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#NotEdited

"I should've grabbed some coffee before heading here." Rubbing my freezing hands together, we trotted towards the finely built house. "My hands are turning blue." Cackling at myself was the easy way to let the tension cool down.

Under the dim street light, I inspected the nape of my hands transforming their color to horrifying blue. The weird part was that it wasn't that cold, maybe 14°C which was quite norm for UK. The house stood proud in the middle of a deserted street except the lamp posts. The grass and weed outside was trimmed to perfection and not a single dried paint spot appeared on the walls. Although the construction steered to being a part of the last decades but no physical flaw was visible. From the look, I could imagine a stereotypical family-of-four residing in it, especially with the minivan parked outside. In short, there was nothing fishy about the place.

"Shall we?" Eager to get done it done, we continued our way to the door. After knocking twice, silence vacuumed between us and only the sound of Ad's disrupted breaths could be heard.

It took him three days to stand on his own. Although the injuries didn't penetrate deep but the cuts healed at their time. Dad who was chill when Adam and I go suspended, was now passing glares at him every time they encountered. His blood pressure was disturbed, adding another responsibility on my shoulders. The same girl who didn't know where half of the things were in the kitchen, was now handling the house. It wasn't something to be proud of but Dad usually had the charge so I never bothered. His right shoulder was frozen and due to that every night I had to massage it with an ice pack. Juggling between classes, chores, Dad and Adam, Nayal totally slipped off my mind. Not that I cared. Or that it mattered.

Last night as I applied olive oil on his shoulders, we reminisced some old memories.

"When we got married, I was still an intern. We didn't have a roof to cover our heads or food to fill our stomachs. She took the least waged job at a daycare till I got done with my degree. There she fell in love with kids, especially little girls. Sometimes the kids would come to our single room, studio flat. Wallah when I saw her laughing with them, I knew I made the right choice, even if our parents were against it. An year later I had secures my first job and...." Long gone the tiredness and lines from his face replaced by a vivacious smile.

"Mum continued her degree in law. I know Dad, this was your bedtime story." Ignoring the lump in my throat, I rolled my eyes.

"She always wanted a girl. So we kept trying until Allah decided to drop you here. She designed your nursery pink and purple and when you were taken there, you burst into wails. Your cries scared Zayd's cat away."

"He still blames me for that." I assured between laughter.

"We first thought it was the clothes, then the milk or the lights. Or even us." He chuckled at that as I rubbed his shoulders.

"But when we brought you here, we got down and slept like the baby you were. I guess this is why you spent more time here than your own room right until you were in college." His eyes roamed to the sofa cum bed under the LCD. They had to get it as I kept sneaking in their bed every night.

"Your mother loved you. She would often admit it but you were special to her in every way possible. She might scold you and at point rebuke your choices but she wished nothing but the best for you." Unsettling my gaze from my lap to hair, I watched Dad caressing the ends.

"Uh-huh." All I could do was nod.

"Zeeny, Rukhsana asked your hand for Asad." At the mere mention of her name, my eyes shot up. "Just listen to me, okay. I understand that you both have your difference but he's a decent guy. Look it's not as if you have marry him in a week. Not until you finish your degree and everything you want to do."
My body temperature was rising every second.

"She's doing it because of the citizenship, isn't she?" Something hinted me that he was well aware of it.

"There's nothing wrong..."

"Dad! There is everything wrong with having an ulterior motive! Plus I'm not ready to get married. I can't believe we're having this talk." I got up from the bed, pacing around the room before I lose my mind.

"What did you think? You'll never get married? Oh please, it's compulsory for everyone no matter who you are. And now your mother's not here, I'm responsible for you. And what if something happens to me, huh? My blood's not young anymore." His tone wasn't soften but tiring.

"Ha! I could die before you! That's a pathetic excuse. I could've died with Mum or the in the accident! I can still feel the gun pressuring on my temple." My outburst was shocking to both of us. I never talked about it. It was known to all.

"Oh baby!" Another golf ball staggered my breathing as he wrapped his arms around me. I was surrounding by the same scent; Old Spice. Mum's favorite.

"Why didn't you ever talk about it? Everyone was here for you but you huddled yourself away from them. But I'm still here, I don't know for how long but let it out to me. I want to... no! I need to know what's going on in that beautiful brain of yours." The Simpson's sweatshirt dampened from is tears when I pulled away from the embrace.

"I will. But for now can you please stop worrying about it?" This side of me once again surprised us. But deep down I have a heart, covered in dust but beating.

"And as far as Aunty Rukhsana is concerned, you better tell her off or I will." My hot glare made the point clear.

"Is there someone else? You know I won't be mad." He said rather quickly.

"Dad!" My eyes widened in shock.

"What? A father can wish! And I though that Siddiqi guy was... you know..." He shrugged escaping my gaze.

"Dad, there is nothing, I repeat, nothing going on between me and...Nayal." Placing my hand on top of his, I tried keeping my cool.

"You've been your old self since you net him. Honey there's nothing wrong with that, unless you do something haram." He added with a wink.

Embarrassing Dad Alert.

"I'm outta here." I stood up clearly disturbed by his attempt of setting me up.

"Zeeny?"

"What now?" I faked annoyance standing by the door.

"Can I have my Belgian chocolate back?" His pout was adorable but I wasn't.

"No." With a sassy grin I made my way out.

