Déjà vu

Pete's POV

Three months later events from FanFic 'The Way You Taste' (Chapter 29): Fancy party at The Diamond Private Club

We are back again to The Diamond Private Club.

It's the first time in two months that Vegas has let me out of the safe house. Not after a lot of arguing. And an intense night of reconciliation.

I am not happy to be back at this club. But we definitely need to be here tonight to talk to this despicable being, Khun Sanya.

...

"Long time no see. I'm glad you came." Khun Sanya smiles cordially at me and Vegas, who just nods in boredom.

"Thanks for inviting us" I put my hands together and bow to him pretending to be friendly.

"This is a party between business partners. It wouldn't make sense if you weren't here."

"That's what we are, isn't it?" Vegas shows his cunning smile.

"I consider you more than that for sure..." Khun Sanya winks at me.

The tension is palpable between those two. People are easily fooled by seductive, friendly smiles like those of Vegas and Khun Sanya.

But I am no longer deceived by them.

Khun Sanya is bold now. Much of his true personality is evident to me. He no longer tries to hide his true self. He's kind indeed...but dangerous like every mafia boss. He turns to talk to me.

"How was your trip to China, Khun Sanya?"

"Very promising, Pete. It might be interesting for you to go there. I remembered of you when I saw this object."

He hands me a black velvet box. Inside, a crystal and diamond chess piece.

Vegas frowns.

"It's a Knight." He smiles at me again "Oh! I have one for you too, Nong Vegas. Do not need to be jealous."

Vegas takes the black box unwillingly.

"A king." Khun Sanya smiles wryly at Vegas. Then he looks at the two of us. "Those pieces suit you both well, don't they?"

Vegas doesn't look at the object. He just keeps his menacing gaze on Khun Sanya.

"They do. Thank you, Khun Sanya. It was very kind of you."

"And you're always...so deadly cute, Pete." Khun Sanya reaches out to touch my face, smiling lewdly to me.

Vegas steps between us, giving him a death-glare. Khun Sanya retracts his hand and smirkes back.

"Please, enjoy the party...have fun."

He leaves us alone.

"I hate this guy. He can put this gift right in the middle of his ass."

"Those are keys, Vegas"

"Keys? That rat did it, then."

"Mhmm. Give it to me." I take the chess piece out of the box for a better look. "A beautiful key for a nasty place."

"I'll have a fancy chessboard made for you." Vegas grabs me by the waist.

"Stop this! There are other people here."

Vegas is increasingly shameless.

"What's the problem? I want everyone to know that you are mine... especially that bastard." He sniffs at my neck.

"Vegas!"

As Vegas turns to get a glass of champagne, I look at the two shiny chess pieces again before handing them to Nop. I glance up, where my eyes meet Sanya's looking back at us from the mezzanine. Khun Sanya raises his glass to me, smiling. Assistant Lee follows him and bows to me. Then they turn around and I don't see them anymore.

Damn psychopath. Maybe I should have killed him that day.

But now there's no turning back.

I've made a deal with the devil.

I need this monster to catch other monsters.

Mostly I need to know why Sanya's father had a delivery order on me. It was certainly before I met Vegas, but we don't know if it was issued when I was already working for the main family. Any rivals from the Theerapanyakul family maybe? I'd worked for them since a very early age. Any revenge?

I've gone over all the rivals of Khun Korn and Khun Kinn I've ever had to deal with. All the times I saved Tankhun from being kidnapped. There can be so many options. And at the same time none catches my attention. It would make more sense if it was a assassination order than a delivery order.

...

That old glassy-eyed and heads-turning feeling watching Vegas come in.

The Karma of having a hot, sexy husband.

And he doesn't help me at all! He's dressed to kill as usual. A see-through black shirt.

Shameless.

But he wanted me to come covered from head to toe.

"Let's go to the table with your cousins." I see Tankhun waving frantically at me in the distance.

"Do we really need to? Can't we hide in that bathroom upstairs? Vegas gives me a naughty smile".

"Tankhun has already seen us. He'll be here for me in a few seconds if we don't move."

"Damn...he is such a third wheel."

When we got to the table, Macau was already seated next to Arm.

They were talking but stopped when we arrived.

Vegas sat between them, giving a faint smile.

