The fire behind them had finally begun to die down.
Smoke drifted into the night sky, leaving behind a heavy silence.
But inside that silence…
Something had changed.
Between Aryan Malhotra and Anaya Sen.
Something dangerous.
Something neither of them had control over anymore.
Aryan's hand was still on her waist.
His grip firm.
Possessive.
As if letting go wasn't even an option.
Anaya could feel it.
That intensity.
That pull.
But before either of them could say anything—
Headlights suddenly cut through the darkness.
A black car stopped near them.
The door opened.
And a familiar figure stepped out.
Nikolai Volkov.
His sharp grey eyes immediately landed on Anaya.
"You're alive," he said calmly.
Anaya frowned slightly.
"You sound disappointed."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"I prefer surprises."
Aryan's expression hardened instantly.
His hand tightened slightly on Anaya's waist.
A silent warning.
Nikolai noticed it.
Of course he did.
His gaze shifted to Aryan.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy."
Aryan's voice turned cold.
"Then stop looking at her like that."
The air between them turned sharp.
Tense.
Nikolai raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Like what?"
Aryan took a step forward.
Placing himself fully between Nikolai and Anaya.
"Like you're planning something."
Nikolai chuckled softly.
"You really don't trust anyone, do you?"
Aryan didn't answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
No.
He didn't.
Especially not when it came to her.
Anaya stepped slightly to the side.
"I can speak for myself."
Aryan didn't even look at her.
"No."
The single word came out firm.
Unarguable.
Anaya's eyes narrowed.
"You don't get to decide everything."
Aryan finally turned toward her.
"And you don't get to take risks with your life."
The tension between them rose instantly again.
But before it could turn into an argument—
Nikolai spoke calmly,
"You might want to focus on the real problem."
Both of them looked at him.
His expression had changed.
Serious now.
"Viktor Dragovich is not done."
Anaya's heart tightened slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Nikolai's voice lowered.
"The warehouse explosion…"
"…wasn't meant to kill you."
Aryan's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Nikolai looked straight at him.
"It was a message."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Anaya whispered,
"What kind of message?"
Nikolai's gaze shifted briefly to her.
Then back to Aryan.
"That he can reach her…"
"…whenever he wants."
Aryan's jaw tightened instantly.
His hand moved again—
Pulling Anaya slightly closer to him.
Protective.
Instinctive.
Possessive.
"No one touches her," he said coldly.
Nikolai smirked faintly.
"That's what you think."
And that was it.
The line that snapped something inside Aryan.
He stepped forward in a flash—
Grabbing Nikolai by the collar.
"Say that again."
His voice dropped dangerously low.
Nikolai didn't resist.
Didn't even look afraid.
Instead, he smiled slightly.
"You're losing control."
Aryan's grip tightened.
"And you're testing my patience."
Before things could escalate—
Anaya stepped forward.
"Aryan, stop."
For a second…
He didn't move.
Didn't let go.
Then slowly—
He released him.
But his eyes never left Nikolai.
"Stay away from her."
The warning was clear.
Deadly.
Nikolai adjusted his coat casually.
"Or what?"
Aryan stepped closer again.
This time slower.
More controlled.
But far more dangerous.
"Or you won't live long enough to regret it."
Silence followed.
Then Nikolai laughed softly.
"I like you."
He turned to leave.
But stopped for a moment.
Without looking back, he said—
"If you want to keep her safe…"
"…you'll have to trust me."
Then he walked away.
Disappearing into the darkness.
Leaving behind more questions than answers.
Anaya exhaled slowly.
"He knows something."
Aryan didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were still fixed in the direction Nikolai had gone.
"I don't trust him," he said finally.
Anaya looked at him.
"But you might need him."
Aryan turned toward her.
For a moment, the anger in his eyes softened.
Just slightly.
Then he stepped closer.
His hand gently but firmly held her arm again.
"You stay close to me."
Anaya sighed.
"You already said that."
Aryan's voice dropped.
"And I meant it."
Their eyes locked again.
That same tension returned.
But now—
It was deeper.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
Because now there was something else mixed into it.
Jealousy.
Possession.
And a feeling neither of them could ignore anymore.