"Do come in Master Adam." An old intimidating butler, snatched m out of the daze and directed us inside. The coldness and monotone in his deep voice threw me off the edge and before I could turn to Adam for clarification, the door slammed shut.

Right until now, I was the brave girl who:

1)Held a falcon on bare skin.

2)Rode Ninja at 560km\h on a deserted road.

3)Punched a guy thrice my size.

4)Watched Nasir Khan Jaan's three minute video (it's scary, trust me).

But this was not good. A feeling churned my insides and it wasn't healthy. Something was wrong and the look on Adam's face proved it.

Unable on focusing the interior, I was led to a relatively small staircase. My heart sank with every step we took towards our doom. Just before landing, a whiff of smoke and alcohol hit me. As a citizen of a non-Muslim country it was normal for us to encounter actions that were permitted. Consoling my thumping beats, we were led to a large room resembling a club-minus the lights and music. A pool table laid at a corner with a few men playing and partially-covered women clinging on them. On the polar side, a fairly large bar was present with an array of alcoholic beverages being served.

"Look who the dog dragged in?" A malevolent voice silenced the room. His body radiated a absurd mixture of disgust and pride.

What did Adam get himself into?

~*~

Sean

"Jess can you get my phone?" Flipping the eggs I called out to my girlfriend who busy getting ready for her shift.

"Lazy-ass!" Slamming it on the countertop she stomped back.

"I'm making you breakfast!" I said helplessly slipping the phone between my shoulder and ear.

"Anderson speaking."

"Sean, it's Taylor. Can we talk?" Stripping off the apron, I walked to the balcony before continuing the conversation.

~*~

"I said no! For heaven's sake Sean he almost killed you!"

"He's your brother! Please Jess. He needs me." Wrapping an arm around Jessica who sat with her hands in her lap, a feeble expression on her face.

"I don't care if he's my brother. He should know that he can't control me or decisions for me." A tear escaped her mascara clad eyes.

Taylor who was often found snoring during work hours, actually sounded worried. Nayal hasn't the building for two days whereas as his diet has has declined drastically. He needed someone right now and she thought I was the right guy and maybe I was. Except for that cynical father, he had no one. No matter what happened between us, he's still my best mate.

"Listen, if I had a sister and she was with my best friend I would've chopped off his head. Just please baby, I'm his best friend before I'm your boyfriend. I won't let him go through this alone." Placing a feather kiss on her forehead, my eyes searched agreement in hers. "You took that job at the hospital when Amal died to support Zeeniya, and you weren't even her friend back then. How can you expect me to abandon Nayal?"

"But it doesn't mean I have forgiven him too." After a minute or two when Her Royal Highness took her time, she announced.

"I love you babe!" Sprinting off the couch we locked the door and made our way to the car. Dropping her off, I climbed the stairs to Nayal's office preparing for the worst.

~*~

Nayal

"If that's you Taylor, I'm not hungry! For the hundredth time, I am not hungry!" At the movement of hinges, I grumbled loudly without looking up from the pile of papers.

"Cutting on carbs, are we?" Sean's mischievous smirk welcomed me.

"Anderson?" Immediately dashing out of the chair, I stood a feet away from him. "What are you doing here?"

I was in a state of shock and surprise. Anger and happiness. I couldn't decide which emotion to dwell upon.

"I won't abandon you at a time like this."

A dried wound was decorated on the side of his right temple. From the looks, even his jaw wasn't healed completely making my drown deeper in guilt.

No words were uttered as I wrapped him a man-hug. I murmured a curt apology and after hearing him chuckle, we got apart.

"I had it coming dude."

My brother was back.

~*~

"They keep their men and women well facilitated. This lane on Remming Street has the most elite housing in the area and it's occupied with people associated with them. They were seen leaving Chaos quite many times. They arrive in the mist luxurious cars and in the most expensive attires. Making them silent, the gang operates from their base which is unknown even to the oldest members. Only the trusted ones have had the privilege to pay a visit." Sitting adjacent to Sean, I gobbled down the burger and fries as he read information my team handed him.

"What if anyone wants to leave? If they kill them, where do they dump the bodies?"

"Erm... According to Jude, who went down undercover two years back, told us something... disgusting. Oh might wanna keep the food aside." After receiving a nervous glance, I dropped the leftovers under the table.

"They don't dump the bodies." Seeing him not talking, I raised an eyebrow suspiciously at him. "Instead they butcher....a-and feed them to their prisoners."

No matter how much filth the job description had, this was the first. Now I get why Amal wanted them down. Any sane person on Earth would have done the same. Or at least thought.

"There must be something..." Dropping off in the middle both of us noticed a very flustered Luke, from Tech, gasping for air.

On our feet, I shook his arm wanting a response.

"What the heck happened?" I jeered at him which made him open his mouth.

"We lost track of Zeeniya's phone. So W sent uniforms to her house and this is what we found." He babbled between pants, handing me the laptop.

"Nayal, this might not be what it seems like..." My fist collided with the door frame, but the pain was nothing compared to the burning feeling in my stomach.

"Don't touch a single thing until I get there."

All through the way, the image of Zeeniya's room and garage shredded to pieces couldn't leave my mind. Until I felt something staining my shirt. Blood seeped out my knuckles absorbing in the fabric.

"There's some antiseptic wipes in the glove compartment." Sean instructed taking the last turn towards the Tahan house.

"There's one I'm sure about; Zeeniya has something they're looking for.  And if they didn't find it there, which means...."

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