Estranged lovers

Chapter 44

SIDDHARTH'S POV

The office hummed with a tense, methodical rhythm as Siddharth sat in front of a massive monitor, his fingers tapping lightly against the keyboard. His face, as always, was a study of calm, though his eyes betrayed the storm inside.

His thoughts kept returning to Annika, to the chaos her uncle had caused and the monster he had become in the process. The man had been nothing more than a dog in a much darker machine.... an insignificant player who had somehow weaseled his way into the heart of the underworld.

But Siddharth had put an end to him. That much was done. The real work, the brutal dismantling of the web of connections her uncle had woven, was now on his plate. And for that, there was no time to waste.

Adhvait, standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, observed the unfolding scene in the room. 

His dark eyes never left the digital display, scanning over the web of criminal networks that sprawled before them.

His face remained unreadable, a perfect mask of control, as he took in the full scope of the operation they were about to dismantle. This wasn't just about taking down one man. This was about cutting off every threat, neutralizing every danger before it could even raise its head.

The sound of Siddharth's voice cut through the silence.

"We take down the network, piece by piece," Siddharth said, his tone cold, controlled.

"I want everything connected to her uncle removed. His connections in the trafficking world, his money laundering operations. Everything."

Adhvait turned from the window, his lips curling into a small, dangerous smile. "Everything, Siddharth?" His voice was sharp, taunting, but there was no humor in it.

"You're talking about tearing down the entire infrastructure of one of the most successful operations in the underworld. Every one of those people is connected. Some are untouchable. You really want to risk that?"

Siddharth's jaw tightened. "I'm not protecting his honor. But I'm cleaning up his mess. The people he hurt..... they deserve that much."

Adhvait leaned forward, his face suddenly close, his eyes intense. "You think you're the only one who's been cleaning up messes for years, Siddharth? I run this world. I've seen things that would break most men. You think dismantling this operation will make you feel better? Or will it only remind you of just how deep the darkness goes?"

Siddharth's gaze was as hard as stone, unflinching under Adhvait's scrutiny. "I'm not interested in your lectures, Adhvait. I know what needs to be done. I don't need you reminding me of the cost."

Adhvait studied him for a moment, then straightened up, the dangerous glint in his eyes sharpening. "Of course. But you're not doing this alone. And you're not going to like the way I go about it."

His smile was slow, deliberate, the promise of something far worse lurking beneath his words. "You want to destroy every last part of this empire? You'll have to get your hands a lot dirtier than you've ever imagined. Because some of those players are dangerous, Siddharth. And I'm not above using every resource at my disposal."

Siddharth's lips barely twitched into a smile, the expression devoid of warmth. "I'm well aware of what you're capable of, Adhvait. That's why I trust you. But no more delays. We don't let anyone slip through the cracks."

Adhvait's eyes gleamed with something dark, almost predatory. "That's the spirit." He walked to the side of the room and pulled up a holographic map of the network, where every player had their mark, from the lowly traffickers to the high-end corporate fronts. "Annika's uncle may have been a lowly man, but he had his fingers in everything. He wasn't just dealing with small-time scum. He had connections all over, even in the highest echelons of society. People who'll do anything to protect themselves."