Page 53 of Born in Sin

“They came to the set today,” she said softly, her fingers playing with the ends of her hair as it fell in loose waves over one shoulder. “Kabir’s out partying with them right now.”

“I know.” He kept his gaze on her feet and continued to press and knead the soft skin, every stroke a welcome burn to his heart. It had been years since he’d had the right to touch her, but, still, every tactile second was a balm that both healed and seared him.

“I spoke to Majid. Alone.”

His hand stopped, mid stroke, for the barest second before he started again. He could feel her gaze on the top of his head, but he didn’t meet it.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what we talked about?”

Virat exhaled. A rueful smile touched his lips as he looked up to finally meet her gaze. “Do you really need me to ask?”

“Given that I barged into your home to tell you, I guess not.”

“Tell me,” he said, struggling to keep the conversation in the present. “What did he say?”

“He said I reminded him of someone special, the best friend he’d ever had.”

Virat’s eyes burned, remembered rage sweeping through him and taking common sense with it. She pressed her foot into his hand, a gentle nudge that helped ground him in the present.

“Do you think he knows it’s you?” he asked, his voice carefully level.

“No.” She took a deep breath, her eyes fixated on where his hand rested on her foot. “But there is something about me that is triggering him. It’s good,” she said. “The more on edge he is, the more likely he’ll snap.”

“That’s not good,” Virat said sharply. “Or have you forgotten what happened the last time he snapped?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything.” Cold, hard words that sliced across his conscience. “No one can forget their lived reality. It’s different this time.”

“How?”

“This time I will be the one who snaps his tether. I’m in control, of him, of the situation, and of the consequences from it. I’m the one herding him to the edge of the cliff and I’m the one who is going to push him off of it.”

Ice slid through his veins. “What have you done, Celi?”

“What needed to be done.”

“Celi.” The quiet command was a plea that he knew she would hear.

She pulled out the burner and handed it to him. He tapped the phone open and scrolled to the latest text thread.

I see you.

Majid’s reply had come through a second later.

I want to see you too. Can we meet?

Cara’s final message had gone through seconds before she’d entered Virat’s flat.

You’ll see me. I’m coming for you. You’ll see me but you won’t see me or mine coming.

He looked up at her, his face grave. “Don’t push so hard that you snap along with him, Celi.”

“I snapped a long time ago. I snapped the night my friend turned on me. My friend, Vir,” her voice cracked, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. “He was my friend. Even when I reached the Chemistry Lab building and saw him standing there, instead of you, I wasn’t worried. Even when he asked if he could keep me company, I didn’t question it. Even when the others arrived, I felt no fear. I just thought I was spending time with a friend until you came.” Her breath caught on a sob. “But he was no friend. And you didn’t come.”

Virat’s hand tightened on her foot, fingers trembling, a fine tremor working its way through him.

“Why did you come here tonight, Celi?”

“Why do I always come to you? Because I can’t stay away. I still can’t stay away, even after all this time,” she said, her voice drenched with emotion. “I swore I would never leave you and I didn’t…even when you left me.”