18

The next day arrives with a sky heavy with clouds, a grey silence hanging over the villa.

Sky stands by the black SUV parked in the driveway, dressed in a black suit, a duffle bag at his feet.

Kay and a few of the selected men are already inside, running final checks before departure.

Sky glances back at the villa one last time.

Still no call. Still blocked.

He inhales deeply, jaw clenched, then climbs into the passenger seat beside Kay.

Upstairs, behind a curtain on the top floor, Nani watches them leave.

His arms are crossed, lips pressed into a tight line, but his eyes betray more than he wants them to.

Tew steps into the room quietly. "He's gone," he says gently, as if Nani hasn't just spent the last thirty minutes staring out that same window.

"I know," Nani replies without looking away.

First lingers nearby. "You could've talked to him. He tried."

Nani finally turns away from the window, his voice bitter. "He could've talked to me before vanishing behind his pride."

"Isn't that exactly what you're doing now?" Tew comments.

Nani pauses in the hallway, but says nothing.

He returns to his room follow by the two bodyguards and shuts the door behind him with a soft click.

The silence feels heavier now. He sits at the edge of the bed and stares down at his phone.

Blocked or not, Sky still leaves without fixing what cracked between them.

He flips the phone face-down.

"Tch," he scoffs under his breath. "Stupid bodyguard."

And yet, when he lies back, the bed feels colder than usual.

Nani stares at the ceiling. He rolls onto his left side, then his right, before groaning and sitting up in frustration.

At the side, Tew and First glance at one another, saying nothing.

"I fucking hate Joong for locking me inside this damn villa when I'm supposed to be part of the negotiation team," Nani mutters to himself.

Then he turns to both of them, eyes sharp.

"Tell me you know where they're headed."

The two bodyguards freeze, exchanging a nervous glance.

"W-We don't know," Tew stammers. "Kay didn't tell us anything."

Nani narrows his eyes and glares at him, then shifts his focus to First.

"And you?" he asks, arms and legs crossed now, clearly waiting.

"I swear I don't know either. Kay just mentioned something about Chao Gang—"

Before he can finish, Tew slaps a hand over First's mouth.

Nani raises an eyebrow, his suspicion piqued. "Chao Gang?" he repeats.

Silence.

"I know someone in Chao Gang. I can call and confirm where they're headed."

He stands abruptly, a spark of determination in his eyes.

"Which one of you can drive?"

Tew raises a hand slowly. "I-I can," he says warily.

Nani claps once, smirking. "Great. You're driving. First, pack up. We're leaving in thirty minutes."

First looks panicked. "Boss, we can't just leave. Kay said—"

"I don't give a damn what Kay said," Nani cuts in, sharp and final. "Sky left without a word. Joong locked me in here like I'm some fragile doll. If they won't let me be part of this negotiation, I'll make myself part of it."

Tew hesitates. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Nani is already crossing the room, grabbing his phone and pulling open the closet. "No. But since when do I wait for permission?"

First sighs while Tew mutters under his breath, already mentally bracing for disaster.

Twenty minutes later, Nani steps out dressed in casual black shirt. Hoodie over his shoulders, sunglasses tucked into his collar.

He looks more like someone heading out for a midnight drive than a mafia boss sneaking past lockdown.

As they head for the car, First leans in. "So, who are you calling?"

Nani pulls out his phone. "An old contact from Chao Gang. If anyone knows where Joong and Kay are headed, it's him."

"And if they find out we're tailing them?" Tew asks as he slips into the driver's seat.

"Joong's not going to kill you," Nani says casually, settling into the back. "Worst case, we all end up in detention together."

Both bodyguards swallow nervously.

Sensing their anxiety, Nani smirks. "What? Detention's more fun with company."

As they reach the garage, the two exchange a look. Each silently hoping the other will be brave enough to say no.

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Tew mutters with a shaky laugh.

But the second he sees Nani's serious expression, the laugh dies.

"Get the damn SUV," Nani snaps. "Or I'll drive myself."

Tew bolts for the keys.

Meanwhile, First lingers behind, subtly pulling out his phone to text Joong only for Nani to snatch it clean out of his hand.

"Don't even think about messaging him," Nani warns coldly, eyes narrowing.

First nods quickly, lips pressed into a tight line.

***

Joong buttons up his suit as he walks down the hallway of the building, his men trailing close behind.

Sky and Kay follow just a step back, eyes sharp as they scan the unfamiliar surroundings.

Their hands hover near the concealed holsters beneath their dark suits, ready for anything.

When the large mahogany doors swing open, they reveal an open space centered around a long table.

Seated at the head is the leader of the Chao Gang.

"My old friend, it's good to see you," the man says as Joong approaches, a welcoming smile on his face.

"It's been a while," Joong replies, returning the smile as they shake hands firmly.

He then gestures toward the seat opposite the man.

"You came all the way to Ratchaburi just to meet me? I'm honored," the Chao Gang leader says, amusement lighting his tone.

"You know this isn't a normal old friend visit," Joong replies smoothly, his smile laced with meaning.

The man meets his eyes, the air between them thick with understanding.

