Page 112 of Right Where I Belong

The taller of the two intruders came closer. He had a thick black beard and eyes as cold as stone.

“Don’t make a sound,” he said, his voice sharp. “Come with us quietly, or we will shoot you.”

Her throat tight, she stood on shaky legs. “Why? Who are you? What do you want?”

The man’s expression didn’t change.

“Please,” she said quietly. “I don’t have any money here.”

“Money?” the shorter man said. “You think this is about money?”

Sabrina’s mind raced. She had no idea who they were or why they had come, only that Ahaan was under the desk and she had to keep him safe.

Sabrina raised her hands, forcing herself to step out from behind the desk. “What do you want from me?”

“Our boss says you owe him a debt,” the taller man spat. “It’s been years, and now he’ll make you pay—with interest for fourteen years.”

It was all she needed to know.

“JD,” she breathed.

Both men smiled in a cold confirmation. How had JD found her? It didn’t make sense.

“JD Sir was waiting for you to land in Mumbai. It’s time to go,” the tall one said. “Move.”

Her stomach turned to ice. How did JD even know she wasn’t in the country? What was going on here? Her heart sped. Ahaan! These men didn’t know Ahaan was hiding under the desk. She couldn’t risk them knowing. If she resisted, if she screamed, Ahaan might come out, thinking she was hurt. She had to go with them quietly, for his sake. She had to keep him safe. She walked out of her office. The men pointed to the stairwell, and she went down the stairs, with both men following her.

Her brothers had been right. She shouldn’t have dismissed the threat of JD so easily. Mihir was supposed to hire security for her, but there had been no time. She’d just landed a few hours ago. But how had JD found her? No one knew she was Karina apart from her closest circle.

She shivered as the truth settled in. JD had finally caught up with her, just like she had feared he would. She was in so much trouble. She’d spent fourteen years living in the shadow of her past, barely allowing herself to live, to feel joy. And now, when she’d finally let herself fall in love and dream of a better future with a man who loved her, her past had come back for her.

40

Excitement filled his whole being. Today was going to be the beginning of the rest of his life. He had finally found the one person who was truly going to be his. Actually, two of them. He smiled. Right at this moment, Sabrina must be telling Ahaan about them. And now, he couldn’t wait to meet Ahaan and scoop him into his arms.

Sabrina had gone straight from the airport to pick up Ahaan from school, while he’d driven home to shower and change. Now he was back on the road. The late-afternoon sun glinted off the windshield as he headed toward Sabrina’s office to fetch Ahaan and her.

His chest felt almost weightless. He was taking them to meet his mother. And while things hadn’t been all okay between his mother and him, he was certain that all he needed to do was sit her down and tell her how much Sabrina and Ahaan meant to him. As it was, his mom had been trying to talk to him for a while now. He’d deterred all her attempts so far, but tonight he would explain everything to her. His mother loved him fiercely, and she would come around. He grinned. He was going to marry Sabrina soon. He wanted her by his side, where she belonged.

On their way back from Dubai, they’d both called their friends and told them everything, and now everyone was excited for the two of them. Perhaps, tonight, once everything was sorted with his mother, he’d take Sabrina out to celebrate with all of them.

His phone buzzed. He smiled as he looked at the caller ID. It was Sabrina. His smile widened as he answered.

“Uncle Aditya…” a small voice said.

“Ahaan, hey buddy.”

“Uncle Aditya… men… guns… Mom…” Ahaan’s words were rushed, frightened. Men? Guns? Immediately, Aditya went on alert.

“Slow down, Ahaan. Tell me everything again.”

“They… they came in,” Ahaan gasped. “Two men. With guns. Mom told me to stay under the desk. They?—”

Aditya’s breath stalled.

“They took her…” Ahaan cried. “They took my mom!”

Fear ripped through Aditya’s chest. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles blanched.