Page 113 of Right Where I Belong

“Who took her? Did you see them?” he asked, his heart hammering in his chest. “Where are you?”

“I was playing under her desk when they came in. They told her they would shoot her if she didn’t go with them.”

“Ahaan, where are you?”

“I’m still under her desk, hiding. I’m scared.”

“I’m coming to you, okay?” Aditya pressed his foot on the accelerator. “I’m coming to you. Keep talking to me, buddy.”

“My m…mom,” Ahaan sniffed through his tears. “Will they hurt her?”

“Nothing will happen to her. She’ll be fine. She’s very strong and so brave.”

“You p…promise,” Ahaan whispered.

“I promise,” Aditya said. “Now tell me what you did in school.”

His distraction tactic worked because Ahaan began to speak, telling him about his day. His heart clenched in pain. God, Sabrina. Where was she? All he wanted to do was call for help. But Ahaan was alone and scared. He had to get to him first. He had to ensure he was safe. His eyes on the road, he quickly sent a text to his friends’ chat group. He typed another text and sent it to one more person who, no matter what, he could trust without a doubt.

A few minutes later, Aditya rushed into the parking lot beneath Sabrina’s office and braked hard. He bolted from the car, barely aware of the startled security guard as he pushed through the lobby and into the waiting elevator. When the doors finally slid open on her floor, he sprinted down the corridor and into her office.

“Ahaan!” His voice echoed sharply in the empty office. “Ahaan, where are you?”

Ahaan’s small head peeked out from under Sabrina’s desk. The moment he saw Aditya, the boy scrambled out and ran straight into Aditya’s arms.

Aditya dropped to his knees and gathered the boy close.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, holding him tight. “You’re so brave, you know? Just like your mother. I promise I’m going to bring her back to you.”

He leaned back just enough to look into Ahaan’s tear-streaked face. “Tell me everything again. Even the smallest of things you can remember will help.”

The boy sniffed and told him everything again.

“That’s it…” Ahaan said.

“Are you sure? Did they say anything about where they were taking her?”

Ahaan shook his head. “Umm… I think… Mom said the name AD…”

“AD?”

Realization hit Aditya like a jolt.JD.

“JD? Was it JD?” he asked quickly.

Ahaan’s eyes widened. “Yes, yes, it was JD.”

Aditya hugged him once more, a surge of cold anger sharpening his focus. One arm around Ahaan, he yanked out his phone and called Mihir.

In clipped, urgent words, he explained what had happened.

“Fuck,” Mihir cursed. “I knew that JD would be a problem. While I was searching for my sister, I had two of my men infiltrate JD’s organization. They’re still working for him.”

Relief filled Aditya’s chest.

“Give me a few minutes,” Mihir said. “My men will reach out. Meanwhile, I’m taking the next flight to Mumbai. We’ll find her. I promise you, Aditya, we’ll get her back.”

“Who was that?” Ahaan asked as soon as Aditya disconnected the call.