28
Chapter 28
Bring My Son Back
The security room was silent.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the monitor.
The footage clearly showed Rhea walking toward the underground parking area.
Beside her was Kabir.
He wasn't struggling.
He wasn't crying.
He was simply holding her hand.
Anaya's knees nearly gave out.
"No..."
Aarav caught her before she could fall.
His hand gently steadied her arm.
"Look at me."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Anaya's eyes filled with tears.
"They took him..."
"We're bringing him back."
There wasn't a trace of doubt in his voice.
Not even for a second.
That certainty kept her standing.
---
Aarav turned to the security team.
"Lock every gate."
"Already done, sir."
"Police?"
"On their way."
Vikram stepped forward.
"We've traced one of the cars leaving the basement."
Aarav nodded once.
"I'm going."
"I'll come too," Anaya said immediately.
He looked at her.
"No."
"I'm his mother."
"I know."
His voice remained gentle.
"And that's exactly why I need you to stay somewhere safe."
"I'm coming."
The determination in her eyes reminded him of the woman he'd fallen in love with.
Stubborn.
Fearless.
Ready to fight anyone for the people she loved.
Normally, he would've argued.
Instead, he took a deep breath.
"Listen to me."
She looked away.
He stepped closer.
"If something happens to you too..."
His voice became quieter.
"...Kabir loses both his parents."
The words made her freeze.
Not "you'll slow me down."
Not "stay out of the way."
Just concern.
Real concern.
For her.
"I promise you."
He gently held both of her trembling hands.
"I'm bringing our son home."
Our son.
It was the first time he'd said those words.
Anaya burst into tears.
---
Aarav carefully wiped one tear from her cheek with his thumb.
The gesture surprised both of them.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at him in confusion.
"What?"
"I'm sorry you carried this fear alone for five years."
The apology hit her harder than anything else.
She had expected blame.
Anger.
Accusations.
Not this.
Not an apology.
"You don't have to-"
"I do."
His eyes met hers.
"I should've protected you."
A fresh tear rolled down her face.
Before she could answer, Vikram interrupted.
"Sir, we've got the location."
The moment shattered.
Aarav's expression hardened again.
Business.
Mission.
Focus.
He turned to leave.
Then stopped.
Looking back at Anaya.
"I'll call you the moment I find him."
She nodded silently.
For the first time in years...
She trusted him completely.
---
Meanwhile...
Kabir sat quietly inside a large warehouse.
He wasn't tied up.
He wasn't locked in a room.
He simply looked confused.
Rhea placed a juice box in front of him.
"You must be thirsty."
Kabir looked at it.
Then at her.
"My mum said not to take drinks from strangers."
Rhea forced a smile.
"I'm not a stranger."
"You are."
She clenched her jaw.
Children were more difficult than she'd expected.
Kabir folded his arms.
"I want my mum."
"You'll see her soon."
"I want my dad too."
The simple sentence made Rhea's expression darken.
Dad.
He'd already started calling Aarav that.
She hated it.
Everything was slipping away from her.
Exactly the way it had years ago.
---
An hour later...
Three black SUVs stopped outside the abandoned warehouse.
Aarav stepped out first.
He wasn't carrying a weapon.
Only a small communication device.
Vikram frowned.
"Sir, let us go in first."
Aarav shook his head.
"My son is inside."
"Exactly."
"If Kabir gets scared..."
He looked toward the warehouse.
"...the first face he should see is mine."
Vikram understood immediately.
He simply nodded.
The team quietly surrounded the building.
---
Inside...
Kabir was drawing on a piece of paper someone had given him.
Rhea frowned.
"What are you drawing?"
"My family."
She glanced at it.
Three people.
A man.
A woman.
A little boy holding both their hands.
The picture instantly irritated her.
"You've known him for one day."
Kabir looked up.
"So?"
"So he isn't your real family."
Kabir tilted his head.
Then answered with the honesty only children possessed.
"Family isn't about time."
Rhea blinked.
"It's about love."
For a moment...
She couldn't say anything.
Because somehow...
A five-year-old had just said something she had never understood.
---
Outside...
Aarav received a message through his earpiece.
"Target confirmed."
He closed his eyes for one second.
Then opened them again.
His expression became calm.
Focused.
Controlled.
"Nobody shoots unless I give the order."
One of the guards looked surprised.
"But sir-"
"My son is inside."
There would be no reckless attack.
No unnecessary violence.
Nothing that could put Kabir at risk.
Aarav wasn't thinking like a mafia leader.
He was thinking like a father.
And that made him far more dangerous.
He took one final look at the warehouse.
Then quietly whispered to himself-
"Hold on, buddy."
"Dad's coming."
To be continued...