Unlawfully yours - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

The night air was thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood. The once-grand Malhotra estate, known for its intimidating silence, was now a battlefield. Shadows stretched along the marble floors, interrupted by flashes of gunfire and the hurried footsteps of intruders who had underestimated whose home they were stepping into.
Aarav stood in the center of the study, one hand gripping the pistol his father had once hidden away, the other clenched into a fist. His face was unreadable, but his mind was a storm—calculating every move, predicting every possibility. This wasn’t a legal case. This was war.
Ishani stood behind him, breathing heavily, her pulse racing. This wasn’t her world. Or at least, it hadn’t been. She was used to crime scenes after the fact, analyzing bodies and evidence, not standing in the middle of an attack, holding a gun that still felt too heavy in her hands.
“Aarav…” Her voice was a whisper, barely audible over the chaos. “Yeh log sirf dhamki dene nahi aaye hain…” ("These people aren’t here just to threaten us…")
Aarav didn’t look at her. “Mujhe pata hai.” ("I know.")
His mother, Asha Malhotra, loaded a fresh magazine into her gun, her movements eerily precise. “Yeh pehla warning attack hai. Abhi sirf dikhane aaye hain ki yeh kitne powerful hain.” ("This is just a warning attack. They’re here to show their power.")
Rohit Malhotra—Aarav’s father and one of the most feared legal minds in the country—adjusted his cufflinks like this was just another day in court. “Lekin yeh log ek chhoti galti kar rahe hain,” he said, voice calm. ("But they are making one small mistake.")
Aarav smirked darkly, his gun still aimed toward the door. “Mujhse takraane ki?” ("Challenging me?")
His father met his gaze. “Nahi. Yeh sochna ki tu akela hai.” ("No. Thinking that you’re alone.")
Ishani shivered. There was something terrifyingly powerful about this family. They weren’t just rich, elite lawyers—they were people who had spent their entire lives winning, no matter the battlefield.
Then why did she feel like Aarav was the most dangerous of them all?
Suddenly, a sharp crash from the hallway broke the tension. The security cameras had gone dead a few minutes ago, but the faint shuffle of footsteps on the broken glass outside told Aarav all he needed to know.
“They’re inside.”
A single moment of silence stretched between them before everything erupted into chaos.
The door to the study burst open, and four masked men stormed in, guns raised.
Aarav moved before anyone else. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the first shot, then swung his gun up and fired once. A bullet tore through the closest intruder’s shoulder, sending him crashing against the bookshelf.
Ishani flinched at the sound, her hands tightening around her own gun. This wasn’t a crime scene. This was real.
The second attacker aimed for Asha Malhotra, but she was faster. Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger, and the man went down before he even had a chance to shoot.
Rohit, still eerily calm, dodged to the side as the third man fired, the bullet missing him by inches. Before the attacker could react, Rohit grabbed a heavy paperweight from the table and smashed it into the man’s head.
Ishani’s breathing was erratic. Her instincts told her to run, hide, escape. But something stronger—something connected to Aarav—kept her rooted to the spot.
The fourth intruder had her in his sights.
She turned just in time to see the muzzle of his gun aimed directly at her. Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs.
Move, Ishani. Move!
Before she could react, a loud bang echoed through the room.
The attacker stumbled backward, a bullet hole in his chest.
Aarav had shot him.
He turned toward her, his breathing uneven, his expression unreadable. “Mujhe pata tha tu shock mein freeze ho jayegi.” ("I knew you’d freeze in shock.")
She couldn’t speak. She was still processing the fact that someone had just tried to kill her.
Aarav’s grip tightened on her wrist. “Tu theek hai?” ("Are you okay?")
The intensity in his voice made her chest tighten. He wasn’t just asking. He was demanding an answer.
She swallowed hard, nodding. “Haan.” ("Yes.")
Aarav exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His smirk returned, but this time, it was different. Darker.
“Phir chalo. Yeh abhi khatam nahi hua.” ("Then let’s go. This isn’t over yet.")
The remaining intruders had retreated, but the damage was done.
The once-pristine mansion was riddled with bullet holes, shattered glass, and the lingering scent of gunpowder. The security team was already sweeping the estate, ensuring no more threats remained.
Aarav leaned against the edge of the table, wiping blood off his knuckles. His eyes flickered toward Ishani. She still looked shaken, her fingers curled around the gun she had never fired.
He smirked. “Kya hua, forensic girl? Pehli baar asli crime scene pe ho?” ("What happened, forensic girl? First time at a real crime scene?")
She glared at him. “Tu has raha hai?” ("You’re joking right now?")
Aarav chuckled, the tension in his shoulders finally loosening. “Main kabhi serious nahi hota.” ("I’m never serious.")
Ishani knew he was lying. Because just moments ago, when that gun had been pointed at her—he had been dead serious.
Rohit Malhotra crossed his arms. “Yeh log wapas aayenge.” ("They will come back.")
Asha nodded. “Aur agli baar aur dangerous honge.” ("And next time, they’ll be even more dangerous.")
Aarav’s jaw tightened. “Toh unhe agla mauka nahi dena chahiye.” ("Then we shouldn’t give them another chance.")
Ishani frowned. “Matlab?” ("Meaning?")
Aarav met her gaze. His eyes were unreadable, but his next words made her stomach drop.
“Matlab yeh ki ab sirf hum nahi ladenge. Ab hum attack karenge.” ("It means we won’t just fight back anymore. Now, we attack first.")
And just like that—Aarav Malhotra had officially declared war.