10.

Abhiraj’s POV

Sir Saxena is collecting information about Mira. My head guard informs me and I close my eyes, my fists tightening, my jaw clenching.

“I want him in the basement” I order, my voice sharp and filled with rage. I cut the call and in frustration, throw my phone at the glass wall.

The loud crash echoes in the room but I don’t care. Running a hand through my hair, I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

Suddenly I hear hurried footsteps. Zar is running toward me his face tense. His sharp eyes meet mine silently asking what’s wrong.

“Saxena is collecting your mamma’s information” I tell him my voice filled with anger.

Zar growls loudly. His eyes burn with fury just like mine.

“I’ll handle him” I say, my voice firm. I sit down on my chair, trying to control the storm raging inside me. My heart is restless. I need to see her. I need to make sure she’s safe.

I turn on the CCTV feed my fingers tapping impatiently on the table. The screen flickers to life and there she is...Mira. sitting at her desk working quietly. But something feels off. She looks sad. My chest tightens.

“Ahhh Abhiraj you’re being a jerk to your angel” I mutter under my breath rubbing my face.

What should I do to make her come to me? Because if she stays away from me for too long, my enemies will definitely hurt her and I won't let that happen.

I pick up my phone and dial Dev’s number. He picks up on the second ring.

“Saxena is after Mira” I say without wasting time.

There’s silence on the other end for a second before he speaks, his voice serious. “Marry her as soon as possible or she’ll be in danger”

I scoff running a hand through my hair. “That’s why I called you. How can I marry her?”

Dev stays quiet for a moment thinking. Then he speaks. “First handle that bastard. Till then we will think about Mira”

I nod understanding his point. “I trust you” I say before cutting the call.

For now, I need to deal with Saxena. He should think twice before even breathing near my woman.

I grab my coat, pick up my phone and start walking out of my cabin. Zar walks beside me, matching my pace. My steps are firm, my mind focused on only one thing...teaching Saxena a lesson.

I step into the lift and press the button for the ground floor. The doors slide shut and I take a deep breath, preparing myself for what’s to come.

The lift reaches the ground floor and as I step out, I freeze. Mira is right in front of me. She’s coming from somewhere looking lost in her thoughts.

Our eyes meet. For a moment everything else fades away.

I want to pull her into my arms, hide her from the world, protect her from every evil eye. But I can’t.

This mafia king....so powerful, so feared....is helpless in front of the woman he loves. I can’t force my lady to come to me.

She ignores me. She doesn’t even glance at me.

She walks past me and enters the lift without a word. No greeting nothing. It’s like I don’t exist.

Tit for tat, Abhiraj.

I stand there my jaw clenching, watching the lift doors close.

I turn my head and find Zar glaring at me. His eyes are sharp, filled with irritation. I know why...because of my plan Mira is ignoring him too And Zar worships his mother.

Without a word he starts walking ahead leaving me behind.

I sigh and follow him. My steps are slow but firm. My mind is clouded with anger. We head straight toward the basement.

As I step inside the guards greet me but I don’t respond. My focus is on only one thing.

I walk toward the dark corner where that bastard is tied to a chair. His head is hanging low, his body bruised. It looks like he has already received his “welcome treatment” from my men.

Good.

I sit down on the chair in front of him.

He slowly lifts his face and looks at me. Then, he smirks. That disgusting, shameless smirk.

My blood boils. My fists clench. But I keep my face cold, emotionless. Then he opens his filthy mouth.

"Mira is a hot chick" he says and laughs And the very next second, he is on the ground.

I don’t even realize when I moved. My fist connects with his face again and again. The sound of bones cracking fills the basement.

"How dare you!" I roar my punches landing without stopping.

Not once. Not twice. I keep punching him. Again. And again. And again. My knuckles are red covered in his blood. My clothes are soaked. But I don’t stop.

"How dare you take her name from your dirty mouth!" I shout my voice shaking with rage.

I push him hard. He falls back, coughing blood But then… he laughs.

That weak, broken laugh. He knows he’s dying yet he still dares to speak.

"Today or someday she is going to die… or become someone’s slu......."

Before he can finish I grab a metal rod lying nearby and swing it straight into his stomach.

CRACK.

He screams. Blood spills from his mouth But I don’t stop. I lift the rod and hit him again.

And again.

And again.

His screams echo in the basement, filling the air with pain and suffering. But I feel nothing. No mercy. No regret. Only rage.

He coughs struggling to breathe. And then he spits out more filth.

"You killed my brother… now someone else will kill your lover!" he shouts his voice breaking.

I lose it. I turn to my men. "Bring acid" I order, my voice low and deadly.

My men move fast. Within seconds a bottle of acid is in my hands. I slip on my gloves and open the cap.

"Make him lay properly" I command.

The guards grab him and force him to lay flat on his back. He groans too weak to resist. I step closer towering over him.

I tilt my head. "Now what were you saying?" I ask my voice calm.

And then, I pour.

"AHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH!"

His screams tear through the basement as the acid burns his skin. His body jerks violently, his hands clawing at the air begging for mercy. I smirk.

Now, I feel peace.

His pain, his screams...they calm the storm inside me.

I keep pouring the acid. His skin melts away revealing raw, burning flesh. The acid mixes with his blood, eating him alive.

But it’s not enough. I take my gun and point it at his face.

"Till I’m alive no one can even dare to touch Mira."

I pull the trigger. The bullet goes straight through his eye.

I shoot again.

And again.

And again.

