The air outside the hideout was heavy with police sirens and Aryan's desperate shouts. But Abir's eyes were calm, devoid of fear. He secured Arisa behind him on the H2R, her arms wrapped around his waist like chains.
"Hold on tight, Arisa," Abir said over the roar. "Tonight, we fly faster than the wind. I'll show Aryan that he can't touch my empire, let alone my shadow."
Abir twisted the throttle, and the H2R let out a monstrous growl. As they burst through the secret back gate like a bolt of lightning, Aryan began the pursuit in his jeep. A life-and-death game commenced on the rain-slicked midnight streets.
"Don't let them escape!" Aryan screamed into his walkie-talkie. "Aim for the tires! Don't hit Arisa!"
The blinding rain and lashing wind made it impossible for Arisa to open her eyes. She could only feel the sturdiness of Abir's frame. Suddenly, a bullet grazed the handlebar. Abir didn't flinch; instead, he pushed the speedometer past 200 km/h.
Abir steered the bike onto a steep, winding mountain road. The path was narrow with a sheer drop on one side. Aryan's jeep couldn't take the turn at that speed, skidding and crashing into a side rail.
Abir brought the bike to a halt at the cliff's edge. He removed his helmet and looked at Arisa. Her eyes held a new light today. She saw his face—drenched and scarred—not as a savior, but as a warrior.
"Abir..." she whispered. "Do you truly love me, or is this just your obsession?"
Abir stepped closer, lifting her chin. His wet hair brushed against her forehead. "There is no boundary between obsession and love, Arisa. You are the addiction I never want to recover from."
Just then, a massive bolt of lightning tore through the sky. In that brief flash, more black SUVs were seen approaching from the other side of the mountain. Aryan wasn't alone; his backup had arrived. The war was far from over.
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