Luca POV
As she walked away, fading into the crowd near the Indus School of Art & Design, I didn’t move for a long moment. My eyes followed the softness of her retreating figure, the way her hair danced in the wind, unaware that she was carrying a war within me.
I needed to protect her.
I stepped into my car, sliding into the leather seat as the door shut with a sterile thud. The world outside blurred as I pulled away from the college. The sun filtered through Delhi’s messy skies, but all I saw was what Samar had said before bleeding out on that filthy basement floor.
“The Council of 10 is watching her.”
A tightness gripped my jaw. I clenched the wheel as if it were their throats. Ten names. Ten lives. Ten deaths.
By the time I reached the mansion, the black iron gates parted for me. I stepped out of the car just as Stefano walked toward me with that familiar smugness.
“She’s accepted our offer,” he said, patting my shoulder. “Good job. Looks like your girl’s no longer angry.”
I just nodded and offered a brief smile. That word — “your girl” — hit a nerve I hadn’t acknowledged out loud.
“She’s not my girl,” I murmured.
“Yet,” he said with a wink. “Come on, everyone’s inside. We’ve got movement on the Council of 10.”
I followed him in, walking through the arched hallways of my Delhi villa — all sandstone walls and Russian oak accents. The house was foreign land still, but the war brewing inside me felt like home
The moment I stepped in, all conversation ceased. Seated around the polished mahogany table were Aditya, Dev, Viko, Masha, and Mahmoud. Maps were spread. Tablets buzzed. Everyone looked tense.
I took my seat at the head of the table and scanned the room.
“What do we know?” I asked.
Viko swiped across his tablet and brought up a holographic projection — a rotating sphere showing locations across North India and Nepal.
“We’ve intercepted encrypted communications between code-named operators,” he said. “They don’t use real names, but two of them — ‘White Locust’ and ‘Shunya’ — are confirmed as outer-circle enforcers for the Council.”
Dev leaned forward. “Shunya was spotted in Lucknow three nights ago, met with a local judge who has a long history of corruption. We’ve flagged the judge’s phone, tracing calls to an unregistered number linked to Bhutan border traffic.”
“And White Locust?” I asked.
“Spotted in Delhi’s Rajouri Garden two days ago,” Masha added. “He met a Czech businessman named Aleš Konečný. The man has no official business here, and the embassy has no record of his visit.”
“Could be deep shadow ops,” Mahmoud said. “They don’t come through airports. They land by sea, come in through Nepal or Bhutan. No documentation.”
“And their goal?” I asked, even though I already knew.
Masha hesitated. “We believe they’re monitoring certain civilians. Students. Possibly one intern.”
Everyone fell quiet.
“I want all ten names on my desk,” I said finally. “Start with these foot soldiers. Trace their every move. I don’t care how many walls we have to break.”
Dev nodded. “I’ve already tapped into border surveillance drones. We’ll get movement patterns and start predicting hot zones.”
“Cross-reference every known contact they’ve made in the last year,” I said. “Anyone who’s met with more than two of them — flag them as tier-2 suspects.”
Stefano added, “Also… our informant in Mumbai reported a private shipment with diplomatic seal being moved to a warehouse in Okhla.”
“Cargo manifest?” I asked.
“None,” he said. “It’s being escorted by a shadow logistics firm — fake licenses, shell company routed through Moldova.”
I didn’t speak for a long moment.
Then I looked around the table. “They think India is safe ground for their operations. I want to remind them this land burns too.”
“Yes, Boss,” Aditya said.
I stood. “Do what you need. Get me names. And if they come near her… bury them.”
They all nodded. No one argued.
Hours passed. The meeting broke around sunset. The sun painted everything in that half-golden, half-blood hue.
I stepped onto the rooftop balcony, the city sprawling far beyond. The sounds of horns and life were distant. But inside my mind, her face was still vivid.
How do I protect her from something this big? From an invisible council that hides behind clean suits and global banks?
She didn’t even know.
She laughed like she hadn’t lived through fire. But I could see it. Behind the smiles. Her eyes carried an ache that mirrored mine.
Love isn’t something I’d planned. Hell, I didn’t believe I deserved it. But here she was — an angel standing in the middle of my battlefield.
Footsteps behind me.
Stefano handed me something with a ridiculous smirk. A book.
“This might help you,” he said, deadpan.
I looked at it.
“How to Get Your Girl?” I read aloud, raising an eyebrow. “You really think this book will help?”
Stefano chuckled. “Hey, it’s either this or you write sad poems.”
I glared. “You’re my consigliere and best friend. Is this how you help?”
He smirked. “Bro, I can solve a cartel crisis blindfolded. I can launder a billion through five countries in two days. But love? That’s alien territory. I’ve never even fallen for anyone.”
“You believe in it though. You always said that.”
“Sure, I believe in God too. Doesn’t mean I’ve had dinner with Him.”
I stared him down. “Find me someone who’s had dinner with love.”
Stefano paused… then snapped his fingers. “Aditya. Man’s married. Love marriage too.”
