**Sarp Soykan** Where had I gone wrong? I never messed with anyone who didn't mess with me. I wouldn't hurt them. I hadn't hurt that bastard Cemil. I had cut ties with him because of the fraud he committed in some of our joint projects. I couldn't understand why he held such a grudge against me, enough to ruin my life. Because of one bastard, my dear sister's happiest day turned into a nightmare. I had unjustly hurt my Ceyda. It turned out the man bothering her was just a pawn in this game. Even though I knew my wife wouldn't do anything to make me angry, I had shouted and upset her. A fit of jealousy had suddenly coursed through my entire body.
Due to the chaos caused by the raid we suffered, many were dead and wounded. Most of those who attacked us were dead, and we had captured the rest wounded. While I escaped with a slight graze on my stomach, Aytaç had also escaped with a minor injury. But Atlas, who had fought alongside us, wasn't as lucky as us. His condition was serious. Leaving Atlas with Aytaç, I ran towards the house. I searched everywhere, but the house was empty. My Ceyda was gone. I immediately left the house and started searching the garden. I was shouting 'Ceyda'. Everywhere was stained with blood. While there were many dead, there were also many wounded groaning on the ground at the same time. Guests were screaming and running away in various directions, some were standing in shock where they were. Ceyda wasn't there. Even if she were dead, she should have been somewhere. At my mother's cry, I found her with my eyes and quickly reached her side in a panic. My father had been shot and lost consciousness; my mother had collapsed on him, crying. While many ambulances arrived, we had transported some to a private hospital with our cars. I was about to lose my mind and go crazy. They had dressed the gunshot wound on my stomach and arranged a room for me to rest. But I didn't have a single minute to lose. My Ceyda was missing; I had to find her. From night until morning, my men had interrogated the attackers we captured, the wounded survivors, and we had learned that Firuze and her husband had kidnapped my Ceyda. I didn't even question how she could do this to my Ceyda because I didn't trust any human being. I had searched for Firuze and her husband all night and finally caught them at the airport where they came to go abroad with their daughter in the morning. While I was interrogating them in one of my empty shops, I had sent their little daughter to my house. The staff at home would take care of her. No matter how much Firuze tried to appear innocent, saying, 'My child was in their hands, my husband and I were threatened with death,' they had received more than their share of my tortures. I wouldn't stop until I found my Ceyda and learned that my loved ones were okay. Whoever was responsible for these events would pay the heaviest price. Even though twenty-five hours had passed since the events, there was still no news from my Ceyda. Sitting on the cold floor, leaning my back against the wall, my elbow resting on my bent leg, I wiped my moist eyes. I wasn't someone who cried easily. I had never felt so helpless before. I should have comforted my mother, who was sitting helplessly crying on the couch opposite me. This place was too crowded. Wiping my moist eyes with the back of my hand, I stood up. I walkedtowards my mother, bent down, and hugged her tightly. In response to my action, she cried even more. Inhaling her beautiful scent, I kissed her hair. "Mom, let the guys take you home. You need to rest. You look terrible," I said. "I can't leave Sibel and your father here, son," she said, crying. "I can't go anywhere until they are better." "Sibel is okay, Mom," I said with a deep sigh. The breath I took in seemed to be suffocating me even more. "They're just keeping her sedated. They'll wake her up tomorrow." "And your father? Your father is still in intensive care. Why aren't they taking him out yet? They haven't given any information about his condition. Did the doctor say anything to you?" I didn't know what to say to my mother. He was in very bad condition. I couldn't tell her that the doctor had said to be prepared for anything regarding my father. She couldn't handle that. "Dad will be okay too. I'll talk to the doctor. You're very tired, you look exhausted, you're going to get sick. Your father and Sibel wouldn't want to see you like this when they wake up. Come on, let them take you home, Mom." "I'll stay in Sibel's room. Please, son, I can't go home." When I couldn't convince my mother, I turned to Melek mom, who was sitting next to her, silently staring at a fixed point with aged eyes. Holding her hands, I said, "Melek mom." She startled as if noticing me for the first time, tearing her eyes away from the point she was staring at to look at me. "Sarp, son." "Mom, let's take you home......" I started, but she immediately cut me off.
