Nani hirunkit
The ride back to the mansion was silent.
Not an uncomfortable silence, though. It was... still. Almost soothing. I could hear the faint hum of the tires against the pavement, the occasional sound of the driver shifting gears. And then there was him.
Sky's hand rested over mine.
He didn't say anything when he reached for me. He just did it, like it was the most natural thing in the world. His grip was firm, grounding, but not tight. I could feel the heat of his palm seeping into my skin, the subtle brush of his thumb over my knuckles every so often. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Enough to make me feel... not alone.
My thoughts swirled as I stared out the window, the city lights blurring together. I didn't know what to make of him-of this. One moment, he's this cold, commanding presence, a man who practically dragged me into his chaos. Next, he's holding my hand like he's the only thing tethering me to the ground.
When we arrived at the mansion, his hand lingered on mine for just a second too long before he let go. I felt the absence of it immediately, a coolness where his warmth had been.
I stepped out of the car, glancing over my shoulder as Sky was joined by Win, Dew, and Mark. They moved toward the office without a word, their steps brisk and purposeful despite the late hour.
It was past 11 p.m., and they were still working. Didn't they ever stop? I thought about Sky for a moment, trying to picture him in something other than a suit. Trying to imagine where he slept. Did he sleep?
I frowned, shaking my head as I made my way to my room. "Why do I even care where he sleeps?" I muttered under my breath, feeling a flush creep up my neck. I'm just curious. That's all.
---
I woke up the next morning with a dull, throbbing pain behind my eyes.
The ache spread across my temples, sharp and relentless. I groaned, rolling over in bed as I pressed my hand to my forehead. I recognized this feeling all too well-migraine. The stress of the last few weeks was finally catching up to me.
Dragging myself upright, I rummaged through my bag, searching for the small bottle of pills I always kept on hand. But it wasn't there. My frown deepened as I tipped the bag over, letting everything spill onto the bed. Still nothing.
"Great," I muttered, wincing as the motion made my head pound harder.
A knock at the door made me jump slightly, the sound reverberating through my skull.
"Doc? You awake?" Mark's voice filtered through the door, warm and casual.
I cleared my throat. "Yeah, I'm up."
"Breakfast is ready," he said. "Boss is waiting for you at the table."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Got it. I'll be there in a minute."
Reluctantly, I pushed myself out of bed, moving slowly as the ache in my head worsened. By the time I made it to the dining hall, I was fighting the urge to crawl back into bed.
Sky was already there, sitting at the head of the table, a cup of coffee in hand. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto mine, and for a moment, I swore I saw something flickering in them. Concern, maybe.
"You look pale," he said, his tone more direct than worried.
"It's just a migraine," I replied, sinking into the chair beside him. "I can't find my medicine. I thought I brought it, but..."
I gestured vaguely, letting the sentence hang as I pressed my fingers to my temples. The light from the windows felt too bright, the smell of food too strong.
"I don't have much of an appetite," I mumbled, my voice strained. "I think I'll go lie down. Please, go ahead with your breakfast."
I started to rise from my seat, but before I could fully stand, Sky's hand shot out, gripping mine firmly.
"Wait," he said, his voice low but insistent.
I blinked down at him, startled. His gaze was steady, but there was something softer in it now, something that made my breath catch.
"I sent you to your room," he said, rising from his chair. "Come on."
I hesitated, but my legs felt weak, and the pounding in my head was unbearable. Before I knew it, his arm was around my waist, guiding me out of the room. I let my head fall against his shoulder, too drained to care about how intimate it might seem.
His hold was steady, his presence solid. For a man who commanded rooms with a single glance, his touch was surprisingly gentle.
By the time we reached my room, I could barely keep my eyes open. He helped me lie down, his movements deliberate, and careful. The blanket was pulled up to my chest, and his hand lingered at the edge of it, hesitating.
"I'll get your medicine," he said quietly, his voice soft but firm. "Rest."
I heard him murmur something to someone by the door-probably Mark or Dew. "Go to his apartment. Find his medication and bring it back immediately. Don't take long." His tone was sharper now, edged with urgency.
The words blurred as my headache worsened, but through the haze of pain, I felt his hand brush against my forehead. The touch was warm, steady, and it lingered just a second too long.
"Sky..." I started, but my voice was barely audible.
"Shh," he murmured.
