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zayan was finishing up a meeting when his phone buzzed insistently on the table. he glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing at the unfamiliar number. as he opened the message, his heart sank.
TEXT MESSAGE; AIDEN:
Aiden: hey, zayan. you wanted something precious of davian's, right? here you go. i’ve kidnapped leah.
his stomach twisted in knots as anger surged through him. this was a new low, even for davian’s enemies. leah was innocent in all of this, a pawn in a twisted game. zayan couldn’t believe someone would stoop so low, especially using her as leverage against him.
with a growl of frustration, zayan shot up from his seat, startling his colleagues. “i have to go,” he snapped, already making his way to the exit.
the drive to the warehouse felt like an eternity. every second counted, and the thought of leah in danger fueled his determination. he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was somehow linked to his rivalry with davian. after all, she was davian’s so-called wife. keeping her safe wasn’t just about protecting her; it was a strategic necessity in this ruthless game they were playing.
when he finally arrived, chaos enveloped the scene. a group of men loitered around a van, and zayan's fists clenched. he could hear muffled cries from inside, and a surge of protectiveness washed over him. how had she even ended up here? he had no idea of the location until now, and that infuriated him even more.
“hey!” zayan shouted, striding forward with purpose. “let her go!”
the kidnappers turned, surprise flickering across their faces, but zayan wasn’t here to negotiate. he launched himself into action, taking out the first man with a swift punch. the others scrambled, and chaos erupted.
he managed to break open the van’s door, and leah’s wide eyes met his. “zayan!” she gasped, relief flooding her voice.
“are you okay?” he demanded, scanning her for injuries as he cut the ropes binding her.
“i—i think so,” she stammered, still shaken. “i was so scared.”
“let’s get you out of here,” he urged, feeling a strange protectiveness swell within him. he had to keep her safe—not just because it was the right thing to do, but because her safety was a bargaining chip in this relentless rivalry.
but before they could escape, leah’s eyes locked onto his, and she breathed out, “why did you come for me?”
zayan hesitated, caught off guard by her question. “because i couldn’t let them use you against davian. you’re… important to him, and that makes you important to me, too.”
she blinked, a mixture of gratitude and confusion etched on her face. “so this is just business to you?”
“no, it’s not just business,” he replied, frustration seeping into his voice. “you’re in danger, and i won’t let anyone hurt you. not like this.”
just then, one of the kidnappers lunged at them, and zayan instinctively pushed leah behind him, taking the man down with a swift move. as the chaos continued around them, leah’s voice cut through the tension.
“you don’t have to protect me just because of davian. i can take care of myself!”
zayan turned to her, eyes fierce. “this isn’t about davian! this is about you and your safety. you have to understand that i won’t stand by and let anything happen to you.”
with leah safe now, he felt a flicker of something deeper than rivalry—an undeniable connection that had been forged through danger. zayan would do whatever it took to ensure her safety. the stakes had never been higher, and he was ready to confront whatever awaited them, knowing the battle had just begun.
