Page 56 of Born in Sin

The two of them were so busy laughing that they didn’t notice the door opening. Virat stood there, a puzzled frown on his face.

“Celi, I’ve been looking for you.”

Behind him Amay and Ishaan hovered, Amay’s pained gaze on Dhrithi’s face. Dhrithi stopped laughing abruptly.

“What’s going on?” Virat asked, his concerned gaze taking them both in.

“Majid just made the ultimate sacrifice for me. I don’t think anyone can top it. Ever.” Celina grinned.

Virat’s face smoothened out, all expression disappearing. “Right,” he said stiffly.

Celina sighed, her amusement disappearing like mist in the morning sunlight. “Vir, it’s not like that.”

“I know.” He cleared his throat. “I was just worried. I can see there was no reason for that now.”

He turned away from her, walking towards the door and his friends.

“Virat Jha, you stop right there!”

He stopped. He would always stop if she asked. She knew it. She wondered why he didn’t know it was the same for her.

Amay and Ishaan disappeared from the doorway, Dhrithi following, keeping a safe distance between Amay and her.

“He’s just a friend.” She cupped his face, turning it towards hers so he was forced to meet her gaze.

“I know.” Virat’s intense gaze bored into hers.

“Then what’s the problem.”

“I don’t trust him.” He sighed, resting his forehead on hers. “I don’t trust any of them, especially not with you.”

“Do you trust me?” She stroked her fingers through his hair, holding on to him tight.

“With my life,” he whispered.

“Then trust my judgement.” She kissed his cheek, gentling him. “Majid will never hurt me.”

Chapter Twenty

CARA

“Kabs.”

Cara held out a smoothie to Kabir who grimaced but took it without complaint. He drank half of it before he opened his eyes fully and looked over at her.

“Was it just alcohol?” she asked, sitting down across from him.

Kabir didn’t answer, his gaze on the drink she’d made him. “We do whatever it takes to take them down, right?” he said, after a moment.

“No, we don’t.” Cara shook her head, worry spooling through her. “Not at the cost of you and your sanity. Tell me you didn’t touch anything other than alcohol, Kabs.”

Kabir closed his eyes, allowing his head to fall back against the backrest of the couch he sat on. He looked exhausted but, in a way, that felt more soul deep than physical.

“Just alcohol,” he said. “This time.”

“Every time, Kabs. You know you can’t backslide, not even once.”

“Car, if I need to get any deeper with these guys, I’m going to have to meet them on their turf.”