Twisted Vows

Chapter 3: No Rest for the Wicked

The morning air was far too calm for the storm brewing inside Nanon.

A case file sat unopened on his desk. It wasn't just any file it was the one tied to a major weapons shipment bust involving a rival syndicate, the Thana boon cartel. The same cartel that Ohm Pawat had been at war with for years. And now Nanon had found himself dropped straight in the middle of it.

Exactly where Ohm wanted him.

"He's baiting me," Nanon muttered, sipping his black coffee while his assistant prattled on about his court schedule.

"Sir?"

"Nothing. Clear the rest of my afternoon. I have to make a house call."

Later that day

Ohm's private lounge wasn't open to the public or to the law. But Nanon Korapat didn't need invitations. He walked in with a glare sharp enough to carve through marble and a tailored black suit that said he wasn't here to negotiate.

Santa stood just past the door, arms folded, while Perth trailed behind Nanon in case things went nuclear.

"You know you shouldn't be here," Perth whispered, eyes scanning the room of armed men.

"And yet here I am," Nanon replied, unfazed.

Ohm looked up from his drink, sprawled on a velvet couch like sin incarnate. The glass in his hand reflected warm amber light and cold amusement.

"You're early. I expected you to at least sleep on it."

"You think you're clever, using the Thana boon case to reel me in?"

Ohm rose to his feet, calm and slow. He was dressed like a predator in black silk shirt unbuttoned just enough to suggest recklessness, not laziness.

"I'm not reeling you in, counselor. I'm handing you an out."

He stepped close. Close enough that the tension from their rooftop kiss still hummed between them like electricity.

"Drop the case. Walk away. And I'll forget your lips ever touched mine."

Nanon's voice was steel. "I'm not scared of you."

Ohm tilted his head. "You should be."

They stood in silence.

The kind that said everything and nothing at once.

Then Nanon's mouth curled into a smirk. "I'll see you in court, Mr. Pawat."

He turned on his heel and slammed into someone.

A man. Handsome, sharply dressed, with a stack of legal files and an easy smile.

"Ah, you must be Nanon Korapat. I've heard... quite a bit."

"Depends on who's talking," Nanon replied, raising a brow.

The man extended a hand. "Ben Lertsakul. I was recently hired as lead counsel for the Thana boon syndicate."

"Ah," Nanon said, shaking his hand. "So, you're the poor soul Ohm wants me to squash in court."

Ben chuckled. "Or your new partner, if you ever decide to leave this crumbling system behind."

It was a joke. Probably.

But Ohm's jaw clenched.

Hard.

Santa leaned toward Perth. "Is that lawyer guy flirting with our lawyer guy?"