The mafia king's forced Bride

Chapter 14: Stay With Me

Morning.

Ayesha was holding Zain's note in her hand.

`Stay. With. Me.`

Her heart was beating fast.

For the first time, she didn’t feel forced. She felt... wanted.

She went to the kitchen. Zain was there, drinking black coffee.

He didn’t look at her.

“I read your note,” Ayesha said softly.

Zain froze. “And?”

Ayesha walked to him. “My answer is yes.”

Zain finally looked at her. His eyes searched her face.

“You don’t have to say that out of fear.”

“I’m not,” Ayesha said. “I’m saying it because... I don’t want to go back to being scared alone.”

Zain put his coffee down. He wanted to touch her, but didn’t.

“Okay,” he said. Just one word.

BANG. BANG.

Gunshots. From the gate.

“Attack!” a guard yelled.

Zain grabbed Ayesha and pulled her to the floor.

“Stay down,” he ordered. He was already on the phone. “All units. West gate. Now.”

More shots. Glass broke.

Zain covered Ayesha with his body. “Look at me,” he said. “Only at me.”

Ayesha was shaking. “They’re here for me?”

“They’re here for me,” Zain said. “Through you.”

The shooting stopped after 5 minutes.

Zain got up, gun in hand. “I’m going to check.”

“No,” Ayesha grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t leave me.”

Zain looked at her hand on his sleeve. Then at her eyes.

He nodded. “Then you come with me. But behind me. Always.”

They walked out. 4 dead attackers. Raghav’s men.

Zain turned to Ayesha. Blood on his shirt. Not his.

He wiped her tears with his thumb.

“I told you to stay with me,” he whispered. “Not die with me.”

Then he kissed her.

Not on the forehead. On her lips.

Quick. Desperate. Real.