at the back.
- How’s Kim and Porschay by the way? – Pete asked while Kinn was driving and Porsche was selecting some songs to play. – Are they still in Italy?
- Yeah... Chay called me last night saying they decided to went to Singapore after. – Pete laughed at the way that Porsche was looking annoyed with all the talk about his brother travelling alone with his boyfriend.
Kinn seemed to sense the annoyance in Porsche and placed one of his hands on Porsche’s thigh, rubbing gently. That gesture made Pete remember Vegas. And although he was just behind them in the other car, Pete missed him a little. After a couple of months living together and working together as well, Pete was very used to have Vegas’s presence beside him all the time, and even of it was literally all the time, it never seemed enough for both of them.
- I bet they are doing a lot of sex. – Khun said and Porsche almost dropped his phone. – I tried to call that bastard yesterday and his phone went straight to the voicemail.
- So, you just assumed that they were having sex? – Kinn asked laughing. – They could be out of service, driving, taking a walk...
- Oh! Come on, Kinn! – Tankhun said. – He’s a Theerapanyakul! If you were in his place, I bet that you and Porsche wouldn’t answer the phone because you two would probably being having sex.
- True. – Pete said almost automatically. – Sorry, Khun Kinn.
Kinn just laughed and looked at Porsche – who seemed like it was going to puke at any moment – with a mischievous look.
- I really hope they brought a lot of condoms with them. – Tankhun said, making both Pete and Kinn laugh even more.
- Can we stop talking about my little brother’s sex life, please?
Pete and Kinn laughed hard and for a moment, Pete realized how much of the main family craziness he was missing; maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to drop off by their house more often, maybe when Vegas was busy with meetings that doesn’t necessarily need Pete’s presence.
***
When they got in front of Yok’s bar, Vegas was already by the door in the back of the car, opening it so Pete could get out.
- He can open by himself, you know? – Tankhun said while passing through them with a suspicious look towards Vegas, which made Porsche laugh.
- Let the man being a gentleman with his boyfriend, Khun. – He said. – Let them enjoy the beginning of the relationship. I still remember when Kinn used to do these little things…
- And I still do! – Kinn protested.
- What you guys talked about? – Pete asked. – I was curious to know how it was going to be, having you, Arm and Pol in the same car for a few minutes...
- Uhmmm... Are we supposed to talk on the way?
Pete rolled his eyes and glanced at Arm and Pol, both of them seeming a little unsettled after the very peculiar – Pete thought – car ride. He tangled his fingers along with Vegas’s and both of them followed the others inside the bar.
Despite being a while since the last time Pete went to Yok’s bar, the place stayed the same. Of course, that, with a couple of fights that took place there, the whole bar had to go under a little reform, but nothing was changed compared to the previous style. They walked to a private room at the back of the bar that consisted in a little version of the whole place, but with more privacy so they could enjoy the night without being interrupted.
It was quite crowded that night, so Yok was walking through the tables, greeting people and offering drinks with her long sparkled silver dress that left her looking quite fancy for the occasion, but since it was Yok, it was fine. There was music playing loudly on the speakers and sometimes she would even dance with some costumes along the way, which made Pete smile.
- Hi! – She shouted in the other side of the room. – My babies are back!
At that, everybody turned to see they walking towards the back; Arm and Pol chatting along the way, Kinn and Porsche holding hands and Vegas and Pete doing the same, even though Vegas seemed a little out of place there. Yok came running the best way she could, which left Pete quite impressed since she was wearing pretty tall heals.
- Hello, my love! – She said while kissing both of Porsche’s cheeks. – How are you doing with that big boy of yours, huh? When is the marriage?
Pete though of how shy he would be if that same question was asked to him, but Porsche only laughed and took a firm hold on Kinn’s hand.
- We’re doing fine, gorgeous. – He looked at Kinn and waved his free hand on his face. – I’m just waiting for the ring.
Everybody laughed and Yok looked at Pete. At the moment she saw him, her eyes were big and her smile was brighter.
- My baby! – She hugged him tight and gave a good squeeze on his cheeks. – I thought you have forgotten about me... It’s been so long since the last time I saw you! Never do that with your mama again!
