Fah heard the motorbike start up and leave. When he heard the car follow, he grabbed his bag and ran to the front door. Mek pulled round and he jumped into the back as Run sprinted to the front passenger side.

"Mek, they followed him! Please, we need to be sure he's safe!"

"Fah, he made me promise to get you to safety first. Lom knows what he's doing."

"Please, Mek, I'm begging you!" Fah was on the verge of tears. Mek bit his lip and looked at Run for support.

"Mek, stop the car. I'm going to sit in the back with my brother." Mek pulled to the side of the road and Run switched seats.

"Fah, I know it's going to be hard; I can't imagine what you're going through right now but Lom worked for his dad for years. He knows how to lose people who tail him and how to escape from difficult situations. He can also defend himself. You can't lose faith in him in less than an hour."

"But I didn't think they'd follow him. There are four of them in that car and he's alone. Also, we have no idea if they have guns. Lom's still not fully healed after being shot."

"Fah, Lom wouldn't have gone out the door if he thought he couldn't do it. He's dealt with people like that most of his life," said Mek.

"I agree with Mek. Lom is street-smart. He's going to be fine," said Run.

"Run, my hoodie should be on the backseat. Reach in the pocket and take out what you find," said Mek.

Run stuck his hand in, touched something, and pulled it out. It was a silver chain necklace with AHAW in the center. "AHAW?" asked Run.

"A-H-A-W. Always have, always will," said Mek. Fah looked surprised that Mek was saying this to Run.

"Fah," continued Mek, "Lom asked me to give you that when we dropped you off but I think you need it now. He bought it when he searched for you the year before the kidnapping. He wanted you to have it now so you have something tangible to remind you of his promise to return to you."

"Here, I'll help you," said Run. Fah bent his head down so Run could put it on him. "I'm sorry that it's me and not Lom putting it on, but it's his wish for you to wear it." He smiled at his brother and hoped the gift would calm him down.

Fah's eyes became glassy as he smiled, with his right hand against his neck he traced the AHAW with his finger.

"Thank you, both of you," he said, his voice quaking.

"You can thank Lom when you talk to him next week," said Mek. He looked in the rearview mirror at Fah who smiled weakly back.

"Are you okay now?" asked Run. Fah shook his head no.

"Will you ever be okay while the two of you are apart?" asked Run. Again Fah shook his head no. "Hey, did Manao confirm the new pick-up location with you?"

"No, not yet," said Fah.

"Try calling her to make sure she's headed to the right place," said Mek.

Fah called Manao who answered immediately. He listened as she spoke. He shook his head no and once again teared up.

"No, Manao...yeah, he's gone... A car with four men followed him. I'm worried he won't be okay." He had barely managed to finish the last sentence, so Run took the phone from him.

"Hi Manoa, it's Run, Fah's brother."

"Is he going to be okay?" asked Manao quietly. She prayed Fah couldn't hear her question.

"Hopefully. Did you see the text about the new pick-up location?"

"Yes, I'll be there in 45 minutes."

"Wow, you're making good time," said Run, impressed by her loyalty.

"I was awake when Fah texted so I decided to leave then. I didn't want him to wait alone for too long."

"That's so kind of you."

"Don't let Fah hear what I'm asking, but is Lom going to be okay?"

"I have no idea, I think so."

"My dad's a doctor so I got a Xanax from him and I'm going to dissolve it in a fruit juice to relax Fah on the trip home. I have to do it this way because Fah would refuse to take it if I asked, but sometimes he becomes overanxious."

"That's a good idea." Run liked this girl.

"Am I supposed to take him to his house or the police station?

"Take him home if you can, but if anyone follows you, head straight to the police station. Also, have Fah call me and we'll have my dad and Khun Korn meet you there. Try to go home if you can, I think seeing Tin and my parents will be good for him."

"Okay. Thank you guys so much for helping Fah and Lom."

"He's my brother; I'd do anything to help him." At this, Fah turned to Run and smiled. Run hung up the phone and handed it back.

Mek had said nothing but he'd noticed a car had followed them for several kilometers. It was the same make and model as the one that had been outside their bungalows. Once Run and Manao finished speaking, he decided to tell the others.

"A car has been following us. It looks exactly like the one that followed Lom but it's a different driver. I see either three or four people in this car as well. Do you want me to head to a police station or do you want to try to meet up with Manao and head home?"

"Take me to Manao. Don't underestimate her. She's one of the best drivers I've ever seen. At times she goes so fast it's terrifying."

"She drives fast?" Run liked Manao even more.

"She's nuts. She likes to pretend we're spies and speeds to lose people who are behind us even though they're not actually following us. I bet she could teach the cops a few things!" Fah laughed as he remembered the first time she'd done this with him in the car. It was after they had broken up and she'd picked him up from the train station. At that time she no longer felt the need to pretend to be a perfect lady anymore.

"We're about three minutes from the drop-off location. I'll pull in and see what happens. If that car pulls in as well, I'll take you to the police station and you can have Manao meet us there."

Run and Fah turned to face each other in the back seat as they both tried to casually check out the car behind them.

"Here we are," said Mek, as he pulled into the parking lot. All three men watched as the car tailing them continued on its way.

"Maybe they weren't following us," said Run.

"Maybe," said Mek, although he still believed they had been. "Fah, do you feel okay waiting here for Manao? Do you want us to wait with you?"

"If we wait, we'll miss our flight. We still have to get to the airport and check in," said Run.

"I'm fine, you two go ahead. Even if they were following us, it looks like they went ahead. Be careful, they might think you stopped for gas and are waiting up the road to follow you again," said Fah.

The car behind them had indeed been on their tail. Having seen Mek pull into the gas station they continued up the road, drove around the block, and pulled into an alley alongside the gas station. The men in the car watched as Mek, Fah, and Run sat in the car and talked.

"What the hell are they doing? Are they getting gas or what?" asked a man with a large mustache in the backseat.

"I'm not sure what they're doing. Pok, go buy cigarettes at the convenience store and check out what's happening. Text us."

Pok, the youngest of the group, got out of the car. He'd only recently been hired and was eager to prove his worth. He held his phone out as if he were texting someone as he walked across the parking lot. He watched Mek's car out of the corner of his eye.

"I'll be fine you guys, they haven't come back. I'll buy a coffee and wait," said Fah as he gestured at the cafe on the side of the building. It was lit up and two people sat at outdoor tables sipping coffees and reading on their phones. Run got out of the car with him and hugged him.

"I know we've only known we're brothers for a short time but I want you to know that if anything happens or if you just need to talk, call me. I'll come back if you need me for anything." Run hugged him tightly. Mek got out and walked around the car.

"Here, let me get in a hug as well," said Mek. Run released Fah who stepped into Mek's arms. "Fah, I love you like a brother as well. I know I give you crap for cockblocking me but Run's right, call us if you need us. Just because we're at the beach, we can still talk a little and if you do need us to come back, we will. The most important thing is to relax and trust in Lom's survival skills and his promise to return." Fah nodded his head and squeezed Mek.

"Thanks you guys, for everything. I'm sorry I'm like this, I wish I could relax, but I'll be fine. Go have fun in Koh Samui and enjoy yourselves. I'll be fine. When you come back it will be the night Lom is going to call so everything will be fine."

"That's a lot of fines, Fah," said Run. He squeezed Fah's shoulder and got into the car. Mek got in as well and Fah waved as they pulled away. Holding his bag, he headed to the coffee shop.