AvNeil: Chase Against Time

Chapter Thirty Five

I need to ensure your safety.

Though he had said that. He couldn't think of anything else but the sudden ease that he felt. Having her around him blew the unsettled thoughts that bugged him. 

He had been restless every time she wasn't within his line of sight. Every time he was unable to track her, it bothered him. Initially, he shoved the thought aside assuming that it was only because - to protect her was a part of his ongoing case. She was just an assigned case to his list of duties. At least that's what he ensured himself with.

However, dancing with her was not a part of his job. It wasn't an assigned duty. And he surely didn't have to step in while she hit the dance floor with her friend. Then why did he do that?

'Why,' he pondered.

The more he looked out for answers, the more confusing it got for him. The all-too-consuming urge to get the hands of the other man off of her was too strong for him to dive for any reasoning. He only grew restless as he watched the two of them dancing while he stood at the sides. It pricked him to see the ease in her stance as they spoke, leaning into each other. They looked cozy and easily intimate. The level of comfort they shared had his nerves knotted. He couldn't stand the thought. So, yeah, he acted impulsively. 

'Screw me,' he had thought as he paraded across the dance floor, towards the duo. The pale skin of her back snugly wrapped in just the red lace with intricate design that covered whole of her back. Her skin peeking through the lace. All of her back, till the dip at the small of her back was covered yet seen. It was a tease in the name of the dress. And, surely, if he felt the stir with his record-breaking restraints, the other men in the room were no exception. 

-

"You sure about that, Officer," the gentle whisper drew him out of his world of thoughts. She had tiptoed, her face was barely inches away with her palms pressed onto his shoulders for support. His grip tightened around her, holding her in place. "Because I don't see any kind of lingering danger while I enjoy the fruits of my hard-work dancing with a good friend of mine," the laid back tone with which she had spoken didn't sit well with him. 

"Don't get into something that you have no clue about," his words held an underlying warning to it.

'She would be a fool to not know what I meant,' he thought. And she certainly wasn't. At least he assumed so.

"There's no fun to play until and unless there's an element of mystery to it," she justified her stance. "I wasn't clueless about the dance though," she pointed out before nailing another jab at him, "You, however, seem to be."

Pinning her under his analyzing gaze, he looked traces for hesitation but there were none. She had various layers hiding beneath her mask. So much to her personality, that it stunned him at various occasions. Though, he was certain that they were both talking in different context.

He was losing his patience. 'To dance with her was a bad idea,' he concluded.

Grabbing hold of her arm, he gently pushed her out before twirling her in his arms. She dashed into him yet again, landing herself in the same position that they were in.

-

Somehow, it seemed that she the one was focused on work while he had himself drawn to her. Lost in thoughts that consisted her, swaying onto the beats of the music, with her in his arms, he could barely concentrate on his work. For some reason, it didn't feel right to him. She had ruled his mind much more than what he claimed to be healthy for his work. He let out an inaudible sigh of relief as the music turned a tone softer before the final notes rang and the song ended. 

"Stay nearby," he softly murmured into her ears before stepping aside and tugging her off the dance floor. His hold over her elbow pads only released once they were at the side and away from being the centre of attraction, as he reminded her sternly, "Stay put."

"As if you'd let me do otherwise," she muttered, rolling her eyes at his controlling impulse. Retreating his steps, while keeping his eyes trained at her, he disappeared into the dark.

Even though she hadn't mentioned how she could slip through his fingers irrespective of what he said, he had read her eyes. Surely, she was complex and unusual to handle.

Within minutes the centre stage was take up by a group of performers, the lighting toned down to the dimmest, close to dark, grabbing the attention of the onlookers. As the performance got closer to its end, the muggy fog from the smoke machine was seen. While the bunch of performers combed through the audience, they grabbed a couple of onlookers engaging them in their acts. Everything looked fine and unsuspicious, until Neil saw Ananya being pulled into the performance as well. A scowl marred his features and he thought of walking up to her again. However, looking at her smiling face, he discarded the thought.

In the next moment, though, the men circled around her and the fog grew thicker. It became nearly impossible for one to see through the smoke. Alerted, Neil barked commands through his earpiece, while he tried to reach her.

Five minutes later when the smoke cleared up and all the lights switched on, the group of performers had disappeared. Niel swept his eyes sharply across the venue but was unable to locate the only person he was trying to find. His eyes landed on Ali and Zeenat both looked equally anxious, confirming his doubts.

"Damn it," he kicked the object nearest to him without a care.

She was gone. Taken away right under his nose and he could do nothing about it.

-
Now the things are taking a turn mystery is gradually gonna be unveiled. Just a couple of chapters away from that.

You will see work of clever minds put together in the coming chapters. That my friends was a spoiler for you all. ;)

Next chapter: Any time during this week or the weekend. Depends on my workload, which by the way is absolutely crazy.