- Sorry... - Pete said while smiling. – We were a little busy...
Yok look at his hands locked with Vegas’s hands and her eyes were pure malice in a matter of seconds. She gave a good look on Vegas, observing him head to toe and turned her gaze at Pete, quite stunned. Pete could understand perfectly that look on her face. Vegas was a handsome man and that night, he was absolutely hot with a white letter jacked and his dark blue shirt, half way unbuttoned; he was dragging quite the attention towards him, as always.
- Are you not going to introduce me to this handsome man?
- Oh, right! This is Vegas. – Pete said. – He is my boyfriend.
Like a true gentleman, Vegas took one of Yok’s hand and gave it a little kiss.
- Vegas Theerapanyakul.
- Oi Peeeete! – Yok said while blushing. – You better take a good care of him, otherwise I will. – Pete laughed at that and Vegas smiled politely. – Oh? You said Theerapanyakul?
- He’s Kinn’s and Tankhun’s cousin. – Porsche said.
- Ohhh! Now it makes sense! Only handsome men come from that family.
- You never said that to me. – Tankhun said while crossing his arms and looking offended.
Yok looked at him with an embarrassed smile.
- Let me take you all to the back. I have a brand-new liquor that I’m dying for you guys to try it down.
***
When they got there, Pete saw that Porsche was already behind the bar, mixing drinks, feeling like he was at home again. Pete could never look away every time Porsche was responsible for the drinks. He always was so stunned with his gracious movements, the way that his hands moved fast while mixing drinks, fruits, sugar and a lot of types of liquors.
Everybody took a sit near the bar while Porsche poured a pink liquor coming from a jar in little shots cups right in front of them, each and every one organized in a perfect line. Vegas gave a suspicious look towards the cups and looked at Pete.
- What is it? – He asked while pointing to the shots.
- God knows. I think neither Yok knows what is it, but it’s strong and sweet and delicious. – Pete grabbed one shot and handed to Vegas when everybody took one too. – Here, gave it a try.
Everybody took the shot at once. The familiar sensation soon hit Pete’s throat and he felt his face contorted with the burning feeling on his gut. The pink liquor was very sweet, but it was very strong too and after a shot, his tong would always stay numb for a while. He immediately looked at Vegas who looked offended by the drink.
Pete laughed with his face.
- What do you think?
- It’s a crime calling this a drink. – He said while still getting himself together. – One more round, please.
VEGAS
Vegas was sleeping with Pete between his arms when his phone started to buzzling right on top of the bedside table. Even though he was still sleepy and his head hurt, he quickly picked up the phone before Pete could wake up with the annoying sound. He rubbed his eyes trying to improve his blurred vision and immediately saw Kinn’s name on the screen. Carefully, he took his arm off from under Pete’s neck and quickly got himself into a sitting position on the bed. Luckily, Pete was still sleeping soundly.
- Kinn. – He said, his voice still a little hoarse.
- Where are you? Are you at the company? – Despite drinking as much as him the night before, Kinn’s voice was clear and he sounded good rested even though Vegas knew he didn’t get too much of sleep.
- No, I’m home, why? Did something happen? – The simple thought of something serious happening while he was sleeping immediately brush his sleepy state away.
- No, nothing happened. I scheduled a meeting at 10:00 am and I really need you to be present.
- A meeting? What for?
- Just be there, okay? I need to go.
And with that, he simply hung up, leaving Vegas feeling uneasy. He looked at Pete who was curled into a thick layer of sheets. Even though they were together for eight months now, Vegas still couldn’t believe that Pete was really there. When he woke up confused in a hospital bed, he was shocked to know that he was still alive, breathing, but the biggest shock came when he saw Pete sitting on a chair right beside his hospital bed, peacefully reading a book. He blinked many times, thinking that he was imagining things, that the sight of Pete with him wasn’t real. Then, Pete carefully raised his gaze and met his widened eyes.
Pete’s first reaction was smiling brightly the way he always did whenever he was feeling happy; but then, his eyes were full with tears in matter of seconds and he started to cry while burring his face on his own hands. Vegas tried to get up to hug him and make him feel safe, but the first movement came with so much pain that he chocked.
