The mansion was heavily guarded.
Snipers were placed on the rooftop.
Armed guards patrolled every corridor.
Tomorrow night, the powerful leader of the Black Serpent Syndicate would come to attack.
And everyone knew it would not be a small fight.
Inside the strategy room, Aryan Malhotra studied the battle plan carefully.
Several maps of Mumbai were spread across the table.
His most trusted men waited for orders.
"Move half of the guards to the south gate," Aryan instructed calmly.
"If they attack, they'll try to break our weakest side first."
"Yes, Boss."
One of the guards quickly left to carry out the order.
A few minutes later, the room became empty.
Only Aryan remained.
And slowly the door opened.
Anaya Sen walked inside.
"You've been working all night," she said.
Aryan didn't look up.
"War requires preparation."
Anaya walked closer to the table.
"You could die tomorrow."
Aryan finally looked at her.
"So could you."
She crossed her arms.
"You're very calm about that."
Aryan's voice was steady.
"Fear doesn't help in battle."
For a moment they stood in silence.
Then Anaya spoke softly.
"Why are you doing all this?"
Aryan frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"You could just give them the chip," she said.
"This war would end."
Aryan's expression immediately hardened.
"No."
Anaya looked confused.
"Why not?"
Aryan stepped closer to her.
"Because once people like Dragov win…"
"They never stop."
Then he said quietly,
"And because they want you."
The room became silent again.
Anaya looked down for a moment.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"What if tomorrow… something happens to you?"
Aryan smirked slightly.
"You're worried again."
"I'm serious," she replied.
Aryan looked at her for a few seconds.
Then he said calmly,
"If something happens to me… my men will take you somewhere safe."
Anaya shook her head immediately.
"I'm not running."
Aryan raised an eyebrow.
"You really are stubborn."
"Maybe," she replied.
Then she added quietly,
"But I trust you."
Those words surprised him.
For the first time, Aryan didn't have an answer.
Their eyes met in silence.
The distance between them suddenly felt smaller.
But before anything more could happen—
An alarm sounded across the mansion.
Aryan's phone vibrated.
One of his men spoke urgently.
"Boss… enemy movement detected."
Aryan's eyes turned cold instantly.
"Where?"
"Three armored vehicles approaching the east gate."
Anaya felt a chill.
"But Dragov said tomorrow night…"
Aryan picked up his gun.
"Yes."
Then his voice became dangerously calm.
"Which means this…"
"Is just the beginning."