In the exclusive meeting room of one of her hotels, Rinthara sat in the main chair, surrounded by her most trusted people. Her face was calm but exuded dominance. Anyone who saw her knew—she was not someone to be trifled with.
In front of her sat several well-dressed men, all investors from Russia and Japan who wanted to invest in her business. On the other side, Jirawat and several of her syndicate’s key members were ready to discuss their new deal.
“So, we agree to increase the flow of goods to Japan,” said one of the Russian investors, a bald man named Dimitri. “But we want security guarantees. The police in Thailand are getting more aggressive.”
Rinthara gave a faint smile, playing with the gold ring on her finger. “Have you forgotten who I am, Dimitri? The police can do whatever they want, but they will never touch me.”
The man beside Dimitri, a Japanese Yakuza named Kenji, raised an eyebrow. “You’re too confident.”
“I’m not too confident; I just know how this world works.” Rinthara leaned back. “I’ve made preparations. No one can take me down without losing something even bigger.”
Kenji and Dimitri exchanged glances. They knew Rinthara wasn’t just making empty threats. Since she took over the syndicate, she had eliminated many traitors without leaving a trace.
Jirawat spoke up, adding more details. “We’ve already taken care of the problem at the port. The goods will arrive as scheduled.”
Dimitri nodded, looking more convinced. “Good. I’ll send my people to handle the payment.”
The meeting continued for almost an hour before they finally reached an agreement. After all the investors left, only Rinthara, Jirawat, and a few key members remained.
Jirawat leaned against the table, looking at his boss. “I don’t like the way Kenji looked at you earlier. He doesn’t trust us completely.”
Rinthara smirked. “It’s not that he doesn’t trust us. He’s just afraid I’m stronger than him.”
Jirawat chuckled. “So, what’s the next step?”
Rinthara gazed out the window, watching the busy city of Bangkok. “I want to make sure all operations run smoothly. I don’t want any disruptions.”
She then turned to Jirawat. “What about Rayyan?”
Jirawat hesitated before answering. “He’s doing his job as usual. But… he’s been a little different lately.”
Rinthara pressed her lips together. She knew Rayyan had changed since Thanos and Han’s deaths. But she still believed Rayyan was on her side.
“Make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish,” she said quietly but firmly. “I don’t want to lose him.”
But deep down, she knew…
Rayyan might be hiding something from her.
---
Rinthara remained standing in front of the large window in her room, staring outside with a troubled mind. The bustling Bangkok night usually gave her peace, but tonight, that feeling was absent.
She could sense something was wrong.
Jirawat was still in the room, observing his boss’s expression. “Do you think there’s something off about Rayyan?” he finally asked, his tone cautious.
Rinthara didn’t answer right away. She simply pressed her lips together, her fingers tapping lightly on the glass table.
“He’s changed,” she finally said. “I know he’s angry about Thanos and Han. But I don’t think that’s the only reason he’s acting differently.”
Saifah nodded. “He’s been quieter lately. But he’s still doing his job.”
Rinthara let out a long sigh. “Sometimes, the ones who stay too quiet are the most dangerous.”
A tense silence fell between them. Rinthara glanced at the clock on the wall—it was almost midnight. She finally took a deep breath and made a decision.
“I want to test him,” she suddenly said.
Jirawat raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll have him come with me on a major operation. If he’s truly loyal, he won’t hesitate. But if he’s started to waver…” Rinthara looked at Jirawat, her eyes filled with determination. “…I’ll know.”
---
In another room in the same building, Rayyan sat on his bed, his phone still in his hand. He had just finished sending a message to his superior, informing them that Rinthara would be involved in a major operation in a few days.
His hands felt sweaty. He knew he was walking on an extremely thin line now.
Rayyan had never felt this way before—trapped between his duty and his feelings. He knew Rinthara was a criminal, he knew she had to be taken down. But every time he looked into her eyes, he also knew that he had fallen for her.
And that made everything even harder.
He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door.
Rayyan quickly controlled his expression before opening it. In front of him, Rinthara stood with her arms crossed, her face unreadable.
“Come with me,” she said without any explanation.
Rayyan frowned slightly but didn’t ask questions. He simply nodded, grabbed his jacket, and followed her out of the room.
---
The Test of Loyalty
They exited the building and got into one of Rinthara’s luxury cars. Saifah and several other subordinates were already waiting. Rinthara entered the car without saying much, and Rayyan sat beside her.
As they drove toward an unknown location, Rinthara finally spoke.
“I have something for you to prove tonight,” she said, her voice calm but full of meaning.
Rayyan turned to her. “What do you mean?”
Rinthara looked directly into his eyes. “I want to see how far you’re willing to go for me.”
Rayyan’s heartbeat quickened. He knew this wasn’t just an ordinary test.
This was a trap.
And he had just walked right into it.
---
The car carrying Rayyan and Rinthara sped through the streets of Bangkok, heading toward a destination Rayyan didn’t know. The atmosphere in the car was tense, even though no one spoke for a while. Saifah sat in the front, staring out the window with a serious expression. Several other subordinates followed them in separate vehicles.
Rayyan clenched his hands on his knees, trying to calm the anxiety in his chest. He knew this wasn’t an ordinary trip. Rinthara was testing him.
“What do you want me to do?” Rayyan finally asked, trying to stay composed.
Rinthara turned slightly, glancing at him from the side. “You’ll find out soon.”
That answer made Rayyan even more uneasy.
After about twenty minutes of driving, they arrived at an old warehouse in an abandoned industrial area. The warehouse looked empty from the outside, but Rayyan knew places like this always hid dangerous secrets.
The car stopped, and they all got out. Rinthara walked toward the rusted metal door and kicked it open. The door swung wide, revealing a vast space inside.