Then, before I could process what was happening, I felt it-a soft, fleeting press of lips against my temple.
The kiss was so light, so brief, that for a moment I thought I'd imagined it. But the heat of it lingered, spreading across my skin and sinking deep into my chest.
My eyes fluttered open slightly, catching the faintest glimpse of him leaning over me, his face close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw, the flicker of something vulnerable in his expression.
He pulled back quickly, his composure returning as he straightened.
"Rest," he repeated, his voice low and firm. But there was a crack in it now, a hint of something unsteady.
I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come. My body felt heavy, the exhaustion pulling me under. The last thing I felt was his hand brushing lightly over my arm before he turned and left the room.
---
Sky wongravee
I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as I let out a slow, controlled breath.
What the hell was I doing?
I pressed my fingers to my temple, as if I could erase the memory of how soft his skin had felt under my lips. It was a mistake-an impulse I couldn't afford to give in to. But the way he'd leaned into me, the way he trusted me in that moment, had made it impossible to resist.
I told myself it was nothing. Just a moment of weakness. But deep down, I knew better.
He wasn't just another person under my protection. He wasn't just another pawn in this dangerous game I played. He was... more.
And that terrified me.
------
Dew jirawat
Mark should've been back by now.
I leaned against the wall near the corner of Nani's apartment building, my gaze scanning the street with the sharpness of years spent in the shadows. The glow of the streetlights spilled unevenly across the cracked pavement, casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to move with the faintest breeze. It was quiet. Too quiet.
And my instincts were screaming.
I'd done this a thousand times before-watched, waited, listened. It was second nature to blend into the background, to notice the little details everyone else ignored. The misplaced car parked too long. The jogger who wasn't really jogging. The way someone's steps slowed just enough when they thought no one was looking. But tonight, my nerves were sharper than usual, the air prickling with an unease I couldn't shake.
Something wasn't right.
I scanned the area again, my eyes slicing through the dim light. And then I saw it. A shadow. It shifted near the edge of the alley across the street, just beyond the reach of the street lamp. Someone was there, lingering too long, their movements slow and deliberate. It wasn't the kind of aimless loitering you see from a drunk or someone waiting for a cab. No, this was different. This was calculated.
Intentional.
I straightened slightly, my muscles coiling as I focused on the figure. Male. Medium build. Hood pulled low over his face, obscuring his features. He moved cautiously, deliberately, sticking to the shadows like he'd done this before. The way he kept glancing toward Nani's apartment building gave him away. Whoever this was, they weren't just passing through.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
I didn't move, didn't even blink, committing every detail to memory. Height, build, posture, the way his shoulders hunched just enough to suggest he was ready to bolt if necessary. This wasn't casual. This was surveillance.
Who was he? And more importantly, why was he here?
Sky's voice echoed in my mind, sharp and unyielding. "Keep him safe."
Nani.
This wasn't just about the doctor anymore. Whoever this was, they were still circling, still watching, like vultures waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Two months had passed since the first attack, and yet they hadn't given up. If anything, their persistence made it clear-they weren't going to stop until they got what they wanted.
The thought sent a flicker of anger through me, but I buried it quickly, focusing instead on the situation at hand. This wasn't my first time dealing with threats like this. I'd spent years in Sky's service, standing in the line of fire, bleeding for him when necessary. It was my job, my duty, and I'd do it a hundred times over without hesitation.
But this was different.
Nani wasn't trained for this. He didn't know how to move quietly, how to blend into the shadows, how to survive in a world where trust was a death sentence. He was out of his depth, and it wasn't fair. He didn't choose this life. It was thrust upon him, violently and without warning.
And Sky? Sky wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to him. I'd seen it in the way he looked at the doctor, the way his shoulders tightened every time Nani's name came up, the way his eyes softened-just for a fraction of a second-whenever Nani was near.
Sky didn't react like that for anyone. I never seen it before.
"Let's go, Dew."
Mark's voice pulled me from my thoughts, quiet but firm. I turned to see him standing beside me, holding the small bag of doctor's medicine. His expression was calm, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, an unspoken question in the way he studied me.
"You're staring at something," Mark said, his tone low but curious. "What is it?"
I nodded toward the alley. "There's someone lurking near the doctor's apartment."
Mark's posture shifted instantly, his body going rigid, his gaze snapping to the alley. He scanned the area quickly, his hand drifting toward the concealed weapon at his hip. The easygoing demeanor he wore so well vanished, replaced by something cold, efficient. Dangerous.