- Please, please don’t move! – Pete said, immediately getting startled with Vegas reaction to the pulsating pain on his abdomen.
Vegas couldn’t say anything since Pete got up from his chair and started to run towards the door to call for someone. After a couple of minutes, there were plenty of doctors and nurses in his room.
They were checking on him, asking questions, checking his vitals but all that Vegas could focus was on Pete’s frightened figure in the corner of the room, biting his nails while watching all the hospital staff work on him. While he waited for them to say something, Macau entered the room with a scared look on his face, and, despite his attempts to get to Vegas just to be stopped by Pete,
Vegas was incredibly relieved to know that both Macau and Pete were safe and sound.
After a couple of minutes, they told him that he had been shot four times. When he was admitted at the hospital, his heart had already stopped two times in the ambulance and during all the way, Pete was there, inside the ambulance with him, holding his hands and begging him to stay alive. In surgery, they took one bullet from his shoulder, one from his chest and two from his abdominal cavity, the last one was probably the source of most of the pain he was feeling at the moment. After they give him a higher dose of painkillers, he was left sleepy and alone with Pete and Macau in the room.
Vegas tried so bad to not close his eyes, but they were so heavy because of the meds that the last thing he remembers was to stick out his arm, trying to hold Pete’s hands so he didn’t go anywhere. After that, all went black. He was at the hospital for six weeks before being discharged and of course, Pete stayed with him all this time. On the second day at the hospital when he woke up, Pete told him about his decision to resign from his position in the main family and stay with him. Vegas couldn’t believe that, after all he did it with Pete, he truly wanted to stay with him. It felt like no matter what he said or how many times he tried to apologize it was never going to be enough to repair all the bad things he has done with Pete.
But Pete never left his side since then, neither showed any signs of regret from his choice.
Now they were at home. Sharing the daily burdens, the meals, the same room, the same bed. Vegas gave a glance at the clock and sighed while tugging himself again under the sheets and embracing Pete once more, feeling the scarred skin of his chest with his hands. He was a hard sleeper – the opposite of Vegas, who would wake up with any sound – and didn’t appreciate the room’s temperature that much, so he was always covered in too many sheets. Vegas smiled and placed his nose on Pete’s neck, closing his eyes while sniffing the natural fragrance that emanated from his body. His hair had grown a little, reaching the base of his neck and giving tingles to Vegas’s nose.
He could stay like that forever, he wanted to stay like that. But he had an important meeting to attend. So, the sooner he leaves, the sooner he would be back home again with Pete. Another thing he loved a lot: having someone waiting for him to be back at home. Since the day Pete resigned, he would help Vegas do the work assigned to him, but, there were days where Pete just wanted to stay at home and wait for Vegas to be there again; in those days, Vegas would constantly stare the clock in his office, hoping for the hours pass quickly. He didn’t know if Pete missed the life as a bodyguard since he never spoke about it before, but as long as Pete was happy the way they were, he was more than satisfied.
***
It took longer than Vegas liked to get in the main family mansion; the traffic was heavy from a accident in the middle of the road and, besides that, the new driver was a bit slow compared with the others who worked for the family for years now. Since the conflict with the main family, a lot of men were lost in both sides, which meant that they needed to hire new people to do the job.
When they finally got in front of the house, Vegas was a bit surprised to see Kinn waiting for him. He was dressed with the clothes that he only wore at home and to go out with Porsche, which made Vegas question the nature of the meeting. Kinn, as every Theerapanyakul man, was taught about the decorum of clothing in meetings with business partners and other families. But there he was, without the fancy suit and the fancy shoes.
- At what do I own the pleasure to have you waiting for me here? – Vegas said, his tone full of sarcasm.
After all the events that happened eight months ago, Vegas was trying his best to be civil with Kinn. He really appreciated that Porsche would call Pete everyday to check how he was doing and how was Vegas’s health. But, of course that, being Porsche, he would usually visit him and Pete along with Kinn. Vegas wasn’t interested in keeping a relationship with Kinn other than a strictly professional one. But, Pete is Porsche’s best friend, so he knew that whether he wanted or not, both of them were faded to meet each other in other occasions out of the workplace. Those occasions were a bit too much for him, since he didn’t agree with Kinn’s point of view of the family business neither the way he was planning – alongside with his father, who Vegas hated the most – to keep the family business going after he took place as the head of the main family.
