Chapter 3: The Second Clue

Amina’s POV

The night deepened as we drove to the next site, the air outside heavy with the promise of rain. Zayd was behind the wheel, his fingers drumming a casual rhythm on the steering wheel. I sat silently, scrolling through the photos I’d taken at the abandoned house.

"What’s on your mind, partner?" Zayd asked, breaking the quiet.

"That symbol," I replied without looking at him. "It feels familiar, but I can’t figure out why."

He shot me a quick glance, his brow furrowing briefly before his usual grin returned. "Maybe it’s a sign. Destiny, fate… all that romantic stuff."

I gave him a flat look. "Or maybe it’s a clue we need to crack before more people go missing."

"Touché."

The GPS beeped, signaling our arrival at a small storage facility on the outskirts of the city. Captain Harun was already there, his bulk framed against the harsh glow of the overhead lights.

"Detectives," he greeted gruffly, handing us a folder. "Another symbol, same as the first. Found on the wall inside one of the units."

---

The storage unit smelled of rust and damp concrete. The symbol was etched into the back wall, larger and more intricate than the one at the abandoned house.

"This one’s different," I murmured, tracing the lines with a gloved finger. "It’s not just a symbol—it’s a map."

Zayd stepped closer, his face unusually serious. "A map to what?"

"That’s what we need to find out."

He crouched beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. "Looks like coordinates, maybe. Could be pointing to another location."

Captain Harun cleared his throat. "I don’t care what it’s pointing to—just figure it out before someone else goes missing. We’re running out of time."

---

As Zayd and I left the storage facility, he stopped suddenly, his gaze fixed on a dark corner of the lot.

"Did you see that?" he asked, his voice low.

"See what?"

"Someone was watching us," he said, his tone unusually grim.

I turned to look, but the lot was empty. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Let’s go," I said. "We’ll figure this out tomorrow."

But as we drove away, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the shadows were hiding something—or someone.

---

Next chapters will be released soon....

Hope you enjoyed reading _____

In a world where truth was a weapon and loyalty a gamble, their love was the last thing either of them expected. Zayd ibn Khalid Al-Rashid—mysterious, brilliant, and hiding a thousand secrets behind calm eyes. Amina Al-Zahra—fierce, sharp-minded, and determined never to fall for anyone, especially a man like him. Bound by duty, torn by suspicion, and forced into an arranged marriage neither wanted, their journey was anything but ordinary. What began as cold cooperation turned into stolen glances, midnight arguments, silent understanding… and a connection deeper than either could admit.

He was the villain the world feared—but her heart knew differently.

“Woh jo dushman bhi tha, aur humsafar bhi…

Har raaz mein chhupi thi koi wajah bhi…”

In every mission, they were partners. In every failure, they stood together. And when betrayal shattered everything, love was the only thing left standing. This is a slow-burn romance wrapped in thrill and secrets, where even love has a price, and every chapter ends on a heartbeat.

Heart of the Deceiver isn’t just a story. It’s a journey through fire and faith, through heartbreak and healing.

Come fall in love with the danger. Come stay for the devotion.

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