HER SAFE PLACE

Hurt

Rocky's POV

The whole night, I didn’t sleep. My eyes remained glued to Shivangi, her face peaceful yet betraying the chaos we were in. Her breaths, steady and soft, should’ve been comforting, but all I could feel was a gnawing ache in my chest. I knew I had to leave in the morning, but I couldn’t pull myself away.

The clock struck 6 a.m., and my phone buzzed—like an alarm pulling me back to reality. It was time. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment. “I’ll be back,” I whispered softly, though my heart clenched at the thought of leaving her.

Slipping out of the house, I headed toward the warehouses. There were two of them—one planted as a trap and the other, a hidden fortress connected by an underground tunnel. The connection was a secret only my men and I knew, a lifeline in moments like this.

I entered the first warehouse, the one far from the target site. From there, I descended into the underground passage, the dim lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. My footsteps echoed faintly, a reminder of the silence above. I emerged in the second warehouse—the one Arun had rigged to blow.

Positioning myself near the window, I made sure Arun’s men saw me inside. Their walkie-talkies would relay the message back to him: “Rocky’s in position.”

I lay down on the couch, pretending to sleep, my breathing even. But my mind was a battlefield, calculating every move, preparing for the inevitable. My men were stationed strategically, keeping a close eye on Arun’s team.

A few hours later, the message came through: “They’re going to detonate.”

The timer in my head started ticking. Moving swiftly, I used the underground tunnel to retreat to the first warehouse. The exit hatch shut behind me just as the explosion rocked the ground. Flames erupted, devouring the second warehouse entirely.

Smoke filled the air, and the acrid smell of burning wood and chemicals was overpowering, but I was untouched. Standing in the first warehouse, I watched the destruction from a safe distance. My men reported in one by one: Arun’s men were either dead or captured.

I clenched my fists as the pieces of Arun’s plan clicked together. This wasn’t just about eliminating me—it was about Shivangi. He wanted me gone so he could take her. The thought alone made my blood boil, but I pushed it aside for now. Shivangi was safe. I was safe. That’s all that mattered.

Suddenly, I heard the screech of tires. Mihir, Ravi, and Adi arrived at the scene, their faces pale as they stared at the burning warehouse.

As the warehouse burned in front of them, Mihir, Ravi, and Adi stood frozen, their faces etched with fear and disbelief.

“No, no, no, no...” Mihir muttered, his voice barely audible. He was gripping the edge of the car door like it was the only thing keeping him standing.

Ravi paced back and forth, his hands on his head. “He can’t be gone. This isn’t real. He can’t be dead. He’s... he’s invincible! Right? RIGHT?”

Adi, on the other hand, had tears streaming down his face as he fell to his knees dramatically. “No! Who will guide me in life now? Who will scold me for not closing the fridge properly? WHOSE CHILD WILL I SPOIL NOW?”

Mihir snapped, “Adi, what the hell are you even saying?!”

Adi pointed a finger at Mihir, his voice cracking. “You don’t understand! He was my emotional punching bag. My moral support! My... my unpaid therapist!”

I laughed at thier antics.

Ravi sniffled. “I swear... I can hear his voice.”

Mihir paused, his eyes wide. “Wait... me too.”