Chapter 15 - The Devil's Protection

A Name in the Dark -

Pranavi's breathing was uneven, her heart pounding against her ribs. The voice on the phone echoed in her mind-cold, taunting, promising danger.

"You should've been ours today, little doll."

Her hands trembled as she gripped her phone. Without thinking, she scrolled down her contacts... and stopped at a name she had sworn she would never call.

Vedant Rathore.

Her thumb hovered over the call button.

No.

She shook her head, locking her phone. She couldn't let him pull her deeper into his world.

But then-

The Devil Knows -

Pranavi closed her eyes, forcing herself to take deep breaths. She wouldn't call him. She couldn't. Vedant was dangerous-an abyss she refused to fall into.

But fate had other plans.

A sharp knock on her door made her jump. Her pulse spiked as she turned toward it. Midnight. Who could it be at this hour?

Her fingers curled around the nearest object-a glass paperweight. Slowly, she approached the door and peered through the peephole.

Her stomach dropped.

Vedant Rathore.

Dressed in all black, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. But his eyes-those piercing hazel eyes-held a storm she wasn't ready to face.

She hesitated, but he had never been the patient type. A second later, his voice rumbled through the door, dark and commanding.

"Open the door, wifey. Or should I break it down?"

Her grip on the doorknob tightened. "Go away, Vedant."

A low chuckle. "Not happening, sweetheart. Someone just tried to scare you, and I don't like sharing what's mine."

Her breath hitched. "I am not yours."

Silence. Heavy. Suffocating.

Then, a click.

Before she could react, the door swung open, revealing Vedant holding a key. Her key.

"Wrong answer, Pranavi," he murmured, stepping inside, his presence consuming the space. "Because whether you like it or not...you're under my protection now.

" The Devil's Trape -

She stiffened and crossed her arms, her voice sharp with irritation. "How do you know I got a message on my phone?"

Vedant leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking. "When we were trapped in the warehouse, your phone broke."

Pranavi narrowed her eyes and shot back, "Yeah, because you broke it!"

Vedant didn't react. Instead, he turned toward her, stepping closer. Before she could move away, his hands rested on her waist, firm yet effortless.

Her breath caught. Too close. Too familiar.

She tried to push him away, but before she could, his deep voice wrapped around her like a slow-burning fire.

"Forget about that... and think, where did you get a new phone without asking for one?"

Her brows furrowed as she thought. "The night I came back... this phone was in my room. So obviously, my brother must have left it for me."

A low chuckle escaped Vedant's lips. Dark. Amused. Dangerous.

"Naïve sweetheart..." He tilted his head, his eyes locked onto hers.

Her stomach twisted at the way he said it-like she had missed something obvious.

"I gave it to you."

Pranavi's heart skipped a beat. "What?"

Vedant smirked, his grip on her waist tightening just enough to remind her she was in control.

"And this phone is hacked through my intelligence... for your protection, wifey."

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she tried to step back, but his hands held her in place.

"Vedant, you-you hacked my phone?"

His smirk deepened, his gaze filled with mischief and dominance.

"Of course, sweetheart," he said lazily. "You're mine. Keeping an eye on you is my right."

Her heart pounded. Possessive. Overbearing. Infuriating.

And yet, she couldn't ignore the way her body reacted to his presence, his touch, his words.

Pranavi swallowed hard, her fists clenching.

"I don't need your protection, Vedant!"

Vedant chuckled, his voice turning darker, almost threatening.

"But you need me."

Her breath hitched.

Vedant leaned in, his lips dangerously close to her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine.

"And the more you run, the closer I'll pull you back, Pranavi."

...