Page 155 of Wasted Grace

That’s how long Advik has been crashing in his bedroom. I could see that he was about to fully collapse under the weight of everything that had happened today.

During those hours—after we left the crime scene—I had been able to gather information. Able to create some semblance ofcontrol.

Garvit shared how his team had arrived a few minutes after we did. But his tech brain quickly realized that they needed to let it play out. Dev was needed.Alive.

He also told me that Mehul had no intentions of delaying his shot in a villainy fashion. His trigger was pulled almost simultaneously—if not before—with Advik’s shot to Mehul’s head.

I wasn’t prepared to hear that because... what had I been doing?Nothing. I still didn’t know what Advik had done with his laptop during those excruciating minutes.

Had he transmitted the evidence? Had he deleted it?

Garvit has Advik’s slightly-chipped laptop sitting right next to him on my couch. But he hasn’t opened it. Something else is gnawing at him. I have never seen him rattled.

At the hospital, where Viraj was currently being treated, he had rallied the troops. Made sure he was first in the line to getthe CT scan and X-rays. It was jarring to witness a boy that passionate about his superior.

Viraj was safe now—out of the woods. A team of ours was guarding his hospital room. While Garvit, Advik, and I were here. In Advik’s apartment. Silently contemplating the next steps, that seemed awfully out of reach.

Dev’s body was sent off for an emergency autopsy. We were still planning on how to justify his absence at his home for tonight. Tomorrow—we’d have to destroy his family.

Dev.Fuck.

My eyes well up again. I had been too focused on Advik. Then Viraj. So I hadn’t really let myself pause enough to think.Feel.

I still couldn’t believe the man was gone.

“I’ll know when—uh—Devendra’s autopsy is filed in the hospital system,” Garvit croaks. “We’ll know soon enough. What to actually tell his family.”

I nod numbly.

“Are you gonna check Advik’s laptop? His recent logs?” I ask, taking a sip of my water.

He shakes his head, grimly. “No. Let’s just wait for him to wake up. He can tell us more than me—just by interpreting it.”

That makes sense.

“L—Viraj is stable,” he declares, frowning at his phone. “He woke up a few minutes ago. No lung damage. A couple broken ribs. Grade three concussion. Nothing serious that he won’t...survive.”

My brows furrow at Garvit’s tone slightly. He seems dejected, but alsoirritated. I shake off my thoughts. Now isn’t the time to think about his perspective on the matter.

“You’re his girlfriend, aren’t you? Why aren’t you... at the hospital?” he blurts out. And I can see that he hadn’t meant to actually ask.

I pin him under my cool glare. “I know you’re new. But I’d rather you just do your job. Got it?”

His jaw clenches slightly before his throat bobs on a hard swallow. “Sorry, ma’am. I just... I apologize.”

I take another bite of the fries that we had ordered. They still seem tasteless. This is my third attempt at eating the damn things, but I can’t bring myself toactually eat.

All my brain is summoning are the visions of the brokenness I saw in Advik’s face. The terrifying moment he realized that Dev was gone. The way his breath fled his lungs. How his whole body shook.

I hadn’t known about his gun but I was somehow glad for it. It had given him the confidence,the protection,to keep himself safe. Becausegod knowsI couldn’t have. Not today.

My head snaps up at the sound of his door unlatch. The moment he steps out I can see the slump in his stiff shoulders. As if a nightmare is still latching onto him.

I can’t even wake him up from it.

His eyes seek mine, red-rimmed. Hollow.Pained. Then his gaze sweeps his living room, landing on Garvit, who is staring at him warily.

No one knows what to say. There’s... nothing to break the dreaded silence.