Chapter Text
Kinn had not expected the day going the way it went. Nothing could have prepared him for the roller coaster of situations his day had gone through but, as the Head of the Main Family, he needed to be prepared for whatever fate would bring. But, still.
Analysing the situation from the perspective of an outsider, it could be considered an unhinged sequence of events. From his perspective, it was not a normal field day, but a calmer one, compared with the usual. Nevertheless, from the perspective of his young companion, sitting in the back of the Mercedes he had chosen for the day, it ought to be something from a very gruesome action film.
Not that he minded the outcome, true be told, and he knew his husband wouldn’t mind either. Porsche would be ecstatic to finally pour his fatherly side towards someone else, leaving the bodyguards finally alone. They were going to be able to finally breathe but, Kinn was completely certain, all of them would miss the dotting boss they were already used to. They still had Pete, mind him, to pamper and spoil them, that’s it, until either Vegas, or Pete himself, had a day similar to the one he just had. Alas, that was a matter of fate. And his, basically, had come from a box.
Kinn parked the car in front of the office building his business partners had invited him to. A business breakfast was not his preferred ambiance of negotiation, but considering the eccentricity of the hosts, he was no one to complain. Porsche had refrained from going, stating that a business breakfast was definitely not his cup of tea and that he had already arranged the whole morning with Pete to train the newcomers. He knew his husband was bullshitting him, but, who could complain against a naked Porsche leaning back in the full wall window of their bedroom? Definitely not him.
The guards at the front gate greeted him with reverence and he recognised a young man that had worked with him in one of the family’s hotels as a doorman. He was polite and friendly, always caring about hosts and guests the same. He smiled to the boy and the boy smiled back, relaxing his shoulders. Maybe he was just as uncomfortable as Kinn and seeing his former boss had given him just a bit of reassurance.
Kinn pranced with confidence through the hallway until he reached the lift, that opened like it had been waiting for him, and pressed the terrace button. Whilst the ride, he received a selfie from Porsche, who had apparently not lied about the training, and was sitting next to Pete in the box ring floor with the bodies of the new guards scattered around them. Kinn could almost hear the heavy panting of the defeated men. He chuckled and saved the picture in the folder called ‘Porsche’ in his gallery.
The ding of the lift indicating he had arrived pulled him out of his Porsche daydream. He could not fathom how, after years and years of being together, Porsche still made his heart flutter like a 15-year-old girl. Love, he supposed. And that perky, round arse of his…
- Kinn! - The lady at the table called his name. She was one of the business partners he was to see. The elegant Korean woman, Ji-yoo, was eight months pregnant and still attending meetings with a radiant smile and her classy demeanour.
Kinn approached the table and greeted her with a kiss to her hand, having her practically giggling and slapping his arm playfully. She never changed.
Next to her was a stern, old man with wrinkles in his wrinkles and calculating eyes. It had been a while since Kinn had seen Mr. Lan, who, apparently, never aged, for Kinn had always seen him the same. Although Mr. Lan was quiet and serious, his negotiations and accordings were as serious as him, nothing slipped pass his keen gaze and Kinn knew that having that man on his good side meant good business with Northern and Western China.
The last person sitting was the young heir of the Japanese mafia empire, Hayato, who had recently become a father and was living in the northeast, Bangkok for reference. His father, Mr. G, as he was usually referred, had asked his oldest to live in Thailand to soften the relationship between the two countries and, to Kinn’s fortune, everything had gone smoothly in the last five years of him being a Thailand resident. Everything pointed to the Yakuza and the Thai mafia having a polite relationship.
After finishing the last cup of tea and before saying his farewells, a commotion started. The sound of clattering trays and broken glasses echoed over the small room and loud screams followed. Kinn was the fastest to react, stepping between the door and Ji-yoo, shielding the pregnant woman from any upcoming threat.
Kinn regretted the moment he decided to leave his bodyguards at the compound. It was just going to be a short meeting and then he would go straight to his husband. Seeing the simplicity of the morning plan, he had decided to let his guards back home and just take his old gun and a bulletproof vest.
