Blood stained love

10

Chapter -

The night was unforgiving. Dark clouds loomed over the city, heavy with rain, mirroring the chaos brewing inside Dev. His car tore through the empty streets, tires screeching against the asphalt. His grip on the steering wheel was vice-like, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

Kaaya. Missing.

His Kaaya.

His jaw clenched so hard it hurt. How? How the hell had this happened? He had been distracted too wrapped up in his own damn rage, too focused on settling scores. And now she was

No. He wouldn’t allow that thought.

She’s fine. She has to be.

The words repeated in his head, slashing through his composure like a blade. He had left her once five years ago. But this time? This time, he’d burn down the whole goddamn world before losing her again.

The phone rang again. Raghav.

“What?” Dev barked, barely controlling his fury.

“We have something. CCTV footage,” Raghav’s voice was urgent. “She was seen leaving the hospital. Alone.”

His phone buzzed again. This time, it was Ishaan Malhotra.

Dev’s eyes flickered to the screen, his grip tightening. Ishaan Malhotra. A name from a past he’d buried, a name that brought a bitter taste to his tongue. A name he had never expected to see flashing across his phone tonight.

For a split second, he considered ignoring it. But then Kaaya.

He swiped to answer.

“Dev.” The voice was smooth, calculated. A voice that belonged to a man who never said anything without purpose.

“Not the time, Malhotra,” Dev growled.

“I’d say it’s exactly the time,” Ishaan replied, unfazed. “I believe we have a common problem.”

Dev’s patience was razor-thin. “Get to the damn point.”

There was a pause. Then, a slow, deliberate sentence that sent ice through Dev’s veins.

“I know where Kaaya is.”

Dev’s breath caught. His fingers tightened around the phone. “Where?”

Ishaan exhaled, almost as if he was savoring the moment. “Not so fast. See, this isn’t just about you, Dev. It’s about unfinished business. Yours. Mine. And hers.”

Dev slammed the brakes. The car screeched to a halt in the middle of the empty road.

“Ishaan,” he warned, his voice dangerously low. “If you’re playing games ”

“Oh, come on. When have I ever played games?” Ishaan chuckled. “You should know by now I only deal in realities. And the reality is… your girl is in a place she shouldn’t be. With people she shouldn’t be with.”

Dev’s pulse roared in his ears. He didn’t have time for riddles.

“I’ll kill you if anything happens to her,” he snarled.

Ishaan laughed. “That’s the Dev I remember. So possessive. So predictable.” A pause.

The line crackled in the silence. “Meet me at the docks. Warehouse 17.”

Dev’s fingers twitched around the phone. The docks. A place where shadows moved without faces, where whispers held more weight than the law. If Ishaan was calling him there, it wasn’t just about Kaaya. This was bigger.

But he didn’t care.

Kaaya was missing.

If walking into the devil’s den meant getting her back, he’d do it without a second thought.

“I’ll be there in fifteen.” His voice was steel.

“Good,” Ishaan replied smoothly. “Oh, and Dev?”

Silence.

“Try not to kill anyone before you hear me out.”

The line went dead.

Dev tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His foot slammed against the accelerator. The car roared forward, slicing through the rain-drenched streets, his mind a battlefield of rage, fear, and something far more dangerous helplessness.

Because if Ishaan Malhotra was involved, then this wasn’t just about Kaaya disappearing.

It was about why.

Warehouse 17 – The Docks

The air smelled of salt and rust. Dim streetlights flickered, barely holding the darkness at bay. Dev’s car screeched to a halt outside the abandoned warehouse, the tires skidding against wet gravel.

He stepped out, his presence like a storm brewing dark, dangerous, unpredictable.

His eyes scanned the area. Silence. Just the soft lapping of waves against the docks.

Then footsteps.

And there he was.

Ishaan Malhotra.

Dressed in black, his sharp features unreadable, Ishaan leaned casually against the rusted railing, cigarette between his fingers. He looked the same calm, calculated, untouchable.

