By morning, Ishaal had convinced herself the note was just a prank.Raabistan was full of rumors, maybe someone just wanted to scare her.But still… she couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Stay away from Rayyan Raheel. Before he decides you're next."
Next for what?She didn't want to know, but curiosity was stronger than fear.
After her shift, she slipped out of the café through the back door and headed straight to the nearest newspaper office.A friend of hers, Sarmad, worked there as a junior journalist, one of the few people she still trusted.
"Can you find something on Rayyan Raheel?" she asked.He looked up, frowning. "Why? You're not planning to write about him, right? That guy's untouchable.""Just curiosity," she lied.
He hesitated, then sighed. "You didn't hear this from me, okay? But rumor is — Raheel's cleaning up something. Someone crossed him. They disappeared last week."
Ishaal's stomach tightened. "Disappeared?""Yeah. As in wiped off the city map."
She left before he could say more.The streets felt colder that night.Every sound — footsteps, engines, whispers felt like they were meant for her.
Meanwhile, at Raheel Estate...
Rayyan was reviewing the night's security footage.His men had found something, a blurred figure sneaking into Café Khalaq before Ishaal's performance.
He zoomed in.Black gloves. Slim build.A note placed near her mic case.
His jaw tightened."Get me that man," he said coldly. "Alive."
"Sir, what should we tell the police if—""Police don't need to know anything."
The assistant gulped. "And Miss Ishaal?"
Rayyan's expression didn't change."She doesn't need to know she was in danger. Not yet."
But even as he said that, he already knew she would find out she was stubborn enough to dig.And the idea of her walking blindly into his world again…it made something in him snap.
He grabbed his coat.If danger was circling Ishaal, he'd end it himself quietly, permanently.
Because in Raabistan,no one touches what belongs to Rayyan Raheel.