And in the middle of the room, a man knelt with his hands tied behind his back. His mouth was covered with a cloth, but his eyes were filled with fear.
Rayyan’s breath hitched. He recognized the man.
Rafa.
One of Rafael’s top men, now captured by Rinthara’s subordinates.
Rinthara walked slowly toward Rafa, then pulled the cloth from his mouth. The man coughed a few times before lifting his head, his eyes burning with defiance.
“You think you’ve won, Rinthara?” Rafa sneered, despite his battered condition. His face was bruised, his lip split, and dried blood stained his forehead.
Rinthara smiled slightly. “I never win as long as my enemies are still breathing.”
She then turned to Rayyan, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
“Kill him,” she said, her voice void of emotion.
Rayyan froze.
“What?”
Rinthara took the gun from her waist and handed it to Rayyan. "Shoot him. Now."
Rayyan’s heart pounded. He looked at the gun, then at Rafa, who was breathing heavily.
This was a trap.
If he pulled the trigger, he would lose his moral ground. He would become a true killer. But if he refused…
Rinthara would know he had turned against her.
"Hurry up," Rinthara's voice was more urgent this time. "Or are you hesitating now, Rayyan?"
Rayyan gripped the gun tightly, trying to suppress his unease. He needed to do something—and he needed to do it now.
"Why me?" Rayyan tried to stall. "You have plenty of other people who can kill him."
Rinthara raised an eyebrow. "Because I want to see how far you'll go for me."
Rayyan clenched his teeth. He could feel all eyes on him now. Saifah remained silent, standing at the side, observing with an unreadable expression.
Rafa let out a weak chuckle. "You're not like them," he said, his voice faint but filled with certainty. "You're not a killer."
Rayyan swallowed hard. Rafa didn’t realize that his words only made things worse.
Rinthara sighed, looking bored. She stepped closer to Rayyan and whispered in his ear.
"Don't make me doubt you, Rayyan."
Her gloved hand rested lightly on his shoulder. But there was a hidden threat in her tone.
Rayyan knew he was out of time.
In one swift motion, he pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet pierced Rafa's head. The man fell backward, his eyes wide open, life leaving him in an instant.
The warehouse fell into silence.
Rayyan gripped the gun tightly, feeling his palms sweat. He hadn't made Rafa suffer—he had shot him directly in the forehead to make it quick.
But he had still killed someone.
He had still stepped into the darkness he had tried so hard to avoid.
Rinthara smiled in satisfaction. She lifted Rayyan’s chin gently, her gaze unreadable.
"Good, Rayyan."
Rayyan remained still, hiding the turmoil raging inside him.
He had successfully deceived Rinthara.
But the price he had to pay might be higher than he had anticipated.
Rayyan stood motionless, his fingers still wrapped around the smoking gun. The scent of blood and gunpowder filled the silent warehouse. Rafa lay lifeless, his eyes open but seeing nothing.
Rinthara smirked before softly patting Rayyan’s cheek, like a lover offering praise.
"I knew you could do it."
Rayyan didn’t respond. He only swallowed the bitterness weighing in his chest.
Saifah, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Are we done here?"
Rinthara nodded slowly before turning to her men. "Clean this up. Leave no traces."
Her men moved swiftly, lifting Rafa’s body and beginning the cleanup. Rayyan remained frozen in place.
He had just killed someone.
No matter how many times he tried to convince himself that this was all part of the plan to bring Rinthara down, the reality remained the same—he had pulled the trigger and taken a life.
Rinthara walked out of the warehouse with a calm stride. Rayyan glanced at Saifah, who was watching him with an unreadable expression.
"I didn't think you'd do it," Saifah said quietly.
Rayyan took a deep breath. "I did what I had to do."
Saifah gave a small nod, but his sharp gaze lingered. As if he was trying to read something hidden within Rayyan.
"Never betray her, Rayyan," Saifah warned before walking away.
Rayyan could only stand there, trying to steady his still-racing heartbeat.
On the way back to the base, Rinthara was calmer than usual. She leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed, enjoying the ride.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes and looked at Rayyan. "I'm proud of you."
Rayyan turned slightly, trying to hide the guilt creeping into his chest. "Why?"
Rinthara smiled. "You've proven that you're not an outsider anymore. You belong to me now, Rayyan."
Her words struck deep into Rayyan’s soul. He knew what she truly meant. She wasn’t just talking about loyalty but about the complicated bond between them.
He was already too far trapped in this world.
And time was running out.
When they arrived at the base, Rinthara went straight to her room without another word. Rayyan walked slowly to his own, but his steps halted when Saifah suddenly called his name from behind.
"Rayyan."
Rayyan turned, looking at Saifah’s serious expression.
"What?"
Saifah took a moment before speaking. "Are you okay?"
Rayyan frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Saifah exhaled slowly. "I saw the way you shot Rafa. That wasn’t the shot of a ruthless killer, Rayyan. That was the shot of someone who couldn’t bear to see another person suffer."
Rayyan felt his breath hitch. He tried to maintain a neutral expression, but Saifah was good at reading people.
"I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but if you're hiding something, I hope you understand the consequences."
Rayyan clenched his jaw. "I know what I'm doing."
Saifah simply nodded before walking away.
Rayyan entered his room and closed the door. Leaning against the wall, he took a deep breath before pulling out his phone.
It was time.
His hands trembled as he dialed the number he could only call once.
A voice on the other end answered. "Rayyan. We're waiting for your signal."
Rayyan closed his eyes, feeling the weight pressing harder on his chest.
"I'll give the signal in two days. Make sure everything is in place."
Two more days…
Two more days before he betrayed the woman who had let him into her world.