"I'm burning and it's because of you."
Three years ago one decision tore them apart before they even could be together. Now they meet again. With memories of the past and sweet promises of the future the world doesn't seem so bad. But the greed and...
"Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them."
- Bruce Lee
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The bullet hit one of the chandeliers, scattering the glass down on some of the people in the casino.
Detective Niran immediately stepped in front of Earth and pulled out his gun, "stay behind me, Mr Pirapat."
"You are playing a dangerous game, son," Chakrii said, pointing his gun at the detective.
"This is the police, put down the gun, sir!" detective Niran said firmly, his gun pointing in Chakrii's direction as well.
Chakrii sniggered, the idea of putting the gun away didn't even cross his mind, "I wasn't expecting you to go against me like this, Earth. Where's my wife?"
"My mother is somewhere where she is safe."
Chakrii shook his head with clear disapproval, "she was safe at the clinic. She is sick, Earth. She needs to be taken care of."
Earth wasn't naive, he had expected one of the nurses, most likely the older one, to call Chakrii once they left the clinic. What he wasn't expecting was for Chakrii to already have some kind of backup plan in motion. How did he even fucking know that they would be here?
"Sir, please, put down your gun and no one will get hurt," detective Niran said calmly, gripping his own gun tighter.
"I don't think you are in a position to tell me what to do," Chakrii looked around the casino, "there are my men everywhere and you...you are here with my stupid son, alone."
Son, Earth wants to laugh. If only you knew...dad.
Detective Niran was trying to scan the entire dimly lit place, looking for clues or evidence for what was happening there and indeed, Earth didn't lie. There were children, now holding onto their mothers or everyone they could, scarred after hearing the shooting. Owning a casino was already illegal but also being involved in children's labour put this whole thing onto the highest level of importance. The problem was detective Niran had no idea how to get out of this.
"Mr Watthanasetsiri, if we just could sit down somewhere, talk about this calmly...maybe you could call your lawyer—"
"I don't need a lawyer because you aren't going to arrest me," Chakrii interrupted whatever bullshit was the detective trying to push onto him. "Either you are going to leave this place right now and forget that you have ever seen anything or this will be the last thing you have ever seen, your choice."
Earth glared at Chakrii with nothing but resentment, "are you seriously threatening a detective now? Dad...just, for once in your life do what's right and let this all go."
"How do you want to take after me one day if you are willing to give up all of this so quickly, Earth? This is our imperium, our money, everything we have," Chakrii started shaking in anger, "how can you be so pathetic? Giving up all of this just because it's illegal? There are way more important things than obeying a useless law! Look at everything we have because of it. Look at it!" Chakrii shouted.
"I have to remind you, Mr Watthanasetsiri, that everything you say can be used against you in court," detective Niran said.
Chakrii laughed, "have you not listened to me? You aren't arresting me today or ever."
From the corner of his eyes, Earth saw Chakrii's men encircling them and then they grabbed detective Niran and pulled him away from Earth.
"You are making a mistake, Chakrii Watthanasetsiri," detective Niran warned.
Chakrii clicked his tongue, "I never make mistakes. Now, if you excuse me, I'll take my son for a little tour around here."
Earth frowned, backing off a little, "I'm not going anywhere."
"You want this guy to live, right?" Chakrii threw a glance in the detective's direction. "Come on, I just want to show you around the casino if you are already here."
Earth considered his options; walking away wasn't possible, trying to fight so many men and hoping that detective Niran would stay alive also didn't seem plausible. Being stubborn and standing there, arguing with Chakrii could take hours but doing what Chakrii wanted and going with him for a tour around the casino didn't feel right either. Earth highly doubted that the tour was really just a tour.
He sighed, slowly nodding, "fine, lead the way." It was the only thing he could do even if he didn't like it. Maybe he could try to talk to Chakrii straightforwardly. Maybe that way he could actually get something good out of it...maybe.
A winner kind of smirk spread on Chakrii's face, he turned around and smiled, "my apologies, ladies and gentlemen, it's just a slight inconvenience. You can go back to enjoying yourself. All the alcohol for the rest of the night is on me."
Earth got startled by how fast everything returned back to normal after Chakrii's words as if he didn't shoot a gun and threatened a detective right in front of everyone's eyes. Earth shook his head in disbelief and followed his father as he moved deeper into the casino.
"Tell me, Earth, how did you find out? Was it your mother? How long did you know where she was? I must say that I couldn't believe that you took her away when I got the call, but you really did."
A sharp pain struck through Earth's body before he realized that Chakrii just slapped him with the back of his hand so that it would hurt more so that his golden family ring would do the most damage.
Earth stepped away, "you aren't going to do that ever again!"
Chakrii chuckled, "that depends on how you gonna behave. I think I was too nice to you. But after what you have just done, it's time to show you what it really means to be a Watthanasetsiri. And get ready, you are going to meet your fiancee. You'll love her; she is gorgeous."
Earth froze in place. That was it. Chakrii has lost his mind.
"No."
"Oh come on, son. She is wonderful," Chakrii laughed.
"Listen to me and listen to me carefully," Earth said sternly, "she can be the most perfect woman in the world...I will never marry her!"
Chakrii cocked his eyebrow, "no? And who you want to marry? Mix? Don't be stupid."
"How long do you know?" Earth asked.
"What? That you two are fooling around? Long enough," Chakrii put a hand on Earth's shoulder, squeezing it harshly, "tell me, son. Isn't it funny how the lives of parents and their children got so tangled up together once again?"
When Earth didn't even flinch or showed up the confusion in any other way, Chakrii nodded in amusement, "looks like you already know."
Earth stepped away, Chakrii's hand falling from his shoulder, "I know more than you think."
"What are you talking about?" Chakrii asked and Earth could see him tense.
Yes, Chakrii, I know something you don't, Earth thought, not breaking their eye contact. He didn't say anything. Letting Chakrii drown in uncertainty and confusion for a while. It felt good. Addicting.
"Tear gas!" Someone suddenly shouted as the place started to fill with white smoke and people started coughing and screaming.
"What have you done?" Chakrii screamed.
Earth only shook his head, trying to see something or someone in the white wall of gas in front of them.
"I want everyone at least 10 meters away from my son! Especially you, Chakrii!"
"Boss?" Earth coughed, hiding his face in the sleeve of his jacket.
Somewhere at the back of the casino, Mrs Wongratch was clutching a phone to her chest, praying for everything to end well.
To be continued...
P.S. Mix's mom kinda saving the day? Or making everything even worse???
