When Emir and Alara were roughly dragged out of the car, they found themselves surrounded by thick metal doors, high concrete walls, and armed men. This was no mansion on the contrary, they had been taken to an underground hideout disguised from the outside as an ordinary warehouse. When the doors opened, a vast space revealed itself, dimly lit with buried lamps reflecting off metal floors. This underground facility was where Şirvan ran his dirty business.
Once inside, the crowd dispersed, leaving only two men behind. Alara clenched her teeth, feeling the cold bite of the handcuffs on her wrists. The men’s gazes were disturbing. Emir noticed it too, his anger deepening.
At that moment, one of the men moved, his eyes fixed greedily on Alara. He reached out, brushing against the strands of her hair near her neck, above her bound hands. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled her scent and turned to his companion with a filthy grin.
“Ahh, it’s been a long time since I smelled a woman. What do you say, Irfan shall we have a little fun?”
The other man burst into laughter, his voice echoing in the room. Emir clenched his jaw, veins bulging as his face shadowed with rage. He looked ready to lunge at the man’s throat. Through gritted teeth, his voice came out like ice:
“Listen to me, bastard… If that hand touches her again, you won’t have the luxury of a simple death.”
The man’s grin widened, his eyebrows lifting mockingly.
“Ooo, I’m so scared! What’s wrong, can’t share your wife?” he taunted.
Emir’s body tensed, veins straining in his neck. Death’s shadow gleamed in his eyes. The man pressed down on Emir’s injured shoulder with sick pleasure.
“What’s wrong? Were you standing tall with that crippled body of yours?” he sneered, laughing as he leaned closer.
“Listen to me, you piece of filth!” Alara shouted. “Şirvan wanted me specifically. If you lay a finger on Emir, I’ll never give you the information you want!”
The man turned to her, his eyes darkening, brows furrowed. His expression hardened.
“You won’t need to give it. We’ll take it ourselves,” he growled, striking Emir on the head with the butt of his gun.
Emir fell to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth. Alara’s chest ached, her breath caught. Watching the man she loved in such a state was unbearable.
Moments later, another guard appeared at the door, calling for a shift change. The two men had to leave. For the first time, Alara and Emir were left alone.
Right then, Alara drew in a deep breath, her eyes resolute. She dislocated her thumb. A sharp wave of pain surged through her body, but she didn’t flinch as she slipped free from the cuffs. Emir, writhing in pain, glared at her.
“Are you insane, woman?! How could you hurt yourself like that? I would’ve found a way to get you out!”
Alara winked playfully. “We can’t leave everything to the man, can we, hubby?”
Emir sighed and shook his head.
Alara quickly freed his hands and noticed a metal cabinet at the back of the room. Opening it, she found a small first-aid kit. She rummaged through the supplies and, when she found a vial of anesthetic and a syringe, a sly smile spread across her face.
“I’ll prepare a little surprise for the new guards.”
When Emir realized her plan, the corner of his lips curled. Together, they ambushed the incoming guards, silently neutralizing them with the anesthetic. After grabbing the kit, they slipped out of the room.
They had managed to get out, but escape wasn’t complete. Alara remembered the old junk van she had seen while being brought in. Quietly, she dragged Emir to it. Inside, Emir collapsed to the floor, his breath ragged.
Alara swiftly prepared the anesthetic and antibiotics, treating his wound. She cleaned it and readied her tools for stitching.
Emir leaned toward her with a heated gaze, his voice husky. “I’ve never desired a comrade-in-arms before. Right now, you’re impossibly distracting.”
Alara rolled her eyes with a smile. “All your comrades were men, so that’s normal.”
She unbuttoned his shirt and began stitching his wound. Emir clenched his teeth in pain, his muscles taut.
Trying to divert his focus, Alara murmured, “Actually, with you half-naked like this, you’re the one seducing me. Don’t distract me I need to get you back on your feet.”
Emir smirked faintly, though his eyes squeezed shut against the pain. Once she finished, Alara climbed onto his lap, wrapping herself around him to warm his body.
Their eyes locked, the tension between them becoming unbearable. Emir’s fingers tilted her chin, and he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss started slow, then burned into a ravenous passion.