"Where?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I gestured subtly with my chin. "By the edge of the alley. Dark jacket, hood up. He's been there too long."
Mark's eyes narrowed as he spotted the figure, his entire body tensing like a predator catching the scent of prey. "You think they're here for the doctor?" he murmured.
"Who else?" I muttered, keeping my voice low. "They're not giving up. Not after two months."
Mark didn't respond immediately, his gaze locked on the shadowy figure across the street. The tension between us was palpable, a silent agreement passing between us. This wasn't over-not by a long shot.
"Do we approach?" Mark asked, his hand now fully resting on the grip of his weapon.
"Not yet," I said, my eyes narrowing. "We don't know if he's alone. Could be a lookout. If we move too soon, we might tip them off."
Mark nodded, his expression grim. "We'll wait, then."
I leaned back against the wall, forcing myself to stay calm even as my instincts screamed to act. Waiting wasn't easy, but it was necessary. Whoever this was, they were watching Nani for a reason. And if we were going to protect him, we needed to know exactly what we were dealing with.
The figure shifted again, his head turning slightly toward the building as if checking something. I could feel the tension in Mark beside me, the same coiled energy buzzing under my own skin. We were running out of time.
Finally, the figure stepped back into the shadows, retreating deeper into the alley until he was out of sight. I didn't relax, didn't let my guard down, even for a second.
"He's gone," Mark said, his voice low.
"For now," I replied, my tone grim. "But he'll be back. They always come back."
We exchanged a look, the weight of unspoken understanding passing between us. Nani was in danger, and this wasn't just going to go away. Whoever was after him wasn't done yet. And if they thought we'd let them get anywhere near him, they were dead wrong.
---
Back at the mansion, I didn't go straight to Sky. Not yet.
If I told him someone was still targeting Nani, he'd lose it. Sky was careful-controlled-but when it came to Nani, there was something uncharacteristically raw about him. He wouldn't stop until he burned the entire city down to find the threat, and that kind of rage wasn't what we needed right now.
Instead, I went to Win.
I found him in his office, poring over a stack of documents. He didn't even look up as I walked in, his pen scratching against the paper with that same meticulous precision he always had.
"Win," I said, shutting the door behind me.
He glanced up, his expression calm but sharp. "What is it?"
"There's something I need to discuss," I said, stepping closer. "It's about the doctor."
His brow furrowed slightly, the faintest flicker of concern crossing his face. "What about him?"
"I just got back from his apartment," I said. "Someone was there. Lurking. Watching. They're still after him."
Win's pen stopped mid-stroke, and his jaw tightened. "Even now?"
I nodded. "Even now."
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "And you're sure it's connected to the same people who targeted him before?"
"I don't believe in coincidences," I said flatly.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm still investigating this. Whoever's behind it has covered their tracks well, but I'll figure it out. They're not after Nani randomly. There's something bigger at play here."
"They've targeted me too," I said. "But I don't care about that. It's my job to be in danger. That's what I signed up for. But Nani didn't. He doesn't deserve this."
Win's expression didn't change, but I saw it-the flicker of something deeper in his eyes.
"Do you realize how much Sky cares about him?" I continued, my frustration rising. "I've never seen him like this. The doctor... he's different. And Sky knows it."
Win stood, his movements deliberate as he crossed the room to stand in front of me. "And what about you?" he asked quietly.
I frowned. "What about me?"
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing. "You're always so quick to put yourself last. To throw yourself in harm's way for Sky, for everyone. But you matter too, Dew."
The words hit me like a blow. Win never said things like that-not to me, not to anyone. He wasn't the type to show his emotions, to let his guard down. But the way he was looking at me now, like I was the only thing in the room that mattered, made my chest tighten.
I tried to brush it off. "Don't start, Win. This isn't about me."
"It is to me," he said firmly, his voice steady but low.
I stared at him, searching his face for something-anything-to say. But the words wouldn't come.
Deep down, I knew he cared. I'd always known. But hearing it out loud, seeing it in his eyes, was something else entirely.
Finally, Win stepped back, breaking the moment. "I'll discuss this with Sky," he said, his voice calmer now. "We'll figure out our next move. This enemy is a step ahead of us, but I won't let them win. I promise you that."
For the first time, I believed him.