The kind of man who played chess with people’s lives and never lost.

Dev walked straight up to him, every muscle in his body coiled. He didn’t have time for this.

“Where. Is. She?” Dev’s voice was lethal.

Ishaan took a drag, exhaling smoke lazily. “Straight to the point. As always.” He smirked. “Relax, Dev. She’s alive.”

Alive.

Dev’s fists clenched. The fact that Ishaan even had to say it meant she wasn’t safe.

Something had happened.

“Where is she?” he demanded again, stepping closer. His eyes were wildfire, burning with barely restrained fury.

Ishaan held his gaze. “That depends.”

Dev’s patience snapped. In one swift motion, he grabbed Ishaan by the collar, slamming him against the rusted container behind him.

“Don’t f***ing test me,” Dev growled, his voice low, lethal.

Ishaan chuckled actually chuckled.

“Still the same,” he mused. “Still so... emotional when it comes to her.”

Dev’s grip tightened. One more second. Just one.

Ishaan sighed dramatically. “Alright, alright. You want answers?” He flicked the cigarette away. “She was taken.”

Dev’s stomach turned to ice.

“Taken by who?” His voice was dangerously quiet.

Ishaan tilted his head. “That’s the real question, isn’t it?”

Dev didn’t blink. His rage was a slow-burning fire, consuming everything in its path.

“I swear to God, Ishaan ”

“Your enemies, Dev. Or maybe hers.” Ishaan’s eyes gleamed. “That girl… she’s not as innocent as you think.”

Dev stilled.

A cold whisper slithered down his spine.

Kaaya. Secrets. Enemies.

The words didn’t fit together.

But deep down, something told him he was about to learn the truth.

And he wouldn’t like it.

Dev’s grip loosened just slightly, but his eyes remained locked onto Ishaan’s. Not innocent? The words replayed in his head, twisting into something dark, something dangerous.

“What the f*** are you talking about?” His voice was low, a growl barely held back.

Ishaan smirked, straightening his collar as Dev finally let go. “You think you know her, don’t you?” He exhaled, as if this was all just another business deal to him. “But tell me, Dev how much do you really know about Kaaya’s past?”

Dev didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.

Ishaan took his silence as confirmation. “Exactly.” His tone was smooth, like silk hiding a blade beneath. “She was last seen near the hospital, yes?”

Dev’s jaw ticked.

Ishaan nodded, as if proving a point. “Strange, isn’t it? How someone can just disappear from a hospital, a place swarming with people?”

Dev’s patience snapped. “Stop f*ing around and tell me where she is!**” His voice thundered through the warehouse.

Ishaan’s smirk didn’t fade. “Alright.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small USB drive. “This will tell you everything. But be warned, Dev once you see this, you can’t unsee it.”

Dev snatched the drive without hesitation. “What’s on it?”

Ishaan’s smirk disappeared, his expression turning serious for the first time. “The reason she was taken.”

A muscle in Dev’s jaw jumped. He didn’t trust Ishaan not completely. But he knew one thing.

If Kaaya was in danger, there wasn’t a force in this world that could stop him.

Without another word, he turned and stormed back to his car.

He needed answers.

And he needed them now.

The drive home was a blur. His mind was a storm one thought crashing into another, each more dangerous than the last.

Kaaya. Missing. Secrets. Lies.

Who the f*** would take her? And why?

His gut twisted as he plugged the USB into his laptop. The screen flickered. A single video file appeared. No title. No date. Just a file.

He clicked it.

The video was grainy, black and white, like it was taken from a security camera.

A dark alley. A girl Kaaya.

Dev’s breath hitched.

She was younger. Maybe nineteen. Dressed in black, her face partially hidden by a hoodie. But it was her. He’d recognize that stance anywhere.

Then movement.

Three men appeared. Older. Dangerous. Their body language screamed power.

One of them said something. Kaaya responded not scared, not hesitant. Confident.

Dev leaned closer. His pulse pounded in his ears.

