Page 137 of Illicit Games

From my desk, I pick up the white envelope and cross over to him. “This is the result of the DNA test to prove she’s my biological mother. The evidence that I am not lying. She will answer any questions you may have.”

“I’m also willing to take another test if you’re doubting we tampered with this one,” offers my mother. “Although I hope you believe your older brother.”

Nathan stares hard at the envelope for the longest moment.

Iris comes over and touches his arm until he peers at her. “Kian didn’t turn his back on you. It was all your father’s doing. You know he’s capable of doing something heinous like this.”

A torn look passes over his face as he exhales roughly. Masking it, he utters low, “I need time. This changes everything.”

“I know,” I reply, mirroring his emotion. “I never meant to hurt you, Nathan. You were the only one who mattered to me in that house.”

“You should’ve told me sooner, Kian. I could’ve handled the truth. I would’ve fought against our dad.”

“Exactly. No good would’ve come out of it. I don’t know what your relationship is like with him now, but he was proud of you back then.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Stepping back, he says, “I’m leaving.”

Without another word, he heads for the exit.

“What do we do, Kian?” Iris asks when it’s just us.

I tuck her against my side with an arm around her shoulders. “We wait.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Iris

Things are finally looking up.

Like pieces of a puzzle slowly fitting together into a beautiful picture.

Kian is moving on from the ghosts of his past. He’s spending time with his mother. Both of them are healing from invisible scars. The case is officially in the hands of the police and the CBI.

All of it has put me in a happy and stress-free mood.

Since I no longer need to spy, I decide to go to the office early to grab the hidden camera and microphone Harshita gave me a while back. They’re still in their packaging since I never bothered to utilize them. I’m going to return them to her.

Kian was asleep when I woke up. It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon type of situation, so I let him get an extra hour while I showered and got ready for work.

He should be here any minute now.

Taking the elevator to the floor below to get some coffee from the work kitchen, I run into Vicky. “Oh, hey you.”

“Iris!” She blinks in surprise. “It’s been a while.”

Both of us turn somber, remembering how the last time we met Yukta was with us. “How are you holding up, Vicky?”

She wraps her hands around her mug. “I’ve been worried sick. I miss her. She quickly became a close friend of mine.”

“I’m not surprised. She has that effect on people.”

“I hear the police are looking into finding her. Did they chat with you?”

I settle into a chair next to her after pouring myself a cup of coffee. “Yes. I went and gave them my statement. I wish I had something helpful to share.”

“Same. It’s so scary.”

I nod.