Murtasim’s knuckles tightened on the railing of his balcony as he surveyed the city below. The sounds of chaos—gunfire, sirens, and distant shouts—created a cacophony that mirrored the turmoil within him. His empire was on the verge of collapse, and yet his mind was preoccupied with the one person who threatened to bring him to his knees—not through violence, but through the power she held over his heart.
Meerab.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over Karachi, a sharp knock interrupted his thoughts. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
"Come in, Asim," Murtasim said, his voice low, but with an edge that signaled he wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
His right-hand man entered cautiously, his face grim. "Boss, things are getting worse. The Alvi clan just hit one of our supply chains in Lyari. We lost half the shipment. If this keeps up, we won’t have the resources to hold them off much longer."
Murtasim remained silent for a moment, his jaw clenched. He had anticipated that Meerab would strike back, but not with such ferocity. She was playing a dangerous game, and she was doing it well.
"How long before they make a move on our central operations?" Murtasim finally asked, his gaze still fixed on the horizon.
"Could be any moment now," Asim replied, tension clear in his voice. "She’s not giving us any breathing room."
Murtasim’s lips curved into a bitter smile. "Of course she isn’t."
"Boss," Asim hesitated, "you need to do something. You’ve always been two steps ahead of everyone else. But with her… it’s like you’re distracted."
Murtasim’s head snapped toward Asim, his eyes flashing with a warning. "Don’t presume to tell me how to handle this."
Asim bowed his head, but there was a flicker of worry in his eyes. "I’m just saying… she’s unpredictable. This feud has gotten personal. If we don’t make a move soon—"
"I know," Murtasim interrupted sharply, his patience wearing thin. "I know exactly what she’s capable of."
Asim was right, though. The stakes were higher than they had ever been, and Murtasim could feel the noose tightening around his neck. Meerab was ruthless, cunning, and relentless. Every move she made was calculated to destabilize him, and worse, she was getting under his skin in a way that no one ever had.
But what bothered him the most wasn’t just the war itself—it was the way she had ignited something deep inside him, something dangerous.
Desire.
It was that desire that clouded his judgment, that made him second-guess every decision he made. And if he didn’t get it under control, it would destroy him.
He turned back to Asim, his voice steady and cold. "Prepare the men. We’ll strike back at the Alvi clan tonight. Hit them where it hurts."
Asim nodded and left without another word.
Murtasim stood alone again, his mind spinning with conflicting thoughts. He knew what he needed to do. He had to destroy Meerab before she destroyed him. But how could he kill the one person who had managed to capture his heart, even in the midst of this war?
He would have to find a way. Because if he didn’t, Meerab would be his undoing.
---
Meerab sat in her office, her gaze focused on the map in front of her. Her lieutenants were gathered around the table, discussing their next move against Murtasim. But her mind wasn’t on the battle strategies—it was on him.
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