CHAPTER 10 （Turning Point）
KRISH
As soon as Ayaan outlined his plan to use Trisha as bait, my heart clenched in dread. Sending her directly into Max’s clutches again? After everything she’d already endured at their hands? It was unimaginable.
I gripped Ayaan’s arm and pulled him aside, unable to contain my anger.
“Are you out of your mind? I won’t allow Trisha to put herself in that kind of danger.”
Ayaan regarded me steadily, unmoved by my outburst. We’d been friends for too long.
“I get your concern, Krish. But do we really have a better choice here? Ron won’t surface unless he thinks he’s meeting Max. And the only person who can get us close enough is Trisha.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face, frustration bubbling up.
“You sound awfully casual about sending her off as fucking bait to those psychopaths. Have you forgotten what Max did to her before?”
Ayaan’s expression softened a fraction. “Of course, I haven’t.
You think I’d ever put her life at risk unnecessarily?
” He gripped my shoulder firmly. “I’m not here just as the Intelligence Director but also as your friend.
If you don’t want me to intervene in your decision to lead this mission, I won’t.
But after yesterday’s ambush, I wanted to be sure you had all the support you needed to finish this.
I can back off if you have a better plan than this. ”
I blew out a harsh breath, reining in my emotions at his words. Ayaan was right—I couldn’t let my personal feelings cloud my judgment on this mission. He was only trying to help achieve our goal as effectively as possible.
“I know,” I admitted gruffly. “And I’m grateful you’re here. The truth is, I hate having to deploy Trisha as bait like this. It goes against every protective instinct I have.”
“Trust me, we can do this,” he replied.
I nodded in agreement.
“I hope it does. And honestly, action doesn’t suit me like it does you,” I added. “I’ve always been better in handling the technical side rather than being the man of action on the ground.”
“Exactly,” Ayaan grinned. “That’s why we make such a good team. So, leave the cowboy heroics to me while you work your computer magic in the van.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle wryly at his friendly jibe. Since our early days at GLEN, Ayaan had always thrived in the field, while I preferred being tactical command. It was what made us such an efficient duo, balancing each other’s strengths.
Clasping his shoulder, I met Ayaan’s gaze seriously. “Just promise me you’ll keep Trisha safe while she’s in there.”
It was only after I said those words that it clicked in my head that Ayaan would question my sudden affinity towards Trisha. So, before he could question me further, I explained.
“She is a friend now. And I don’t want her hurt.”
Ayaan’s expression sobered. “You have my word, buddy. I’ll protect her with my life if needed, just as I know you’d have mine.”
With a nod of understanding passing between us, I felt the knot in my chest loosen. If anyone could watch over Trisha in a situation like this, it was Ayaan. He had never failed a mission or left someone behind. I trusted him implicitly.
“Alright, let’s do this,” I said, feeling calmer now. “Though, for the record, I still think this plan is moot. We’re basically gift-wrapping Trisha and handing her over to that sadistic bastard Max.”
Ayaan barked out a laugh, slapping me on the back. “There’s the paranoid worrywart I know and love. That’s why you’re leading this op and I’m just here to provide support.”
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly, relaxing into the easy camaraderie between us. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t go getting yourself blown up out there. Who else would I hang out with in Austria once we return otherwise?”
Ayaan chuckled heartily. “I practically saved your scrawny ass all the time, so a little respect is in order. Now come on, we’ve got work to do.”
As we rejoined the others, I felt a sense of calm focus settle over me, the anxiety pushed aside. With Ayaan at my side and Trisha’s combat abilities, we could pull this off and finally end Max and Ron’s reign of terror once and for all.
****************
The hours leading up to the operation were a flurry of activity.
Ayaan was off and running, coordinating with local assets to gather the final intel on Max’s compound and any potential locations where he might meet with Ron.
My role was tactical planning and logistics—mapping out routes, positioning strike teams, and going over contingencies.
Trisha stayed close by for most of it, preparing herself. But we barely had a moment alone, always surrounded by the other agents and teams of the command centre we’d set up. Whenever our eyes met, I saw the same determined resolution reflected back at me, tinged with an undercurrent of anxiety.