The fact that Kinn’s father gave Porsche the second family ring also didn’t help with his feelings towards the main family. For a long time, all that Vegas felt towards the main family was pure hatred, specially after his father’s death. Not even a week after he was admitted at the hospital, Vegas received a letter coming from Kinn’s father saying that he was “Kindly willing to let him and Macau keep the second family house”. Just this phrase was enough to make Vegas toss the paper across the room, but Pete on his endless patience, read the rest for him. It was agreed that Vegas was going to be responsible for business in Ekamai, where the family had a famous chain of nightclubs, that way, he was going to be able to pay for the house that was his home his entire life. It was a pathetic statement coming from the main family, both he and Pete knew, but he wasn’t in any condition to say no.
After all, after his father died and Vegas did not earn the position of head of the second family, he was trapped in a hospital bed, with no money, no house and a family to take care of. He needed to swallow his pride and accept Korn’s terms.
- Let’s get inside, Vegas. – Was all that Kinn said before turning his back to him and start to walk inside.
Vegas hold a sarcastic grim on his face and took out a cigarette and a litter from his pocket, lightening it right away. He followed Kinn along without saying a word and when they passed the usual meeting room, he felt a little hesitant. Kinn was still silent, guiding him to where Vegas could recognize as being the private restaurant area.
Right beside the door were Arm and Pol, completely different from the night before, The two men that were dancing, singing and drinking were now dressed up in their full bodyguards suits, both with a serious face looking at Kinn with a lot of professionalism. They opened the doors for them once they got close.
- Good morning, Khun Kinn. – Arm said. – Good morning, Khun Vegas.
Vegas nodded before entering the room. There was a table all set right beside a big glass window with view to the city right bellow. The sunlight was getting through it, illuminating the entire room.
As they approached the table, Vegas saw that already was a bottle of red wine buried in a bucket of ice. He frowned and put out the cigarette.
- Is this a joke? – He asked. – I thought you said that we had a important meeting that you needed me to be present at. So, can you explain to me what the fuck is this?
Kinn was looking calm, but knowing him as Vegas knew for years, he could tell that Kinn was holding his will to yell at him for the disrespect in his way of talking with him. He watched as Kinn took a deep breath and turn the ring on his hand, a silent warning to remind Vegas of who he was talking to.
- It is a meeting indeed. – Kinn started. – But it’s a meeting only with the two of us. And since it’s just us, I thought it would be more pleasant to do this here.
- What do you want?
- Please, take a seat. I’ll be brief, I know you have important business to attend.
Vegas stared at him for a second and then, finally took a seat in one of the chairs. In the moment he was settled, a waitress appeared to serve them the wine. He watched silently while the girl filled their glasses with the red wine, the only sound that could be heard in that moment, was the liquid filling his glass; the vibrant color looking like it was blood.
- So, - Kinn said again after a sip from his glass. – I called you here today to let you know about the family plans for these following months. It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for a while, but I wanted you to be the first to know. – He sighed and looked at the window. – And I want to know what you think about it.
Vegas was surprised, for sure. All those years the second family was the one responsible for the dirty work, always the last ones to know about the plans, which meant that they only received orders coming from the main family, never participating of the decisions. At least not truly. Vegas was surprised with Kinn’s decision to tell him something important first. He couldn’t help but feel quite suspicious with this whole situation.
- Why? – He asked. – You never cared about me agreeing with your plans before.
- Because I believe that one of the reasons that provoked the incident that day was my father’s choice to command the second family. We should be working together, united, not one just following the other’s orders.
- Ah... That’s new. – Vegas smile was full of disdain. – I wonder what daddy thinks of this...
He took a sip from his own glass and closed his eyes, enjoying the bitter taste of the wine.
