"Don, I swear it wasn't my fault! I swear to ..."

"Shhh," Don put a finger to his lips, making a walk around the kneeling man.

"Fine, Don, it was my fault, but I'll clean up the mess, please don't..."

"Shhh," he closed his eyes in pleasure, aiming the gun.

"Don, I..." the shot silenced the man.

"Take care of the body, Ramesh." Don took a cigarette in his mouth. His cell phone rang. "Don speaking."

"It's Ali. We have a problem."

"You have a problem. I have a vacation."

"Don, it's serious. CBI found out about the leak in their system. They will soon make a move."

"Then clean up the footprints, close up the leak. We'll find a new way inside."

"Got it."

"Anything else?"

"Where's Javed?"

Don threw a glance towards dead man's body. Ramesh was dragging him inside the black plastic bag.

"My apologies. He's dead."

##

"Does anybody know what Shaitan Ghati is?"

Silence in the auditorium. Oh, c'mon, guys, speak up!Roma thought irritably chewing her pencil. Who doesn't know what that is?!

"Should I spell it out?" Mr. Mathur, the chief of CBI, eyed everyone, settling his look on Roma.

Just because she always knew the answers didn't mean he always had to count on her!

"The Devil's Valley." Roma forced out the words.

"Right. And guess what, some of you will have your first mission in The Devil's Valley."

Roma straightened in her seat. He had to be kidding! It was their first mission and he was ready to send them there?!

"But first of all, I want you to learn more about that place, before you start planning your career on that.

"It's the darkest area of our country-in fact, on Earth. If you can picture black leeches in a basket, trying to suck the life out of each other-and if they have a chance, out of our society too-then there you go, you have a Shaitan Ghati in it's whole beauty."

How dare he! My brother works there! Roma was at the brink of saying that out loud, but once again she had to suck it in. Ramesh had nothing to do with those leeches, he was just making a living, trying to become someone.

"Shaitan Ghati is a 200 km2 district. The problem with this place is that it is highly protected… by our government." the sudden gasps and whispers echoed in the room. "I'll explain why. The main drug lords and traffickers who own that area had a deal many years ago- they do their business inside of that district, leaving the rest of our country at peace. The government, in return, had to provide full immunity. CBI is not allowed to intrude inside under any circumstance. But we believe we can find evidence showing that they broke the rules and are now growing their business outside of Shaitan Ghati. It's a proof that we can find only from inside.

"The main owner of the Devil's Valley is Randeep Kher. He will be the first to take the responsibility if we catch something illegal connected to that district outside. Therefore it's in his own interest to keep everything as quiet as possible. Everyone else there abides to his rules. Faces without a rigorous control are not allowed inside. You have to have a thick skin to survive there. Anyone who refuses to follow the rules gets instantly eliminated. Except one person. And that is Don."

Roma closed her eyes. His name echoed in her ears, causing her to feel sick. She opened back her eyes and there he was. His face all over the screen.

"He's the only one who's allowed to do just about anything there. You'll ask me why? Don is an assurance that no one will get inside unnoticed. Besides the government, Don is their inside security. Maybe that could be an answer to the question "why him?". But don't underestimate his courtesy. He does it for the sake of his own prosperity and success. He hates when someone messes up with his business. If you take away the formal authority. I would say Don is the king of Shaitan Ghati. He created his own safe heaven, where he's untouched by police and by justice. We don't have a proof on him, but it is estimated that he sold billions worth drugs over the past five years outside of the Devil's Valley and killed...a lot of people, mostly under his direction. The worst thing is that Randeep Kher covers all of his actions as he has a lot of connections in the government. I personally believe that he is scared of Don himself. Although the moment Randeep Kher goes down, so does Don."

Roma chewed on her lower lip, while listening to all of that. No way was she ever gonna go there. Ramesh made it clear, he wouldn't ever allow her inside. He would rather kill her than let her enter that tormenting place. And she had no sympathy for Shaitan Ghati ether.

"Yesterday we found out that our security system has a leak. And that leak comes from none other than The Devil's Valley. They are certainly planning an attack. We hadn't closed the leak yet, because it can lead us straight to the source inside."

"What's the point of that anyway?" a guy from the first row asked. "We can't do anything to them!"

"Right now, we can't. But if we find enough proof that they are attacking our government security, they will lose their immunity, therefore we will be able to arrest every single one of them. Most of them will receive a death penalty. At least I can guarantee that for Don and his loyal buddies."

Roma bit her lip too hard. She immediately felt a sweet taste on her lips, blood.

