The Sabr Untold.

CHAPTER 14.

Chapter 14: Failed to protect you. 

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"If he'd done something to harm her, I would annihilate him."

-Stephenie Meyer-

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It had been a week or so since the incident at the Zaeef mansion. There was no reports of it on the media and the family were more than thankful. Vardah was working overtime to find the mole and her team weren't being lenient with anyone. 

Zamaairah remembered when she met the IX Unit a few days back for questioning. It was memorable because she had never seen so many different personalities in one room, being themselves. Literally. 

The IX Unit is piloted by Vardah Siddique and has seven members (as Zamaairah was told) and most of them work behind the scenes. 

"What are you thinking about?" Zamaairah looked up to see Safwah staring at her. The man didn't leave any chances to slither up to her silently. 

"Vardah's team." Safwah let out a small scoff, taking a seat beside her on the chair. They were seated in the patio with the sun shining and the plants absorbing the light happily. 

"Don't you have to be somewhere?" Zamaairah questioned him with raised eyebrows. Safwah shrugged, taking out his phone and putting it on the table. 

"I do not. In fact, I just came back from my therapy session." 

"Right. And how is that turning out for you?" Zamaairah was genuinely curious about it. She knew there were parts of Safwah that he chose to keep away from her and the world but she really hoped he'd heal. 

"Alright I guess. We got past the whole 'You matter in this world' thing." he muttered making her chuckle. 

"Therapy is a charm." he nodded in agreement.

"Anyway. What have you been doing?" he asked, leaning onto his arms to look at her better. 

"I have been trying to book a flight back." she replied, holding up her phone. At the mention of flights, Safwah immediately tensed. 

"You want to head back home?" he questioned and she smiled at him. 

"Yes. I have to. I have a whole life waiting on me." Safwah wanted to tell her to not go, he wanted to tell her he wanted her by his side, he want- who cares what I want. She needs to be safe. 

"Have you talked to Vardah?" he questioned instead. Zamaairah nodded. 

"She said she'll get back to me. Which is why I cannot book any flights now." Safwah smiled. I know what we can do. 

"Right. You wanna watch a movie with me?" 

***

The movie turned out to be a whole Zaeef siblings movie night because of numerous reasons but the major one all brothers agreed on was to crash Safwah's movie date. 

Now they were all huddled and seated in front of the large TV with The Matrix playing. The movie was Karmaan's choice since he was the youngest and everyone just had to go with it. Zamaairah wasn't much into it nor was she against it. She simply cherished the moments she was having with the family. 

Much to Safwah's dismay, she was seated between Kulthum and Sahl while Safwah was beside Sahl. He wanted to swap places with his twin but was downright rejected. Good for him- 

"Watch the TV Safa. Not Zamaairah." Sahl muttered, rubbing his face. His phone screen lit up multiple times but he ignored it. Safwah got annoyed and tried taking the phone but Sahl has better reflexes and the phone was instantly taken away. Something is definitely fishy. His twin isn't the kind to keep things from him- Ohkay nevermind that. The dude keeps way too many secrets and I'd rather not know half of them. 

He saw Zamaairah walk out of the room and turned back to the TV. She's probably getting something. But when she didn't return within 10 minutes or so, he began worrying. Taking out his phone, he texted her. There was no reply. 

So being the pessimist he is, without a word he walked out of the room silently with Sahl following him. What if something happened? 

"Vardah is out patrolling." the words weren't enough to calm him down. 

He searched the hallways around and rooms for her but he couldn't find her. She probably went for a walk outside. 

"I have informed Vardah-"

"Outside. The decks." he heard someone yell faintly. He turned to the left and realized he was the closest to the decks. Without a beat, he broke into a run. He saw her figure in the dim lights but he also saw another cloaked figure. Oh for f***s sake-

"ZAMAAIRAH!" He yelled just as his wife turned to him and he heard gun shots. The sound was defeaning but he saw the panic in her eyes. The way her eyes widened, her body shivered and she fell. He rushed and caught her before her petite being hit the ground. Seeing her in his arms, bleeding, felt like his whole world crashed suddenly. 

"Zama?" he questioned, holding her up. She smiled faintly holding up her hand. He saw the bleeding from the hand and immediately compressed it with his palm. 

Sahl saw the scenario in slow motion as he ran to his brothers rescue. He pressed a handkerchief onto the wound on the arm and pressed it too against Safwah's hands. 

In the meantime, Vardah Siddique dismantled the mans limb right infront of the eyes of the Zaeef brothers, much to their horror. Their eyes were wide with surprise, terror and fear as they watched the scene unfold. 

"Zama, stay with me-" Safwah muttered as he picked up her slightly limp body and rushed inside. Kayan was the first to snap out of the reverie and called the emergency services. 

Everything after that was a blur to Safwah as he tried to keep Zama awake. The woman kept drifting in and out of conscious but thankfully, the bleeding had subsided. 

"It's a bullet graze," Vardah told the brothers as the first responders and the Zaeef family doctor looked over Zamaairah. Safwah stood by her, staring at her with cold eyes. I failed to protect her when I promised I will. How did I fail to protect her-

"Safwah?" He felt Kayan's hands over his shoulder and turned to see his brothers. That was when the sudden realization hit him, of everything that just happened. The woman I love is hurt and she doesn't even know I am in love with her. At the front of her being in danger, he had completely forgotten about his family. 

"Everyone's fine." Yazdan informed them and Vardah walked over to Sahl. When Safwah saw her, all he felt was rage. She was meant to protect Zamaairah and she let her down. Without thinking, he stalked over to her like a lion to its prey. 

Sahl saw this and Vardah turned to him. 

"You were meant to protect her. She trusted you and this is what happens-" He seethed out his words. With the threatening steps Safwah was taking, Sahl held out his hands in between Safwah and Vardah. To his surprise, Vardah spoke very calmly. 

"I know. I am sorry it happened." 

"Sorry? Is that all you can offer, Vardah Siddique? Sorry? What if something happened to her? Or worse, to the kids? What then? The first, we forgave. This. This is atrocious. Are you sure you are doing your f*****g job?" with each word, Safwah's tone raised an octave higher. 

Kayan and Yazdan who heard the commotion walked over to them. Kayan pulled back Safwah while Vardah bowed before resuming her firm position and staring at them. 

"I am sorry my team failed you and your family. We are trying our best-"

"And your best isn't working, Miss. Siddique. I hate to say this, but Safwah is right. Today it was Zama, tomorrow it might be the kids. What do you have to say for yourselves?" Kayan questioned her and he watched Vardah's eyes flicker multiple times. She glanced at Sahl and then back at them. 

"I promise to have leads on this within 24 hours." Sahl stared at her. There is no way we can- he thought as Vardah caught his eyes.

She gave him a tight smile before turning and walking away. 

"She better give us good news." Sahl knew better than anything. He knew that Vardah Siddique was triggered. Lord knows what will happen next. 

****