The Kingpin's Possession

44: Uneasy

Kit:Kit had always known about this part of the story, however, today, he felt like there was another side to it that no one knew about, a side that the P’Kim and his family didn’t always talk about.

And even though he had a feeling that he may be overstepping his bounds…he felt like he had to know the whole truth. It was the only way to getting to know P’Kla better, so that he could help him and P’Kanya build a future together, after this was all over.

“What made P’Kla change his mind?” He asked, a bit hesitantly. “Why did he venture away from his initial plans? It sounds quite serious.”

But P’Kim shrugged, seemingly uncertain of the answer himself. “To be honest, I hadn’t really talked to him in depth about that matter, but if you ask me, I believe it may have something to do with the gruesome nature of our father’s death.” He breathed in deeply, as though he was remembering memories he would have preferred not to remember.

His eyebrows were furrowed so closely together that Kit wanted to tell him, “Never mind, let’s not talk about it if it pains you to do so.” But before he could speak, P’Kim beat him to it.

“P’Kla was with my father, when he… when he died in battle with our enemy clan.” Kim’s voice tightened, but he didn’t look particularly sad. Instead, it seemed like he was just reciting a fact, one that was difficult to say aloud.

“Kraisee Ayutthaya—that’s my father—he had gotten into a feud about territory negotiation with the father of P’First, Thanawin Channarong. It had gotten so intense, that it escalated into a full-on shooting. And just when our father was about to escape, retreat being his best option for survival at that time, Thanawin had pointed his gun at P’Kla, ready to shoot the future heir so that no one would stand in the way of his negotiations.”

Kim leaned back against the wall behind them and closed his eyes momentarily, his hand still in Kit’s as a form of support, even though he was mostly numb when he spoke of his father. In all honesty, the man had been a good Jao Por“After we had held the funeral for our father, P’Kla told me that at the last moment, our father had shielded him, pushing P’Kla out of harm’s way. The bullet hit him straight in the head, going right through him and killing him instantly.” P’Kim opened his eyes again, but Kit felt the stiffness in his shoulders, the hardness in his eyes as he spoke of his father.

“P’Kla had to witness that gruesome death, and not only that, but survivor’s guilt also hadn’t been kind to him. It weighed on him heavily, and needless to say, that experience had changed him fundamentally. He had always been the more emotionless one between the two of us, but after that incident he became even more distant. I didn’t even think that was possible! But he just wasn’t the same anymore.”

Kit didn’t know how to respond to that. What could he even say to such a thing? “I’m sorry to hear that,” he ended up saying. “It must have been so difficult…”

Kim shrugged. “I think it’s his way of preparing himself in case I too die in the same way. So I don’t really blame him for trying to protect his heart.”

“P’Kim!” Kit warned instantly, not at all liking the casual way in which his lover was describing his death.

“Kar thot khabBut Kit could tell that he wasn’t over it at all, even if he pretended to. P’Kla’s indifference sometimes affected him as well, so it was only natural that his own brother would be even more affected.

However, Kit could tell that P’Kim didn’t want to talk about this any longer, and he didn’t push him anymore, even though he still had so many questions he wanted to ask.

“Is that why the Ayutthaya and the Channarong clans used to be at war?” he asked instead, and Kim was silently grateful at the slight change in the direction of their conversation.

“Those things are actually normal, believe it or not,” he responded with another shrug. “There are several groups of mafia all over Thailand, and ours along with the Channarong Clan are two of the strongest families, so territorial disputes were about as normal as the disputes about dealers.”

Kit didn’t doubt that; the mafia world operated in realms different to his own. Something he would never understand and never intended to either.

“But now,” Kim added, “things are different, and since P’First and I are on better terms, with the temporary truce in place, my relatives are trying to use that past tendency to disputes, as well as our father’s death, to force me to do their bidding.” Kim turned to look at Kit again, and this time, there was a blazing glint of determination painted on his face. “But I promise you—I will try my best to keep Kanya out of all this mess, as well as do my best to protect you. I swear.”

Kit nodded. “I believe you. With all my heart. I know you will.”

This time, Kim’s serious face broke into a smile. “I feel so lucky to have you,” he said as he leaned in, his hand going to Kit’s nape so he could pull him towards his chest.

Meanwhile, a shy Kit put his hand up, covering his lips. “What are you doing? My sister is going to have your child in the next room; it’s not appropriate!” He felt his cheeks flaming and hoped they weren’t as red as he felt. “And others may be watching, we have to be more careful.”

Kim laughed and gently pushed his hand away from his face. “Kit, I own this entire facility; nobody here cares what I do—they have no power over me.”

“Oh…I see…” Kit grumbled, but couldn’t fight off his smile anyway as he, too, leaned in until their lips met. P’Kim’s palm was warm on his nape, and he didn’t protest as P’Kim pulled him to close the gap between their bodies.

Chest against chest, lips against lips; Kit’s hands instinctively went up so his fingers could sweep the strands of Kim’s hair. P’Kim’s kiss had never tasted sweeter.

They broke apart as the door of the operation room opened and the doctor came out of the room, gingerly removing his gloves and shrugging his grown off, to find them in the hallway. If he saw them kissing passionately, he didn’t say anything about it.

“The procedure is completed,” he told P’Kim with a small bow. “You will need to come for a check-up after three weeks to see if the IUI was successful, and if so, we need to monitor how the embryo is developing.”

A while ago, after both P’Kanya and P’Kim disappeared into the room, it had been easy for him to convince himself not to feel bad about this entire thing. Kim loves you anywayno need to feel awful.And that line of reasoning had rung true then, because it had not felt real yet, especially with P’Kim coming out to assure him instead of staying by Kanya’s side.

But now… now it felt very, very real. All of a sudden, everything seems to have changed in the blink of an eye.

It was happening; starting now, his sister was carrying the soon-to-be child of his lover, making Kit start to feel uneasy… even if he kept trying to convince himself not to.

Everything was about to change…and he didn’t know exactly where he stood in all of this.