Italy never felt so quiet. The streets of Rome glimmered with golden lamplight, but for Karan, the beauty was suffocating. Every step he took toward his culinary academy felt heavier, as if the shadows themselves were watching, following him.
Karan's hand trembled as he clutched his bag. The envelope he had received earlier sat open on the table in his apartment, but he hadn't been able to process its warning:
*"Leave Italy immediately. You are not safe. He will come for you. —A friend."*
The words haunted him, and though he didn't know who sent them, a single thought consumed his mind: **Arthit.**
"Why does this always happen because of him?" Karan whispered, hugging himself tightly. "Why can't I just live a normal life?"
He turned a corner into a narrow alleyway to take a shortcut, heart racing, when suddenly a figure lunged at him from the shadows.
"Stay back!" Karan yelled, stumbling backward.
The attacker advanced with a low hiss, metallic glint catching the lamplight. Karan's pulse spiked; he barely had time to react when a motorcycle roared into the alley, blinding the street with its headlight.
The figure froze, and in the split second of distraction, a second man, wearing a black leather jacket and helmet, kicked the attacker, sending him crashing into the wall.
"Come with me. Now!" the biker shouted.
Karan hesitated. "Who—Who are you?"
"No time to explain. If you stay, they'll kill you."
Karan's instincts screamed danger. He leapt onto the motorcycle, clinging tightly as the engine roared to life.
The biker removed his helmet when they stopped a few blocks away. His dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, but there was a sharp intensity about him that made Karan's chest tighten.
"I'm Matteo," he said. "You're in danger, Karan. And it's not over."
Karan swallowed, panic rising. "D-danger? From who?"
Matteo handed him a folded piece of paper. Karan unfolded it and froze.
It was a photo of him leaving his apartment earlier, with handwritten text below:
*"Bring him alive. He is leverage. —Sakda"*
Karan's breath caught.
"Leverage? What… What does this mean?" he asked, voice trembling.
Matteo's jaw tightened. "It means they're coming for you. The mafia knows you're here. Sakda… Sakda is not a man to be underestimated."
Karan pressed a hand to his chest, fear and disbelief colliding. "No… this can't be happening again. I left Thailand to escape… to protect everyone. Why—why is it never over?"
Matteo's voice was steady but soft. "You're not alone anymore. I'll protect you."
Karan looked up, eyes wide, voice barely a whisper. "But… you don't even know me."
"I don't need to," Matteo said, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips. "Right now, saving your life is enough."
---
ARTHIT FREAKING OUT
Meanwhile, across continents, Arthit sat in his dark room, bandaged shoulder throbbing, bruises still forming, rage and fear warring within him. His phone buzzed—Anant's name flashing on the screen.
He snatched it up.
"What is it?!" he demanded.
A photo. An address. Italy. Police symbols.
Anant's text:
*Karan might be in danger.*
Arthit's chest constricted. "Explain. Now."
Anant replied:
*There was an attempted attack tonight near his culinary academy. Witnesses saw him leave with someone on a motorcycle.*
Arthit's heart raced. "No… he's too far away… but that's not enough!"
He bolted toward the door.
Anant intercepted him. "Arthit, stop!"
"I don't care! I have to go now!"
"You're injured," Anant said firmly.
"I don't care!" Arthit screamed, fists clenching. "Karan's life is in danger!"
"Then listen—listen to me!" Anant grabbed him. "Flying now will get you killed. Father expects this. It's a trap!"
Arthit's eyes were wild, unrelenting. "Then I'll die fighting! If anything happens to him… if he's hurt—"
"Arthit," Anant cut him off. "You cannot protect him alone. You need a plan."
Arthit's jaw tightened. He exhaled shakily. "Then tell me. Tell me how to get to him."
Anant nodded. "I'll help. But you need to control yourself. You need to stay alive. Karan… he needs you alive."
---
THE FATHER'S GAME
Arthit stormed into his father's private office anyway, ignoring the pain in his shoulder.
"Father!" he barked. "Why?! Why are you sending people after him?!"
Mr. Sakda looked up calmly. "Ah, my son."
Arthit's hands shook with rage. "He's not just some pawn in your game!"
Mr. Sakda's voice was icy. "He is. And you have let your… affections cloud your judgment. This is your weakness, Arthit. Your weakness is dangerous."
"I don't care! He is the only person I care about! If anyone touches him…"
"Then you will fail," Mr. Sakda interrupted sharply. "You will destroy everything. You were meant to rule, Arthit. You were meant to dominate, and you cannot do that if you are distracted."
Arthit slammed his fist on the desk, cracking wood. "I don't care about your empire if he's hurt! You hear me?!"
Mr. Sakda leaned back, calm, unshaken. "Then you have learned your lesson. You must understand, love is weakness. Control is power."
Anant appeared silently beside him. "Arthit, calm yourself. We need a plan, not a war of emotion."
Arthit's teeth clenched. "I will find him, Anant. Even if I have to burn the world down to get him."
---
ROME — SAFEHOUSE
Back in Rome, Karan sat on a worn leather couch in Matteo's small safehouse, trembling, hands wrapped around his knees.
"I… I can't believe this is happening," he whispered.
Matteo knelt beside him. "Shh… breathe. You're safe for now. That's all that matters."
Karan looked up, eyes burning with unshed tears. "I just… I just want him. I want Arthit…"
Matteo's expression softened. "I know. But right now, you need to survive. If you run toward him, you'll only get both of you killed."
Karan's fingers fumbled with his bag strap. "I can't… I can't just sit here and wait. I have to do something…"
"You will," Matteo said. "But you have to be smart. First, survive. Then, plan."
Karan's tears spilled down his cheeks. "I… I don't want to lose him again."
Matteo placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You won't. Not while I'm here."
Karan took a shaky breath. "Thank you… I… I don't know how to repay you."
"You don't need to," Matteo said simply. "Live. That's enough."
---
ARTHIT PLANS
Arthit stood at the airport, shoulder still bandaged, heart pounding. Anant was beside him.
"You're really going?" Anant asked.
Arthit's jaw was rigid. "If he's in danger, I'll go through hell to reach him. Father won't stop me. Not anymore."
Anant hesitated. "He's alone in a foreign country…"
"I know," Arthit said quietly, almost to himself. "But I will find him. And I won't leave until he's safe… until I can see him again. Until I tell him…"
Anant gave him a small nod. "Then go. But remember… patience. You can't rush into this. Father will use that against you."
Arthit's eyes burned with fury. "I don't care. Nothing else matters."
---
END OF CHAPTER 24