Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Walking into the Lion's Den

Hi guys, a short chapter for you. I got time while waiting for my flight. Please enjoy.

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The War Room – The Debate Begins

The air inside the safehouse’s conference room was thick with tension.

Joong leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Perth clicked through surveillance feeds, silent but calculating. Santa tapped his fingers restlessly against the table, while Dunk fidgeted in his seat.

At the head of the table, Head Chief Thanawat stood beside Captain Ohm, his expression unreadable. Dew leaned against the wall, his usually cocky smirk replaced by quiet focus.

And at the center of it all—Nani.

Because Nani had just suggested something that made everyone want to strangle him.

"Absolutely not."

Sky’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

Nani exhaled, already prepared for this.

“Sky—”

“No.” Sky’s jaw was tight, his stance rigid.

“You’re not walking into a meeting with Jason Blackwood.”

Santa let out a low whistle. “Damn. He didn’t even hesitate.”

Joong, who had been silent, finally spoke. “Nani… You have to know this is a trap.”

Nani met his gaze, unwavering. “Of course, it’s a trap.”

Dunk blinked. “Then why the hell are we even talking about this?”

“Because,” Nani said evenly, “it’s our trap too.”

Silence.

Perth frowned, adjusting his glasses. “Explain.”

Nani leaned forward. “Jason already knows I’m alive. He’s making moves against us, and we’re just reacting. We need to flip this. If we can control the meeting, we control the information.”

Sky scoffed. “You’re assuming there’s anything to control.”

Nani’s hands clenched. “Thupa knows the mole. Or at least, his face. If we can make Jason talk—”

Thanawat cut in, voice calm but firm. “You’re betting on too many ‘ifs.’”

Ohm nodded. “We don’t even know what Jason wants.”

Nani’s jaw tightened. “He wants to find me. And if we keep hiding, we’ll never get ahead of him.”

Dew, who had been silent, finally sighed. “I hate that he has a point.”

Sky shot him a glare. “Don’t encourage him.”

Dew smirked. “What? It’s kind of a good idea. If we set the right conditions.”

Santa leaned forward, intrigued. “Alright. Let’s say we do consider this insane plan. How the hell do we make sure it doesn’t turn into a bloodbath?”

Sky exhaled sharply. “We don’t. Because it’s not happening.”

Nani met his gaze. “Sky—”

“I said no.”

His voice was low, final.

And for a moment, Nani saw something else in Sky’s eyes.

Something beyond strategy.

Something like fear.

Nani swallowed. But before he could respond—

The door opened.

Agent Gemini and Agent Fourth stepped inside.

“Interpol’s already ahead of you,” Gemini announced.

Fourth grinned. “And you guys aren’t gonna like what we found.”

---

Another Ghost

Gemini dropped a thick file onto the table. “We dug deeper into Interpol’s compromised agents.”

Fourth pulled up a grainy security photo on the monitor. “Your mole isn’t just a rat.”

The screen flickered—showing a familiar, unrecognizable face.

Perth narrowed his eyes. “Who the hell is that?”

Fourth smirked. “No name. No real records. This guy? He’s a ghost.”

Nani’s stomach twisted.

The word ghost hits differently now.

Because that’s what they had called him.

A chill ran through him. What if the mole was someone just like him?

Thanawat’s expression darkened. “So we still don’t have a name?”

Gemini shook his head. “No. But we have a location. This guy? He’s already meeting with Jason.”

Dunk blinked. “Wait—right now?”

Fourth grinned. “No. Yesterday.”

Sky’s head snapped toward them. “Where?”

Gemini flipped a page. “Private estate. Somewhere in Phuket.”

Santa whistled. “Damn. Guy’s living the high life.”

Joong exhaled. “So Jason already has his mole close.”

Perth, focused on the data, murmured, “Which means this isn’t just about Nani anymore.”

Thanawat nodded. “It’s about everything.”

The room was quiet.

Then Sky spoke, voice low and sharp.

“We’re not meeting Jason.”

Nani clenched his fists. “Sky—”

Sky turned to face him, eyes blazing. “End of discussion.”

Nani felt something twist in his chest.

Because this wasn’t just a strategy anymore.

This was personal.

---

Lines That Shouldn’t Blur

Nani wasn’t sure how long he sat in the empty meeting room after everyone left.

