Page 105 of Wasted Grace

I shoot him a glare, but he only grins and takes a seat across me. “Nice to properly meet you, kid.”

I frown at the ridiculous statement.Kid?

I suddenly realize it’s meant todemeanme. That’s when I see it, the tiny flicker of longing when he looks back at Greesha.

‘Of course I would’ve been okay with you moving on. I did.’

Was it actually with him? Are theyreallytogether? I swallow down the rise of jealousy.

Across the room, Greesha finally pushes off the wall and moves to the chair beside me. Her eyes never leave mine as she settles in.

“Interesting choice in assistants,” she says, voice light but eyes blazing.

“Didn’t choose her. And sheisn’tanymore,” I say absently. My mind is still gathering and piecing together this interaction between these two. They aren’t giving anything away.

Sure, he once called herJaan. But she’s been living withmethis whole time. Was I really just a mark?

“I noticed,” she mutters, flipping open the folder Gitika left like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“If we’re done with the damn tug of war, may I chime in?” Viraj’s cold voice grabs my attention. Even Greesha drops her perusal of the folder and looks straight at him.

I frown.

“I have news,” he says grimly—looking straight at Greesha. “And you won’t like it.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Greesha

My eyes narrow at Viraj’s words.

I’m trying hard not to react to his earlier condescension toward Advik—but I know he sees it on my face. Which is probably why his tone softens as he continues.

“We found four children by intercepting a boat off the coast in Kerala. It wasn’t from the makeshift dock we were surveilling.”

My spine straightens.

Viraj pauses, takes a breath like he’s weighing what to reveal. That breath tells me everything I need to know. He’s holding something back.

“Two of those children...” He looks at Advik. “Were from Sunrise Home. They escaped from their locked room, maneuvered the comms of the boat, and contacted the Indian Coast Guarddirectly. That’s how we found them before they were taken.”

Advik releases a shuddering breath. I know what he’s thinking. That he taught those tools to these children. And that might have actually saved their lives.

“Where are the children now?” he asks cautiously.

Viraj shakes his head. “Can’t tell you. But know that they’re safe. The problem is that...”

He mutters a soft curse under his breath making me frown. That wasn’t all?

“The kids mentioned you...by name, Advik. They shared how they learnt about escaping and they said it in front of the many people that Mehul employs. They’re in custody now but... we don’t know if those men had the chance to get the word back to Mehul somehow.”

I freeze.

My brain zaps with a visceral jolt of fear.

“Fucking hell.” Advik rubs his temples, his head bowing. “It doesn’t matter. I already have a target on my back. And I’m not the only ‘Advik’ in the damn country.”

Viraj nods but I know he doesn’t believe that. And I can’t seem to move from my chair. It won’t take long. A few days at most before Mehul connects the dots. Advik’s Sunrise Home volunteer work isn’t exactly a secret. All it takes isonepiece of surveillance,oneinsider.Oneconversation.