His entire body is filled with bullets. His lifeless form lies there unrecognizable. But I’m still not satisfied.

I throw the gun aside and turn around. My heart is still heavy but I don’t look back.

I walk out of the basement my hands stained with the blood of the man who dared to look after my woman.

Dev’s POV

“How is Saxena?” I ask the moment I step inside the mansion.

Abhi looks up from his laptop his fingers pausing on the keyboard. A smirk tugs at his lips.

“He is in his home already” he says his voice calm but filled with meaning.

I chuckle. That means the bastard is handled. No need to ask for details...I already know what "home" means in Abhiraj's dictionary.

“Did you have dinner?” I ask walking toward him.

He nods without looking away from his screen. “Yeah”

“I had mine too with my client.”

My eyes move toward Zar, who is lying on the couch like a spoiled prince. His golden fur glows under the soft mansion lights.

“Zar wanna go on a walk with me?” I ask tilting my head.

At my words, Zar lifts his head, his ears perking up. Within seconds he gets up and trots toward me, his tail wagging in excitement.

“Wait let me change” I say running toward my room.

I quickly switch into comfortable clothes and return. Zar is already waiting near the door his big eyes watching me eagerly.

I turn to Abhi. “Do you wanna come?”

He shakes his head eyes back on his laptop. “I have to complete this file. You guys go”

I nod then step out of the mansion with Zar by my side.

We sit in my car...Zar comfortably taking the passenger seat like a king. I start the engine and drive toward the park.

As I steer the car through the dimly lit streets I glance at Zar. “You have to help me if you want your mumma with you”

Zar wags his tail his eyes gleaming with determination. I smirk. This tiger is more obsessed with Mira than Abhiraj himself.

After a few minutes I stop the car in front of the park. It’s late so only a few people are here. Perfect.

Zar and I step out.

I scan the park my eyes searching for a particular person. And then...I spot them.

There they are. Mira and Jiya, sitting on a bench lost in conversation.

I walk toward them. “Hey.”

Mira looks up. A small smile touches her lips. “Hi”

Jiya? She doesn’t even greet me. As expected.

I turn to Mira. “Zar wanted to meet you. That’s why I brought him here”

Mira blinks, clearly surprised. Confusion flickers in her eyes. “How do you know I’m here sir? And why is he missing me now?”

The last part she directs toward Zar who is suddenly looking down as if guilty.

I chuckle. “I’m really sorry on his behalf. Actually Abhiraj and Zar don’t talk to you in front of others because… you know who Abhiraj is. If he is close to someone, it might be dangerous for that person.” I pause. “And please don’t call me ‘sir’”

Understanding dawns in her eyes. She nods slightly. “It’s okay” Zar’s tail wags happily.

Mira looks at him. “You wanted to meet me?” Zar nods eagerly.

“He wants to play with you” I say smiling.

Mira smiles softly and stands up. “Okay then let’s play”

The moment she says that, Zar takes off running, circling around her in excitement. Mira laughs and chases after him. The sight of her smiling so freely makes me shake my head. She has no idea how much Abhiraj wants to protect that smile.

Jiya also starts to follow them but before she can, I grab her wrist. She stops. Her eyes widen slightly shocked, confused.

I meet her gaze and shake my head. “Sit” I say. She hesitates for a second then sits dow.

Mira’s POV

"You want to play with me but you and your dad ignore me like I don’t exist huh?" I complain to Zar while sitting on the grass.

Zar tilts his head and then rubs his face against my arm, as if trying to make up for it. His fur is soft warm. I sigh and run my fingers through it.

"Let’s sit here and let them talk" I say glancing at Jiya and Dev. They seem deep in conversation.

I turn back to Zar and smile. "Do you like me?"

He looks at me for a long moment his blue eyes studying my face. But he doesn’t respond.

"Okay but I like you a lot" I say grinning.

At my words, he suddenly opens his mouth, showing his sharp teeth in a tigerish attempt at a smile. Then as if shy he looks down.

I laugh softly. He’s adorable.

A thought crosses my mind and I lean closer. "Can I ask you something?" Zar lifts his head ears perking up.

"But promise me you won’t tell anyone" I add holding out my hand. Zar lifts his big paw and places it gently in my palm.

I take a deep breath. "Does your dad have any girlfriend or any lady in his life?"

The moment I as  Zar’s eyes light up. A bright shine appears in them and then... he shakes his head.

I blink. He understands everything I’m saying. No wonder he’s a mafia tiger.

"Did your dad behave with every woman the way he behaves with me?" I ask again. "Like softly… the way he behaved at the party with me?" Zar immediately shakes his head again.

My heart… it suddenly feels lighter. My fingers unconsciously clutch the grass beneath me. Stupid me...I don’t even know why that makes me feel good.

"Did your dad ever have a girlfriend in the past? Like an ex or anyone?" I ask my voice dropping to a whisper.

Again Zar shakes his head.

I exhale slowly. I don’t know why I keep asking these things. Maybe because I’m stupid. Maybe because some part of me wants to hear these answers.

I look at Zar again and smirk. "Should I tell you a secret of mine?"

Zar leans closer his ears twitching as if he’s eager to hear it. I chuckle at his cute action. He’s behaving like an excited kid.

"Promise me you won’t tell anyone" I say holding out my hand again. Without hesitation, he places his paw in my palm. I lean in bringing my lips close to his ear.

"So, the secret is…" I whisper dragging the moment. Zar stays still waiting.

"I’m getting a tiny crush on your dad"

I love you all 🌎❤️