Between Handcuffs and Heartbeats

Five years ago, Ishan Kishan did the bravest and stupidest thing of his life-he left the man he loved.

He broke his own heart, disappeared, became the first Omega ACP in India, raised a five-year-old daughter who thinks she runs the government, and convinced himself that moving on was a real thing people actually did.

Spoiler: it was not.

Now life is simple.

Catch criminals.
Ignore society.
Survive his mother Kavita's lectures.
Pack Aaruhi's school tiffin.
Pretend he does not still think about one certain arrogant cricket star.

Very manageable.

Until Mumbai happens.

And unfortunately, so does Shubman Gill.

India's cricket prince. National heartthrob. Walking ego in expensive shirts. Possessive Alpha. Professional menace.

Also, Ishan's first love. Biggest regret. Personal headache.

When death threats force ACP Ishan Kishan to become head of security for the Indian cricket team, he expects danger.

He does not expect Shubman looking him in the eye and deciding, very calmly, that losing him once was enough.

Now there is unresolved love, old wounds, too much chemistry, one extremely observant child, and a dangerously shameless Alpha who keeps looking at him like "running away again" is no longer an available option.

Between handcuffs and heartbeats, duty and desire, and a past that refuses to stay buried, some loves do not end.

They just wait.

And Shubman Gill?

He has waited long enough.