CHAPTER FOURTEEN
…
A booted foot kicked out and knocked Arjun's gun from his hand. His wrist crunched loudly from the blow and pain surged through him like an electric current. He tried to dive for his lost weapon, but suddenly there was the cool press of a gun to his temple. He froze, the click of the trigger cocking making him break out in a wave of dizzy fear. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Ayesha just standing there, watching. The man she had been fighting lay at her feet, defeated.
This was it, then.
A gun went off and for a moment his heart really did stop. But then it beat again and he realised, touching his head where the bullet would have entered, that he was still alive.
Which meant someone had shot the man who had been about to kill him. Slowly he turned to see Don.
"Thank…thank you," he blurted gratefully, before he realised just who he was thanking.
"Don't thank me," the older man said, his voice low, "thank Roma."
Ayesha sighed. "Don," she pointed to a figure running away from them, escaping. She lifted her gun and squinted, preparing to shoot him in the back.
"Don't, sweetheart," Don said, "Let him go. It's time Vardhaan knew we were here."
…..
Roma dropped her glass as a man burst onto the balcony, his nose bleeding and swelling. It shattered on the wood, the remnants of her third glass of champagne dripping through the gaps to the plants below.
"Sir," he said, addressing Narang, "Don is in the building."
"Well we can see that," Vardhaan rolled his eyes, referring to the man's roughed up state.
"There are others with him, a woman and a man."
The back of Roma's neck prickled, though whether it was irrational jealousy at the mention of a woman or concern at the mention of a man – wondering who it could be – she didn't know.
Narang nodded to Vardhaan, exchanging a speaking glance. He left them, escorting the injured man back inside. The sun was setting, gold and orange retreating as the inky dark began to appear.
The room beyond the balcony doors was an elegant seating area complete with comfortable – if formal – sofas and a bar. There was a table in the middle around which business could be conducted in a more casual atmosphere. She followed Vardhaan back into this room, standing awkwardly as he took out a lighter and lit several candles, dimming the overhead lights until they were soft enough to be romantic.
"Well?" he said when he was finished.
"What?"
He shrugged, his eyes challenging her, "You changed the plan, Roma. You said finding you in my arms would hurt him the most. So here we are." He walked up close, invading her space, and pressed a gun into her hand. "And here's the bullet you promised to deliver – right through his head. Unless you've changed your mind?"
His tone was deceptively light and she knew that any hesitation would change that bullet's destination from Don to her, without Vardhaan blinking an eye.
She took the gun, letting her fingers linger on his as she put her mouth to his ear and whispered, "Not a chance."
He smiled, but it was more of a grimace. "Then what are we waiting for?" he asked, gesturing to the sofa that faced the door. He sat down, waiting for her.
Gathering her nerves, she sat beside him, her dress falling open to reveal the smooth skin of her left leg. She hid the gun (and the hand that held it) half beneath a pillow and draped her other arm across Vardhaan's. He was crazy. This was the stupidest plan she had ever heard. She doubted her own ability to pull it off. She doubted Don's ability to care.
….
"This is where we part, sweetheart," Don said, pulling Ayesha close to him and kissing her on the corner of her mouth, just shy of her lips. She smirked, pressing into him and enjoying Arjun's discomfort.
"Where's she going?" he asked, his wrist throbbing.
Don tapped the end of his nose, "No questions," he said.
Ayesha sashayed off, giving them both a little wave as she rounded the corner. Arjun was surprised she could retain such a feminine walk in such heavy combat clothes, but Don didn't seem to question it as he watched her go – his gaze lingering on the swing of her hips.
"Why are you even doing this?" Arjun asked in disgust, "Roma's just another girl to you. I've seen your files – there's one in every country."
The smaller man clenched his jaw, his features sharp as he tilted his head to stare at Arjun. "She's just another girl to you," he corrected, "Tell me - because somehow I find myself interested in your mundane love story - what do you think can happen? You think she'll marry you, give up her job and raise your brats? That's not who she is."
He was angry, his tone biting. Arjun clenched his fist, wincing as he did so. "I love her" he exclaimed fiercely.
"You don't even know her," Don smirked.
"You're wrong. I know as much of her as you do – only I know the side of her that is good, that is more than what you think she is. The side that is better than you. And that side will win out, and I will win, because people like you don't deserve people like her." He knew he was letting Don bait him again, and that Malik would chastise him for allowing it, but with Ayesha gone it was just the two of them and all his resentment was spilling over.
He expected Don to shout back. The fire that burned in the other man's dark eyes certainly suggested that he would. But he only furrowed his brows, cocked his head and said "Well – Shadi Mubarak!"
Arjun bristled.
"Just one thing," Don said, his tone light once more, "You'll need to actually find the bride first.
….
There were footsteps in the corridor. Two sets, neither bothering to be quiet. Roma stopped breathing, aware of Vardhaan's fingers trailing up her leg. She wanted to recoil, but she had to hold it long enough to survive.
The door was kicked open and Don entered, his gun trained on them. She stared desperately at his face, even as Vardhaan nuzzled her neck. His features were stony, unmoving, but something flickered in his eyes as he looked at her. Her heart leapt and she wanted to snatch that second of weakness from him and shout loudly that she had caused it. But his cool veneer slid back on, and he lifted the gun, raising his eyebrow. "Really Roma," he admonished, "I didn't know you were that desperate."
