Chapter 51

The moment stretched—fragile, suffocating.

Ashvik’s breaths came in sharp, broken gasps, each one more desperate than the last. His chest heaved violently, as if the air itself refused to stay inside him. His fingers trembled uncontrollably, clutching at the sheets, at his own hair—anything to ground himself in a reality that felt like it was slipping through his grasp.

“I can’t—” he choked, voice splintering. “I can’t breathe—”

The monitor beside him began to spike erratically, the steady beeping turning into frantic alarms.

Abhimanyu took an instinctive step forward.

“Ash—”

“Don’t!” Ashvik screamed, his entire body recoiling as if Abhimanyu’s mere presence burned him. His back pressed harder against the headboard, his injured side screaming in protest, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

His vision blurred. The room spun.

Too many faces. Too many voices. Too many memories that didn’t feel like his but hurt like they were carved into his bones.

“I don’t know you!” he cried, his voice breaking into a sob. “I don’t know any of you—please—just make it stop—”

And then—

“Ashvik.”

The voice cut through the chaos.

Firm.

Familiar.

Steady.

Dante.

He rushed into the room, having heard the commotion from down the hall. His eyes immediately locked onto Ashvik—taking in the trembling body, the erratic breathing, the pure, unfiltered terror.

Everything else faded.

“Everyone out.” Dante’s voice was calm, but it carried an edge that didn’t invite argument.

Abhimanyu hesitated. “But—”

“Out,” Dante repeated, sharper this time, his gaze never leaving Ashvik.

A tense second passed.

Then, slowly—reluctantly—Abhimanyu stepped back. Ansh followed, his jaw tight, his eyes lingering on Ashvik before the door shut behind them.

The room quieted.

But Ashvik didn’t.

His breathing was worse now—rapid, shallow, almost choking. His hands clawed at his hospital gown, his body curling in on itself like he was trying to disappear.

Dante moved closer—but carefully. Slowly. Like approaching something fragile. Something terrified.

“I’m here jaan ,” he said softly, lowering himself beside the bed, not touching him yet. “It’s just me. Just me, okay bubba ?”

Ashvik’s eyes darted to him, wide and glassy.

“I— I can’t—” His voice shook violently. “Everything’s—spinning—I—”

“I know.” Dante nodded gently, his voice grounding, steady like an anchor in a storm.

“You’re having a panic attack. It feels like you’re dying, but you’re not. I promise you—you’re not.”

Ashvik shook his head weakly, tears spilling over. “It doesn’t feel like that…”

“I know,” Dante whispered. “I know, baby… but stay with me jaan .”

Slowly, cautiously, Dante reached for his hand.

This time—

Ashvik didn’t pull away.

Dante wrapped his fingers around Ashvik’s trembling hand, firm but gentle, his thumb brushing slow, soothing circles against his skin.

“Focus on me baby ,” Dante said softly.

“Just me. Not them. Not anything else. Just my voice.”

Ashvik’s breathing stuttered, uneven, but his eyes stayed locked on Dante now—desperate, searching.

“That’s it,” Dante murmured. “Good… you’re doing good.”

He shifted slightly closer, careful not to startle him.

“Breathe with me, okay?” Dante guided. “Slow… in through your nose…”

He demonstrated it, exaggerating the inhale.

“…and out through your mouth.”

Ashvik tried.

His first attempt failed—his breath catching halfway, turning into another panicked gasp.

Dante didn’t react. Didn’t rush. Didn’t panic.

“It’s okay,” he said immediately, voice unwavering. “Try again. You’re safe with me .”

Safe.

The word felt foreign.

But Dante didn’t.

He still cannot remember Dante but then also He can feel the same safety around him.

Ashvik tried again.

Inhale—

Shaky. Uneven.

Exhale—

A little better.

“That’s it,” Dante encouraged softly, his thumb still tracing slow circles. “Again. Just like that. I’ve got you.”

Again.

Inhale.

Exhale.

The rhythm was broken at first—but Dante stayed with him. Counted softly. Matched his breathing. Anchored him.

“Look at me,” Dante said gently. “Stay right here with me. You’re not there anymore. Whatever you’re seeing—it’s not happening right now.”

Ashvik’s grip tightened weakly around Dante’s hand.

His breaths were still shaky—but they were slowing.

Tears streamed down his temples as he whispered, “I’m scared…”

The words were small.

Childlike.

Broken.

Dante’s chest ached, but his voice didn’t falter.

“I know,” he whispered, leaning just a little closer. “You’re allowed to be. But you’re not alone in it.”

For a moment, he hesitated—

Then carefully, slowly, he placed his free hand against Ashvik’s head, fingers brushing lightly through his hair. Not forcing. Just there.

Ashvik flinched—

But didn’t pull away.

“I’m right here,” Dante murmured. “I’m not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever. You don’t have to remember me for that to be true.”

Ashvik’s breathing hitched again—but this time, it wasn’t panic.

It was something else.

Something softer.

Something fragile.

His body slowly began to unclench, the tight coil of fear loosening inch by inch.

The monitor steadied.

The room stopped spinning.

And Ashvik—exhausted, trembling, but no longer drowning—whispered weakly,

“…don’t leave.”