Then it happened.

Kaaya pulled something from her jacket a gun.

Dev’s blood ran cold.

She fired.

One shot. Then another.

One of the men collapsed. The others ran.

Kaaya stood there for a second, breathing hard, before she disappeared into the night.

The video ended.

Dev’s heart was a war drum in his chest. His hands fisted against the table.

What. The. F***.

His Kaaya. His innocent, stubborn, frustrating Kaaya had killed someone.

And someone had just made sure he found out.

His breath was ragged, his entire body shaking with adrenaline.

Who were those men? Why did she shoot?

And most importantly why the f* didn’t she ever tell him?**

His phone rang.

Unknown Number.

He answered immediately. “Where the f*** is she?” His voice was sharp, raw.

A deep chuckle echoed through the line. “Now, now, Dev. That’s not how you ask for something nicely.”

Dev’s blood boiled. “If you hurt her ”

“You’ll what?” The voice taunted. “Kill me? I’d love to see you try.”

Dev’s fist slammed against the table. “You have no f***ing idea who you’re messing with.”

Another chuckle. “Oh, but I do. And that’s exactly why I took her.”

The line went dead.

Dev’s grip tightened around the phone. His eyes burned with something dangerous.

He wasn’t just angry anymore.

He was out for blood.

Dev stared at the dead phone in his hand, his pulse pounding like a war drum.

They had her.

And they knew exactly how to f*** with him.

His chair scraped back as he stood, eyes dark, mind sharper than ever. Kaaya. A gun. A dead man. A past he never knew. It all crashed into him, fueling the storm inside.

He should have seen it. The little gaps in her stories. The hesitation in her eyes whenever he dug too deep.

She wasn’t just missing.

She was taken. By someone who knew her secrets.

And now they wanted him to know them too.

Fine.

If they wanted to play games, he’d make sure they never played again.

He grabbed his car keys and stormed out, his mind already running through the list of people who could be responsible.

He would find her.

And when he did, he’d burn the f*ing world down.**

Location Unknown – Midnight

Kaaya’s head ached. The world was a blur of dim lights and cold air. Her wrists burned against the rough rope binding them.

She was sitting on a chair. The metal dug into her spine.

She blinked, trying to focus. Where the hell was she?

A voice cut through the silence.

“Finally awake?”

She turned her head sharply.

A man stepped out of the shadows. Tall, lean, with eyes that held amusement and something darker power.

Ishaan Malhotra.

Kaaya’s stomach twisted. She had heard his name before and it never meant anything good.

He crouched in front of her, his eyes scanning her face like she was a puzzle he was figuring out. “So, you’re the woman who made Dev lose his f***ing mind.”

Kaaya’s jaw clenched. “What do you want?”

Ishaan smirked. “It’s not about what I want, sweetheart.” He leaned in, his voice dropping. “It’s about what Dev is willing to do to get you back.”

Kaaya’s breath hitched.

Not because she was scared.

But because she knew exactly what Dev was capable of.

And if Ishaan thought he could use her as a pawn…

He had no f*ing idea what was coming.**

Dev’s Safe House – 2 AM

Dev’s phone rang again.

Reyansh.

He picked up. “Tell me you have something.”

“We traced the call.” Reyansh’s voice was tense. “It’s coming from the south docks.”

Dev was already moving, grabbing his gun from the drawer. “Send me the exact location.”

“Wait,” Reyansh hesitated. “Dev, listen. If Ishaan Malhotra is involved, this isn’t just a kidnapping. This is bigger than you think.”

Dev’s grip on the gun tightened. “I don’t f*ing care.”**

“She killed one of his men, Dev. Five years ago.”

Silence.

Then Dev exhaled sharply, jaw clenching. Of course.

Kaaya’s past wasn’t just a mystery anymore.

It was a f***ing war.

“Be careful,” Reyansh warned. “Ishaan doesn’t play fair.”

Dev’s voice was ice. “Neither do I.”