Vardhaan sneered, getting to his feet and pulling her with him. The gun dangled limply in her hand. "Finally we meet face to face," he said.
Don smirked, "We would have been face to face before now, Vardhaan, if you'd had the guts to step out of my shadow."
"Shut up!" Vardhaan exclaimed, all too quickly losing his temper.
"So what's the plan?" Don's eyes flickered around the room, searching out any hidden traps. "You thought you'd get in a good grope before killing her? I know you're that desperate."
Vardhaan shook his head, cooling down as he began to think he really was pulling off some master scheme. "Actually," he said. "Roma and I have come to an arrangement of sorts. I was going to kill her, but then she used her charms to change my mind." He let his hand brush the curve of her waist. "It seems she hates you just as much as I do." Without warning, he dragged her almost off her feet, planting a kiss right on her mouth. Roma couldn't help it – she pushed him away.
"Roma?" a heartbroken and familiar voice asked. She looked past Don to the man standing behind him – who she hadn't even noticed before. It was Arjun, his face crestfallen and disbelief warring with betrayal in his eyes. She could almost see his heart cracking in two. If he had been hurt by her before, he was devastated now.
But Don…Don was furious.
"Come on Roma," Vardhaan warned, lifting her arm until she was aiming her gun right at Don. "Lets not hesitate."
"Roma," Arjun repeated, "please!"
Vardhaan rolled his eyes, whipped out his own weapon, and shot. The bullet whizzed past Don and hit Arjun square in the chest. He collapsed immediately, hitting the floor with a deafening thud. Roma couldn't prevent the scream that tore from her throat. As if in slow motion, she ran over to him – her dress flying out in a cloud of fabric as she dropped to his side. His eyes were glassy as they closed and she called his name.
Then suddenly time sped up. There was another gunshot, she didn't know whose, and the lights above her head shattered, raining glass down on them. A hand grabbed her roughly by the strap of her dress, hauling her to her feet. Two more shots fired and she heard Vardhaan curse. The light in the corridor went out and she found herself being dragged down it and away from Arjun.
"No!" she cried, "Stop, let me help him!"
"There's nothing you can do," Don said, his voice deep and dark, "don't be stupid."
They were running now and she was tripping over her impractical heels, half clinging to Don to keep herself steady. She didn't see where they were going until he shoved her into a room and shut the door. It was pitch black inside and she heard him turn the lock before switching on his torch, angling it so the beam shone upwards and could not been seen through the gap.
There were tiny shards of glass, like diamonds, glinting in his hair, and his brows were furrowed – drawn together fiercely as he looked at her. His hands, square and strong, came up to cup her face. "Breathe," he ordered her.
She drew in air, gasping, having been unaware she had stopped. Then blind rage took over and she wrenched herself away, swinging her hand and slapping him as hard as she could. He spat blood, his eyes filled with something primal.
"You killed him," she said, "It's your fault, it's your fault. If you hadn't…if you hadn't…he would still be…If I hadn't found you…"
Her voice was rising in pitch and he slapped his hand over her mouth, whirling her around and backing her into the wall. He pressed her against the concrete, remaining immobile as she struggled to lash out at him. "Ssssh," he hushed her, "Ssssh, Roma! I know, I know."
"Don," she sobbed finally, as he lifted his fingers and allowed her to breathe. Then their lips met and she wasn't sure who had initiated it. He was hot and solid and real and she clawed at him, her brain short-circuiting as he lifted her, pinning her hips. She wrapped her legs around his waist, tugging at his t-shirt as he kissed her urgently.
She felt like her whole body was about to combust from both the feelings his touch was reawakening and the terrible, terrible thought that kept running through her head. I'm glad it wasn't you, she told him wordlessly, I'm glad you're alive.
She hated herself for thinking it, but that hatred only made her pull him closer, gasping as his mouth claimed hers like he was telling her – once and for all – that she was his and only his. Heat spread though her as his hand travelled up her thigh, slipping beneath the slit of her dress. He seemed to have lost control completely. Had seeing her in Vardhaan's arms – even though he had known it was a lie – affected him that much?
As his bulletproof vest prevented her the access to his skin that she wanted, she settled for tangling her hands in his hair, tugging at the ponytail, and enjoying the way his breath hitched. She tugged it again, painfully this time, and he bit her neck in retaliation.
She could feel him hard against her and she moaned even as she knew they had to stop. They were in danger – Vardhaan and Narang were probably searching for them – and Arjun was dead. That last thought hit her like a bucket of water and she shoved him gently away, resting her forehead against his.
"Don," she whispered, "we have to stop."
He drew in a deep breath, his hands moving to her waist – a much safer place - but he didn't let her go.
….
Malik opened his eyes as the radio crackled to life on the ground beside him. "Detective?" a female voice asked.
"Hello?" he answered, sitting up groggily and switching on his torch. It was dark now and the trees were barely visible around him. Only the compound – its lights bright in the blackness – could be seen.
"This is Ayesha," the voice said, "The doors are open. You can come in now. I'll be waiting."
….
TBC!
(A/N) I'm going to try and get another chapter out by tomorrow (Thursday night) but in the event that doesn't happen the next chapter will be posted on Monday as I am going away for the weekend and will not have internet access : (