"Hold still," Porsche said, gently taking Kim by the chin to keep him in place as he cleaned out the tiny, crevices of cut skin on his cheek. "You need bodyguards."
"No," Kim said, wincing every time Porsche dabbed at his wounds.
"You belong to a family of shinning targets."
"I can handle it."
"This is the third time I have found you like this."
"What are my options?" Kim asked, looking up at Porsche. "Huh? Either they're moles who'll betray the first chance they get, or they'll be so loyal that they jump in front of bullets and..."
Kim frowned bracing himself against Porsche's desk where he was sitting, with a first aid kit by his side as Porsche tended to him.
"Is this about Big?" Porsche asked.
"It's not," Kim said, his voice quivering as he tried to move away when Porsche approached with the cotton swab. "It's not about him. I just don't... I don't like relying on people."
Right.
Lone wolf Kim.
Porsche hated that it had to be this way. He would have given anything to have such a huge family, growing up. The fact that there were so many Theerapanyakuls and yet, they were all in varied stages of estrangement was heartbreaking.
More and more stories were popping up about the growing "bond" between the cousins. Reading about them made Porsche wish so much, that it was true. But it wasn't the same in reality. Vegas was barely tolerant of the main family. Macau only seemed to spend time with Chay. Kinn kept his distance. Tankhun was closer to his bodyguards than even his brothers, not to talk of his cousins. And Kim... Kim was the farthest of them all.
"Would you like to stay for breakfast?" Porsche asked, knowing that Kinn was coming over.
"Not today," Kim said, standing up as he grabbed his destroyed jacket from the desk.
"Chay will be there."
Kim hesitated, frowning at the floor like it had insulted him. When he looked at Porsche, there was nothing but sadness in his eyes.
"Thanks for the gesture, but I'll be fine."
"You need a bodyguard."
"I'll think about it," he said, heading for the door, as he quietly let himself out of Porsche's apartment.
YOU ARE READING
The Mansion of Men
FanfictionThe mafia men need a place to blow off steam. And it's not the kind of place you might imagine. It's not a bar. It's not a brothel. It's not a gym. It's a website where they get to read anonymous fanfics about their co workers and bosses fucking ea...