South Docks – 3 AM

The docks were silent, the waves lapping against the shore.

But Dev wasn’t here to enjoy the view.

He stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the abandoned warehouse ahead. The tension in his muscles coiled, ready to strike.

Inside that building she was there.

Alone. Tied up. Waiting.

A sharp breath left him. His blood burned with one thought.

They took what’s mine.

Now I’m taking her back.

No matter the cost.

The night air was thick with salt and gasoline. Dev stood outside the abandoned warehouse, his heartbeat syncing with the distant crash of waves.

Inside, Kaaya was waiting.

Bound. Helpless.

Not for long.

His fingers curled around his gun. His rage was cold now not reckless, not wild. It was calculated. Controlled. Deadly.

He moved.

Silent. Swift.

Like a shadow with a purpose.

The steel doors groaned as he pushed them open. Dim light flickered against cracked walls. The scent of rust and cigarette smoke clung to the air.

And then he saw her.

Kaaya.

Tied to a chair. Her hair a wild mess, eyes burning with defiance despite the bruises on her wrists.

But before he could move, before he could even breathe

A slow, mocking clap echoed through the room.

Ishaan Malhotra.

Dressed in a crisp black suit, leaning lazily against a pillar. A predator in human skin.

Dev’s grip tightened on his gun. He would kill him. Right here. Right now.

“Ah, Dev.” Ishaan smirked, stepping forward. “I was wondering when you’d get here. You’re a little late, though. We were just getting to the fun part.”

Kaaya’s gaze snapped to Dev, her breath hitching. “Dev, don’t ”

But he was already moving.

The first punch landed like thunder.

Ishaan barely had time to react before Dev’s fists slammed into his jaw again, sending him staggering back.

“Touch her again,” Dev growled, his voice thick with rage, “and I swear on everything you hold dear I will rip you apart.”

Ishaan wiped the blood from his lip, laughing. Laughing.

“That’s cute.” He tilted his head. “But tell me something, Dev how well do you really know her?”

Dev stilled.

Ishaan’s smile widened. “You left her five years ago, didn’t you? And now you think you can just claim her back like nothing happened?” He let out a low chuckle. “What if I told you she wasn’t just a victim in all this?”

Dev’s pulse thundered.

“She’s got secrets,” Ishaan continued, circling him like a vulture. “Dark ones. Ones even you wouldn’t be able to handle.”

Dev’s jaw clenched. “I don’t give a f***.”

Ishaan smirked. “You will.”

And then, with a snap of his fingers

Gunfire erupted.

Bullets sliced through the air, shattering the silence. Dev ducked, dragging Kaaya down with him. The scent of burning metal filled his lungs as he fired back.

Screams. Footsteps. Chaos.

He grabbed Kaaya’s wrist, yanking her up. “Move!”

They ran.

Through the back door, down the narrow alley. His mind raced. Who the f*** had Ishaan called? How many were coming?

They reached his car. Dev threw open the door, shoving Kaaya inside before sliding into the driver’s seat.

Tires screeched as he floored the gas, the warehouse shrinking in the rearview mirror.

Kaaya was trembling, her breath shaky.

Dev’s grip tightened on the wheel. He turned to her, his voice dangerously low. “What did you do?”

Kaaya’s lips parted. Silence.

Then

“I killed him.”

The world slowed.

Dev’s fingers twitched. His mind went blank. “What?”

Kaaya exhaled, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I killed Ishaan’s brother.”

The storm inside Dev turned violent.

And just like that

Everything changed.

His knuckles went white, breath caught between rage and something deeper something terrifying.

Kaaya sat stiff beside him, her arms wrapped around herself, as if the weight of those words had finally crushed her. Her face was pale, her lips trembling, but her eyes… they were empty.

For the first time in his life, Dev didn’t know what to say.

He pulled the car into an empty lot and slammed the brakes. The silence inside was deafening.

“Tell me,” he ordered. Not asked. Ordered.