Ji-yoo held to his arm as Hayato and Mr. Lan rose to their feet to stand next to him. Their guards were outside so, at least, there was a first line of security protecting them. How an attack had come to happen, he had no idea, but he was certain that a lot of people were going to be fired. He held his gun confidently and stared at the door, waiting.
They didn’t expect to be ambushed by smoke. And as soon as Kinn smelled it, he understood they were going to be in a lot of trouble. Mr. Lan was telling them not to breathe, but the windows were closed and the AC was barely functioning. As a result, Ji-yoo had to lean her body weight over Kinn and he resorted to hold her up to avoid injuries. The amount of sleep gas was not enough to make all of them faint, but it was perfect to make them all dizzy.
Everything happened in a whim. A group of armed men dressed in black entered the room, holding them hostages and depriving them of their belongings. They took their phones and communication devices and all the weapons they had on them. The four were dragged to the main entrance and pushed to kneel in the ground while they waited for something.
- Khun Kinn – he was addressed by one of the bodies next to him. It was the young man he had seen when he arrived. He didn’t remember his name – please don’t react to me, they think I'm dead – he opened his eyes wide and then threw himself to the ground, pretending.
- You four will definitely do – one of the masked men said – the boss will be pleased.
Kinn held the masked man's gaze until he disappeared inside the building. The boy called him again.
- Stay still – the boy reached slowly his side and slid a gun in one of his pockets, then under his trousers' waistband and one last in the pocket of his suit jacket – I got them from the dead guards. After they leave with you, I can get help, what do you want me to do?
Kinn was direct and clear with his indications: go to the Theerapanyakul compound, get to either Porsche or Arm or Pol, tell them what happened, wait for instructions.
- You think they'll believe me? - Was a very clever question. He had nothing on him to give the boy to proof his point, he just had to trust his husband and his guards, also trust the boy to get to the compound in time. He should really come up with a keyword for times like these.
- Just... go. They'll either believe you and act immediately, or realise that something had happened and act later. Is just the only chance we have.
The boy nodded. His leg was bleeding, Kinn realised, and the boy had smeared his own blood over his body to appear dead. Clever. He didn't know how long was it going to take the boy to reach the compound, if he was going to have the opportunity, that's it. He didn't know how would the boy do it, either. He just knew that their lives were in the hands of the young boy and in the three guns he had sneaked in him. He had to save them all.
When a black SUV parked in front of them, Kinn knew they were going to be taken away as hostages. Was it for ransom? Blackmail? Leverage? He didn't know yet, but one thing he was certain about was that he was not letting them win. And apparently neither of the four were.
With their hands tied behind their backs, the four were hoisted and thrown inside the vehicle, not minding Ji-yoo's pregnant state or Mr. Lan's age. Inside the SUV, they were blindfolded and gagged with dirty, smelly clothes. The doors were closed and the engine started.
Kinn was trying to follow the path in his mind: right, left, straight ahead, curve, stop. A few movements gave up the location, but his mind was still confused due to the smoke that he lost track of the road. He was certain of one thing, though: they hadn't left the city.
They were manhandled inside a dark basement. The four of them had their legs also tied up and the blindfolds taken off. The men in black masks gave them an uninterested glance and closed the door with a big bang. The loud noise echoed within the four walls surrounding them.
No one could talk, as the gags were still pressed to their mouths, but Kinn knew (and he was 100% sure of it), that all of them were minutes away from untying themselves. Kinn tried, calmly, sensing the loops and knots he had been tied with, recognising them and remembering his training, a long time ago. His father had made sure none of his kids were unable to take care of themselves after Tankhun's incident and made them take an intensive training with the bodyguards. Kinn had been the happiest, Kim, on the other hand, had loathed every single moment of it, even though he was the best.
Ji-yoo was the first one to get free, and immediately pulled the gag down.
- Next time they should try washing the cloths, this is disgustingly gross. I can taste the blood and the sweat, still.
- Fully according, Miss – Hayato answered after throwing his gag meters away from him.
- I would have preferred that industrial duct tape – Kinn added – it hurts, but at least doesn’t smell. Ji-yoo, how are you feeling?
- Not the worst, also not the best – Mr. Lan added calmly.
- I'm good, Kinn, a little dizzy and tired, but we are doing okay – she caressed her belly – little Min-woo is a tad restless, but we are doing fine. Mr. Lan?
