As the heavy office door clicked shut behind them, Kiaan, Dev, and Rehaan stepped into the hallway where Tara and ACP Shruti Rana waited anxiously. Tara's eyes immediately locked onto Kiaan, concern etched deep in her expression. "Kiaan, are you alright? We've been worried sick," she said softly, stepping forward.
But Kiaan's gaze flickered down to his trembling hands — subtle, but impossible to miss. He swallowed hard, words sticking in his throat. How could he explain the nightmare he had just endured? The torment, the violation, the way his body betrayed him even now? He didn't know where to begin.
He opened his mouth to speak but stumbled over the simplest words, his voice cracking. Rehaan noticed first and gently caught Kiaan's arm before he could falter further. "Hey, steady," Rehaan murmured, steadying him. "You're safe now."
Dev stepped forward, placing a protective hand between Kiaan and the questioning eyes of Tara and Shruti. "Give him some space," he said quietly, nodding toward Tara and Shruti. "He's not ready yet."
Tara's eyes filled with worry but she nodded, biting her lip. Shruti looked between the men, sensing something heavier beneath the surface.
Kiaan blinked rapidly, trying to focus as his pulse hammered in his ears. He glanced at Tara's hand — bandaged from the injury at the club — and asked quietly, "Is your hand okay now?"
Tara gave a small, brave smile. "Better. Thanks for asking."
Kiaan took a shaky breath and slowly made his way to the table, muscles protesting with every step, his back aching like a deep bruise. He struggled to sit down, wincing as he eased himself into the chair. The weight of what happened made even this small motion a challenge.
Dev leaned close to Rehaan and whispered, "He's still haunted. That place broke something inside him."
Rehaan nodded grimly. "And Tara doesn't even know the half of it."
From across the room, Tara exchanged a worried glance with Dev. "What happened to Kiaan? Please, tell me," she pleaded softly, voice trembling.
Dev hesitated, then said, "It's complicated. He's been through hell — something none of us imagined. We're trying to keep him safe now, but it's going to take time."
Tara swallowed hard, eyes filling with tears she refused to shed. "We need to be there for him... no matter what."
The room fell into a heavy silence, charged with unspoken fears and a fragile hope. Kiaan sat rigidly, his mind a storm of pain, memories, and a simmering fire for revenge. Though his body was battered, his spirit was far from broken.
He glanced at his trembling hands once more, then lifted his head, eyes fierce despite the exhaustion. "I'm not done yet," he whispered. "Not by a long shot."