Kaaya didn’t meet his eyes. “You want the truth?” Her voice was hoarse. “Fine.”

She exhaled a breath that shook, her fingers gripping the edges of her seat like it was the only thing keeping her from breaking.

“It happened after you left.” Her voice was numb. Hollow. “I was alone. And he found me.”

Dev’s entire body went still.

“Ishaan’s brother.” She spat the name like poison. “He dragged me to his house, told me that you weren’t here to protect me anymore.”

A muscle ticked in Dev’s jaw. His grip on the steering wheel could snap steel right now.

“He forced himself on me, Dev.” Her voice cracked. “For hours.”

Dev’s breathing turned ragged. His vision blurred with something dark, something lethal.

Blood. He wanted blood.

“I begged,” she whispered. “I screamed. No one came.”

Dev slammed his fist into the dashboard. “STOP.”

Kaaya flinched. But he wasn’t angry at her. He was angry at himself.

He had left her. Left her alone. And in his absence, she had been destroyed.

His hands were shaking now. “How did you kill him?” His voice was barely human.

Kaaya finally met his eyes. “I stabbed him.”

His pulse roared.

“I waited until he fell asleep drunk. I took a knife from the kitchen.” Her fingers curled, as if she could still feel the handle in her grip. “And I buried it in his chest. Again. And again.”

Dev felt something inside him shatter.

“I thought it would make me feel free.” She let out a broken laugh. “But it didn’t.”

Silence.

Dev leaned forward, his forehead pressing against the steering wheel. His breath came out in shudders.

Then, suddenly

He turned.

And before Kaaya could react, his hands were on her face, gripping her jaw, forcing her to look at him. His eyes burned into hers. Possessive. Unrelenting. Furious.

“You’re mine.” His voice was raw, like a wounded animal. “You’ve always been mine. I don’t care if you killed him. I don’t care if you burned the whole world down.” His forehead pressed against hers, his grip tightening. “No one touches you. No one.”

Kaaya gasped, her breath hitching. “Dev ”

“I will make them pay.” His voice was a dangerous promise. “Every single one of them.”

And at that moment, she knew

The war had just begun.

Kaaya shoved him away with all her strength, her breath ragged, her chest heaving. “DON’T.”

Dev didn’t move. His jaw tightened, his fingers flexed like he was restraining himself from pulling her back.

“I don’t need your promises, Dev.” Her voice cracked, but her eyes blazed. Hate. Resentment. A storm raging inside. “I don’t need your protection. I needed you five years ago. Where were you then?”

Dev flinched. Just for a second. But she saw it. That tiny moment of guilt, buried beneath layers of anger, possession, and obsession.

“You left me,” she spat, her voice breaking. “You left, and he ” She choked on the words, her entire body trembling. “You weren’t there.”

Dev’s hands curled into fists. His regret was a wildfire burning inside him, but it was too late, wasn’t it?

“I’m here now,” he said, his voice a dangerous growl.

She laughed, but it was hollow. “And that changes what? That erases everything?”

Dev took a step closer, and she stepped back.

“You can hate me all you want, Kaaya,” he said, eyes dark, voice deadly. “You can scream, fight, run. But you’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

She clenched her jaw, her nails digging into her palms. “I’m not yours, Dev. I never was.”

Something snapped in his eyes.

Dev reached for her, but this time, she slapped his hand away.

A cruel smirk curled on his lips. “You say that…” He leaned in, his breath brushing against her skin, making her shiver. “But your eyes tell a different story.”

She hated how her pulse betrayed her.

How, even in this moment of fury, his presence still sent chills down her spine. Because he was Dev. Her first love. Her first heartbreak. Her destroyer.

But she wouldn’t let him win. Not this time.

Kaaya lifted her chin. “Stay away from me.”

Dev let out a low, dangerous chuckle. “Not a chance.”

She turned on her heel and stormed off, her heart pounding, her vision blurred with unshed tears.

She hated him.

She had to.

Because if she didn’t

She might just fall for him all over again.