Page 133 of Wasted Grace

The low stakes client—Madani Academy—will be the main bait. They’re a small group of distributed educational institutions that serve around 12000 students across Delhi. They also have thehighestrate of suicide, unfortunately. Perfect bait. Not as weak as our earlier suggestions. Butrisky enough.

All I have to do is meet a man named Anil Khurana. The dreaded moniker of CBI. Feared.Reveredeven. And tell him about other clients Mehul has tried to access—in addition to my volunteer work at Sunrise Homes and my suspicions about his shady activities.

I have to layall my cardson this incendiary table as a part of myfoolish, sacrificial, pre-meditated act.

And apparently, Greesha shouldn’t be given a clue about this minuscule ten-minute meeting. Because as he suspects—she’d object.

Now, if I know anything about Greesha’s feelings for me—which isn’t much—is that she doesnotwant me to endanger myself. I can’t afford another fucking throat punch.

But I also can’t have her blindsided by this. Something about Viraj suggesting it in her absence has my hackles rising. I don’t like that the man has found the perfect escalation for trapping Mehul and hasmeput on the frontline.

His discreet plan also indicates that heknowsGreesha wouldn’t agree to this.

“I’ll meet him,” I finally agree, casually. “But Aadya can perhaps accompany me. She’s my security detail, after all.”

I sayAadyabecause I don’t want him thinking that I’ve found it easier to call herGreeshathese past few months.Aadyais my subtle shield.

His jaw clenches. “I think it’s best if she isn’t given the visibility over this part of the mission. She’s... going to act emotionally about this. I doubt—”

“Act... emotionally? Viraj, I’m her mark. She’s assigned to protect me. Of course, she’ll have an issue with this.”

My retort is met with a cold smirk. “Assignedto protect you byme. I’m the lead on this assignment, Mr. Sharma. Don’t you forget.”

I frown. A tiny smile playing on my lips despite the icy chill numbing my limbs. “Are you hoping I’d die and your path will be cleared?”

He lets out a humorless laugh and leans back on the chair.My chair. “My path? Listen,kid. I’m only thinking about bringing Mehul down. Gather enough evidence that RAW canactually indictthe asshole. And once we do, all his assets—including the businesses he owns—will be returned to government custody. Even temporarily—that’s a fuckingwin. We want him toshowhis dirty hand.Exposehimself. So you and I... can stop being the stupid pawns.”

His reasoning is sound.Admirableeven. But I don’t understand why he’s using escalation tactics rather than waiting on a sound trap.

I sigh. “Why can’t we wait for a better trap? Why can’t we find a GenVault client that isactuallyattractive to him? Then we can—”

“Because he’s swiping kids under the tableevery fucking day,” he snaps, his voice a mix of anger and restraint. “Every time we do the waiting game, we’ve been losingmorekids than we’recatching.”

He shoots up from his chair. Pacing in a way a predator would—not a caged animal desperate for respite.

“If not you...” he steadies himself, turning toward me. “Then I’ll ask Dev. I’m sure he’ll be happy to do this. He’s been wanting this done since forever. Given his kids are in danger too.”

Andthat... is the main straw. A straw he’s hoping todeviseas my last. Dev has kids—a family. And he’s banking on my righteousness to not let Dev take my place.

“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll do it. As long as Greesha knows.”

This time I use her name intentionally.Deliberately. Knowing that even if it doesn’t cause Viraj to visibly flinch—internally he’s doomed for suggesting this plan.

“I’ll... talk to her,” he grits out reluctantly. I’m almost elated at the prospect of him having his ass kicked.

But he’s her superior, apparently. Which doesn’t bode well for the situation.

The door clicks and I watch a smiling Dev walk over to us. Greesha’s grim face accompanying him.

That’s how she’s been. For the past week, she’s been quiet and reserved about how much she lets out. I think some part of her knows that this mission is coming to an end.

“I’ll... talk to her.”

I recall Viraj’s recent words and smirk at him before opening my mouth.

Fuck himfor putting us all in this position. “Viraj suggested a new plan.”

“Adv—”