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Veer, who had been snuggled against my chest, lifts his head and babbles something incoherent before grinning up at me. His small hand pats my face, and just like that, the tension eases a little.

I kiss his forehead.

With my son in my arms, my father at my side, and my most trusted men surrounding us, I step onto the speedboat.

*****************

Alibaug

I drum my fingers against the wooden table, watching Dad converse with the decorators, gesturing animatedly with his arms. His eyes sparkle as he shows them around the farmhouse, mapping out his vision for the upcoming event. Despite the tightness in my chest—this constant state of vigilance I’ve been living in—I can’t help but smile at his excitement.

It’s been an hour since we arrived at our Alibaug farmhouse, and while Veer sleeps soundly under his nanny’s watch, my mind stays on high alert, running through contingency plans. My security team has already vetted these decorators thoroughly, but I trust no one these days. Not since Zayed.

Just then, my phone rings, vibrating in my pocket with another four-digit number flashing on the screen. My heart pounds as I signal my team, mouthing, ‘It’s him.’ The air around us grows tense as I gesture for them to stay alert and start tracking the call.

The decorators continue discussing plans with Dad, completely oblivious to the storm that is brewing.

The second I pick up the call, a slow, sinister laugh fills my ears. My blood boils, and my fingers clench around the phone.

Alex, the tech specialist from GLEN assigned by Krish and Ayaan, is already on his tablet, monitoring the call. He glances up and gives me a thumbs-up—the tracking is in motion.

I wait, letting Zayed’s laughter die out.

“I can’t believe it,” Zayed’s voice drips with cruel mockery. “After all the precautions you’ve taken, you still allowed Simran to go to work today...”

My body stiffens. F*ck! He knows Simran is at work! Damn it!

“How can you be so careless, Vishnu?” He continues laughing wickedly. “Don’t you care for her life anymore?”

My jaw tightens, every muscle coiled with tension.

“You might know where she is,” I growl, keeping my composure, “but forget hurting her, you won’t even get close. My men are all around her, Zayed. The moment you’re near her, you’ll get caught.”

Another mocking laughter follows. “I like your confidence, Vishnu...”

Alex catches my attention, holding up his iPad triumphantly. This time, there’s no confusion. Unlike before, when Zayed’s signal bounced all over India, now it’s locked on a single clear location—Mumbai, Gateway of India. The advanced GLEN technology is finally giving us an edge.

Zayed is in Mumbai? At Gateway of India? So close to us?

“What if I challenge you,” Zayed’s voice darkens, taunting, “to not only reach Simran but also to take her away from you forever?”

I’m already moving, my teeth clenched so hard that my jaw aches. Simran’s meeting is in Bandra—barely forty minutes from Gateway. My mind is racing as I motion for three of my men, including Alex, to follow me as I stride toward my car.

“Stay the f*ck away from her, Zayed,” I growl, signalling one of my men to alert Abhay, who’s with Simran. “If you so much as think of harming her... I swear the moment I find you, you’re dead,” I seethe, getting into the driver’s seat.

Zayed’s dark laughter echoes through the line, fuelling my rage further. My jaw tightens as I glance at my men—one is already calling Abhay, ensuring he’s alert and ready. Another reaches out to Ayaan for backup at the farmhouse to protect Dad.

Sliding behind the wheel with Alex beside me and two guards in the back, I slam my foot on the accelerator. Zayed’s voice crackles through my Bluetooth headset as I tear down the road toward our speedboat. We need to get back to Mumbai—fast.

“You know what I like about you, Vishnu?” Zayed muses over the call.

I check the rearview mirror, and my men confirm Abhay’s been notified. The speedometer climbs higher as we zoom ahead towards the jetty in Alibaug.

“I like that you take me so seriously... that you fear...” His voice turns venomous. “You fear losing your loved ones... just like I did once. I know that pain... that fear... It eats at you, doesn’t it? Even the mere thought of anything happening to them... it kills you a thousand times worse than the actual death itself, isn’t it?”

I drive like a madman, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. The connection crackles and Zayed’s voice breaks into static. Alex stiffens beside me, his tablet flashing something new.

Then, the line completely distorts.