Page 80 of Born in Sin

Chapter Twenty-Six

CARA

She could feel her world righting itself on its axis as Virat’s arms closed around her, holding her to his heart.

“Why did you leave me? Why did you disappear from the hospital that night?”

Her words hung in the air, fraught with remembered pain.

“Celi, I-“

A sharp knocking on the door had them both exhaling, their chests moving in unison. Virat dropped his forehead to hers, swallowing hard.

The knocking increased in vigor, getting more insistent. Amay’s voice sounded through the door.

“Vir, I’m sorry man. But you need to get out here.”

Cara dropped her arms from around him. “Go,” she said. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“We’ll finish this,” he told her even as he started to move towards the door. Cara watched him go, her heart feeling unbearably light after decades. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she glanced down to check. It was her regular phone, not the burner.

“Kabs,” she answered, leaning against the desk in the room.

“Car, I’ve heard from them.”

Her whole body went on alert at his tone. “What is it?”

“These assholes have sent me the coordinates of the location for the Saturday night evil incarnate event.”

“Send it to me. I’ll share it with Virat and the others.”

“I’ve already forwarded it to him,” Kabir said.

“Oh.” Celina paused. “You’ve got a budding bromance going?”

Kabir chuckled. “Yeah. From my end at least. He’s a good guy, Car.”

“I know.”

“You need to tell him the truth about us and end his misery.”

“We had an arrangement, Kabs, one that worked for both of us.”

“Then let’s un-arrange it.” When she stayed silent, he continued, “Come on, Car. Life’s giving you another shot at it. You should be going for it, all guns blazing.”

“And you?” she asked. “We were going to grow old together, companions in our dotage.”

“Oh honey. I’m going nowhere. Tell that intense, serious man of yours that I’ll be third wheeling it into his happy-ever-after.”

Cara laughed, the sound freeing and yet…“I don’t know Kabs. There is a lot that we need to sort out.”

“You have a lifetime to get it done, sweetie. Okay, I’ve got to go now. I have a look check to get to. We’re due on set tonight at eleven. Don’t forget.”

“I’ll be there,” she said. Disconnecting, she went looking for Virat to tell him that she was leaving. She should get some rest before she reported on sets or there was going to be no makeup strong enough to conceal the bags under her eyes. The minute she stepped out of the room, she knew that something had happened.

Virat was hunched over a computer with one of his employees. Both Ishaan and Amay hovered beside him, worried frowns on their faces. She couldn’t see either Mayukhi or Dhrithi in the room and assumed they’d gone home.

“What’s going on?”