AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know, Neil, but I will find out. I won’t let anyone hurt them. Where did you see your mom last?”
“They were walking in the direction of the forest from the right of the house,” Neil explained.
Dev mentally pictured that area. He remembered there was a clearing—a patch of empty land—inside the forest a little distance from there. At least he was driving in the right direction.
“Dad, be careful, please,” Neil begged. “I…I…love you, Dad.”
Dev’s heart squeezed on hearing his son’s words. While Neil had always shown him affection, it was the first time he was putting it into words.
“I love you too, my darling,” Dev said softly. “Now, do as your Uncle Vihaan says. He will keep you safe.”
Neil handed the phone to Vihaan.
“Vihaan, protect him with your life,” Dev said.
“I will.”
Dev disconnected the line and spoke to Aaryan. “Tell the security following us to go to the main house and help tackle the team that has deserted us. If they do as they are told and turn around, it means they’re on our side, else…”
“Else?” Aaryan repeated.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Aaryan made the call, and through the rear-view mirror, Dev saw the car following them turn around. He exhaled a sigh of relief. At least some of the guards were on their side. He parked the car by the side of the museum. Aaryan and he climbed out and started running through the forest. It took them less than nine minutes to reach the back border of his property.
They crouched behind some shrubs as they took in the house and the guards patrolling it. They were the same guards Aaryan had hired to protect them. Anger raged through his blood at their deception. His temper escalated further as he considered how duplicitous his uncle was now and may have been in the past as well.
From beside him, Aaryan, too, was seething. He swore softly.
“You had ten guards stationed around the house,” Dev began. “Let’s assume most of them have turned against us.”
Aaryan nodded. “I can see four of them doing the rounds. Two on the left and two on the right.”
“Will you be able to take them on?” Dev asked.
Aaryan nodded. “Yes. Are you confident to do this? You’ve just about recovered.”
“I’m fine. I’ve been training for years.”
“Me too.”
“Let’s just hope the two security guards we sent will be able to take out the remaining guards.”
Aaryan wordlessly moved to the right while Dev went to the left. He approached the first man and slammed a hand over his mouth. The man struggled while Dev pressed a pressure point to the side of his neck. The man fell like a bag of stones. He’d be out for a while. He lifted his gun and headed towards the other man patrolling further up ahead. The second Dev was behind him, the man turned. Dev smashed his gun on his head even before the man could blink. He lost consciousness immediately. Dev took his rifle and went in search of Aaryan.
Aaryan was coming toward him, holding two rifles in each hand. They returned back into the forest, tossing one rifle away each, and made their way in the direction Neil had pointed at. They walked close to the border of his property, keeping an ear out for any sounds, but there were none.
“Where are they?” Aaryan whispered. “I can’t see anything. Are we going in the right direction?”
“Neil said it’s this way.” Dev took another step forward, and his heart squeezed. “She’s here. Avantika’s close.”
“How do you know?” Aaryan asked. “Are you sure?”
Dev pressed a hand to his chest. “I always know in here when she’s close.”
Thank God for his internal radar. It always warned him when she was near. Sure enough, a few seconds later, they heard voices.
“Where is your son?” his uncle asked. “You said this clearing in the forest is his favorite spot.”