- Not the worst, also not the best – he repeated.
- I got some guns – Kinn finished untying his legs and took the three guns out – the doorboy gave them to me.
- Gotta give credit to the kid – Hayato got one of the guns and got it ready for action, Mr. Lan followed his example after Ji-yoo rejected it.
- I'm better with knives.
They only had one opportunity, and one opportunity only. It had to be a coincidence of having the door open and the guards distracted, which presented after three visits from their captors. Kinn recognised the moment, so did the rest, meaning that, when Mr. Lan gave them the sign, both Kinn and Hayato aimed and shot the two distracted guards. Immediately after, action began.
They all stood up and started climbing the stairs, Mr. Lan going in front, followed by Kinn, Ji-yoo and Hayato in the back. There weren't many guards, that meant they didn't have to shoot that much, but, to cross the hallway to get to the main door, they had to get through the open living room, where everyone had decided to wait for them.
After breathing deep, Mr. Lan nodded and opened fire, taking cover behind an old wardrobe. Kinn hid behind the kitchen island and dragged Ji-yoo with him, who has busy gathering as many knives as she could. Hayato was hidden by a big column and aiming to whoever tried to get closer.
At some point, when bullets started to ran out, knives began to cut and stab, being thrown by Ji-yoo with perfection. The last body fell in front of the TV showing a boring football match.
- Yeah, better with knives – Kinn held her hand to help her stand up.
When they were about to leave, they were ambushed by a big, unmasked man but, before he could possibly harm them, the man shrieked and fell to the ground, panting and bleeding. Behind, a middle-aged woman held a kitchen knife. Kinn shoot him in the head.
- Come – she said – before the boss comes back.
Kinn and the rest followed the woman to a residential complex about twenty minutes from where they had been held hostages. She led them upstairs to a small, well-decorated, two-bedroom flat, where a man was standing, cooking.
- Love! - She yelled.
- May! What the hell are you doing here?! This is... - she silenced him with her hand.
- I think I managed to go away, they killed everyone, the boss is never going to come to my life again.
Kinn helped Ji-yoo to sit down in the worn-out sofa of the room. The woman, May, offered her a glass of water and a sweet smile. Kinn was about to ask for a phone, when the scandal outside alerted them of something happening. The woman kicked them inside a room and locked the four of them in.
- Keep quiet – she said – I will tell him you are not here.
May didn't have the opportunity to finish her answer when the man asked. He shot twice. Judging for the sound, he was alone. Kinn heard him opening one door outside and closing it again, apparently finding nothing. Then he opened the door of the room they were into.
- Found... - just like he didn't let May finish, Mr. Lan shut him up as soon as he saw him entering the room.
Ji-yoo's men were the first to arrive. They made sure their boss was safe and healthy before addressing the rest. Kinn asked for a phone.
- Hello?
- Hi, darling.
- Kinn? Kinn! Kinn, oh, Kinn! - Porsche yelled on the other side of the line – the boy told us what happened, Arm is following your tracker, Pete and I are getting into the cars, all the teams are ready to...
- Baby, I'm ok – Porsche kept blabbering and not listening to him – Baby – he tried again, to no avail – Porsche! - He finally yelled. He hated to yell to his husband, but Porsche was rambling to much – Porsche, listen to me – he waited until there was silence. Better. - Listen to me, baby. I'm ok, we are ok. Ji-yoo's people are here, they got quicker than anyone... no baby, I'm not complaining... Porsche, listen to me... Thank you. I'm going to send everyone here to the compound, Mr. Lan, Hayato and Ji-yoo, so I need you fully on charge. Have the doctors ready, especially for her, if she has her own doctors, then give them a room. I'm riding with them to the compound, you get me?
- But...
- Porsche, is our territory. We were taken on our territory, I need to keep the status quo. Also, I need to know they are okay. Her people are enough to take care of us. I will ride to the hotel with them, get my car and go home, yes? Please, help me out with this.
-… Okay, but you owe me a huge supper and a holiday and...
- Whatever you want, Beautiful, name it.
- You, Kinn. I want you, safe, here.
- I'll give you the biggest hug in a few hours, wait for me?