"Find my Ceyda, son. I can't enter the house until my Ceyda is found. Is my daughter dead, is she alive? Is she hungry, what have they done to her all this time? They took her from me again. They will make her suffer what they made me suffer. Zerrin took her from me again." My eyes widened to their fullest. Could this be? Could Zerrin have done all this? This had never occurred to me. "How do you know this, Mom?" I said. "I know. I feel it. She did it." As she spoke, she was rocking back and forth. This event had triggered the trauma she experienced. That's why she suspected Zerrin. But still, there was a possibility her feelings were strong I had made the men we captured since last night talk, but I couldn't get any of them to tell me Cemil's location. Firuze and her husband had also insisted they didn't know where he was. I had raided Cemil's known locations but still couldn't find a trace. So, I had to consider this new possibility. Taking my mother by the arm, I brought her to the room where Sibel was staying. Kaya, who was sitting by Sibel's side, stood up immediately when he saw us. "Sarp, any news?" I gestured towards the outside with my head and turned to my mother. "Mom, lie down and sleep," I said, pointing to the large armchair in the room. "When Sibel comes to, Kaya will wake you up. Rest a bit." As my mother lay down on the armchair, she looked into my eyes and said, "Find my daughter-in-law and bring her back." "I promise, I will find her safe and sound and bring her back," I said. When I left the room, Kaya was looking at me with eyes red and bloodshot from crying.
"Sibel and my mother are entrusted to you. You will handle them. I need to leave." "Sibel won't be able to handle this when she wakes up. I don't know how I can manage this. I can't bear to see her upset." "Kaya," I said in a stern voice. "Get a hold of yourself. I can't sit here with my hands tied without knowing where Ceyda is or what condition she's in. Sibel needs you more than me right now. When she wakes up, you will explain the situation to her appropriately. Stand a little taller. Don't let her see you like this. Now go to her," I said and quickly left. My heart was burning. Helplessness had never pierced me so deeply before. According to the doctors, my dear sister, whom I adored, who was shot in the hip, would never walk again. When she woke up and faced this reality, she would suffer greatly. I don't know how I will bear my sister's pain, how to live with this pain. My mother doesn't know about this situation. My father is in intensive care; will he recover? It's unclear. I swear I will make that Cemil dog die in agony. When I arrived at the room where Atlas was staying, his two guards at the door made way for me to enter. When I entered the room, Yasemin, who was holding Atlas's hand with swollen, bloodshot eyes from crying, lifted her head and turned to me. "How is he?" I said, pointing to Atlas with my eyes, who had been shot in the shoulder and was sedated to prevent pain. "He still hasn't come to," she said, starting to cry again. The doctors aren't giving me any explanation about his condition. But they talked to his father. Please, Sarp, can you talk to the doctor for me?" She looked very distraught. She wasn't well. "Yasemin, you're not well. Go home. I'll find out about Atlas's condition and call you." "No. I'm not going anywhere. I can't leave him. I can never leave him. He must see me by his side when he wakes up."
