Page 19 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

Chapter Ten

CARA

She let herself into her penthouse, bidding her bodyguard, Shiva, goodnight. She padded through her home, grateful to see that everyone was asleep, her mother and the staff that lived in with them. The space was in darkness, just one light in the hallway left on for her.

Amigo padded over to her, winding his way through the furniture to get to her. She placed a hand on his soft, boxy head and walked forward with her furry shadow at her heels.

She went into her bedroom, shut the door behind her, and then, only then, crumpled to the floor.

Tears streamed down her face, soundless, useless, endless.

Cara wrapped her hands around her legs, hugging herself, as her walls crumbled, bringing with it an avalanche of emotion.

Beside her, Amigo whimpered, pushing himself closer to her in a bid to offer comfort.

When she finally felt the tears ebb, she pushed to her feet and made her shaky way to the bathroom, Amigo following closely.

She washed her red, blotchy face, averting her gaze from her reflection and changed quickly into the shorts and t-shirt she had hanging on the hook on the back of the door.

She got her contacts out, slipped on her glasses and went back into the darkened room.

The chill breeze from the air conditioner cooled her overheated, flushed face as she grabbed for her phone and scrolled through her messages.

She tapped on Kabir’s name and sent him a text.

You up?

The ticks turned blue immediately and a second later, he was calling her.

“Hello Gorgeous!” Kabir’s voice was loud, boisterous and just this side of sozzled.

Cara sighed. “Where are you?”

“I’m at the launch for that new restaurant in Colaba,” he said, adding a random woot at the end of it.

“Kabs,” Cara interjected. “Could we meet in the morning? Somewhere private? Maybe your place?”

Kabir’s voice sobered immediately. “What’s wrong?”

Cara sat down on the side of her bed, grounding herself with the feel of crisp, cool linen under her hand. Amigo settled on to her feet, his furry warmth sweet comfort.

“Nothing,” she said, pleating the sheet with her fingers. “And everything.”

She heard the sound of a door shutting and then all the extraneous sound cut out.

“Talk to me baby,” he said gently. “Is it another nightmare?”

Cara listened to the tinny echo of his voice and smiled. “Are you hiding in the toilet?”

“Well, it was this or the car.”

“Only you would choose the toilet over the car.”

“Hey!” he retorted indignantly. “Here I have a throne.”

Cara laughed, a smidgen of warmth pushing back the frost that seemed to have crept through her.

“How bad was the nightmare?” Kabir asked, his voice soft and concerned. “Should I come?”

“Bad,” she said, looking at her white knuckled grip on the bedsheet. “But I haven’t gone to bed yet. This nightmare is for when I’m awake.”

Kabir stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, he asked, “Does this have anything to do with the guy who come to the set today?”

Cara’s fingers scrunched together, the sheet wrinkling beneath them. “That was Virat.”

“ The Virat?”

Another soft laugh escaped her, her hand slowly unclenching. She flexed her fingers, trying to ease the cramp in them.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “ The Virat.”

After a dramatic pause, he said, “I have to say, I never thought I’d meet a guy who looks better than me.”

Cara started to laugh, tears leaking out of her eyes. “You’re an idiot,” she said, swiping at her cheeks.

“An honest one,” he retorted. “Damn woman. That man is fine! He should be headlining movies!”

Helpless laughter poured out of her as she listened to Kabir prattle on. The tension in her body slowly eased as she allowed her mind to unwind from the stress and anxiety of the day.

Today had been insane but what was coming, it was only going to be worse. So much worse. She closed her eyes, and snippets from that night floated behind her eyelids. Thunder, lightning, a hard hand over her mouth, another one tightened painfully in her hair…

A harsh gasp escaped her as her eyes flew open, her heart thrumming like a trapped bird in her chest.

“Easy there, kitten,” Kabir murmured. “Shall I come over?”

“No,” she said immediately, years of relying only on herself coming to the fore.

She got into bed, leaning against the headboard and pulling the sheets over her legs.

Amigo curled up beside her and she ran her fingers through his soft fur making him grumble in happiness. “I’m fine. I just need a minute.”

“Take all the time you want.” Kabir hummed a little tune as he waited for her to calm down, the sound working better than anything else.

“Are you still in the toilet?” she asked when she felt more in control, her breathing easing out as the weight on her chest lifted.

“I am,” he said dramatically. “The things I do for you, sweetheart…”

“About that,” she interrupted softly. “There is something else I need you to do for me.”

She heard the sound of him sucking on his vape and then he said, “Name it.”

Cara took a deep breath before saying, “How do you feel about orgies?”

Dead silence echoed down the line before he said, “You know Car, I always knew there was a reason why I fell in love with you.”

Cara giggled, closing her eyes and letting her head fall back.

“All I want to know is whether Hottie Hotterson is going to be a part of it.”

“No.”

“Keeping him for yourself, are you?” Kabir asked, the definite smirk on his face very evident in his voice.

“No, I’m not,” she said, her voice heavy. “He’s not for me.”