Bang, bang.

I heard the gunshots.

They're closing in.

All because of one mistake.

A traitor...

It's all my fault.

And now my team is in danger.

But I won't let my team die-not even if it means sacrificing myself. And if, by some miracle, I survive this, that traitor better start begging God for mercy. Because I won't show him any.

Just as I loaded my gun and stepped forward, something yanked me back. My back slammed against the wall.

"What the he-"

Before I could finish, a gloved hand clamped over my mouth. In the dark, I saw a face-or at least part of one. Whoever it was had a mask on. I struggled to break free.

"Don't move," she said coldly, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

How dare she command me?

And how foolish of her to think I'd obey.

I smirked beneath her palm and bit down-hard. So hard that even through the glove, her palm started bleeding ever so slightly. But she didn't flinch. Didn't even pull back.

"Are you some kind of wild animal?" she snapped, clearly irritated.

Her anger didn't scare me. It fueled me. I bit her again.

She glared at me with her dark brown eyes to be honest it unsettled me a bit.

"Baby," she hissed, "don't test my patience. Unless you want me to fuck you right here, save it-we've got enemies to kill."

My breath caught.

Her tone was silk wrapped in poison.

How dare she-

Before I could even think of a reply she let go of me.

"Wait!" I whisper yelled,but she was already gone, charging into the chaos.

I followed.

Together, we killed every last one of them with the help of my other team mates, but I was too mesmerized by her skills to notice anything else.

But the moment the dust settled, she vanished-like she hadn't just slaughtered militants beside me minutes ago.

"No,no,no!" I muttered, punching the wall.

She was right here. So close. And I let her slip through my fingers.

---

[Back at the base]

"Hey, dude. You alright? You've been off since you got back from the assignment."

Raghav's voice dragged me out of my thoughts.

"It's nothing," I said, forcing a smile.

"You can't fool me, Vihaan."

I sighed. "I was this close, Raghav. I nearly caught her today... but my own bloody brain betrayed me."

"Her?" he asked, frowning.

"Her."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"My stalker. The same woman who's been ruining my life for the past two years."

"What?! Where did you see her?"

"On the assignment."

"Assignment?!" he shouted. Every head in the mess hall turned towards us.

"Shhh! Keep your voice down," I whispered.

"Sorry, got caught up in the drama. But how do you know it was her?"

Before I could answer, the loudspeaker summoned us to the briefing room.

---

"Major Kapoor, what the hell were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that?" Colonel Rajveer roared. Not just my superior officer-my father too.

"Sorry, sir."

I stood, back straight, hands behind me, head bowed. I knew this was coming. I'd trusted the wrong man. Ignored my gut. And nearly got my team killed.

"Sorry? That's all you've got?" he snapped. "Your entire unit could've died if Ember hadn't saved you."

Wait.

What?

Ember?

No.

No, no, no.

My possessive stalker is none other than Ember-one of the most feared secret agents in the world.

I looked at Raghav. He was just as stunned as I was.

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," I said quietly.

"It better not. As punishment, you'll do 500 rounds of the base."

I nodded. No argument. He walked out. I sank back into my seat, resting my head on the table over my folded arms.

"Vihaan..." Raghav began.

"Not now, Raghav. Please. Just give me a moment."

He knew better than to push. With a comforting pat on my shoulder, he left.

Just as the door opened again, I didn't look up. My mind was a storm. And then-

That voice.

Her voice.

It froze me.

"Headache again?" she asked softly-emotionless, yet so devastatingly familiar.

Why did she always have to be so... irresistible?

"Won't even look at me now?" she continued, leaning against the window. "At least say sorry for biting my hand like a rabid dog. That was rude, baby."

That was it.

My patience snapped.

"Don't you dare call me that," I growled, fury bubbling in my throat.

"Call you what, baby?" she said, amused. Fucking hell.

"I'm not your baby," I snarled, teeth gritted.

"You are. Whether you like it or not."

"Sto-" I started, but my phone rang.

Typical.

Still, a slow smirk curled on my lips. I looked straight at her and answered the call-on speaker.

"Hello, Vihaan," came the most irritating voice on Earth.

Mehak.

"Hi, Mehak," I said sweetly. Sickeningly. Not because I liked her, but because I wanted to watch the reaction of the woman across the room.

The one who was currently staring at me like she wanted to devour me.

Even behind the mask, I could feel her fury.

And then she said something that made my blood run cold.

"You should've told me sooner if you wanted your little lover dead."

My heart stopped.

"V-Vihaan, whose voice was that?" Mehak asked nervously.

I hung up.

"You can't," I whispered, staring at her.

"Oh sweetheart," she said, her voice dark with promise, "you still don't know how far I'll go for you."

She stepped forward and grabbed my throat-not tight enough to hurt, just enough to own me.

"You're mine. And no one-not even fate-can change that."

"I'm not an object," I spat, meeting her cold dark brown eyes.

"Who said you were an object, baby?" she said, trailing her fingers along my jaw.

I laughed bitterly. "The way you want to possess me tells me everything."

What she said next made it hard to breathe.

"Vihaan, baby. Don't ever think your worth in my life is that of a trophy. You're the only light in my dark world. The only human I care about. So don't insult yourself like that. You belong to me."

She stepped back and pulled out a small chocolate from her pocket, handing it to me.

"Eat it. Take it as my apology-for invading your life."

As she turned to leave, I reached out and grabbed her wrist.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Your hand," I said, eyeing the dried blood. "It's still bleeding."

"Oh, this?" She looked down at it casually. "I did this myself."

"What? Are you a psycho?"

"I prefer creative," she smirked. "And for this... I wanted your mark on me. Even if I had to carve it into my bone."

God. She is a psycho.

Without a word, I pulled my handkerchief from my pocket and tied it around her bleeding palm.

She looked down at it and smirked.

"Still going to pretend you don't care about me?"

And with that, she walked away.

I sank into the chair again, completely spent.

Absentmindedly, I pulled out my wallet.

There it was.

A photo.

Her.

Us.

Seven years ago.

My throat tightened.

Seven years of waiting.

Seven years of loneliness.

Seven years of pain.

I leaned back, wallet still in hand, eyes fixed on the ceiling. I shut my eyes as the first tear slipped down, silent and traitorous.

"Just a sign..." I whispered.

"I'll find you."