The Chao Gang leader leans back in his chair, studying Joong carefully. "Of course. You wouldn't drag half of your people across the province just for a chat."

Joong rests his hands on the table. "We have a common problem. And I believe you're the key to solving it."

The man raises an eyebrow. "You mean the Ghost Gang?"

Kay and Sky exchange a quick glance behind Joong, alert as ever.

Joong nods. "They've been eliminating small gangs across the region. Silence. Clean."

"And now you're looking for a way in," the Chao leader says, voice calm but sharp.

"I don't want to be next on their list. And neither do you." Joong's voice is steady. "We're offering an alliance. Resources. But more than that, we want a connection."

The man smiles faintly, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "They don't trust easily. No one even knows who leads them. You think I can just give you a direct line?"

"I think if anyone can, it's you," Joong replies. "And in return, we'll help you expand south. Smoothly. Quietly."

The mafia boss raises an eyebrow, giving Joong a questioning look.

"I heard the Chakrit Gang took part of your territory in the south," Joong says casually. "They've turned bars that used to be under your control into hubs for more than just drugs and weapons."

The Chao Gang leader hesitates, then gives a reluctant nod.

"I'm sure you've also heard the rumors, we intercepted a shipment of gold meant for them. And we have an offer for you," Joong continues, then motions for Kay to step forward.

Kay approaches with two briefcases and places them on the table. With a smooth flick, he opens both, revealing rows of gleaming gold bars.

The Chao leader's eyes widen slightly, his lips parting in surprise.

"Feel free to have your men inspect them," Joong says confidently. "They're one hundred percent pure."

The leader reaches out, running a hand across one of the bars before glancing back at Joong.

"What exactly do you want to know about the Ghost Gang?" he asks, now visibly more relaxed.

He waves his hand, signaling for Kay to keep the briefcases open for now.

Kay gives a slight nod and returns to his place beside Sky, both silent but alert.

Joong leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, voice steady. "We've been hearing that the Ghost Gang doesn't just destroy trafficking networks, they're also skilled at tracing missing people. We need their help to find someone."

The Chao Gang leader gives a slow nod, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the table. "They don't play by the usual rules. They're ghosts for a reason."

Joong reaches into the inner pocket of his suit as he continues, "If you can put in a good word for us, I want them to find this guy."

He slides a photo across the table. The mafia leader picks it up and studies the face in the picture.

"He's been missing for months," Joong says. "He's important to our gang and one of the many victims of human trafficking."

He pauses, watching the man's expression carefully.

"Which gang sold him into it?" the leader asks, his expression turning serious.

"Chakrit Gang," Joong replies firmly. "I want them wiped out. And I want this man brought back to us. Alive and in one piece."

The Chao leader nods slowly. "I'll put in a word. But that's all I can promise. Whether they listen or not is up to them."

Joong gives a respectful nod. "That's all we ask."

The room settles into a heavy silence.

A mutual understanding forged not with words, but with years surviving in the dark.

"How soon can we expect a response?" Joong asks as he stands, buttoning his suit jacket again.

The Chao leader also rises, gesturing for one of his men to take the briefcases filled with gold bars.

"By the end of this week," he says confidently. "I understand the urgency."

Joong gives a curt nod, satisfied. "We'll be waiting."

With that, he turns on his heel, and Kay follows immediately.

Sky lingers a moment longer, his eyes briefly meeting those of the Chao Gang members.

Then he turns and walks out after them.

As they exit the building, the dry heat of Ratchaburi hits them like a wall.

Sky scans the surroundings instinctively, ever alert, even as the weight of the meeting lingers in his mind.

"That went smoother than expected," Kay mutters as they make their way to the SUV parked outside.

"Let's not celebrate too early," Joong replies. "We're dealing with ghosts. You don't know if you've made contact until something moves in the dark."

As Joong climbs into the SUV where his men already wait, Kay shuts the door and watches the vehicle pull away smoothly.

Then he heads to the second car, the one he's riding in with Sky and slides into the driver's seat.

"We're driving straight back to Bangkok," Kay says, switching on the GPS and starting the engine, keeping a short distance behind Joong's vehicle.

The ride back is uneventful at first, but eventually a red light forces them to stop behind Joong's car. Kay glances at the dashboard and notices the fuel gauge dropping.

"We should stop at the nearest gas station," Sky suggests from the passenger seat.

Kay nods, steering off the main road.

At the station, Sky gets out to fill the tank while Kay heads to the restroom.

When Kay returns, he isn't alone. Another man walks beside him, holding him at gunpoint, the weapon hidden under his jacket.

Kay's eyes meet Sky's, and a silent warning passes between them.

The stranger subtly motions for Sky to get back into the car. Once Sky complies, the man shoves Kay into the driver's seat and slides into the back.

They could have taken him out right there, but the risk of alarming civilians is too high.

"Drive," the man orders.

Kay does as instructed, pulling out of the gas station and back onto the road.

He glances sideways at Sky, who appears calm but Kay knows better. Sky is watching, waiting for the right moment to act.

Something is clearly off, and it isn't just a random carjacking.