Page 66 of The Redemption
Something tight coils in my chest.
“If you could walk away from that… if you could disappear and start a fresh life…” Her voice lowers. “Thenyouare the only one who can help me do the same.”
My jaw tightens.
“No,” I say flatly.
Her brows pull together, confusion flashing across her face. But before she can ask, footsteps approach. Haider and Esha reach us quickly.
Haider’s gaze drops straight to my arm, assessing my wound, while Esha looks between us in worry. I don’t give either of them time to speak. My eyes stay on Siya throughout.
“Take her back to the cottage,” I say to Esha.
Siya stiffens instantly. Even Esha hesitates for half a second before stepping closer to Siya.
“Ma’am, please—”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Siya shouts, her eyes, now teary, but still locked on mine. “Not when you are bleeding because of me.”
“I said go back to your room.”
“But—”
“Now, Siya.”
She looks at me, not in fear but trying to understand what just changed between us. Then slowly, reluctantly, she steps back. Esha gently guides her away, but Siya does not look at Esha. Her gaze remains locked on me even as the distance grows between us. Then finally, she turns and walks away, discreetly wiping at the corners of her eyes.
I watch until she disappears down the dimly lit pathway. Only then do I look down at my arm again. Blood has soaked through the scarf. It stings, but it is not the wound that lingers. It’s her words.What Siya asked of me tonight. And the fact that for a brief second, I almost considered it.
CHAPTER 14
RAGHAV
Cottage Cabin
I storm inside the cabin, Haider following me closely behind as the door slams shut behind us harder than it needs to. My arm throbs where the bullet grazed through, the makeshift knot of her scarf already soaked with blood. But I don’t bother looking at it.
“How the f*ck did this happen, Haider?” I demand, turning on him. “Tell me how a man with a rifle got this close to my estate, and none of you saw it coming.”
Haider stops near the desk, his shoulders straight, but I can see it in his eyes. He’s already gone over this a hundred times in his head.
“He wasn’t here for you,” Haider adds after a moment. “That is the gap. Siya Vardhaan wasn’t on our threat grid. We were watching for threats linked to you. Not to her.”
“That’s not an excuse.” My voice hardens as I slam my fist on the desk. “From this moment on, anything that so much as breathes in Siya’s direction is a threat. I want eyes on every movement tied to Siya Vardhaan while she’s inside this estate. Track everything connected to her. Every call. Every shadow. Nothing reaches this far again. Ever.”
“It won’t,” he says immediately.
That still doesn’t satisfy me.
“And finish him,” I say. “Break him first. Show no mercy.”
Haider doesn’t respond immediately this time.
“You really want him dead?” he questions, a little surprised.
I glare at him this time.
“I f*cking want to kill him myself, Haider,” I bite out. “I want to hear his scream when I cut his hands off before killing him. Those same hands that held a gun aimed at Siya.”
