CRIMSON TIES

"They're coming for you, Inaya. You have no choice. He's the only one who can protect you now."
He.
The man her brother was speaking of was Avyansh Ranawat-the most feared and powerful mafia king in India, and her brother's closest friend. A man who thrived in the shadows, whose very name instilled fear in the underworld. Inaya had never met him, not directly, but his presence had always loomed large in her life. He was a phantom, a force people spoke about in hushed tones.
And now, he was her last hope.
And, perhaps, to keep people in.
Avyansh.
Even in the darkness, with rain pouring down, his presence was unmistakable. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his broad shoulders and commanding stance made him seem larger than life. His sharp, chiseled features were hard, unreadable, as his dark eyes swept over her. He moved with a lethal grace, each step purposeful, controlled.
"Inaya." His voice was deep, calm, but it carried a weight that sent a shiver down her spine
"Your brother asked me to protect you," Avyansh said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if this was just another business deal. Another problem to solve. "But the only way I can guarantee your safety is if you marry me."
The words hit her like a blow. She had known this was coming-her brother had warned her-but hearing it from Avyansh's lips made it real.
Marriage. To Avyansh Ranawat.
It wasn't a request. It wasn't a proposal. It was a decision already made, a solution to the deadly threat that now hung over her life.
She forced herself to meet his gaze, her heart hammering in her chest. "Isn't there another way?"
His expression didn't change, not even a flicker of doubt. "No. This is the only waY
Death.
With a shaky breath, Inaya nodded. "I understand."
Avyansh's eyes darkened, something unspoken passing between them. "Good."
Tomorrow, Inaya would become Mrs. Avyansh Ranawat. Not out of love. Not out of choice. But out of necessity.
And in this world, necessity was often deadlier than love.