Porsche hummed and hung up. Kinn smiled.
- Ji-yoo – he called – take everyone to the Theerapanyakul compound, we have doctors and people awaiting to check on everyone. Is the safest place right now.
She nodded and directed her people. Hayato and Mr. Lan were also communicating with their own, passing the information of what Kinn had said.
He looked down to May's and Love's bodies. It was unfair, he knew, to have two innocents killed because of them. He would make sure to get them a proper burial.
Kinn was the last one to leave the flat. He stayed behind to properly say goodbye to May and her husband and thank them for their help, when a loud thud startled him. It came from the other closed door he hadn't even realised was there. His gun was unloaded but he didn't mind. He walked to the door and kicked it open. A soft yelp from the side surprised him.
The kid inside the big cardboard box was not over seven. His little hands were quavering, holding to the edge, and his face was washed with tears and saliva. The box was wrinkled from where he had been holding. Kinn hid his gun.
- Hi – he said, fearing the worst.
- Hi – the kid offered with a trembling voice. - Is it safe to go out now? Ma said to hide. Did Ma say to unhide?
Kinn's heart shattered. May. It was May's boy. May's and Love's little child. Was he the only one?
- Do you have siblings?
- No, but Ma said she wanted another kid. I don't know why.
- Are you... hurt?
- I'm scared.
How could Kinn possibly break the news to the kid? The cruel reality that his parents had been murdered in cold blood because of him?
- Your mother asked me to take you to a safer place – he lied – while she makes sure everything is ok, would you like that?
The boy nodded.
Kinn looked at the kid, he was sound asleep in the back of his Mercedes, hugging the stuffed animal he had picked from his place. Kinn had covered him with his own jacket and made sure the boy was the safest inside the vehicle. When he pulled inside the compound, Porsche was the first to approach and, as promised, Kinn hugged him like he wanted to be under Porsche's skin.
- I was scared – he said – when the boy told us you were taken. Arm didn't believe him, but I had a hunch, you know? I called you, and the hotel, and Hayato... and I had to trust the boy. I'm so glad I did. Are you ok?
So, how do you break the news to your husband that you two are now, apparently, parents?
- Better now – Porsche's smell was the biggest gift – Porsche, I need to tell you something. - Porsche frowned. - Is... you know... the woman...
- Spit it out, Kinn.
- We have a child.
- YOU SLEPT WITH A WOMAN AND HAD A CHILD?!
- NO! Shut up, shut up, people are going to hear. No... - he sighed – listen. A woman helped us scape, from where we were held. She hid us in her home and we got her and her husband killed. Before leaving, I heard a noise. And...
- They had a kid – Porsche finished for him.
- A little boy, I think he's not even seven. He is in the backseat of the car. Porsche, I couldn't... I had... he was...
- We have a child, Kinn – he accorded with his husband – we have a child, is ok, we have the child – he hugged Kinn and soothed him with reassurance. He repeated the mantra over and over again until Kinn had calmed down. - Can I see him?
- I think he's asleep, let's see.
Kinn opened the door of the back seat and the little kid was half awake, he held tight to his stuffed tiger and rubbed his eyes.
- Kid? - Kinn called – are you awake? Are you ready to come out?
- Yes – his little voice stabbed Kinn's heart.
Porsche helped the little boy to go down the car and knelt to look at him in the eyes.
- What's your name, big boy?
- Bird, but I don't like my name.
- And why is that?
- Aunties call me Birdie and it sounds like a girl's name.
- And what name would you like?
- I would like the name of a bird.
Kinn knelt next to his husband.
- I have one, if I may. - The boy nodded. - There is a big, powerful bird that is a legend. Is a bird that is able to beat all the troubles in its life, to go through harsh situations and come unharmed. Is a bird that, when defeated, comes back, stronger, more powerful, from its own demise. Would you like the name of that bird, Bird?
- Yes, please.
Kinn grabbed Bird's hand and then Porsche's. He made them look to the compound, where people were coming in and out. He saw Ji-yoo, Mr. Lan and Hayato addressing their people. He saw Arm and Pol addressing his. Then, he looked at his little family.
- Welcome home, Phoenix Theerapanyakul.