Chapter 18: Blood, Betrayal, and a Fire That Won't Die

The world erupted into chaos.

Gunshots. Glass shattering. Footsteps racing toward them.

Diya spun around, heart hammering. "Abeer—"

But Abeer was already moving.

He grabbed her wrist and yanked her behind him.

"Stay down," he ordered.

Diya's breath caught.

Because in that moment, she saw the side of him she had only ever imagined.

Not just the ruthless businessman.

Not just the arrogant mafia king.

But a man built for war.

A man who wasn't afraid to kill.

BANG!

The door burst open.

A masked man charged in, gun raised.

Abeer moved so fast, Diya barely saw it.

One second he was standing still—

The next, he had disarmed the man, twisting his arm until a sickening crack echoed through the air.

The man screamed in pain.

Abeer didn't even blink.

He took the gun. Pointed it at the intruder's head.

And pulled the trigger.

BANG!

Diya flinched.

The body hit the ground.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Abeer turned to her, his dark eyes burning.

"You need to leave," he said. "Now."

Diya shook her head.

"What—no! I—"

Abeer grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him.

"You will listen to me, jaan," he said, his voice like steel. "If you want to live, you stay behind me."

Her heart pounded.

For the first time, she wasn't sure who she feared more.

The men trying to kill her.

Or the man willing to kill for her.

BANG!

Another shot. Closer this time.

Abeer cursed, grabbing her hand. "Move."

Diya barely had time to process before he dragged her out the back door.

The night was cold, sharp.

But nothing felt real anymore.

Her breath came out in shaky bursts.

They were being hunted.

And the only thing standing between her and death?

Abeer Rathore.

Abeer's men had already cleared a path.

Within minutes, they were in a black car, speeding away from the massacre.

Diya felt sick.

This wasn't how her life was supposed to be.

She turned to Abeer, anger and fear swirling inside her.

"Who were they?" she demanded.

Abeer's grip on the wheel tightened.

"They're after you," he said simply.

Diya's stomach twisted. "Why?"

Abeer's jaw ticked. "Because they know what you are."

Diya's breath hitched.

Not who.

What.

"What the hell does that mean, Abeer?" she whispered.

Abeer exhaled sharply, pulling the car into a secluded safehouse.

"You really want to know?"

Diya nodded, shaking. "Tell me the truth."

Abeer unbuckled his seatbelt, then turned to her, his dark eyes unreadable.

"You weren't just brought here, jaan," he murmured. "You were made for this world."

Diya froze.

Abeer's fingers brushed her jaw.

"You think this was an accident?"

Diya felt dizzy. "I—"

"You didn't write this story, Diya," he whispered. "You were always meant to be in it."

Her pulse skyrocketed.

Before she could process, Abeer tilted her chin up.

His gaze burned into hers.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

Diya's lips parted.

Her mind screamed yes.

But her body—her heart—betrayed her.

She said nothing.

Abeer smirked.

And then—

He kissed her.

This wasn't like before.

It wasn't just fire.

It was desperation. Possession. A battle neither wanted to lose.

Abeer's hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

Diya gasped against his lips, and he took full advantage—deepening the kiss, teasing, ruining.

Her fingers gripped his shirt, pulling him in, giving in to the storm.

Abeer's breath was rough, uneven.

He was losing control.

And God help her—so was she.

The Shocking Betrayal

Before Diya could fall completely, the door burst open.

She jerked back, breathless.

A man stood in the doorway.

A man she never expected to see again.

Diya's blood ran cold.

"Hello, Diya," he said, his voice eerily calm.

Abeer went rigid beside her.

Diya stared in horror.

Because standing there, gun in hand—

Was Tara's brother.

And the look in his eyes?

Promised nothing but death.