Page 88 of Wasted Grace

Ishika elbows him sharply. “Aadya.”

I almost laugh at how they both fumble over her names.

Aadya smirks slightly and walks to my side. “Greesha’s fine.”

Vikram stares like he’s seeing a ghost. “You... you weren’t hallucinating, bro.”

She nods. “Yes, Vicky. I’m very much alive. And congrats, Ishika. Nineteen weeks?”

My eyebrows shoot up. She reallydoesknow everything.

Ishika beams, hand on her belly. “Yeah.”

“You... you left,” Vikram stammers like an idiot. I resist the urge to facepalm.

“Leave her be. She’s—”

“I’m in law enforcement and I’m working undercover with GenVault,” Greesha interrupts me. “Just...”

She makes a zipping motion over her lips, at my brother and sister-in-law. They just gape and nod obediently.

“What happened?” I ask. “Why are you here?”

She places her hand on the bed—close to my shoulder, too close. I feel heat radiating through the sheets.

“I’m your protection detail now. Yourclient—” her eyes widen at me, “—thinks you’re compromised. And so amI.So, you’re stuck with me for a few weeks.”

My heart skips a beat. She’s here. Withme. Stuck. Watching me like I’m her assignment.

God, that’s fucking hot.

“Greesha, we’re...” Vikram finally regains the power of speech. “We’re sorry. For how it all went down. We didn’t see clearly. We misinterpreted things...”

My stomach knots. I don’t want her to go through this. Especially not with my dumbass family.

“Bro, not now—” I try.

“It’s okay.” Greesha’s hand brushes my shoulder and I instantly relax. The touch is soft. Calming.Fuck, I missed that.

“You don’t need to apologize to me, Vikram. Maybe to your brother for letting him think he was alone in grieving his sister. But not tome. I left because ofAdvik’sdecisions. Not your implications.”

I glance at Vikram—he looks like someone just unplugged him from the wall. I roll my lips holding in my laugh.

Greesha turns to me with a smile that is all venom-laced sugar. I know that look. I brace myself.

“And Advik,” she says sweetly, “thank you.”

Uh-oh.

“Thank you for taking that bullet for me. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”

There it is.

My cheeks heat up. I’m a ball of embarrassment and joy knowing that she’s teasing me.

“I... I didn’ttakethe bullet. I was just gonna push you away.”

I turn to my brother, desperate to salvage my pride. “I swear, bro. I was just gonna push her. I didn’ttakethe bullet.”