Chapter 9 — The Warning
For several seconds, nobody inside the mansion moved.
The stranger remained on the lawn, holding Prema's photograph as though he had deliberately come there only to make sure Zyan saw it. The shattered windows allowed the cold night air to sweep into the room, carrying the faint smell of smoke from the gunshots.
Zyan slowly released Prema.
"Stay behind me."
This time, she didn't argue.
His eyes remained fixed on the man outside. Every instinct told him to go after him, but the presence of his family forced him to think carefully. The stranger had already demonstrated that he could penetrate the mansion's security. Chasing him without knowing whether another attacker was nearby would be reckless.
Harry moved beside him.
"He's alone."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't see anyone else."
Zyan's gaze remained on the lawn.
"That's what he wants us to think."
Harry immediately signaled the security team to sweep the property.
The stranger smiled.
Then he raised the photograph slightly.
"She doesn't know what you've brought into her life, does she?"
Prema felt a chill run through her.
Zyan stepped closer to the broken window.
"Who are you?"
The stranger laughed softly.
"You've been asking the wrong question."
"Then answer the right one."
"Why her?"
Zyan's expression hardened.
"Yes."
The stranger's smile disappeared.
"Because you care about her."
Zyan said nothing.
"That's your weakness, Zyan Malik."
The man's voice carried across the lawn.
"You spent years making sure nobody could reach you. You built walls around yourself, surrounded yourself with loyal men, and made enemies afraid to challenge you. Then she appeared."
His eyes moved toward Prema.
"And suddenly those walls became useless."
Prema felt Zyan's hand close around hers.
The stranger noticed.
His expression changed into something almost satisfied.
"Exactly."
Zyan's voice became dangerously calm.
"You've made your point. Now leave."
"Oh, I will."
The stranger slowly lowered the photograph.
"But remember this."
He pointed toward Prema.
"Every person who stands between me and what I want will become a target."
Zyan's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
The man smiled.
"You'll find out."
He turned and walked toward the trees.
Harry immediately signaled the security team.
"Go!"
Several men rushed across the lawn.
But by the time they reached the trees, the stranger had vanished.
A motorcycle engine roared somewhere in the distance.
Harry returned minutes later.
"He's gone."
Zyan stared at the empty road.
"Find him."
"We'll try."
"No."
Zyan turned toward him.
"Don't try. Find him."
Harry nodded.
Behind them, Prema stood silently.
She was staring at the photograph still lying on the ground outside.
The photograph showed her walking beside Zyan.
She didn't remember anyone taking it.
"Zyan."
He turned immediately.
"What?"
"Why did he say I was going to destroy you?"
Zyan walked toward her.
"I don't know."
"But he knows something."
"I know."
"Something about you?"
"Maybe."
Prema looked down.
"Or something about me."
Zyan's expression softened.
"Prema, none of this is your fault."
She looked at him.
"But it started after I met you."
"No."
His answer came instantly.
"It started because someone decided to use you against me."
She shook her head.
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to understand tonight."
"That's not fair."
Zyan paused.
She was right.
Keeping her in the dark would only make her more afraid.
He took a breath.
"Someone has been watching you for a while. They knew your schedule before Rakesh kidnapped you. They knew about my connection to you. Now they're targeting my family."
Prema's eyes widened.
"So Rakesh wasn't the beginning."
"No."
"He was only the first step."
"Yes."
She looked toward the broken windows.
"Then what happens next?"
Zyan didn't answer immediately.
He didn't want to frighten her.
But lying would be worse.
"We find out who is behind this."
"And if you can't?"
"I will."
Her eyes met his.
"You sound very certain."
"I am."
Prema studied him for several seconds.
"Why?"
Zyan's expression softened.
"Because I'm not willing to lose you."
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Prema's breath caught.
Neither spoke.
Zyan realized what he had said and looked away.
Prema's heart was beating too quickly.
She couldn't tell whether it was fear, confusion, or something else.
Then Satya quietly approached.
"Prema?"
Prema turned.
Satya's face was pale.
"Are you okay?"
Prema nodded.
"Yes."
Satya looked at Zyan.
"Is it safe?"
Zyan answered honestly.
"Not yet."
That was enough.
Satya took Prema's hand.
The family was moved into a secure section of the mansion while the security team searched every room, hallway, garden, and vehicle.
Nearly an hour later, Harry returned.
"We found something."
Zyan followed him into the security room.
A laptop sat on the desk.
"We recovered this from a maintenance room," Harry explained. "It was connected to the hidden camera."
Zyan stared at the screen.
"Can you access it?"
"We're working on it."
A few minutes passed.
Then the screen changed.
A folder opened.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Prema leaving college.
Prema teaching dance.
Prema walking to the hostel.
Prema sitting with Satya.
Prema at the temple.
Zyan stared at the images.
Some were weeks old.
Others were from months earlier.
His stomach tightened.
"How long?"
Harry looked at the timestamps.
"At least four months."
Zyan's expression became unreadable.
Four months.
Someone had been watching her long before he had ever met her.
Then Harry opened another folder.
Zyan stopped breathing.
It contained photographs of his family.
His parents.
His sister.
Jack.
Even old photographs from family events.
Harry's voice became quiet.
"This isn't about Prema alone."
Zyan looked at the screen.
"No."
He finally understood.
Someone had been studying his family for months.
Prema hadn't created the danger.
She had merely become the newest piece on the board.
Then a final file appeared.
It was labeled:
PROJECT MALIK — PHASE TWO
Zyan opened it.
There was only one sentence inside.
Make Zyan choose.
His eyes hardened.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
Before Zyan could answer, his phone rang.
His sister.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
Her voice trembled.
"Zyan…"
"What happened?"
"I can't find Mom."
Zyan's blood ran cold.
"Where is Dad?"
"I don't know."
The call suddenly disconnected.
Zyan stared at the phone.
Then another message appeared.
One family member is already gone.
A second message followed.
Now choose who you want to save first.