Chapter 2: Blood Answers Blood

The desert did not forgive mistakes.

It only waited for them.

Veer Rathod's SUV tore through the empty highway, headlights cutting through darkness as the wind howled against the windows. Kavya sat beside him, laptop balanced on her knees, fingers flying across the keyboard with ruthless precision.

"He's still alive," she said finally.

Veer didn't slow down. "I know."

Kabir Rathod did not die quietly. If he were dead, the desert itself would have gone still.

"Signal's weak," Kavya continued. "But it's there. Near the old stone outpost—border side."

Veer's jaw tightened. That location wasn't random. It was chosen by someone who understood Rajasthan's forgotten routes. Someone who knew old Rathod territory.

"Mobilize the second team," Veer said into the comm. "No sirens. No local interference."

"Yes, sir."

Veer ended the call and glanced briefly at Kavya. She looked calm, but he knew her well enough to see the tension in her shoulders.

"They crossed a line," she said quietly.

Veer's lips pressed into a thin line. "They dug their own grave."

⸻

The outpost appeared suddenly out of the darkness — half-buried in sand, walls cracked with age, abandoned by time but not by memory. This land had once answered to Rathod commands. Tonight, it would again.

Veer stepped out first, gun already in his hand.

The smell of gunpowder and blood hit him immediately.

His men moved like shadows, spreading out, silent and lethal. Two bodies lay near the entrance — not Rathod men.

Veer didn't pause.

"Kabir bhaiya," he muttered under his breath.

Inside, the scene was controlled chaos.

One of Kabir's men was injured, clutching his arm, another unconscious near the wall. And in the center of it all — Kabir Rathod lay against a stone pillar, blood staining his shirt, breathing shallow but steady.

Alive.

Veer crossed the distance in seconds, kneeling beside him.

"Kabir," he said firmly.

Kabir's eyes fluttered open.

Still sharp. Still aware.

"You're late," Kabir murmured.

Veer let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "You always complain."

Kabir's lips twitched faintly — then his jaw clenched as pain cut through him.

"Six hits," Kabir said calmly. "Not clean."

Veer swore under his breath. "Who?"

Kabir shook his head slightly. "Not here."

Always the same. Even bleeding, Kabir Rathod didn't speak until he was certain.

Kavya entered then, eyes sweeping the room before settling on Kabir. She knelt immediately, checking his pulse, his breathing.

"You scared us," she said, voice steady but tight.

Kabir looked at her. "Not enough."

She huffed quietly. "Idiot."

Veer signaled his men. "Secure the perimeter. No witnesses. No leaks."

As they lifted Kabir carefully onto the stretcher, Veer noticed something that made his blood turn cold.

"This wasn't meant to kill you," Veer said slowly.

Kabir met his gaze. "No."

"They wanted to see how fast we'd come," Kavya added.

Kabir nodded. "And who I'd trust."

Veer's jaw hardened. "Then they got their answer."

⸻

The convoy moved fast, desert roads swallowed by darkness. Kabir drifted in and out of consciousness, pain pulling at him with every bump.

Veer sat beside him, one hand braced on the stretcher.

"You should've waited," Veer said quietly.

Kabir's eyes opened briefly. "You would've died."

Veer swallowed. He knew Kabir wasn't exaggerating.

"Hospital?" Veer asked.

Kabir shook his head immediately. "Not here."

Kavya looked up sharply. "You're bleeding out."

"I'm not dying," Kabir said. "Not tonight."

Veer understood instantly.

"Transfer him," he ordered. "Private. No records."

Kavya nodded. "I'll arrange it."

She already knew where.

⸻

The helicopter lifted silently from the hidden strip near the estate, blades cutting through the cold desert air. Below them, Rajasthan stretched endlessly — land that had once sworn fealty to the Rathods.

Kabir lay still, oxygen mask secured, blood pressure low but stable.

Veer leaned close so only Kabir could hear.

"They tested you," Veer said. "What do you want us to do?"

Kabir's eyes opened slowly.

"Find the one who hesitated," he said hoarsely. "Start there."

Veer nodded. "Done."

"And Veer," Kabir added.

"Yes?"

Kabir's gaze sharpened despite the pain.

"Lock down everything," he said. "No one outside this room knows where I am."

Veer understood the unspoken command.

Protect the truth.

Protect her.

"I'll handle it," Veer said.

Kabir's eyes closed again.

⸻

As the helicopter disappeared into the night, Kavya stood at the edge of the landing area, phone pressed to her ear.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Initiate Phase One."

She paused, listening.

"No," she added. "Not retaliation."

A beat.

"Preparation."

She ended the call and looked toward the dark sky where the helicopter had vanished.

"Whoever did this," she murmured, "has no idea what they've started."