novelraw 85: Use It Against Him
85: Use It Against Him
Kit:Kit stopped himself from spilling more of the truth to P’Kim. He shook his
head vigorously—he could not. If he slipped up more than he already has…god only knew what would happen next.
“Ah, actually I couldn’t see their face,” he blurted out dishonestly. “Y-you know how dreams are, your brain either shows you a blurred figure, or some guy you saw briefly at the grocery three weeks ago.” Kit hoped it was a convincing lie, but he couldn’t meet P’Kim’s eyes, fearing they might give him away.
“And… and anyway, you were right. It’s just a nightmare. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Kit released a deep exhale, before trying to return to the solace of his covers, only to be stopped by P’Kim, who held him by the shoulders, his hands firm and demanding not to be crossed.
“Kit.”
It was one single word. His name. And yet, his entire body became rigid.
“Listen…” Kit started to say, “I’m really tired, so I should go back to sleep…”
But P’Kim wasn’t listening. Instead, he reached out to unwrap the silk scarf from Kit’s neck.
It happened in slow motion: Kit’s eyes widened as he saw P’Kim’s hand approach, but he was frozen in place, despite all his senses telling him to move away, and he could only watch as P’Kim’s hand took hold of the soft fabric, tugging it gently, until it finally fell to the bed, exposing his neck and the red secrets he tried to keep hidden.
There it was. Out in the open. Kit flinched to himself, horrified by the action and worried about how P’Kim would react. Slowly, he met the older man’s gaze, but he… wasn’t angry…?
Kit blinked. Maybe he was still half-asleep. But no matter how many times he tried to ‘wake himself up’, P’Kim’s expression remained the same. He didn’t even look surprised.
Which meant that…? Dammit, P’Kla, that traitor! Clearly, he had told P’Kim everything Kit confided in him and asked to keep a secret. Kit groaned internally, not knowing whether to get angry because P’Kla didn’t honor their agreement, or laugh because of his useless attempts to hide things from P’Kim.
I’ll show him! “Well… I guess the cat’s out of the bag,” Kit said weakly. “Did P’Kla break the confidentiality agreement we had? And if so, can I sue him for it?”
P’Kim blinked at the randomly timed question. But then he realized that Kit was just trying to loosen the mood. He smiled in relief, moving closer to lean his head against Kit’s shoulder.
“I was so worried…” he mumbled.
“What was that?” Kit asked, unable to hear P’Kim’s voice that was muffled against his shirt.
P’Kim pulled away to meet Kit’s eyes. “To be honest, Hia Kla didn’t have to tell me anything, because I was already inside the house when you were talking to him. If we want to get into technicalities here, it was actually you me.” “Why? Were you planning to get rich by suing Hia Kla? Unfortunately for you, you would not be getting the chance to do so this time.”
Kit hit him weakly on the chest, his expression turning serious. “Not funny.”
“Ow!” P’Kim played hurt, rubbing the spot where Kit hit him. “What was that for?”
“How could you joke at a time like this?” Kit asked. “You should be angry at me for withholding the truth from you, especially since it’s concerning a matter that involves the literal lives of everyone around me.”
P’Kim’s face softened at Kit’s words. He knew Kit was feeling guilty about being so helpless, even though it wasn’t his fault anyway. “Simple,” he said. “Because I also know that your father had threatened you to silence with something that made you afraid, and that’s clearly also the reason why you were having that nightmare.”
Kit fell silent, mulling over what P’Kim said.
Knowing he wasn’t convinced, Kim took his hand, and Kit’s tensed body visibly eased at his lover’s touch. “I promise you that I will keep this information close to only myself and P’First; not one word about this will reach other people’s ears. Except maybe P’Kla since you already told him, but other than that, no one else.”
He continued, “Also, you need to realize that half of his threats were bluffs. I really don’t think he has forces more powerful than what P’First and I have combined. The only upper hand he had with us was anonymity, and even that’s now gone.”
“But what if he was really telling the truth?” Kit persisted, unable to let the possibility go. “What if his accomplice really was keeping an eye on all my friends and their families?”
“Kit, you do realize that it would take immense manpower and money on his behalf to employ men who are not only precise but also loyal?” Kim raised his brows questioningly. “He’s all but a fugitive, running for his life and in hiding, with finances that are depleting every second. If he did have as much manpower as he claims, then someone would’ve deflected by now, knowing who they were up against. And they would’ve come to us with information in exchange for money.”
“Then…is it possible he was working alone?” Kim asked, almost hopeful.
But, unfortunately, Kim had to be the bearer of bad news. “I don’t think he’s alone either. but his team is close knit and comprises of very few people. People…who are trustworthy and loyal only to him; most probably, former employees who have a bone to pick with me and P’First.”
“But then—”
“Don’t worry too much; I will take care of everything,” P’Kim reassured him before Kit could overthink, but his smile dropped. “Still, you have to take note that your father will contact you again soon enough, just before your trip to Chiang Mai, so you need to mentally prepare yourself. Avoid showing any signs that you told me, or anyone else for that matter, about him and what he is doing. Do not engage in any kind of conflict with him. Understand?”
Before Kit could even reply, P’Kim pressed his fingers to Kit’s neck, where the finger marks were still a dark red brand on his neck, ever so demanding of attention, before leaning in to kiss his neck lightly.
“No one has the right to hurt you, remember that. No one. You belong to me, and nobody touches what I own. Your father has made the mistake of messing with my lover, so mark my words when I say that I will make sure to end him for good this time around. I’ll make him pay for what he did to you.”
With that, he pulled Kit into his arms, and the smaller man curled into his warmth like it was a flame on an icy day.
“What will I do if my father corners me again?” Kit asked. “I want to get information about him, about what he’s planning to do next…but I… I don’t know how to act around him. He scares me, P’Kim…”
P’Kim stroked his hair, his voice almost a whisper, “If he wants information, then we’ll give him information, but we have to try and use that to our advantage, and corner him instead. How’s that for a change, eh?”