Born To Be His Only One

CHAPTER 5

As the chaos settled and the ballroom fell into an eerie quiet, the weight of what had just happened began to sink in. Sonam, Aarav, and Vishakha stood amid the shattered remains of the party, their minds churning with unanswered questions.

The dead man’s final words echoed in their heads: The Serpents are just the beginning.

Sonam looked over at Aarav, her expression unreadable. They had joined forces out of necessity tonight, but the underlying tension between them remained palpable. She wasn’t ready to trust him—not yet, not entirely. But for now, they shared a common enemy, and that was enough.

“We need to get out of here,” Sonam said, her voice steady but firm. “Before more reinforcements show up.”

Aarav nodded in agreement. “Agreed. But we can’t just leave these bodies lying around.”

Vishakha stepped forward, already thinking three steps ahead. “I’ll have my men take care of the cleanup. We need to make it look like nothing happened here—at least, nothing that leads back to us.”

Sonam’s eyes flicked to Vishakha, and a silent understanding passed between them. Vishakha’s network was tight, and she could handle this situation. It was one of the reasons Sonam trusted her implicitly.

As Vishakha pulled out her phone to make the necessary calls, Sonam turned to Aarav. “We need to talk,” she said bluntly. “Somewhere secure. I want answers, and I want them now.”

Aarav arched an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “My car’s outside. We can go somewhere private.”

Sonam hesitated for a fraction of a second. The idea of being alone with Aarav, after everything that had just happened, made her uneasy. But she knew this conversation was inevitable. She needed to know what Aarav knew about the Black Serpents and what other threats might be looming on the horizon.

“I’m coming with you,” Vishakha interjected, slipping her phone back into her pocket. Her voice was cool, but there was a hard edge to it. She wasn’t about to let Sonam go alone.

Aarav looked between the two women, clearly amused. “Alright. Let’s go.”

They left the ballroom through a side exit, avoiding the main entrance where guests were still lingering in shock. Aarav’s sleek black car was parked at the back of the venue, and his driver, a silent, hulking figure, opened the door for them without a word.

Sonam slid into the back seat first, followed by Vishakha, and Aarav took the seat opposite them. The tension inside the car was thick, but no one spoke until they were well away from the venue, speeding through the dimly lit streets of the city.

After a few minutes, Aarav broke the silence. “So, let’s get straight to the point. The Black Serpents have been dormant for years. Their sudden appearance isn’t a coincidence.”

Sonam crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on him. “You seem to know a lot about them. Care to explain?”

Aarav met her eyes evenly. “The Black Serpents were once one of the most powerful syndicates in Europe. They were ruthless, well-organized, and had connections everywhere. But about five years ago, they fell off the radar. No one knows exactly why. Some say their leadership was wiped out. Others think they went underground to regroup.”

“And you?” Vishakha asked, her voice sharp. “What do you think?”

Aarav shrugged slightly. “I think they’ve been lying in wait, building up their strength. And now they’re ready to make their move. Tonight’s attack was just the beginning.”

Sonam’s jaw tightened. “And who do you think is behind them now?”

Aarav leaned back, his eyes thoughtful. “That’s the real question, isn’t it? Whoever’s leading them now has a lot of resources—and a lot of power. This isn’t just some random group of thugs. This is a coordinated effort, and it’s going to get worse.”