Tawan moved with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the surveillance footage, her body tense with focused energy. Every passing second felt like a lifetime. She had failed onceâletting Aira get takenâbut she wouldn't fail again. Her hands were steady as she worked, but inside, the fear gnawed at her. Aira needs me. I have to fix this.
Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence in the command center. She knew who it was before even looking at the screenâAira's father. She hesitated for only a split second before answering.
"Tawan, what's happening? Have you found her yet?" His voice was tight, almost frantic, each word laced with fear and frustration. "How could this happen under your watch?"
Tawan clenched her jaw, the words cutting deep. "We're tracking her location. My team is following up on the leads. We're closing in."
"You'd better be. If anything happens to my daughter..." His voice cracked, and Tawan could hear the emotional weight behind his words. "I trusted you with her safety. This isn't just about me. She's everything. I don't care what it takesâget her back."
Tawan's grip tightened on the phone. "I will, sir. I won't rest until she's safe."
Aira's father went quiet for a moment, the desperation in his silence palpable. "This is my fault," he finally admitted, his voice breaking. "They're after me. My enemies... they'll use her to get to me."
Tawan swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had always known that protecting Aira meant more than just guarding her against ordinary threats, but thisâthis was bigger. Political stakes. Dangerous enemies. And Aira was in the middle of it all.
"You don't know how far they'll go," he added, his tone dark. "You need to hurry."
"I will," Tawan said, her voice calm but firm. "I won't let them hurt her."
The call ended, but the weight of Aira's father's words lingered. This wasn't just a mission anymore. It was personal. Tawan couldn't afford to fail again.
One of her operatives approached. "We've tracked the van. It was spotted heading out of the city, toward an old industrial area."
Tawan's pulse quickened. Finally, a solid lead. She turned sharply toward her team, her voice steady but urgent. "Prepare for extraction. We move now."
---
The ropes were tight, but Aira didn't focus on the pain in her wrists. Her heartbeat was steady, despite everything. She was scared, sure, but deep down, she knew Tawan would come for her. Tawan's out there. She'll find me. She always does.
The small, dim room around her was nothing but bare walls and a single door. The occasional sound of footsteps echoed outside, but inside, it was quietâalmost eerily so. She took a deep breath, letting the calm wash over her. Panicking wouldn't help. She had to stay focused, stay sharp.
The door creaked open, and one of the kidnappers stepped inside, his heavy boots clomping on the floor. He glanced at her, sizing her up, but there was no emotion on his faceâjust cold professionalism. He wasn't expecting her to be a threat. Aira smirked to herself.
"Well, this is cozy," she said, her voice light despite the situation. She stretched her legs slightly, making herself look more comfortable than she felt. If they weren't going to play nice, she could at least have a little fun.
The man frowned, clearly not in the mood for jokes. "Shut up."
Aira tilted her head, feigning innocence. "What? You guys don't offer refreshments? Not even a glass of water for your guest?"
He scowled, his patience wearing thin. "I said, shut up."
Aira's smirk grew. This is too easy. "Touchy, aren't you? You'd think with all this planning, you'd be in a better mood."
The man took a step closer, his eyes narrowing dangerously. But Aira didn't flinch. Instead, she leaned her head back against the wall, her tone more playful. "Seriously, though. What's the plan here? Ransom? Blackmail? You could have just sent a text, you know."
The man's face hardened. "You're here to shut up, not talk."
Aira's smile didn't waver. Keep them on edge. If they're annoyed, they won't think clearly. She shifted her arms slightly, testing the bindings. The ropes hadn't loosened much, but it didn't matter. Time was on her side. Tawan was on her side.
The door opened again, and another man, this one taller and more imposing, barked out an order. "Leave her. We'll be moving soon."
Aira's captor shot her one last glare before turning and leaving the room, the door slamming shut behind him. The sound echoed, leaving Aira in silence once again. She took a deep breath, letting the tension ease from her shoulders. They were trying to act tough, but she could see through it. They didn't expect her to be a threat, and that was their mistake.
They don't know Tawan's coming for me. Aira smiled to herself, her heart calming even more. She wasn't helpless. She wasn't broken. She was simply waitingâfor Tawan to show up and prove that she could always be counted on.
The minutes passed slowly, but Aira stayed focused. Her fingers subtly worked at the ropes, trying to find any bit of slack. She wasn't panicking. She wasn't losing hope. She just needed to hold out a little longer.
Tawan's coming. I know it.
---
Tawan's pulse raced as she navigated the narrow corridors of the industrial building, her every move swift and calculated. The tactical team behind her worked in sync, neutralizing any resistance they encountered, but Tawan barely noticed them. Her mind was locked on one thing: Aira.
The sharp sting on her cheek, where one of the guards had landed a lucky hit, went ignored as adrenaline surged through her veins. She had taken him down fast, but the blood dripping from the shallow cut was a reminder of the stakes. Every second counted. Every wrong move meant Aira could be lost for good.
