"We're closed for walk-ins today!" Meera called out. "Wedding order in progress!"
No response. Advika glanced up, frowning. Through the doorway to the front, she could see the guard who'd been stationed inside—Arjun—slumped against the wall.
Her heart stopped.
"Meera, get back—"
Three men burst into the kitchen, all wearing masks, all carrying guns.
"Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt," one of them said, his voice cold.
Meera screamed. Advika's mind raced, adrenaline flooding her system. The panic button was under the counter—if she could just reach it—
"Looking for this?" Another man held up the small device, already crushed. "We disabled your security system fifteen minutes ago. No alarms. No cavalry coming. You're coming with us, Mrs. Singhania."
"Like hell I am."
She grabbed the first thing within reach—a heavy marble rolling pin—and swung it at the nearest man. It connected with his shoulder with a satisfying crack. He howled, stumbling back.
"You bitch!"
She didn't wait. She ran, heading for the back exit, but another man blocked her path. She tried to dodge around him, but he was faster. His hand closed around her arm, yanking her back.
Advika fought like a wildcat—kicking, scratching, biting. She heard fabric tear, heard someone curse, felt her nails rake across skin.
"Hold her still!" one of them yelled.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides. She stomped down hard on his instep, was rewarded with a grunt of pain. But there were too many of them.
Something sharp pricked her neck. Within seconds, her vision started to blur, her limbs growing heavy.
"No," she slurred, still struggling. "No, no—"
The last thing she heard was Meera screaming her name.
Then darkness.
Sidharth was in a meeting with a potential investor when Rishabh burst through the door.
"We have a problem," he said, his face pale.
Sidharth stood immediately, reading the panic in his brother's eyes. "What happened?"
"It's Advika. She's been taken."
The world stopped. For a moment, Sidharth couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't process what he'd just heard.
"What?" The word came out strangled.
"Her bakery. Fifteen minutes ago. They disabled the security, took out both guards, grabbed her. Meera called it in immediately."
"Is she—" He couldn't finish the sentence.
"We don't know. They left Meera and the other staff unharmed. Took only Advika." Rishabh's expression was grim. "This was planned, coordinated. Professional."
Sidharth's vision went red. His hands clenched into fists, every muscle in his body coiling tight with fury and fear.
"Find her." His voice was deadly quiet. "I don't care what it takes. Tear this city apart if you have to. Find my wife."
