Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Nani Hirunkit

The second shot came louder, closer, shaking me to the core. Dew had already disappeared through the door, his weapon drawn and his voice barking orders into his earpiece. I stood frozen for a second, my heart pounding in my chest.

I couldn’t just sit here. My body moved before my brain could catch up, and I grabbed the small knife Dew had left on the table, since this the only weapon I familiar with.

I peeked out of the window. The shadows of men darted between the trees, and gunfire erupted again in quick bursts. My breath hitched. The guards outside were returning fire, but I couldn’t tell who had the upper hand.

Stay here, Dew had said. Like hell.

I opened the door a crack, the cold night air biting against my skin. My ears strained against the chaos, and I took a shaky step outside. I had to see what was happening.

“Nani!” Dew’s voice barked sharply through the dark as he spotted me. He was crouched behind a tree, returning fire. “What the hell are you doing? Get back inside—now!”

Before I could answer, a bullet struck the ground near my feet, and I stumbled back with a startled cry. Dew was beside me in an instant, grabbing my arm and dragging me behind cover. Oh i really hate guns.

“I told you to stay put!” he hissed, his eyes blazing with anger.

“I couldn’t just sit there!” I shot back, clutching the knife in my trembling hand. “I’m not going to hide while people risk their lives for me!”

“This isn’t bravery—it’s stupidity,” Dew growled. He pushed me down against the ground, his body shielding mine as another wave of gunfire erupted. “You don’t understand how dangerous Hong is.”

“I’m starting to get the idea,” I muttered, flinching as a tree nearby splintered under a bullet’s impact.

Dew leaned closer, his voice low and deadly serious. “Listen to me, Nani. You are the plan. If you die, all of this falls apart. Sky is putting everything on the line to protect you. Don’t make his sacrifice meaningless.”

My breath caught at the mention of Sky. I nodded reluctantly, my fingers tightening on the knife. “Okay. I’ll go back. Just… stay alive.”

Dew gave a short, tense nod. “Go.”

---

Sky Wongravee

The SUV tore through the forest road, the engine roaring as I pushed it to its limit. The backup team was minutes behind me, but every second felt like an eternity.

Win’s voice crackled through the comms. “Boss, the decoy team reports no sign of Hong. They’re retreating, but casualties are minimal. He’s not there.”

“I know,” I snapped, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. “He’s at the real location. Get everyone there—now.”

“You’re going in alone?” Win’s voice was sharp with disbelief.

“If I wait, it’ll be too late,” I growled. “Hong doesn’t waste time. He’ll go for Nani himself.”

Win cursed under his breath, but I could hear him relaying my orders to the backup teams. “Boss, be careful.”

I didn’t respond. My mind was already racing through every possibility, every outcome. The plan had relied on keeping Nani hidden, protected. But now that Hong had found him…

I gritted my teeth. This ends tonight.

---

Dew Jirawat

The firefight was escalating. Hong’s men were relentless, their gunfire echoing through the dense forest like a relentless drumbeat. My team had done everything they could to hold the line, but the perimeter was collapsing under the onslaught.

“Fall back to the safe house!” I barked into my radio, my voice sharp and commanding. “Protect the interior! No one gets through!”

My men scrambled, retreating in formation toward the safe house. But I stayed where I was, crouched behind cover near the treeline. Something wasn’t adding up. Hong wasn’t the kind of man to stay on the sidelines while his men fought for him. He was here. I could feel it.

Then I saw him.

He emerged from the shadows with the quiet confidence of a predator, his black coat blending into the darkness around him. His men instinctively made way for him, parting like waves as he strode forward, a knife glinting in his hand under the pale moonlight.

I stepped out from cover, my rifle raised. “Hong!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos.

He stopped, his head tilting slightly as his cold, calculating gaze met mine. A slow, mocking smile spread across his face. “Ah, Dew,” he said, his tone smooth and venomous. “Ever the loyal dog. How long are you planning to delay the inevitable?”

“As long as it takes,” I said firmly, my hands are steady on my weapon.

Hong chuckled softly, the sound almost amused. “You’re wasting your time. You know why I’m here. We both do.” He tilted his head toward the safe house behind me. “Move aside. This doesn’t have to be your fight.”

“You’ll have to go through me first,” I growled.

Hong’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “That can be arranged.”

Before I could act, one of Hong’s men stepped into view, his weapon trained on me. My focus split for a moment—just long enough for Hong to slip back into the shadows, disappearing like smoke.

“Damn it!” I growled, taking cover as a fresh volley of gunfire erupted around me.

I pressed my comm to my ear, shouting into it. “Perimeter team, regroup at the safe house! We need to secure the interior now!”

“On our way!” came the crackling reply.

As I moved toward the safe house, my chest tightened. Hong was gone, but I knew where he was heading.

Inside.

---

Nani Hirunkit

I should’ve stayed inside. Dew told me to stay inside. But when I heard his voice shouting, when I saw the way the gunfire intensified, I couldn’t just sit there. Not when people were risking their lives for me.

I crept to the back of the safe house, clutching the knife Dew had given me. The forest was dark, the sounds of the fight muffled here. My heart raced, every shadow twisting into something menacing.

And then I heard it.

A low chuckle.

“Well, well. Look who decided to join the party.”

I spun around, and there he was. Hong.

He stepped closer, his blade glinting in the moonlight. I backed away, my hands held the knife tightly.

“Running won’t help you,” he said smoothly, his smile like a predator’s. “You’re exactly where I want you.”

" Are sure this is what you want Hong." I said softly. My eyes focus directly on him.

Hong’s smile widened. “definitely.”