Page 118 of Cherish my Heart

If I want him against Anil, I have to get under his skin.

“You’re still second to him,” I say, my mouth curling into a cold smile. “And he did all this just to meet me once. Not you.”

His jaw tightens.

“And you think you’ll ever stand a chance against me?” I add.

Abdul snarls and throws a punch, his fist slamming into my jaw. Pain blooms sharp and fast, but I don’t let go of his collar. Good. He’s losing control.

“Let’s destroy him together, Abdul,” I say, still grinning.

He sneers. “Why aren’t you fighting back? Afraid? Or is it because you fight like a girl?”

I laugh, the sound echoing in the cramped room. “Trust me, Abdul… if I fought like a girl, you’d be begging me to stop.”

The door bursts open.

“You don’t need to do that,” a voice cuts in.

I turn.

Aditi stands in the doorway.

Her lip is split, with a smear of blood at the corner, but her chin is high, her gaze steady. She brushes her hands down her pants like she’s just finished a chore and steps inside.

“I’ve done that for you,” she says.

I drop Abdul’s collar and go to her in two strides, my eyes scanning her quickly. “Are you okay?”

She frowns. “Of course I am.”

Then her gaze slides past me to Abdul. “If you want to save yourself, you better run before I break your neck.”

Her jaw is tight, but when her eyes come back to me, they soften. “Are you okay?”

For a second, I can’t think straight. I’d imagined every worst-case scenario, every way she could be hurt, but here she is—asking about me.

“How did you escape?” I ask.

She smirks, a glint in her eye. “Oh, baby… it’s almost impossible to tie me down.” She says proudly, “My brothers taught me everything. Because in this society, girls are treated as the honor of the house. And if you want to destroy a man, you attack his woman.” She rolls her eyes. “Little do they know, every woman has Durga in her. If she can create, she can destroy too.” She adds, her eyes glaring at Abdul.

She shrugs. “Harsh needs us, though.”

Behind me, Abdul bolts for the door.

I lift my gun and fire. The shot echoes in the concrete walls. He collapses, clutching his leg.

Aditi spins to me, frowning. “Was that really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“They took what’s mine once. I’m not giving them the chance to try again.”

I jerk my head toward the door. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 57