Dante’s grip tightened just slightly, his forehead almost resting against Ashvik’s hand.Dante’s eyes darkened seeing Ashvik’s hand covered in bandages .

“I won’t, never ” he said quietly.

And for the first time since waking up—

Ashvik believed it.

Ashvik: Tha…Thank you…

Dante didn’t replied just kissed his temple tenderly and sat there with Ashvik…

_________________________________

The night air was sharp, cutting against Avery’s skin as she moved quickly through the dimly lit docks, her boots echoing faintly against the wet concrete.

She didn’t look back.

Not once.

Behind her, chaos still lingered—blood, betrayal, screams that would probably haunt the others for the rest of their lives.

But not her.

Never her.

A slow smirk curved her lips as she pulled her coat tighter around herself, slipping past stacked cargo containers like she belonged to the shadows.

“They really didn’t see it coming…” she muttered under her breath, amusement flickering in her voice. “All that loyalty… all that trust…”

Pathetic.

Her fingers brushed against the small blade hidden at her side, a habit more than a necessity. She had already done the damage. Ashvik bleeding out on the floor—broken, gasping, helpless.

The memory made her smile widen.

“Especially him…” she whispered, almost thoughtfully. “Poor Ashvik. So fragile… so easy to break.”

A car engine hummed somewhere in the distance.

Her ride.

Freedom.

Avery stepped out from between the containers, her posture relaxed, confidence radiating from every step.

And then—

She stopped.

The car wasn’t empty.

A man stood beside it.

Tall. Still. Watching.

The shadows clung to him like they feared letting go.

Avery’s eyes narrowed slightly—but the smirk didn’t leave her face.

“Well…” she exhaled, tilting her head. “That’s new.”

The man stepped forward just enough for the dim light to catch his face.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

Dangerous in a way that didn’t need to be proven.

Dante’s father.

Avery let out a soft, amused chuckle.

“Ah,” she said casually, folding her arms. “So the old lion finally steps out.”

He didn’t respond immediately.

His gaze was locked on her—measured, calculating, and absolutely lethal.

“You’re not leaving,” he said finally, his voice low. Controlled.

Avery laughed.

“Oh, I love this part,” she said mockingly. “The threats. The dramatic entrance. Let me guess—you’re here to avenge your son’s broken heart?”

A flicker of something dark passed through his eyes.

But his expression didn’t change.

“You hurt my family.”

Avery raised a brow, unimpressed.

“Did I?” she tilted her head, feigning innocence. “I think I just… revealed truths.”

She took a step closer, completely unfazed.

“Or did Dante not tell you?” she added, voice dropping into something sharper. “How beautifully your precious boy fell apart when Ashvik was bleeding in his arms?”

That did it.

The air shifted.

Danger thickened.

But Avery didn’t stop.

“Oh,  Ashvik? you should’ve seen him,” she continued, her smile cruel now. “Begging. Desperate. Helpless.” She let out a soft laugh. “ God… the way he screamed…”

The man moved.

Fast.

Avery barely had time to react before a hand gripped her throat and slammed her back against the car with brutal force.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs—but even then—

She laughed.

A breathless, unhinged sound.

“There it is,” she rasped, eyes gleaming with defiance. “That’s the anger I was looking for.”

His grip tightened.

“Careful,” he said quietly. “You don’t get to speak his name.”

Avery’s lips curled, even as her breathing strained.

“Why?” she choked out, voice dripping with mockery. “Does it hurt to hear what I did to him?”

Silence.

Deadly.

Controlled.

Then—

“She’s secured.”

Voices.

Men stepping out from the shadows—armed, precise, already surrounding her.

Avery’s eyes flickered briefly—but there was no fear.

Only irritation.

“Really?” she scoffed weakly. “This many for me? I’m flattered.”

The man released her abruptly.

She stumbled—but didn’t fall.

Didn’t break.

Didn’t bow.

Instead, she straightened slowly, rolling her neck like this was nothing more than an inconvenience.

“You think this ends with you catching me?” she asked, her voice steady again, eyes locking onto his. “You think you’ve won?”

He stepped closer.

Slow.

Certain.

“No,” he said. “I think you’ve just run out of time.”

Avery smiled.

Cold.

Unapologetic.

“You should thank me,” she said softly. “Ashvik was always the weakest link. I just proved it.”

A pause.

A dangerous one.

Then—

“You misunderstand,” he replied, voice quieter now—but far more terrifying. “You didn’t break him.”

Avery’s smirk faltered—just slightly.

“You revealed who deserves to suffer for it.”

Before she could react—

A sharp blow to the back of her head.

Darkness.

Her body collapsed, caught instantly by the men beside her.

Silence returned to the docks.

Heavy.

Final.

Dante’s father looked down at her unconscious form, his expression unreadable.

Then he spoke—calm, decisive.

“Take her.”

A beat.

“And make sure she stays alive.”

Because this—

This wasn’t the end.

It was only the beginning of what she had coming.

To be continued 🔚 🩷
Guys complete 60 likes for next update, like seriously you all are doing 45-48 likes from some past chapters , Complete 80 likes for double updates. 🫶and tell me what should we do with Avery ?