The room fell into stunned silence the moment Dev's voice cut through the hum of scattered conversations.
"He's alive," Dev said, eyes locked on the group of senior agents. "Kiaan is alive… and he just called."
Director Arvind Bansal leaned forward from behind his desk, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. "Where is he?"
"He didn't say," Dev replied. "He only asked Rehaan and me to meet him. Alone. No one else."
The tension rippled through the room like a shockwave. Joint Director Raghav Kapoor stood up abruptly. "After being taken from the club in the middle of a bloodbath, disappearing without a trace for nearly 24 hours—he suddenly resurfaces and says not to bring anyone else? Something's not right."
"I know," Rehaan added grimly, already grabbing his jacket. "That's why we're going. But only us. That was his condition."
A chair screeched as Tara stood up, her injured hand still wrapped in gauze. Her voice was heavy with worry and barely contained panic. "I'm coming with you. I don't care what he said."
"No," Dev said firmly, turning to her. "He asked specifically for us. Only us."
Tara's eyes blazed. "Then something's wrong. Why would he ask for just you two after what happened? He's hiding something—or someone's watching him."
"That's exactly why we need to follow his lead," Rehaan replied, his voice calm but unshakable. "If he's compromised, he wouldn't risk us walking into a trap. He's trying to tell us something without saying it out loud."
Director Arvind finally spoke, his tone sharp and commanding. "Keep your comms open. If you suspect anything unusual, pull back immediately. We're not losing another agent."
As Dev and Rehaan turned to leave, Tara stepped into their path once more. Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with pain. "Tell him… tell him he doesn't have to do this alone. Not anymore."
Dev paused, gave a faint nod, and without another word, they exited.
---
Outside, the cold air bit against their skin as the black SUV cut through the quiet streets of the city. Neither Dev nor Rehaan spoke for a while—there was too much unsaid between them. The last 24 hours had changed everything. From the blood-soaked floors of Noir Haven to Kiaan's mysterious disappearance and now his silent, coded call for help.
Rehaan finally broke the silence. "If Rex did something to him…"
Dev's jaw tightened. "Then we burn everything he owns to the ground."
As they approached the destination Kiaan had sent—a deserted parking structure near the old port—both men rested their hands over their concealed weapons. Hearts pounding. Instincts on full alert.
Because they knew this wasn't just a meeting.
It was a message.
And Kiaan was speaking it in the only language the enemy wouldn't understand—trust.