The alarm echoed across the entire mansion.
Red emergency lights flashed through the corridors.
Outside the gates, three armored vehicles stopped.
Dozens of armed men stepped out.
They belonged to the dangerous Black Serpent Syndicate.
Inside the mansion, Aryan Malhotra quickly gave orders to his men.
"Lock down every entrance."
"Snipers, take position on the roof."
"Yes, Boss!"
The guards moved instantly.
Aryan turned toward Anaya Sen.
"Go to the panic room."
Anaya shook her head.
"No."
Aryan frowned.
"This is not a debate."
"I'm not hiding while everyone else fights," she replied.
Aryan sighed.
"You're impossible."
Before he could argue more—
BOOM!
A loud explosion shook the entire mansion.
The front gate was destroyed.
Enemy soldiers rushed inside.
Gunfire erupted everywhere.
Aryan's men returned fire immediately.
The quiet mansion turned into a battlefield.
Aryan grabbed Anaya's hand.
"Stay close to me."
They moved quickly through the hallway.
Bullets hit the walls around them.
One attacker suddenly appeared from the corridor and aimed his gun at Anaya.
Before he could shoot—
BANG!
Aryan shot him instantly.
His voice was cold.
"No one touches my wife."
Anaya stared at him in shock.
The fight continued for several minutes.
Finally Aryan's men pushed the attackers back outside.
Silence slowly returned.
Smoke filled the air.
One guard ran toward Aryan.
"Boss, we captured one of them."
"Bring him here," Aryan ordered.
The injured enemy soldier was dragged into the hall.
Aryan looked down at him coldly.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed weakly.
"You already know."
Aryan grabbed his collar.
"Where is Alexander Dragov?"
The soldier smiled.
"He's already in Mumbai."
Anaya felt her heart drop.
The man continued speaking.
"And tomorrow night…"
"He will come personally."
Aryan released him and stepped back.
His voice became calm but deadly.
"Good."
Anaya looked at him.
"You're not scared?"
Aryan gave a small cold smile.
"I've been waiting for this."
Then he said quietly—
"Because when Dragov arrives…"
"This war will finally end."