Tomorrow, she would purposefully put herself in unimaginable danger once again.
The thought made my chest tighten, but I ruthlessly pushed those feelings aside.
She was also not thrilled that I’d tried to decide for her in front of Ayaan and the team by rejecting the idea of using her as bait to reach Ron.
But what else did she expect? I wanted her safe. Was that so hard to understand?
That night, before we flew to Kuala Lumpur for the operation, Ayaan gathered everyone for the final briefing.
“Our intelligence has Max’s location pinned down here,” he said, pointing to a dilapidated area on the outskirts of KL on the map. “He’s been lying low, likely waiting for Ron’s arrival.”
My stomach twisted at the thought of Trisha walking into that den alone. But this was the only way. I felt her gaze on me and forced myself to remain stoic as Ayaan continued.
“We have two objectives—finding Max and using him to lure out Ron. Once Trisha makes contact with the target, we’ll have her location via the chip’s signal. Then it’s just a matter of moving in swiftly before they can bolt.”
I studied the area maps intently, analysing potential routes and block points for the raid teams. Laying out the tactical plan helped me regain my focus. This was just another op, nothing more. I refused to let emotions cloud my judgment and potentially jeopardise Trisha’s safety further.
Finally, it was time to deploy. Trisha was being outfitted with the tracking chip bio-monitors while Ayaan did the last weapons checks. Motioning her over, I pulled her aside for a rare moment of privacy.
“This is it,” I said gruffly, struggling to keep my tone impersonal. “You know what you have to do?”
“Of course.” Her eyes shone with determination, though a hint of vulnerability peeked through. “But if anything goes sideways in there...”
“It won’t,” I insisted, perhaps too harshly. I had to believe that. I couldn’t let doubt creep in now. “Just get us a fix on Ron’s location through Max. Ayaan and I will handle the rest.”
I held Trisha’s gaze, my throat constricting with everything left unspoken between us. This was it—potentially our final moment together before she walked into the lion’s den once more.
“Trisha...” My voice cracked with the weight of all I couldn’t say.
Before I could form any other words, she reached up and pulled my face down to hers in a searing kiss. Our lips met with an urgency born of desperation and longing. I froze for only a split second before melting against her, pouring every ounce of emotion I’d been holding back into the embrace.
My arms wound around her slender frame, holding her flush against me as our mouths moved in frantic synchrony. One of my hands slid up the curve of her spine to cup the back of her head, angling her to deepen the kiss further. Our tongues danced and duelled with rising intensity.
In that endless moment, the roar of the command centre here at Phoenix Headquarters faded away.
There was only the scorching heat of Trisha’s body against mine, the rapid faltering of our mingled breaths, and the velvet crush of her lips.
I drank her in like a man dying of thirst, losing myself in the profound intimacy of our connection.
Finally, the need for air forced us apart, our foreheads pressed together as we panted harshly.
Trisha’s dark eyes were glazed with desire, her cheeks flushed.
Sliding one hand up to cradle her face tenderly, I brushed my thumb over her feverish skin, tracing the curve of her cheekbones as if committing them to memory.
“Come back to me,” I rasped, the words tasting of desperation and promise.
A ghost of a smile curved her lips as she leaned in to plant one last, achingly soft kiss over my mouth. “I will.”
Then, she slipped from my arms and disappeared around the corner to rejoin the others before we could be discovered.
I sagged back against the wall, chest heaving, body still thrumming with the aftershocks of that heated exchange.
“Get it together, man,” I chided myself sternly.
Now wasn’t the time for any other thoughts.
Trisha’s life was on the line, depending on me to have my head in the game.
Pushing aside the lingering taste of her lips, I headed for the command centre.
My movements were steady, my mind clear and focused.
It was time to lock away the man who loved her and revert back to the operative she could rely on without question.
No matter what awaited her within Max’s lair, I would stop at nothing to ensure Trisha emerged from it unscathed.
Even if it cost me everything, I would bring her home.