"Okay, calm down, Yasemin. You look terrible. You can stay here, but don't wear yourself out any further. Rest a bit. Atlas wouldn't want to see you like this when he comes to, right? I'll find out his condition and let you know." "Did you find Ceyda?" said Yasemin, swallowing with difficulty. I looked at her with dull eyes. I needed to turn all of Istanbul upside down to find my Ceyda and breathe. I couldn't breathe without Ceyda. "Sarp, is there any news about Ceyda?" Pulling my wandering eyes away from Yasemin, I said, "No." "I will find her," I said and left the room without looking at Yasemin again. Taking the phone from my pocket to call Erdem, I quickly went downstairs. "Yes, brother." "Get the men ready, we're leaving," I said, then hung up and headed towards the exit. I scanned the people in the waiting room. It wasn't easy; they had all either lost loved ones or were injured. They were waiting for good news about the injured. They were all our guests. They were all in a miserable state. Some were also our employees. I felt very guilty. Despite all the precautions I had taken, the wedding night had become hell for all of us. I was the only one responsible for this; it couldn't be anyone else. I had apologized to all of them, but what good did apologizing do? "Sarp." I turned at Aziz Bey's call. As he walked towards me, his eyebrows were furrowed, his expression very stern. Coming right up to me, he said, "You found that woman Firuze and her husband, why wasn't I informed?" "I did what was necessary, father. I was going to tell you."
"You will tell me right now where you are holding them?" His eyes were bloodshot, his body exhausted. As a father, he was in a miserable state. But he was trying to stand strong for his children. He was also questioning the reason for all this, looking for someone to blame inside. Maybe, like me, he was blaming me too. But he never once demanded an explanation from me. He showed his attitude towards me by raising his voice when speaking to me. "I asked you where you are holding those worthless people," he said, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt. Shaking me, he said, "Get a hold of yourself, answer me. Why are you silent and staring at me?" I must have been losing my mind. If he hadn't shaken me, I wouldn't have realized I had been frozen for a while. I signaled to his men, who were approaching to restrain him, to stop. Freeing my collar from his grip, "I did what was necessary. Now the more important thing is to go find my wife. You," I said, pointing to Melek mom, who was watching us silently in the distance. "Take care of my mother. The woman is very distraught. She needs you," I said. As I was leaving the hall, he was shouting behind me, "Don't you dare come back without finding my daughter safe and sound!" When I exited the hospital, I frowned seeing Aytaç waiting for me with my men. "Why are you here?" I said. "I couldn't stay cooped up at home. My wound isn't serious; I'm coming with you," he said, pointing to his right arm with his gaze. "My arm still works. Besides, I can use my left arm too," he said, smiling. Shaking my head, I walked towards the car. No matter what I said, this madman wouldn't listen. "Brother, is Cem coming with us? I didn't want to call him without asking you," said Erdem. "Leave Cem be. He won't be any use to us in this state," I said. Elif was also seriously injured and hadn't regained consciousness yet. Cem wouldn't leave her side for a minute.
As I got into the back seat of the car, Erdem and Aytaç got in the front. The others were following us in another car. It was past midnight. There was still no news from my Ceyda. My men were searching for her everywhere. From night until morning, I had done everything to make the men we captured talk, but I hadn't gotten any results. Everything would end tonight. If they didn't talk, I would kill them all one by one. The thought of any harm coming to my Ceyda was driving me insane. I didn't know how I was staying so calm. I think it was because of the fear of losing my father and my sister too. Helplessness. But I wouldn't stay calm anymore. Tonight, I would extinguish the fire inside me. I would find my Ceyda at any cost. "Brother, Aziz Bey is asking all the men about Firuze and her husband's location," said Erdem. "Tell them to keep their mouths shut. No one says anything." "I've warned them all." Aytaç said, "What are you planning to do with those two?" "I haven't thought about it yet. Actually, I would shoot them in the head without thinking, but their little daughter should pray for them. I couldn't bring myself to harm her," I said with a deep sigh. "Did you take care of Sevil mom and Yusuf dad?" I said, changing the subject. "Yes, brother, we took them home. They're okay. A few of our men are looking after them." ****** When we arrived at the warehouse, one of my men waiting at the door opened it. "Did they talk?" I said.
