The Kingpin's Possession

34: A New Ally

Kim:Kim woke up with a start, his entire body drenched in cold sweat and his senses already on high alert.

Even before he regained consciousness, his senses had alerted him to the threat in the room, but as he went to reach for the gun that he always placed under his pillow when he slept…not only did he not find any traces of the said weapon, but a sharp pain shot up the entire right side of his body, making him wince as he lowered his arm, trying to rake his memory as to what had happened.

“Take it easy there NongKim looked to his side, watching P’First’s lips tilt up in a smirk as he stared down at him from the seat next to the bed. “Good morning.”

“P’First…” Kim looked around the sterile white walls of the hospital, the sound of a monitor beeping next to his ears finally registering on his senses. “What…what happened?”

In all honestly…after the bullet had hit him in his chest, he hadn't expected to wake up at all, and his last thought had been that Kit and Kanya might suffer if he suddenly died the way he did…protecting someone who he thought was the enemy.

But watching P’First at his bedside, watching over him while he had been unconscious…it wasn’t something he hadn't expected either, especially since the Ayutthaya and the Channarong family had been enemies for so long.

In fact, it wouldn’t have surprised him if P’First had taken advantage of Kim being injured and taken the chance to get rid of him once and for all.

“I know what’s going through that little head of yours.” P’First laughed at the change in Kim’s expression, knowing well that he had caught him red handed. “You’re wondering why I hadn't just put a gun to your forehead and blown your brains out?”

Kim raised his eyebrows at him. “If you’ve already brought up the question then why not answer it as well?”

First laughed once more, but this time, his laugh wasn’t the cunning cacophony of sound that he was used to from a man who was considered not quite sane by most people. Instead, it was a genuine laugh, one of amusement that he wasn’t used to hearing.

“Well…let’s just say that I was returning the favor.” First told him at last, sighing as he stood up from the chair. “You could’ve let that Russian boy kill me and be done with it. Then you would’ve never had to face competition in the market from me ever again. But you took the bullet instead, like the foolish, impulsive boy you are. So it was my turn to keep my end of the bargain. A life for a life, remember?”

Kim wanted to laugh at the word ‘boy’. He was only five years younger than P’First, but the man sure loved to think of him as a kid.

“That phrase is used in terms of revenge, P’First.” Kim tilted his head to the side, wincing as the notion shot a wave of pain up his entire upper half. “An eye for an eye, a life for a life.”

But P’First shrugged his shoulders. “Just like you said, it’s just a phrase. It depends on us how we choose to interpret and put it to use.”

With that, P’First walked towards the door, turning his back on Kim.

Kim felt a smirk tug on his lips at P’First’s words. It looks like he had just gained himself an unlikely ally, one that he had never even considered in the first place. Who would’ve thought that Kim would one day use the name First and the word ‘ally’ in the same sentence?

However, P’First stopped just before leaving the room, turning to face him one last time. “Your men are right outside, and Aawut had contacted that boy of yours already.” He smirked at Kim’s surprised expression. “I’ll let him know that you’re awake.”

As P’First left the room, Kim couldn’t help but become weary of the sudden change in situation.

Aawut had contacted Kit? Why on earth would he do that when he knew just how dangerous it was? And why did they bring Kit to the hospital? And where exactly was he anyway?

Kim looked around the unfamiliar sterile settings, the beeping on the monitors increasing with his increased heart rate when he finally realized that he had no idea where he was.

But much to his relief, it was Aawut, accompanied by the doctors, who rushed into the room then, and they shut the door behind them to ensure no one else to sneak in.

“Sire!” Aawut came to a stand by his side as the lights in the room were suddenly turned on and Kim had to squirm to adjust his vision. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Aawut?” He noticed that Aawut’s hand was still in a sling, which meant it hadn't healed just yet. “What happened? Why did you call Kit here?”

Kim asked, even though he was now doubting if P’First had been joking or not.

The doctors took his vitals in the meantime, poking and probing with their instruments and needles as they drew out some blood samples and the doctor used a torch to monitor the movements of his eyes.

When they were all done, the doctor turned to face Kim with the reports. “Mr. Ayutthaya, your vitals are looking good and your results came back fine. A slight rise in your cortisol levels shows that you’re in a lot of stress, so I’ve prescribed you some medications. Take them before bed to make sure that you get plenty of rest. As for the bullet, it was lodged on your chest and we had managed to successfully remove it without any damage to your organs. It should heal completely in a few months…but I’m afraid it might leave a scar.”

Kim nodded his head before dismissing the doctor. A scar wasn’t anything new to him. He had plenty on his body already. And they served as a reminder of the hardships that he had endured, the battles he had survived.

“Sire…you don’t remember?” Aawut asked him, only after the doctors had left the room, leaving the two of them alone.

“Remember what, Aawut?” Kim narrowed his eyes. “I can’t remember anything after the bullet hit me.”

“P’First was quick to kill that Russian man after he saw you fall.” Aawut told him, unable to keep the surprise out of his own voice. “And then he and his men brought you to the hospital to take care of you immediately. It was his quick action that saved your life.”

Kim listened to what Aawut told him, what P’First himself had already confirmed…that he had done so in return for Kim taking the bullet for him. But it was still unbelievable that the don of the Channarong family would be so kind to him, rather than seizing the opportunity to kill him.

“Any news about Ayan Ritthirong?” He asked, because that was the main reason why he had helped P’First in the first place.

“No.” Aawut lowered his head. “We searched the entire warehouse, including the houses of the men who had been working under the Russian Don. But it looks like he had been warned and he managed to flee the scene. It seems like he took even more money before he left. One of the safes had been emptied out of cash completely.”

“Figures.” Kim scoffed. “The man had survived so long by pretending to be dead. I don’t think he will let himself be caught this easily. So we better be careful. Get more guards to accompany Kaya and P’Kla in case they go out and increase security on the estate.”

“Yes, Sire.” Aawut nodded, about to leave the room, but Kim stopped him.

“You didn’t tell me why you called Kit here, Aawut.” His voice was sharp. “Does he know what happened to me?”

“Yes, Sire.” Aawut told him, much to Kim’s horror. “But…Sire…you were the one who asked us to call him.”

“Aarai na“Chai khabHe had…refused to get surgery until Kit showed up? Had Kim been in his right mind?

But even as he said that, Kit’s handsome face came to his mind, and he felt a yearning deep inside his soul to see his face…his innocent brown eyes.

There was no question that Kit would be worried about him, especially if he had already heard about the shooting. And that was something he wanted to avoid, but he didn’t think it was possible any longer.

“Sire…should I call him in?” Aawut asked now, breaking Kim from his train of thoughts.

“Chai