"Pete, why are you dressed like this?" Thankun makes a disgusted face. "I can barely see your skin! Where are those beautiful, fashionable clothes I sent you?"

"Burned" Vegas replied bluntly.

"WHAT?" Tankhun frowns and pulls me by the arm.

"Where are you taking Pete?"

"Restroom. I need company."

"I' m going too." Vegas threatens to get up, which makes Macau smile relieved.

"So Pete will stay here, and you'll go with me." Tankhun says ironically.

"You are so irritating. Why don't you take Arm?" Vegas retorts.

Macau frowns.

"You two stop it. I'm going with Tankhun and I'll be right back, Vegas." I say.

Macau wilts.

Arm continues to drink something, not moving much. Not saying anything. Barely breathing next to Vegas.

...

Vegas thinks for a moment...looks at Macau and Arm...sighs angrily, but stays where he is.

"Don't take too long and don't stop anywhere" He orders me.

Tankhun makes a face at him and pushes me forward.

On the way to the restroom, Tankhun motions with his hand for Pol to come.

"Bring that suit"

"Yes, Khun Noo"

Minutes later Pol returns with what appears to be a suit covered by a cape.

Tankhun pushes me into a stall and hands me the suit.

"Wear this, Pete! Your husband is not ashamed to make you dress like this. He missed putting a paper bag on your head. He is sick."

"Wow, Khun Noo. This suit is gorgeous! But with this cleavege...Vegas will be furious. I can't..."

"Pete, look at how he's dressed! Your husband is wearing a see-through shirt! It doesn't bother you to see people eating your husband with their eyes? Have you not noticed it?"

"You are right, Khun Noo! I must make him change clothes and cover himself too. That exhibitionist narcissist bastard!" I feel anger rising in me.

"No, Pete!"

"No?!"

"Listen to me. You wear this suit and teaches him a lesson."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm dead sure"

I leave the stall.

"Wow, Pete! Much better! I'm so good at fashion!" Tankhun gets excited.

I notice people in the bathroom looking at me awkwardly.

I feel uncomfortable.

"I'm not sure about this". I'm hesitant and try to get back into the stall.

Tankhun stops me and makes me look in the mirror.

"Can't you see how beautiful you are?!Why hide youlself behind boring clothes while Vegas expose himself?!Did he ask you what he could wear?"

Tankhun is like that little devil who speaks truths to my ears and makes me feel like killing Vegas.

"Hmn...I've been through this before and it wasn't a good idea..."

"Pete has a point, Khun Noo. Khun Vegas won't like this at all." Pol tries to help me.

"Don't be so soft with him, Pete! You were my head bodyguard! Don't be a scaredy-cat kind of wife."

"Okay, you are right! I'm not a wife. I'm a husband. I'll do it!" I said feeling powerful. "Oh, what do I do with this outfit Vegas gave me...?!..."

Tankhun takes the clothes from my hands.

"Pol, take it. I'll burn it later." He says, resolute. "Vegas, asshole, he dared to burn my gifts to you, Pete. I want to make a fire out of this trash he gave to you!"

...

When we left the bathroom, eyes were still looking at me.

Embarrassing. I'm not in a disguise anymore. I'm not pretending to be sexy. Even so, there are people looking at me.

I lowered my gaze, trying to get to the table as quickly as possible, not stopping anywhere like Vegas said.

Tankhun and Pol went to the bar.

When I get close to the table, there is nobody.

My eyes search Vegas, finding him on the dance floor. He is talking to someone.

Is this serious? They must be kidding me.

...

Macau's POV

I've been looking for Arm all over the place, to no avail. He was gone just as Tankhun pulled him onto the dance floor, but my brother wouldn't let me leave the table so we could wait for P'Pete to come back.

My brother was forced to get up onto the dance floor, and I took the opportunity to get rid of him.

"Hi Pol! What are you doing here at the bar alone? Where's my cousin?"

"Dr. Top arrived. They are together...dancing."

"Dr. Top is here?!"

"Yes, Khun Noo convinced him to come."

"Wow, crazy cousin is skilled. Dr. Top is a difficult fish to catch."

"Khun Noo said that he will confess to him."

"And what are you doing here? We can't let that happen! Come with me Pol! let's cut the fishhook"

...