Mirror ✔ (VegasPete)

Chapter 7: Rebirth

April 11, 2016

(11:47 PM)

Pete slowly raised his hand as he gulped his pooling saliva hard. He was shocked but rational enough to register how fatal his situation would be if he didn't cooperate well.

"So you are the mole," he said, voice still hoarse because of the cigarette that's still burning between his fingers. Suddenly, he can feel the chill brought by the already ruined evening, trying to waver his stoned stature and competing with the gun behind his head, "Why are you doing this?"

Although he and Somsak are not really on great terms, Pete knows that the man is serious about his job and is very loyal to the main family. If he remembers it right, Somsak was Korn's former head bodyguard until Tankhun's kidnapping several years ago. Meaning, he is the eldest and longest bodyguard on duty. He'd probably seen several comrades of his come and go, whether it's in a bag or a jar.

Somsak also knows how to sort bodyguards at first glance, able to rank them if they are outstanding, apathetic, or spineless. And based on how he would always give Pete a side eye, giving why-are-you-even-here ? look, it's safe to say that Pete fits the latter.

Too bad. When it comes to selection, Korn has the final say.

"Turn around."

Pete just can't wrap it around his head. The man has no surviving family. No spouse and children that the other branch could hold onto him.

"What did the minor family promised to you? Was it money?" which is very unlikely, given that the main family could always... always provide more than them.

He felt the barrel lunging between the strands of his hair, now aiming directly on his skull.

"I said turn around."

He's not answering my questions, huh?

One thing that Pete learned about the dark part of society is that every ticking second counts when you are in danger. There is no justice, no unnecessary revelations, no evil laughs, no drama... Just you and what you are holding at the moment. Completely bare, no armor to protect yourself. Your survival is a choice. A strong instinct...

Earned .

The moment Pete turned around with his hair still stickily damp from a nightmare sweat, he dropped his cigarette, using it as distraction as he palms the barrel and redirecting the gun by shoving it to his left as swiftly as he can. Although unsuccessful to disarm his senior, what's important is that he is out of the muzzle point.

He didn't pull the trigger. There was a grace period to pull it. Pete didn't know how much, but he's aware that Somsak has the agility to kill him in an instant. Somsak was not only feared because of his longevity in the field, but also with his impossible reflexes and carefully planned combat response. So, even though Pete got him distracted with a little nicotine— which is a very newbie move, Somsak would've hit his shoulder if he took advantage of that millisecond.

Pete firmly held the barrel with his least dominant hand and tried to land an elbow hit behind. But Somsak didn't stand by this time, he ducked and let go of the gun, swaying and following Pete's failed attempt so he could hit his gut.

If you want to win a battle, you should not worry about the weapons. You should worry about the wielder.

Being a former boxer, Pete didn't have the problem to block the blow by hardening his muscle in that area. Although he'll admit that it knocked some breath out of him (it was one of the strongest blows he'd ever received), he knows that he has built an immunity to overcome fist fights injuries.