Shaking his head, he said, "No," so I drew the gun from my waist and stormed inside. Shouting, "Talk, you loyal dogs," I shot four of the nine men tied hand and foot on the ground. As they screamed in pain and died, the others... Their eyes were wide open, looking at me. "Talk, or I'll kill you too," I said. One of them said, "Even if we talk, you'll shoot us. We all know we won't get out of here alive." "At least you'll die with honor." "Then none of us will talk. And you will never see that beautiful wife of yours again." He was grinning disgustingly. "Maybe you'll find her, but who knows in what condition. Have you ever thought about what they might be doing to your wife right now?" I shouted and pulled the trigger. As the despicable bastard who had a death wish collapsed to the ground, I didn't stop. I shot the ones next to him one by one until only one person remained. As they lay on the ground, screaming in agony, the only one I hadn't shot started trembling where he sat. His eyes were wide open with fear. I walked right up to him and grabbed his collar. Looking at his battered face from the beating, I said, "If you talk, I'll spare your life." In a trembling voice, he said, "They were going to take her to one of the factories in the abandoned small industrial estate in Karaköy." "Who? Cemil and who else is involved in this? Tell me," I said, tightening my grip on his collar. "A woman named Zerrin. I swear I don't know who she is. I only saw her once or twice with Cemil." As I let go of his collar, he looked at me with pleading eyes and said, "I told you everything I know. Will you let me go?"
Nodding my head, I said, "Yes, I'll let you go." As I turned my back, I signaled to Aytaç with my head. When I left the warehouse, a gunshot was heard. From now on, I wouldn't show mercy to anyone. Everyone would get what they deserved. We had left the warehouse and hit the road. I needed to get to the industrial estate and be reunited with my wife as soon as possible. So Melek mom was right in her feelings. If a single hair on my wife's head was harmed, I would torture that witch Zerrin to death. Just like Ceyda, I said. Zerrin the witch. I gave a bitter smile. My Ceyda, I hope the training I had you take paid off. If anything happens to you, I can't bear this pain, my wife. Please, hold on until I find you, my beautiful. When we arrived at the industrial estate, the surroundings were dark. With only the moon and the faint light from a few street lamps around, we started searching a few abandoned factories. We were moving as fast as we could. I had dispersed my men among the factories. This way we might have a better chance of finding her quickly. After searching for a while, my vibrating phone started ringing. I answered it without wasting any time. Ahmet, one of my men, said, "Brother, come to the large plastic factory in your row. They were here. Come quickly." I ran out of the factory we were in. Those with me were following. When we reached the factory Ahmet described, there were bloodstains on the ground in the factory yard. A fear gripped me; what if they had done something to her? As Aytaç picked up a bullet he found on the ground and showed it to me, he said, "There was a shootout here. There are many bullets on the ground." Who had been fighting? Could it have been my Ceyda? No, that couldn't be. She couldn't handle them alone. Trying to regulate my ragged breath, I entered the factory through the entrance. The inside was full of old machines. And there were bloodstains here too. And they were all fresh. We climbed the stairs leading upstairs and encountered a large office. Even though we searched everywhere, we couldn't find any trace of them. We went back down to the lower floor and descended the stairs to an even lower floor. A long corridor greeted us. We checked a few rooms in the corridor; there were factory materials and a few clothes and bloody bandages indicating someone had been here.
When we reached the last door at the end of the corridor, which was open, it felt like my blood froze. While Erdem and Aytaç entered, I was looking inside from the entrance with painfully stinging eyelids. After a moment, I entered with heavy steps. They had enclosed part of the small room with iron bars. It strongly resembled my father-in-law's basement. When I saw the two syringes Erdem picked up from the ground, I didn't want to believe this was real. The filth Zerrin was going to play with my wife's memory with drugs, just like they did to her mother. Even if you go to the depths of the earth, I will find you and that Cemil dog. I will kill you with my own hands. I was drowning. As I was leaving the factory, my phone vibrated again. Looking at the screen, it was one of the men I had posted to guard Firuze and her husband. "Speak?" "Brother, Aziz Bey came here. We couldn't stop him. He wasn't alone. He came with a lot of people." "Don't beat around the bush, just say what you have to say," I said. "Aziz Bey shot Firuze and her husband in the head. Both are dead."