I can't let that happen. I can't lose her.
Her hands throbbed from the force of taking down the last guard, the ache spreading through her knuckles. The hallway ahead was eerily quiet, but she sensed the tension building. Suddenly, a scuffle and hurried footsteps reached her ears from the far end of the building. The kidnappers had realized her team was closing in.
They're trying to move her.
Her heart quickened as she pressed forward, ignoring the throb in her hands and the sting on her cheek. The fear gnawed at her, but she forced herself to focus. Stay sharp. Don't lose her now.
"We're in position," the voice in her earpiece crackled. Tawan gave a sharp nod, signaling her team to prepare for the final push.
I can't be too late. Not again.
As she reached the door where Aira was being held, Tawan could hear the muffled sound of a struggle from inside. Her pulse surged. Without hesitation, she kicked the door open with a resounding crash.
Inside, chaos erupted. The kidnappers had grabbed Aira, yanking her roughly to her feet. Aira's wrists were still loosely bound, but she fought back with everything she had. She twisted in their grip, resisting with all her strength.
"Let go of me!" Aira shouted, her voice filled with defiance as she pulled against their hold.
The kidnappers were panicking. One of them cursed loudly, "We need to move her now! She's coming!"
But Aira wasn't making it easy for them. She kicked her legs out, struggling against the ropes, refusing to let them move her.
I have to hold on just a little longer. Tawan is coming.
Just as the kidnappers tried to drag her toward the door, it burst open.
Tawan stood in the doorway, blood smeared on her cheek, her eyes blazing with fury. For a moment, the world slowed. Aira's heart surged with relief as their eyes met. She could breathe again.
"Get her out of here!" one of the men shouted, panic in his voice.
But Tawan was faster.
In a blur of motion, she lunged forward. Her fist connected with the nearest kidnapper's jaw in a sharp, brutal strike. He crumpled to the ground before he even knew what hit him.
The second man moved toward her, brandishing a knife. Tawan ducked under his swing, but a sharp sting shot through her injured hand, causing her to wince. She didn't stop. She couldn't. She delivered a powerful kick to his ribs, sending him crashing into the wall. The pain in her hand flared, but it was nothing compared to the fear driving her forward.
The last man holding Aira tried to drag her toward the exit, but Aira fought back, digging her heels into the floor. She wasn't going anywhere.
Tawan didn't hesitate. She lunged, grabbing the man's shoulder with her injured hand, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up her arm. With one final blow to his face, he dropped, letting go of Aira.
Aira stumbled backward, her breath coming in quick gasps as she steadied herself. Her wide eyes met Tawan's, and in that moment, everything else faded away. Relief washed over her, but there was something deeper in her gazeâsomething softer, more vulnerable.
"Tawan," Aira breathed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and gratitude.
Tawan's heart was still pounding in her chest as she took in the sight of Aira, standing in front of herâsafe. The chaos of the fight had subsided, but her mind raced with the fear that had gripped her moments before. Blood trickled down from the cut on her cheek, and the pain in her hand throbbed, but it all faded into the background.
Aira was here. She was alive.
Without thinking, Tawan rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace, her breath coming in shaky bursts. "Aira..." Her voice cracked with emotion as she held on, the fear and relief mingling in her chest. "I'm so sorry. I should've been faster. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
Aira's heart swelled at the rawness in Tawan's voice, her arms instinctively wrapping around Tawan in return. "Tawan..." she whispered, her own voice trembling. "You saved me." She pulled back slightly, her hands cupping Tawan's face. "You went through so much for me... Look at you. You're hurt. You're bleeding."
Tawan shook her head, her grip on Aira tightening slightly. "It doesn't matter. You're all that matters." Her voice was hoarse, thick with emotion. "I couldn't let anything happen to you. I couldn't lose you."
Aira's breath hitched as she heard the crack in Tawan's voice, seeing the worry etched across her features. She could feel the weight of Tawan's emotions, the fear she had been carrying. Her fingers gently traced the cut on Tawan's cheek, her eyes filling with tears. "You pushed yourself so hard... you were hurt, and all you could think about was me."
Tawan's hands trembled as she held Aira's arms, her eyes downcast. "You don't understand. I couldn't bear it... if something happened to you." Her voice broke again, a vulnerability shining through that Aira had never seen before. "I don't know what I would've done."
Aira's heart clenched at Tawan's words, the intensity of her protectiveness and guilt weighing heavy between them. "But you did save me," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You saved me, Tawan. You always do."
She brushed another strand of hair behind Tawan's ear, her touch gentle, comforting. "I'm okay. You're the one who's hurt, but you've been so focused on me, you haven't even noticed."