Long enough for the coffee in his mug to go cold.

Long enough for his mind to spiral through every possible outcome of their situation.

Long enough to realize that no matter how much he tried to justify it—his plan was reckless.

And yet…

He still wanted to do it.

With a sharp exhale, he pushed himself up and headed for the shared bedroom.

Maybe if he got some rest, he’d start thinking clearly.

Maybe if he closed his eyes, he wouldn’t feel like he was one step away from losing everything.

He pushed the door open—

And froze.

Sky was inside.

Shirtless.

Nani’s brain short-circuited.

Sky, completely unbothered, was in the middle of changing his shirt. His back was turned, broad shoulders flexing, muscles shifting effortlessly as he pulled the fabric over his head.

Nani should’ve looked away.

He didn’t.

His heart almost stopped beating.

Then—Sky turned, catching sight of him.

Nani barely managed to swallow his reaction.

Sky’s brows lifted slightly, a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “You good?”

No. Absolutely not.

But somehow, Nani’s voice still worked. “Fine.”

Sky studied him for a second longer, as if deciding whether or not to believe him.

Then—his expression shifted.

“You’re really set on this?” His voice was quieter now. More careful.

Nani inhaled slowly. “…Yeah.”

Sky’s jaw tensed. A beat passed.

Then—he moved.

Closer.

Nani barely had time to react before Sky was standing in front of him, crowding his space, his presence heavy and unwavering.

The air in the room felt different.

Charged. Something waiting to snap.

Sky’s gaze locked onto his, dark and searching. “Let it go.”

Nani’s breath hitched. Not a request. A plea.

He could feel the warmth radiating off Sky’s skin.

Could hear the low, steady rhythm of his breathing.

Could feel the weight of every unspoken thing between them.

His fingers clenched.

“I can’t.” The words felt dangerous on his tongue.

Sky exhaled slowly. “You don’t have to do this.”

And then—he reached out.

Not just a light brush.

Not just a passing touch.

Sky’s hand found Nani’s waist.

Firm. Steady. A quiet anchor.

Nani’s breath shook.

Too much. Too close. Too real.

Sky’s fingers tightened—just slightly.

Enough to make Nani feel like if he leaned forward, even just an inch, there wouldn’t be space left between them.

There wouldn’t be anything left to hide behind.

Sky’s thumb brushed against the hem of Nani’s shirt—a barely-there touch.

But it sent a slow, burning pulse down Nani’s spine.

Their breaths tangled.

Their lips—almost—

A sharp knock on the door.

The tension shattered.

Nani jerked back, breath unsteady. Sky exhaled sharply, eyes flicking to the door like he was ready to murder whoever was on the other side.

Dew’s voice came through, casual as ever. “Sky, Nani, stop making out and come to the briefing.”

Nani turned red. “We are NOT—”

Santa’s voice chimed in. “Ohhh, so something was happening.”

Sky closed his eyes. Pinched the bridge of his nose.

“…I’m going to kill them.”

Nani groaned into his hands.

Because of course. Of course.

And somehow—he wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed at Dew and Santa…

Or at himself for wanting Sky to kiss him.

------

A Fragile Plan

The safehouse was quiet, but it wasn’t a peaceful silence.

Everyone was gathered around the main table, a digital map of Phuket glowing on the screen. Red markers. Moving assets. Encrypted messages. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but something still wasn’t adding up.

Agent Gemini tapped his pen against the table. “This is it. Interpol’s latest intel puts Jason’s mole at this location.”

The screen zoomed in on a private estate near the coast.

Fourth, leaning against the wall, added, “The ghost isn’t just working with Jason. He’s feeding him live intel.”

Sky’s jaw tightened. “So we cut him off.”

Laurent who just joined the meeting seated across from Nani, gave a measured nod. “Not yet.”

The room shifted.

Sky’s eyes sharpened. “Excuse me?”

Laurent remained composed. “If Jason trusts this mole, he’s already planned for us to come looking. If we move too soon, we might expose our own operation.”

Santa scoffed. “Or maybe waiting gives Jason more time to disappear.”

Joong frowned. “We’ve waited long enough.”

Laurent’s fingers interlocked. “Patience wins wars, Captain Wongravee. Rash moves get people killed.”

A loaded silence settled over the room.

