Page 70 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

Chapter Thirty-Six

CARA

Cara came awake slowly, pain slamming through her like a sledgehammer. She didn’t think it was possible for literally every part of her body to feel like it had been doused in gasoline and lit on fire. But it did.

And yet, she was alive. So, props for that, she supposed. She turned her head slightly to see her mother sleeping on the attender’s bed, her mouth open as she snored. No props for that, she thought with a mental groan.

The door creaked open, and Virat stepped in.

He looked haggard and wan and one step away from keeling over, but to her, he was the most welcome sight in the world.

His gaze went instinctively to her face, the minute he walked through the door, those storm clouds that masqueraded as his eyes widening at the sight of her awake.

He dropped the cup of coffee he was holding, brown liquid splashing across the fronts of his already dirty pants, as he ran towards her, dropping to his knees beside the bed, his hand cradling her face gently.

“You’re awake!” he whispered, kissing her forehead, his lips dry and chapped.

“You’re in the same room as my mother,” she whispered back. “Did I die and go to hell?”

He started to laugh, helplessly, even as tears escaped him as he held her, his face buried in the crook of her neck.

“Hey,” she said gently, her hand lifting shakily to slip through his hair and cradle him close. “I’m fine.”

After a moment’s pause, doubt assailed her. “I am fine, right?” she asked, suspiciously. On the other side of her bed, her mother let out a rattling snore.

Virat lifted his head, took her hand and kissed it, before giving her a watery smile. “You are. You’re better than fine. You’re magnificent.”

She stared at him. “Oh dear God, I’m dying, aren’t I? You, Virat Jha, who communicates in grunts and glares are waxing eloquent. I must be dying.”

“Shut up, idiot,” he grumbled, wiping the tears from his damp cheeks.

“And he’s back,” she said in a sing song voice, though the effort of getting the words out exhausted her.

The door opened again and Amay walked in with Kabir. Virat rose to his feet, though he kept his hand firmly in hers.

“Hey there, superstar.” Amay’s calm voice and wide smile went a long way towards calming her fears. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” she told him honestly. “Are you sure you did a good job?”

He grinned. “Considering how sassy you’re feeling on day one of your recovery, I think I’ve done an excellent job. Is there anything I can get you that would help?”

“Painkillers. Lots of them,” she informed him. “Hook me up, Ams.”

“I’m going to go have a word with the doctor on the floor. I’ll discuss it with him,” Amay laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll see you guys in a bit.”

Cara smiled back, nodding, her lips quivering with the force of holding back her emotions. The door swung shut behind him a moment later.

“Kabs?” she said softly, aware of her friend hanging back near the door, not saying a word.

“Fuck you, Car,” he said raggedly. “You had no fucking right to get shot.”

“I agree.”

“You gave me gray hair,” he shot back accusingly. “I’ll have to fucking colour it now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I can’t do stress like this, Car. I don’t do stress. It’s going to give me wrinkles. I can’t afford wrinkles. I’m the biggest star this country has ever seen.”

“No,” she said. “That’s me.”

For one long moment, he just stared at her and then he burst into noisy tears. She held out her arms to him, “Could I have a hug please?”

He sat down on the side of her bed and bent to embrace her, wrapping his arms around her gingerly.

“Are you wiping your nose on my hospital gown?” she mumbled when she felt his head move against her shoulder.

Kabir drew back to smile at her. “I have more class than you, you philistine.” He looked over at Virat who was watching them with an indulgent smile. “If you don’t fucking take care of her this time around, Jha, I’ll kill you myself.”

Cara snorted inelegantly. “He could take you with his little finger.”

“You little traitor.” Kabir glared at her. “Keep talking and I’ll shoot you myself.”

Virat laughed. “I’d probably need my forefinger.” He extended a hand to Kabir who shook it in a firm clasp. “Thank you, my friend,” Virat said, his voice low with emotion. “We couldn’t have done this without you.”

“I’m just glad I didn’t have to have sex with some poor, unsuspecting woman,” Kabir said feelingly, shuddering. “I’d rather stay celibate for the rest of my life.”

“About that,” Virat said carefully. “There is something I need to tell you.”

Kabir looked up at him, wariness creeping into his gaze. “What do you mean by about that? What the fuck did you do man?”

“So, when I thought you were actually dating Celi, I looked into you.”

Cara groaned, her hand going to cover her eyes. “Oh no!”

“What?” Kabir asked alarmed. “What does that mean? What does he mean he looked into me and why are you groaning like a pregnant hippo?”

“When he says he looked into you, he means he now knows the colour of your arsehole,” Cara said glumly, knowing what was coming.

“I found him.” Virat said quietly.

Kabir froze. His gaze darted to Cara, and she nodded.

“Where?” he asked, hoarsely. “Where is he?”

“In a small town in France. I can send you the file with all the details.” Virat’s eyes were sympathetic, understanding the other man’s anguish completely.

“No.” Kabir shook his head. “He left me. He wanted nothing to do with me. After everything I’ve done to ruin his life, the least I can do now is respect his wishes.”

Cara reached for Kabir’s hand, squeezing gently. “We all deserve second chances.”

“Our lavender marriage was supposed to be our second chance,” Kabir told her. “So, this is really your third chance, Car. Don’t strike out again, will you.”

She didn’t let him deflect the issue. “If you ever change your mind, you know we’ll have your back.”

“I know,” he answered, meeting her gaze. “But I won’t change my mind.”

“Then in that case,” she said. “I have another favour to ask you.”

He glanced at her sardonically. “Really Car? You don’t think you’ve exhausted your favour bank already?”

“I know,” she replied smiling weakly. “I never know when to stop.”

Kabir dropped the teasing. “Name it, Car.”

She looked over at Virat who was watching her carefully. “You remember the girl this all started with? The bank teller?”

He nodded, looking puzzled.

“You told me how scared she was to talk about it because she knew it would ruin her life.”

Comprehension dawned as his gaze roved over her set face. “You want to talk about it.”

“If I don’t, who will, Vir?”

“Car.” Kabir looked worried. “You have a lot to lose.”

“I lived decades after I lost everything, Kabs,” she said softly, holding her hand out to Virat who took it, gripping it hard. “I’ve spent years living in the arclights and hiding from the shadows. Now, I want to live in the sunlight.”

Kabir and Virat stayed silent, both of them looking worried…worried for her.

“I don’t fear the shadows in the sunlight. Are you guys with me?”

“I’ll set it up,” Kabir answered.

“Always,” Virat said quietly.