Tawan swallowed hard, the guilt still gnawing at her insides. "I should've been faster. I should'veâ"
"Tawan, stop," Aira interrupted, her voice firm but tender. She cupped Tawan's face, making her meet her gaze. "You're here now. You got to me. That's what matters. I knew you'd come. I never doubted it."
Tawan's breath shuddered as she looked into Aira's eyes, seeing the trust, the warmth, and something deeperâa connection she hadn't allowed herself to recognize until now. "I couldn't lose you," she whispered again, her voice breaking as she finally let the weight of her emotions show.
Aira's heart fluttered at the rawness in Tawan's voice, her own emotions swirling. She felt it tooâthe depth of their connection, the care Tawan held for her that went far beyond duty. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice thick with sincerity. "You won't lose me. Not now. Not ever."
For a moment, the room seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, standing together, the air between them charged with unspoken feelings. Aira's fingers lingered on Tawan's cheek, their gazes locked, the intensity of their emotions drawing them closer.
Tawan's breath hitched as their faces inched toward each other, the warmth of Aira's breath brushing against her skin. They were so close now, the tension thick between them, a spark igniting in the space where their eyes met. It was as if time had slowed, the world outside fading into nothing. All that existed was this moment, the closeness of Aira's lips, the pull between them undeniable.
But just as their faces hovered inches apart, the door swung open, and a voice shattered the moment.
"Tawan, we need to move!" one of her team members called urgently, stepping into the room.
The spell broke. Tawan blinked, reality crashing back as she stepped back slightly, her heart still pounding in her chest. She swallowed hard, her mind spinning, but the urgency of the situation demanded her attention. The rescue was still in progress, and they weren't safe yet.
Aira, too, stepped back, the intensity of the moment still hanging in the air between them. She glanced at Tawan, her gaze lingering as if the spark had left a mark she couldn't shake.
Tawan's voice steadied as she turned to the team member. "Let's get her out of here."
But before she turned away, her eyes met Aira's one last time, a silent promise lingering between them. Whatever that moment had been, it wasn't over.
---
The cool night air washed over them as they stepped outside, the sounds of the tactical team moving around them, securing the area. Tawan's hand gripped Aira's firmly, guiding her through the commotion. The tension of the rescue was still thick in the air, but Tawan's touch was steadyâgrounding.
Aira's mind was still spinning, not just from the rescue, but from everything that had happened in the moments before. Inside the building, when Tawan had looked at her, held her so close... the way their faces had hovered inches apart. The electricity of that moment hadn't faded, and now, walking beside Tawan, she could still feel the echo of it.
What was that? Aira wondered, her heart pounding with the memory. She had never experienced anything like it beforeâthe raw intensity of Tawan's emotions, the way she had fought for her with such determination. It wasn't just about duty anymore. It couldn't be.
Tawan's hand, still gripping hers, was warm and protective, but Aira felt something else beneath it. An unspoken connection, one that had simmered under the surface for a while, but had fully come to light in the heat of the rescue.
It wasn't just adrenaline. I know it wasn't.
They walked in silence, step by step, but Aira's thoughts were consumed by the moment in the roomâtheir faces so close, the spark that had ignited between them. Her skin tingled with the memory, and now, as they moved toward the car, Tawan's presence beside her felt different. More charged. More... intimate.
Aira glanced down briefly at their joined hands, but her mind flashed back to the way Tawan had held her in that room, her voice trembling with fear and relief. Tawan wasn't just her bodyguard. She was something more, something Aira was only now beginning to understand.
As they reached the waiting car, Tawan's team had already secured the perimeter. The operation was winding down, but the emotional intensity of the rescue still lingered. Tawan let go of Aira's hand just as they reached the vehicle, and the sudden absence of her touch left Aira feeling unexpectedly cold, a sharp contrast to the warmth that had enveloped her moments ago.
Aira paused for a moment before getting into the car, her heart still racing. Her gaze flicked to Tawan, searching her face for any sign of what they had shared inside. But Tawan's professional mask was firmly back in place. She was already turning to her team, issuing commands, her focus back on the mission.
But Aira had seen itâthe brief flicker of emotion in Tawan's eyes, the vulnerability she had shown when their faces had been so close. That moment was still with her, burning bright, even as the tactical operation continued.
There's more to this, Aira thought, settling into her seat. Her heart ached with a mix of gratitude and confusion. I felt it. We both did.
As the car pulled away, disappearing into the night, Aira rested her head against the window, her mind still racing with the events of the day. The rescue had shaken her, but it was Tawanâher protectiveness, her fear, and the way she had looked at herâthat stayed with her. Aira didn't know what to make of it yet, but one thing was clear: the connection between them wasn't just professional anymore. It had shifted into something deeper, something she hadn't been prepared for.
She glanced back at Tawan through the rearview mirror, their eyes meeting for the briefest moment. It was there againâthat spark, that unspoken bond.
This isn't over, Aira thought, her chest tightening with the weight of what hadn't been said, what hadn't happenedâyet.