Because that was a pointed statement.

And the way Laurent’s gaze flickered toward Nani—it didn’t go unnoticed.

---

A Warning That Won’t Come

Nani shifted slightly in his seat.

Something felt wrong.

He didn’t know if it was Laurent’s words or just the weight of the past few weeks crashing down on him, but something was off.

Like they were missing something huge.

He glanced at Sky.

Sky met his gaze, his expression unreadable—but there was something tense in his posture.

They weren’t the only ones who felt it.

Dunk drummed his fingers against the table, restless. “So what do we do? Just sit here?”

Perth, ever the strategist, adjusted his glasses. “We keep digging.”

Laurent inclined his head. “And we prepare for all possibilities.”

The squad wasn’t convinced.

Nani?

Nani was already thinking three steps ahead.

Because he had the sinking feeling that by the time they figured it out… it would be too late.

---

The Hunter Watches

Across the city, in a luxurious penthouse, Jason Blackwood smirked.

His informant had just fed him everything he needed.

The squad was hesitating.

And hesitation meant weakness.

A live security feed flickered across his screen. Not just of the Phuket estate—but of the safehouse itself.

Jason took a slow sip of whiskey.

He could see everything.

The squad. Their discussions. Their every move.

His lips curled into a dangerous smile.

“They think they’re closing in on me,” he mused.

His second-in-command, standing by the window, exhaled. “What’s the order, sir?”

Jason set his glass down, voice smooth as silk.

“Let them think they’re winning.”

He leaned forward.

“And when the time is right—”

His smile sharpened.

“—we remind them who’s really in control.”

---

A Moment Before the Storm

After the meeting, the team slowly dispersed.

Sky, still deep in thought, stood near the window, arms crossed, gaze distant.

Nani, standing beside him, watched the city lights outside.

The tension from the meeting still clung to them, thick and unspoken.

Neither of them spoke at first.

Then, quietly—Nani muttered, “Something’s wrong.”

Sky’s jaw tightened. “I know.”

Nani exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just can’t figure out what.”

Sky turned slightly, finally looking at him. “You don’t have to. That’s what we’re here for.”

Nani let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “You sound just like Thanawat.”

Sky smirked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Nani huffed. “It is when everyone keeps treating me like I need to be handled.”

Sky’s smirk faded, his expression shifting into something quieter. Something closer.

Then—he reached out.

Not just a light touch.

This time, he cupped the side of Nani’s neck.

Warm. Steady.

Grounding.

Nani’s breath hitched.

Sky’s thumb brushed lightly against his pulse. He wasn’t restraining him, wasn’t forcing anything—just holding him there.

Holding him still.

And Nani?

For the first time in days, he let himself stop.

Stop running. Stop thinking. Stop carrying the weight of it all alone.

Sky’s voice was quiet, but firm. “You don’t have to do this by yourself.”

Nani swallowed hard. He wanted to believe that.

But the words that came out were softer, more uncertain. “…Then why does it feel like i need to do this?”

Sky’s fingers tightened just slightly—a silent reassurance.

“Because you don’t trust people to stay.”

Nani stiffened.

Sky had never said it out loud before.

Not this directly. Not this clearly.

It should’ve pissed him off.

Instead, it made his chest ache.

Nani exhaled shakily. “Maybe that’s because they don’t.”

Sky’s expression flickered. A storm brewing behind his usually-calm gaze.

Then—he pulled Nani forward.

Not rough. Not desperate.

Just close enough that their foreheads nearly touched.

Sky’s voice was steady, unwavering. “I'm here for you, I’m not going anywhere.”

Nani's hands clenched into fists—fighting the instinct to pull away.

But Sky?

Sky wasn’t moving.

He was waiting.

And for once—Nani wasn’t sure if he wanted to step back.

Then—

A knock at the door.

Both of them snapped out of it.

Dew’s voice filtered through. “Captain. Nani. Meeting. Now.”

Nani exhaled sharply, forcing himself to step back. “Guess rest is out of the question.”

Sky let go slowly, his fingers lingering just a second too long before dropping away.

His voice was quieter this time. “Figures.”

But even as they left the room, even as the weight of reality came crashing back—

Sky’s skin still burned from where he had touched Nani.

And Nani?

Nani was still trying to catch his breath.