The car screeched to a halt as Wick ordered the driver to stop. Stepping out, he stretched his body, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a fight. The cool night air carried an eerie silence, only broken by the distant hum of the city.
Vivaan, visibly frustrated, shot him a glare. "Why the fuck did we stop?"
Wick smirked, glancing around. "Calm down, big boy. She's nearby."
Vivaan's expression darkened. "How do you know? Tell me the truth. Were you behind all this just to take her from me?"
Wick let out a short, amused laugh. "Oh, come on. I don't give a shit about you, and I definitely didn't do anything. Unlike you, I use my brain. Tracking her device is smarter than shouting the whole trip."
Nick, sensing the tension, intervened. "Enough, both of you. We have bigger things to deal with. Let's not act like enemies."
Wick nodded, his tone turning serious. "Here's the plan. Vivaan and I will go inside. Nick, you stay at the entrance. If they call for reinforcements, make sure they don't get through."
Nick shrugged. "Sounds like a plan."
Moving swiftly, they reached the entrance, where two guards stood. Wick assessed the situation before whispering, "Vivaan, take the guy on the left. Nick, the one on the right. I'll cover you."
Without hesitation, they sprang into action. The guards barely had time to react before they were knocked out cold. Wick adjusted his jacket and smirked. "Looks like Shristi is upstairs. Let's move."
Just as they reached the stairwell, a sharp cry echoed from above.
"Shristi!" Vivaan bolted up the stairs before Wick could stop him.
The moment he reached the top, a figure lunged from the shadows, grabbing him in a chokehold. A knife gleamed under the dim light, pressed against his throat.
"Step back, or I'll kill him!" the attacker growled.
Wick tilted his head, his expression unbothered. "Really? Thank you. God is great."
The attacker narrowed his eyes. "Don't act smart. I'm serious."
"Oh, I know," Wick said, taking a slow step forward. "But are you? If you're really gonna kill him, then why haven't you done it yet? Come on, kill him already."
The attacker hesitated. "I said step back!"
"And I said do it," Wick taunted, his smirk widening. "But you won't, will you? Because you know the second you do, you're dead."
Frustrated, the attacker made his move, shoving Vivaan aside and lunging at Wick with the knife. Wick sidestepped effortlessly, the blade missing him by inches. But the assailant was strong—too strong. He struck Vivaan hard, sending him crashing to the ground.
Now it was just Wick against him.
The man grabbed Wick, attempting to stab him. Wick struggled against the hold, feeling the cold steel dangerously close to his skin. Then, in a flash, he countered, twisting out of the grip and delivering a sharp elbow strike. Seizing the moment, he grabbed a nearby glass bottle and smashed it over the attacker's head. The man crumpled, unconscious.
Before Wick could catch his breath, footsteps echoed down the stairs. Shristi appeared, her eyes wide with relief. She ran forward. Wick felt a flicker of hope—was she coming to him?
But she brushed past him and threw herself into Vivaan arms.
Vivaan held her tightly while she whispered a tearful thank you. Over her shoulder, she glanced at Wick and gave him a small, silent nod of gratitude.
Wick smiled, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. He quickly masked it with his usual smirk.
Vivaan, still holding Shristi, looked at Wick. "What was all that for?"
Wick dusted off his jacket. "Trying to save your girlfriend."
Vivaan scoffed. "I could've handled it."
"Oh, come on, Romeo. Can't you die once for your Juliet? If I were in your place, I would've died a million times."
"Quit blabbering, Wick!" Shristi snapped, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," Wick muttered. "And why the fuck would I care if you lived or died, anyway?"
Vivaan chuckled. "Sounds fair to me. Because if I had the chance, I'd have let you die and taken Shristi. But instead, you risked both our lives."
Wick's eyes darkened. "You're mistaken, mate. I would never have let her be in that situation in the first place. And second—" his voice dropped to something cold and dangerous, "—I'd burn the world down if something like that ever happened."
With that, they left the building and headed back to the college. The first thing Wick did upon returning was increase security around the girls' hostel. Because next time, he wasn't going to take chances.
That night, Wick emerged victorious in the chess competition, proving once again that his strategic mind extended far beyond the battlefield.
The Next Day…
A crucial meeting between all the major gangs was called. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unspoken challenges and territorial disputes.
As they approached the meeting venue, Wick turned to Nick with a smirk.
"Hey, brother, listen," he said casually. "No matter what happens, even now that I'm back, you're the leader."
Nick furrowed his brows, clearly uneasy. "What the hell are you saying? No way! I'm not doing that."
"You just have to handle it for me," Wick reassured him. "Only for a few days."
Nick hesitated but finally exhaled sharply. "Fine. But only for a few days."
Inside the meeting hall, representatives from each gang were gathered. The room carried an undercurrent of rivalry, but for now, they were all seated at the same table.
The main topic was the tournament. A controversial proposal was put forth—players from other gangs should be given a fair chance to be selected, even if The Shield won the team games.
Nick immediately shook his head. "No way. I don't agree to that."
Roy and Jai approached them with their usual cocky demeanor. Roy, grinning, smacked Nick on the back of his head playfully. "Come on, man. You're the leader now. Do something revolutionary!"
Jai, emboldened by Roy's antics, moved to do the same to Wick. But before his hand could land, Wick's sharp gaze locked onto him, cold and unyielding. The room tensed.
"Everyone here knows what happens if you touch me," Wick said in a low, lethal tone.
Jai raised his hands in surrender, laughing nervously. "Alright, chill, man. No need to get all serious."
Wick leaned back in his chair. "If we agree to your proposal, what do we get in return?"
Roy smirked. "Simple. Until the tournament ends, we won't cause you any trouble."
Wick chuckled, shaking his head. "Trouble? You think we're in trouble now?"
Roy's expression darkened. "Don't forget whose territory you're in."
Wick stood up slowly, exuding a quiet but undeniable dominance. "Territory? Even if this was yours, what exactly do you think you can do? Just the two of us are enough."
The room grew silent. Tension crackled in the air.
Nick, reading the situation, interjected before things escalated. "Alright, if that's the case, I agree. But we have our own terms."
Roy let out a dry laugh. "Looks like your brother isn't backing you up, Wick."
Wick ignored him. "First term: No fights between our gangs. There will be a neutral and friendly environment, at least until the tournament is over."
Roy nodded. "Fine. And the second?"
Wick's voice turned cold. "I want you to keep Sanjay away from me. If I see him—he's dead."
Roy glanced at Jai, then back at Wick, measuring the seriousness in his words. Finally, he gave a short nod. "Deal."
The meeting ended with an uneasy truce, but everyone knew that in this world, peace was always temporary.
To be continued...