They hid undetected for nearly two hours. Emir felt stronger, but both knew they couldn’t escape alone forever. Alara injected him with adrenaline so he could keep fighting.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
Emir gripped his gun, a dark grin tugging at his lips. “My name is Boz, darling. I’m always ready. Let’s take these bastards down one by one.”
Alara smiled. Ever since one of Şirvan’s men had mocked her by calling her Emir’s “wife,” Emir had kept using the word. The thought of being a family with him was like a dream distant, yet intoxicating.
She quickly reviewed her plan. Şirvan’s men hadn’t noticed their absence yet, but they couldn’t stay hidden long. First, they had to eliminate security, then infiltrate Şirvan’s data network.
They slipped out silently, watching from the van. Guards followed a predictable patrol route. Alara leaned close, whispering:
“Two men to the right, one at the north gate. Let’s do this quietly.”
Emir nodded, creeping behind the first man and striking him down with a brutal blow to the neck. He seized the man’s gun and dragged him aside. Alara spotted the guard at the north gate. While he fumbled with a lighter to smoke, she dashed forward and knocked him out with a blow to the back of the head.
It was time to infiltrate.
Alara spotted a terminal connected to the security system. She sat down and began typing rapidly, fingers dancing over the keys as Emir kept watch.
“Work faster, sweetheart. No matter how quiet we are, they’ll notice.”
Alara rolled her eyes. “If you’d stop whining, I’d already be done, hubby.”
Emir chuckled without taking his eyes off his aim.
Finally, she breached the system. She could control doors, disable cameras. A few quick commands opened the entryways.
Then came the sound of heavy boots inside. A group of armed men, alerted, were sweeping the area. Emir and Alara pressed flat against the wall.
“There are too many,” Emir muttered. “If we go in head-on, our chances are slim.”
Alara scanned the room and spotted gas canisters. A sly grin spread over her face. “Shall we make some noise?”
Emir understood instantly. Raising his gun, he fired at the canisters. The explosion rocked the room, flames licking the ceiling as men scattered in panic. Using the chaos, they slipped into the corridor.
They reached Şirvan’s private office. Inside was a massive server. Emir guarded the door while Alara started the data transfer, her eyes scanning files as they downloaded. Weapons trafficking, money laundering, international contacts Şirvan’s entire empire was laid bare.
“How long will it take?” Emir asked.
“Just a few more minutes. But it’s only a matter of time before they find us.”
Emir checked his ammo—low, but enough. The sound of boots echoed down the corridor.
“Emir… I have to hurry.”
“Stay calm. I’ll protect you,” he whispered, eyes locked on the door.
Seconds later, the door burst open and armed men stormed in. Emir threw himself over Alara, firing instantly. One man collapsed with a bullet to the head, another clutched his stomach and fell.
But more were coming. Emir grabbed another fallen gun, pressed to the wall, and fired down the hall. Alara frantically tried to complete the transfer.
“There’s no way out,” she whispered. “We can only buy time.”
“How much time?”
“Thirty seconds!”
“That’ll have to be enough.”
Emir reloaded, tossed a smoke grenade at the door, and dragged Alara into the white haze. Through the smoke, a guard appeared. Emir raised his gun, but the man fired too.
A shot rang out.
But it wasn’t Emir who fell. The guard dropped, smoke curling from the silenced gun in Alara’s hand.
Emir stared at her in shock.
“What? You thought I could only use a computer?” Alara arched a brow.
“You just keep getting more impressive,” Emir grinned, pulling her along as they ran.
They found a car and fled. Having infiltrated the mansion so easily, they decided to head for Emir’s corporate plaza.
But the real surprise was waiting there.
As they pulled up to the building, shock hit them special forces and government agents had already surrounded the place.
As soon as they stepped out, weapons trained on Emir.
“Emir Kara! You’re under arrest for kidnapping. Surrender!”
Alara froze in disbelief. A suited agent approached her with respect in his voice:
“Prosecutor, we followed your leads. An arrest warrant has been issued for the criminal Emir Kara. Are you alright?”
Alara could hardly process what she was hearing as Emir calmly prepared to be handcuffed.
In that moment, her entire world shattered.