"Most of you will be working at CBI office on this case, only few will have to infiltrate inside."

Roma couldn't care less if only Ramesh wasn't working for Don. Ramesh didn't deserve a death penalty. Even if he did, he didn't, because he was her brother. Because he had to stay alive, because Don had no right to pull Ramesh in the hole after him. But if Don got caught, inevitably so would Ramesh.

"I promise, we will eliminate every single one of them, if we gather all our strength together. So I would like to ask all of you who is willing to..."

"I volunteer." said Roma, making everyone turn towards her.

Mr. Mathur nodded in approval. "I was counting on that."

##

Roma was in Mr. Mathur's office along with one more guy. She knew him from the class where she practiced shooting. Karan. She had no interest in him, and she wasn't planning to listen to all of the lecture that Mr. Mathur prepared, because he had nothing to say that she already didn't know about the Devil's Valley.

"Ramesh is so gonna kill me if he finds out I took this mission." she murmured in her head. "But I'm doing this for him." She shook her head approving her thoughts.

"Here is everything you have to know" Mr. Mathur tossed documents towards each of them with a label "urgent".

Roma didn't bother to touch it.

"Please, read it carefully. Karan, you know why you're going there. You're job is all the technical bits and finding the exact place of the leak. You're also there for Roma's security," Mr. Mathur looked at her intensely while she stared out the window. She felt his look so she turned back. "The mission hinges on you, Roma. I want you to take the full responsibility of it. The outcome will depend on you."

Roma wondered how much he already knew about her private life. Did he know where Ramesh worked? Why did he trust her so much on this? She surely was the best student, and she got the best scores during her test time, but this was about Devil's Valley. No one could be sure when it came to that place.

"I understand."

"It has to be done as quietly and as unnoticed as possible. Though, honestly, it's impossible. Not there.

"Besides Don and Randeep Kher, there are a few more people you have to know about.

"It's Mona Kher, Randeep Kher's wife. She's a bitch, arrogant and unforgiving. Those two," he showed on both her's and Don's photos. "Seem to have their own language of communication. You'll see.

"The second one is Ali, he's the right hand man of Randeep. If Don has such things as friends, he would be one. Don is always informed about Randeep's doings thanks to Ali.

"Your first task is to find exact place from where information is leaking."

"How?" Roma challenged him with her brown eyes.

"Their main security system computers would give access to that information.

"The main building," he pointed out on the map. "which stands right in front of the entrance gates, has a security system control room. They have all information about computers and cameras that are around the Devil's Valley. You'll have to access that, Karan, and find the source of the leak."

"Easy, then."

"No. It's not that easy, as you can access it only while being inside of that building. They set up a block that prevents you from accessing their computers while being outside. Trust me, we tried it many times."

"Cool. Then how are you planning to get us inside?"

"In a few days there will be a get-together in the Devil's Valley, organized every year by Mr. Kher, where a lot of Asia's criminal minds arrive and discuss their plans, make deals. Everything will be in that main building. This event is, of course, secretive. High security and anonymity. You will get inside under a name, whose owner is currently enjoying our jail comforts. Roma I would want you to dress beautifully and you, Karan, to have a mustache. You need an impression of a weapon manufacturer."

"Fine. We get in, but he won't be able to get further than the main hall." said Roma.

"Why not?" asked Karan.

"Every door inside of that building can be opened by a special remote control that opens on a voice command." sighed Mr. Mathur "Those remote controls belong only to the main people in the Devil's Valley and the guards."

"Then we steal one from the guard." said Karan.

"Yes. But that remote control responds only to voices that were set inside of it. It won't respond to your voice."

Karan pressed his lips, rationalizing.

"I can try to steal one and record the voice." suggested Roma.

"Fine. Just do it invisibly, no one should notice. They are very cautious. And when I say very, I mean- extremely cautious."

"Ok."

"There are also cameras everywhere around the building. Take care of that, Karan."

"I will, Sir."

"You can go now, Karan. Roma, stay. I need to talk to you."

Karan left the room.

"Get up!"

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get up! I have to show you something."

Roma stumbled up. Mr. Mathur took her by the shoulders and made her stand in front of a tall mirror. She could see the reflection of a stubborn girl who was on her way to fight the most dangerous criminals of Asia. It sounded funny in her head. Her impatient pose, irritated stare, it all made a wrong combination that would never be accepted in the Devil's Valley. Women just didn't have a right to be stubborn there, they didn't have a right to be anyone there. The only exception would be for Mona Kher. All the other ones were just toys in the hands of murderers. And she was supposed to become one of them?