- That’s why I called you here, Vegas. I’m serious when I say that you are the first one to know. – Kinn’s face was serious while looking at him. – Besides, despite the respect that my father owned with the other families, I’m the leader now. He needs to trust my decisions... whether he agree with them or not.
- Look how the little Kinn had grown... - Vegas laughed and stared at Kinn again. – What are these plans of yours after all?
Kinn took a deep breath and reached for something inside his trousers pocket.
- First, I want you to have this.
Kinn put a black box in front of Vegas and signed for him to open it.
- What? Do you want to marry me now? – Vegas said before opening the box.
He was playing around, but in the second that he opened the little box and saw the golden ring that rested inside, his heart almost stopped. That ring has been on his father finger since he could remember. That thing that shined under the sunlight was present in every moment of his life; he dreamed with it, was slapped with it, saw decisions being made with it, orders said with it and the last time he saw on his true owner, the ring was stained with blood. Vegas just stared at the second family ring, then, he looked at Kinn.
- What is this? – He could feel his blood being drain from his face, his mouth was dry and he suddenly felt cold.
- I believe you know that it’s the second family ring, Vegas.
- I know what this bloody thing is. I want to know what this is doing here and not in Porsche’s finger.
- Well, even though I love Porsche and trust that he’s more than capable of being a great leader, this don’t belong with him... - Kinn’s eyes locked with Vegas’s. – It belongs with you.
- Why?
- I never wanted this life, Vegas. I can’t run away from this burden, but I can relieve it for the people I love. – Vegas noticed, for the first time, that Kinn was wearing a ring on his finger, a commitment ring that wasn’t there the night before. He couldn’t help but wonder what happened when they went home that night. – Porsche is great, but he wasn’t born for this life; he needs to bear a lot for just being with me. So, I wanted to ease his burden by not letting him be in the same difficult position that I can’t avoid for myself.
- So you’re giving it to me.
- We both were born to fulfil this position; we were trained our entire life for this. Porsche is not like me, you or even Pete, Vegas. We were born into this world, he wasn’t.
- And he agreed with this?
- He has. We’ve been talking about this since the day that my father gave him the ring.
- And what about him? I don’t think that Korn will accept this easily. He’ll probably think that you are disrespecting one of his last orders as a leader.
- I’ll deal with this with him. It’s not your responsibility to worry about that, it was my decision.
Vegas laughed soundly.
- We both know he can come for me and my family for this, Kinn. – For the first time in so long Vegas felt true fear just with the thought that his family could get hurt; he felt his entire skin shiver. – We’ve lost a lot already.
- I’ll not let this happen again. It’s one of the main reasons why I’m returning this to you. – Kinn was determined. – And besides that, we both know that most part of the second family didn’t see
Porsche as their leader. I know that a lot of them think that this position should be yours and they didn’t rebel against us out of respect for you.
- How it’s going to be then?
- In two weeks, I’m going to reunite the families and our allies for a meeting. There I’m going to announce Porsche resignation and the return of the position to where it truly belongs, for that I ask you to not share the news yet; keep this between us for the moment.
- What about Pete? – Even if Kinn ask him to keep this away from Pete, Vegas would not obey. Both of them promise no more secrets, no more hiding between them and Vegas was planning to follow that.
- You can tell him. You’ll discover with time that in this position, he’ll be your biggest ally.
Vegas already knew that. Since he started to deal with the business in Ekamai, Pete has been doing his best to help him bear all the responsibilities. Whenever Vegas was out, Pete would stay at home to pass instructions to the bodyguards, deal with the financial and strategy matters and help him attend any meetings that he couldn’t. And for all that, he was extremely grateful.
- You said that you have “plans”. I doubted that making me the leader of the second family is the only one.
- You are right, it is not. – Kinn said. – The next thing that I’ll do is to end this thing of main and second families. There won’t be not such thing as one obeying the other; we have the same surname, our family is one.
- I’m curious of why you decided that... Are you willing to do dirty work now?
- There won’t be dirty work anymore. – Vegas frowned. He was truly confuse now. – That’s the other thing that I wanted to discuss with you. – Kinn took the rest of the wine in one go and when he looked at Vegas again, his gaze was dark. – I’m planning in legalize the family business.