“Bring him,” I ordered.
Aditya arrived in ten minutes, still in his crisp blue kurta. He greeted us casually, but the moment he saw my face, his smile dropped.
“What’s up?”
Stefano stepped in. “Tell him, Luca.”
I hesitated.
Stefano rolled his eyes. “Okay fine, I’ll tell him.”
He turned to Aditya with a gleam in his eye. “So, your boss here has fallen in love—”
“Stefano,” I warned.
He ignored me. “—with a girl who’s apparently immune to mafia charm, Russian brooding, and bank statements.”
Aditya raised an eyebrow. “Khushi?”
I looked up. “How did you know?”
“You only look like that when you see her,” he said.
Stefano grinned. “He wants to protect her, but also make her fall in love.”
Aditya chuckled. “And you thought I’d know how?”
“You’re married,” Stefano and I said in unison.
Aditya scratched his beard. “Alright, alright. Let’s workshop this.”
He turned to me. “You want her to fall for you. But you’re already halfway there.”
“No,” I said. “She’s kind to everyone. I don’t want kindness. I want her to look at me like I’m the only thing that matters.”
Aditya smirked. “Romantic and violent. That’s new.”
“I’m serious,” I said.
“Well, with your face and bank balance, I’m surprised she isn’t already married to you.”
I didn’t laugh. “She’s not like other girls. She doesn’t care about power. Or money. She sees through me.”
“Okay then. Three ideas. First — make her jealous.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You want me to flirt with someone else?”
“Not seriously. Just... let her see other girls are interested.”
I rejected the idea firmly. “No. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
Aditya held up his hands. “Fine. Second idea — gifts. Surprise her with thoughtful presents. Things that mean something.”
“Too obvious. She’ll think I’m trying to buy her.”
“Damn,” Aditya muttered. “Alright. Third idea — go full honesty. Tell her everything. The truth. Your world. Your past. What you feel.”
I looked away. “And scare her off?”
We fell into silence.
Then Aditya said, “Okay, then we need to get creative…. how about this — confuse madam.”
I frowned. “Confuse her how?”
“In office,” he said, “be cold. Professional. Barely engage. Maybe even a little distant. But when you’re outside, be different. Warm. Kind. Real. She won’t be able to decode you. Let her wonder who the real Luca is.”
Stefano lit up. “That… actually sounds brilliant.”
“She’ll get curious,” Aditya continued. “She’ll start asking herself why she cares so much. Why your coldness stings. It’s like gravity — once she starts falling, she won’t even know it.”
I hesitated. It was risky. But it might work.
“Let’s try it,” I said finally. “Let’s confuse her.”
The next morning, I dressed in tailored charcoal-grey Armani, black shirt, open collar. Sharp. Deadly. Corporate. I slipped on a sleek black watch and stepped into my Maserati.
As I reached the office, I was greeted by regional director Vishal and others.
“Sir! Welcome,” Vishal said. “We’ve arranged—”
But I stopped listening. Because there she was.
Khushi.
She was walking in with her friends, her laughter floating like a melody. She caught my eyes and smiled — radiant, hopeful — and offered a small wave.
Every cell in my body screamed to go to her.
But I remembered Aditya’s words.
“Be cold in the office.”
I gave her nothing. Not even a nod. I turned and walked into the elevator.
I didn’t need to look back to know she was confused.
I hated myself.
In my office, I met the HR Head.
“The intern induction is in 20 minutes,” he said.
“I’ll join.”
He blinked. “Sir… you… personally?”
“Yes.”
Soon, I was sitting inside the conference room as the interns began trickling in. They were chatty at first—laughing, excited—but the moment they saw me seated at the head table, silence fell like thunder.
Khushi walked in, speaking softly with Aayushi, then stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes locked on me.
I looked away instantly.
The HR Head began the session — some slide deck about expectations, departments, and growth.
I didn’t hear a word.
I watched her from the corner of my eyes. Her posture. Her concentration. The occasional tilt of her head. She looked toward me once, twice — maybe more. But each time, I turned my face back to the screen.
It was torture.
When the HR finished, he turned to me. “Mr. Luca Volkov would like to say a few words.”
I stood. All eyes turned to me.
My eyes locked on Khushi.
“All the best,” I said quietly. “Meeting dismissed.”
Then I walked out.
Back in my office, I leaned against the desk, running a hand down my face. That had been harder than killing a man.
I hadn’t even looked into her eyes properly.
My phone buzzed.
Stefano: Update on Council of 10. Come back.
Me: On the way.
Before leaving, I walked through the design department once. She was there, bent over her sketchpad. I lingered just long enough to see her — to breathe her in — then left before she could turn.
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever win her heart.
But I’d protect her soul with mine.
Even if it meant burning my own.
__
Hey guys hope you like this part. Thank you for reading the story till now. Do like for the chapters and comment your reviews in the comment section.
Stay tuned to experience a beautiful love story of our beloved leads Khushi and Luca😍😘
See you all tomorrow💕❤
Write a comment ...