Page 93 of Born in Sin

She caught him by the back of his neck when he moved to pick up the phone. “So what happens if you’re busy with something or someone mega important?”

The phone stopped ringing.

He laughed, his breath ghosting over her face. “Well then I guess…”

That infernal noise started up again and even Cara had to accept defeat. “Go,” she whispered. “Take the call.”

Virat swiped the phone to accept the call, one arm still wrapped around her waist to keep her close.

“Ish,” he said. “What’s up?”

His face tightened at whatever he heard, all traces of the relaxed, laughing Virat of moments before disappearing like it had never existed. His hand dropped away from her waist, as he swiped it through his hair, his breath escaping him in a hard exhale.

“You’re sure?”

Cara got out of the bed, walking over to the attached washroom to wash up and ready. She met her eyes in the mirror that hung above the basin. Who was this woman? The one who’d just spent the night in Virat Jha’s arms. She’d never dreamt she’d have the chance to know her. But now that she had gotten that chance, she wouldn’t give it up for anything. Not even for vengeance.

Virat appeared, behind her, his face grave. He watched her pale face in the mirror, concern darkening his eyes.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

Cara nodded. “You?”

He didn’t answer her directly. Instead, saying, “I have news.”

Of course, he had news. Virat always had news. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could say anything, she shook her head.

“I want to say something first.”

He nodded, watching her carefully.

“We’ve paid so heavily, Vir.” Her voice cracked. “We’ve paid for their vicious sins, for our blissful ignorance, for their criminal stupidity, and our over developed moral compass. We’ve paid with everything we have, our love, our health, our sanity, our chance at happiness…everything.”

He moved to hug her but she stepped away, biting her lip and shaking her head. She needed to finish. She needed to say this.

“No more, Vir,” she said shakily. “They don’t take any more from us.”

“They won’t.” It was a vow, passionate and sworn with the blood pumped from every beat of his heart. “We end this now, Celi-“

“At what cost?”

Virat fell silent for a moment and then he asked her, “What are you saying?”

“You said this time round would be my choices.” She strode forward, allowing her body to line up with him. “I’m holding you to that.”

Virat’s face tightened. “I thought you said what started with you should end with you. You were willing to put your life on the line to end this, to end them.”

“I was. I still am.”

Confused, he ran a hand through his hair and stepped back, a single step. “Then what-“

“I’ll stake everything I have to take them down, Vir.”

He stilled, his gaze searching hers.

“But I won’t stake you.”

“Celi-“ His mouth firmed as her words started to make sense.