"There," Chief whispered in her ear, it made her shudder a little as he was so close.

"Look at yourself!" he took the hair strand away from her cheek. "You are beautiful! But your beauty there ether will work for you, or against you. The way you will serve your beauty in The Devil's Valley depends only on you." He reached out to her neck, slid his fingers down to her shoulders. "You won't be able to escape Don." her pulse began to race unexpectedly. "You have to be likable for him. He'll notice any fling of dislike or irritation. Don't think much, give in, as it might prolong your life. It's a word of advice.

"You see, Don is like the air there. He is inside of everything. One wrong move, he finds out who you are, your mission is done, your career over. And I'm not saying this because CBI would give you up that fast, I'm saying this because you won't have a chance to get out of there. You will be as good as dead."

"Then why are you allowing me to go there? When you know that my chances of surviving there are close to zero. Send somebody more experienced!"

"We once sent a woman, an experienced agent. Don uncovered her in seconds. The problem with experienced agents is, they have lost their innocent looks. You, on the other hand, have it. And this is exactly what criminals like Don would seek first in a woman. If he won't find it there..." he sighed, making her think of consequences for herself. "You're tough and you know how to survive better than anyone from your group. Besides, you know everything about that place, don't you? You live with a criminal who happens to work for Don."

Roma looked up at Mr. Mathur through the mirror. He smiled.

"Ramesh is not a criminal!" she pulled away, sat back on her chair.

"Of course he's not. He's just following all the commands that Don gives him, including killing, killing and killing."

"Stop it!"

"Lets face the truth, you're going there because of Ramesh. Right?"

She looked at Mr. Mathur again. He knew everything, no need to reply.

"What if I promised you, Ramesh won't get arrested?"

"Don't promise something you can't be sure of, Sir. Besides, I'm going there anyway."

"I am pretty sure Ramesh will get out clean, if I say so. If… you follow my orders. Can I count on you, Roma?"

##

The door opened. Elegant steps made their way to the leather couch right in front of a black desk where Don sat at his laptop. With the back of his eyes, he saw a dark blue bag landing on the pillow with a smack, then a tall, beautiful figure sitting down.

"I'm bored." she made it a point to say it out loud.

"Of course, why else would you be here?" he continued on typing on his laptop, sipping a glass of whiskey.

"You really don't have to try hard to show I'm not wanted here."

"Why would I? You know that yourself."

"Don, do you have any mercy for me whatsoever?!"

"Aghh, no."

She stood up, went to the window. With one move she opened up all the curtains, letting in the bright light, blinding Don. When he got his sight back, he realized he could not see a thing on the screen as it was now reflecting the sunlight. He sighed. Mona Kher. She was the brat of Shaitan Ghati, one that he got so lucky to deal with every day. But he had to, because she was Randeep's Kher wife and because she also was so damn sexy. He didn't mind her company whenever he was bored. She was the woman that all the mothers prayed their daughters would never become.

"Don't you ever think it's too dark here?" asked Mona.

"Don't you ever stop being so annoying?"

"How else would I get your attention?"

"Do you have anything worth my attention?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Me!"

"Then come closer." he whispered temptingly. "Show me."

Don stood up as she walked closer, pulled Mona to himself. Her tempting smell, and smile which he noted a long time ago, she gave only to him. Mona Kher was exact reflection of the Devil's Valley. Over the years she gathered the soul of this place inside of her. Her eyes shone of pain and pride, hiding her inner beauty away from the men. Only two people knew the real her, Randeep and Don.

"Do you think Randeep would forgive you if you killed me right now?" asked Mona playing with the button of his opened shirt.

"No."

"You're telling me this to make me feel better."

"You think I care that much?"

"I know you do. I might be the only thing to care about here."

"I think he would miss you. You meet only few annoying people in your life, and if they happen to be as beautiful as you, it would always be a shame to lose them."

She smiled. Don flashed his arrogant dimpled smile back. Her eyes fell on the computer screen.

"What is that? What are those numbers?" she moved her hand towards the mouse, Don caught her and gripped her tightly.

"Are you done here?"

"Why can't you show me the numbers?"

"Get out." his calm tone alarmed her. It was like a standstill before the storm.

"Don, I just.."

"Get out!" he shouted out in a rage.

That was exactly what she needed. His eyes full of fire, his muscles hardening and that merciless voice. She could find it only in Don.

"Going." she put her hands up, surrendering. "Have a nice dream about me."

Mona could still see irritation in his eyes. She flashed him her most charming smile, then disappeared behind the door.