𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠

After the storm at highway, Sky drove straight to the Therapakyun estate. The weight of Nani's glare still lingered in his chest, but he pushed it aside. A quick shower later, he padded back into his room only to find William sprawled across the bed like a corpse, hair sticking up in every direction, dead to the world.

"William."

No response.

"William," Sky repeated, shaking his shoulder this time.

The younger man groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow. "Five more minutes..."

"You've had five hour get up. We're going out."

That made William crack open one eye, disbelief plain on his face. "Out? At evening it's gonna be dark soon? Are you serious, Sky?"

Sky didn't bother answering, already buttoning his shirt with the steady efficiency William had come to hate. Eventually, with all the reluctance in the world, William dragged himself up and got dressed.

The car ride was quiet, night air rushing past as the headlights cut through the dark.

Halfway through the drive, Sky's phone lit up, the screen flashing Dad. He didn't even get a chance to greet before Vegas' sharp voice filled the car.

"You brat! How can you go out without guards? Don't you know the danger that looms over your head every single day? Come back right now!"

Sky sighed, his jaw tightening just slightly. "Dad, don't worry. I took Amol and a few guards. William and Prim are with me too." His tone was calm, measured, almost bored.

"That's not the point-"

"I'm not coming back," Sky cut in, eyes never leaving the road. "I've got something to do."

Before Vegas could respond, Sky ended the call, dropping the phone carelessly onto the seat. The car fell into silence again.William stared at him, wide awake now."You're going to make uncle lose his mind one day."

Sky's lips curved faintly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maybe. But he'll live."

The car rolled on through the quiet streets, headlights carving out a lonely path against the darkness. Inside, the silence didn't sit well with Prim. She shifted in her seat, arms folded tight across her chest.

"Where are we even going this late?" she finally muttered, chewing on her lip. "What if something happens... no, nothing will happen.Sir is here, sir is here." Her voice dwindled to a whisper, as if she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

From behind the wheel, William caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. The sheen of sweat on her temple. The way her fingers fidgeted. A smirk tugged at his lips."Prim," he drawled. "Don't tell me you're scared. You look like we're driving straight into a ghost story."

"I'm not scared!" she shot back immediately, though her voice cracked on the last word.

William chuckled, steering lazily as if the road itself was his plaything. "Right, not scared. That's why you're sweating buckets. Relax-worst case, Sky will use you as a human shield before anything gets to him."

"William!" Prim shrieked, swatting the back of his seat.

Sky's phone rang again.

Sky answered without hesitation.

"You come back right now, Sky," Vegas snapped. "Your uncle Cornal has come with his family. You can't just vanish when we have guests."

Sky's eyes flickered, the faintest shadow crossing them. Of course they came. That was the whole point. He leaned back, voice steady, calm as ever.

"Dad, I'm with Mr. Cornal's rightful family member. The rest doesn't matter." His tone sharpened on the word rest. "They are your guests to entertain, not mine. I'll be back after my work is done."

And before Vegas could throw another word, he cut the call.The hum of the car returned, heavier this time, pressing down on the air. William's earlier grin was gone, jaw tight as his hands clenched around the wheel. His eyes didn't leave the road, but his silence said more than words.

The teasing mood had evaporated, replaced by something else-something Prim couldn't quite put her finger on.

Sky glanced at William out of the corner of his eye, and for once, didn't break the silence.

The rest of the ride was wrapped in silence, heavy enough that Prim could hear her own heartbeat. She tried to distract herself by scrolling on her iPad, but the glow of the screen only made the hairs on her neck rise.

Her throat tightened. "A car is following us."

"After we get off the highway," Sky's voice was low, steady, almost cold, "turn into any corner. Call Amol. Tell him to take that car to the warehouse. We'll meet them there."

William smirked and nodded to sky, eyes still on the road. "Oh, now you noticed? With instincts like that, Prim, I wouldn't count on you surviving a week out here."

Her eyes widened. "Why do you always say things like that? You'll give me a heart attack one day!"

Sky, lounging in the back with one arm propped lazily against the window, finally looked up from his phone. His lips curved faintly, maddeningly calm. "William's right. You're slow."

Prim turned in her seat, jaw dropping. "Sir! You're supposed to back me up!"

But Sky only smiled wider, dark eyes glinting, ↓ offering no rescue.William laughed so hard he slapped the steering wheel. "Poor Prim. Outnumbered already. Don't worry, if they shoot first, you can always use me as a shield."

"That's not funny!" Prim squeaked, hugging her iPad closer.

"It's a little funny," Sky murmured, his tone dry, but his smile never leaving.

Prim groaned, ready to bury herself in the seat. But then, almost as if remembering something, she blurted out, "Speaking of not funny-Sir, do you even realize what you let happened this morning? The entire estate is still buzzing!"

William arched a brow, glancing in the rearview mirror. "What now?"

Prim whipped toward him, wide-eyed. "You didn't hear?Nani Sir shut down a whole highway! Because you-" she pointed accusingly at Sky "-didn't answer his messages!"

William's jaw dropped before he burst into a bark of laughter so loud the car swerved.

"Wait-hold on. Nani shut down a highway because Sky ignored him? I take one good nap, and the world ends without me knowing?"

Prim threw her hands up. "Exactly! Cars stopped, people nearly fainted, and all for what? Because Sir wasn't replied to!"

William laughed harder, shaking his head. "Oh, this is gold. That's it. You two are insane. Nani throws tantrums on highways, Sky smirks through it all, and I-apparently-am the only sane one left."

Sky's lips curved into a lazy smirk, his gaze flicking toward the road ahead. "It worked, didn't it?"

Prim gaped. "Worked?! Sir, you could've caused a riot!"

William wiped a tear of laughter from his eye, still grinning like a devil. "Don't act shocked, Prim. This is classic Nani. Drama runs in his veins. You should've seen him as a kid-always made the world stop when Sky didn't look his way."

Sky's smile deepened just a fraction, almost imperceptible. "Still does."

The car slid off the highway, tires whispering against the concrete as William took a sharp turn down a quieter street. He slowed near a blind corner, pulling the car into the shadows.

"Now we wait," William muttered, eyes flicking to the rearview.

The headlights of the trailing car appeared a moment later. William smirked. "Right on cue."

They stayed still, tension heavy in the air, until a faint buzz from the radio crackled through the silence. A single word followed:

"Clear."

Amol's voice.

William didn't hesitate. He pulled back onto the road, driving straight until the looming structure of an old warehouse rose ahead. Its windows were boarded, its walls faded with rust, but there were already shadows moving inside.

They rolled to a stop. Outside, Amol stood waiting, calm as ever, while a handful of men surrounded the captured vehicle that had been tailing them.

"Showtime," William said, killing the engine. He and Sky stepped out without a word, their movements smooth and unhurried.

Prim remained seated, clutching her iPad, eyes wide. But when Amol waved her over, she slipped out of the and padded to his side.She glanced nervously at the dark, yawning mouth of the warehouse. "This... this is the place where murders happen, isn't it?"

Amol looked at her once, his face unreadable, and gave a single slow nod.

Prim froze, her face draining of color. She swallowed hard, clutching her tablet tighter. "Then I'll... I'll stay here with you."

"Good choice," Amol said dryly, already turning to follow the others inside.

Prim pressed herself closer to him, lips trembling as she muttered under her breath, "Oh god, why did I take this job?"

But Amol didn't answer. The warehouse swallowed Sky and William whole, leaving Prim stranded with nothing but the chilling thought that she'd just watched her bosses walk into the kind of place people never walked out of.