Chapter Thirty-Two
Aster walked towards the office, her legs suddenly feeling like lead. As the adrenaline drained from her system, she stumbled, the world tilting alarmingly. In an instant, Edward was at her side, his strong arm supporting her waist.
‘Are you okay?’ His voice was low, concern etched in every syllable.
Aster looked up into his steel-blue eyes, suddenly very aware of his proximity. A confusing swirl of emotions washed over her – relief, gratitude, and something else she couldn't quite name. It was disconcerting, this feeling of safety in his presence. She, who had always prided herself on her independence, was finding comfort in the steady strength of this man.
‘Aster? Are you alright?’ Edward's brow furrowed as he studied her face.
His arm tightened slightly, ready to lift her if necessary. The gesture, both protective and presumptuous, snapped Aster back to reality. She quickly disentangled herself, straightening her spine.
‘I'm fine,’ she assured him, her voice steadier than she felt. ‘Just a moment of relief, I think. I need to call my sisters now. I'll catch up with you in a minute.’
Making her way into the office, her heart beat an irregular rhythm that had nothing to do with their recent brush with danger.
Spinning away, she all but fled into the offices and pulled up a group call to her sisters. The moment she established the connection, all four sisters appeared on the computer’s monitor and she gave them a shaky wave as they all shouted in relief.
Paddy’s face was red and puffy and sitting beside her was Hal, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. As soon as she saw Aster, Paddy began to cry again.
‘I’m fine, Paddy. Everything is over.’
‘What happened?’ asked a pale-faced Ari. Seb leant over her shoulder and waved at Aster. ‘Glad to see you’re okay, I’ll leave you to it and let’s have you home as soon as possible.’ Ari smiled gratefully at his departing back and then smiled tremulously at Aster.
‘God, that was nerve-wracking. I’m so sorry we sent you out there. I should never have done it, if I’d realised the risks.’
‘The situation in rural India is always a quagmire,’ said Hal, then as Paddy sobbed again, he took a deep breath. ‘Sorry. Look, let me call you back in a bit. I have some contacts in the area. I’m going to call around, see what we can do.’
As an ex-soldier, Hal’s expertise in the field was a given thing and Aster cursed herself for not speaking to him before she had headed over.
‘When are you back?’ asked Paddy, sniffing.
‘Two days. If this hasn’t delayed matters. Nick has my travel plans.’
‘Then I’ll see you at Heathrow. Oh, Aster. I love you so much.’
Paddy sobbed again.
‘I know. I’ll call you later, okay? Kiss the children for me.’
As she signed off, Clem sighed loudly.
‘I swear to God, Aster if you ever scare us like that again, I’ll kill you myself.’
‘I love you too, Clem.’
‘Stop saying you love us. It’s freaking me out.’
Aster laughed. ‘Normal service will resume soon. If it helps, I am also still freaked out. What about you, Nick? Not a word so far?’
Nick’s face was even paler than Ari’s and she shook her head.
‘Sorry. Still processing.’ As she spoke, she was also texting and then smiled at the screen. ‘Gabe sends his love. He was on his way back from Paris. Asks if he should reroute to Kolkata?’
Aster knew the offer was serious and considered herself incredibly lucky in the men that her sisters had brought into the family.
‘Tell him I’d be leaving as he arrived. The flight is a killer.’
Nick started texting again and Ari cleared her throat.
‘What happened, Aster? Are you ready to tell us?’
‘I am, but I don’t really know much yet. I was about to go out on a recce, but I wanted to call you all first. You know, because I’m soppy like that?’
The sisters laughed and Aster felt the tension begin to ebb away.
‘Like I said, I don’t fully understand it yet, but it seems that Edward turned up with a pile of mercenaries who drove down the rebels and then freed our villagers.’
‘And no one was hurt?’ asked Nick.
‘Well, the rebels were hurt with extreme prejudice. There was a lot of shooting.’
‘Christ.’
‘Ari, it’s like Hal said, it’s wild out here. Look, I’m going to go and inspect the site where our villagers were held hostage and will report back. Chat in a few hours. Love you all, and can someone check on Paddy?’
‘I’ve already booked a flight whilst we were talking,’ said Clem. ‘Hal is picking me up from the airport. I’m bringing my design books so Paddy and I can work together on ideas. Help focus her mind away from her pesky little sister.’
‘I love you too.’
Ending the call, she headed out into the sunshine. After reassuring her sisters and making plans, Aster emerged from the office, blinking in the bright sunlight. The village square was a hive of activity, villagers bustling about in preparation for what promised to be a significant celebration. Her eyes were immediately drawn to Edward, deep in conversation with one of the mercenaries – the short, stocky man with the eye patch she had noticed earlier.
As she approached, Aster took a moment to really look at Edward. In the chaos of the past few hours, she hadn't fully registered the change in him. Gone was the polished businessman from the auction house or the teasing companion from their card games. This Edward was all coiled energy and quiet authority. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing tanned, muscular forearms. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on his brow and a day's worth of stubble darkened his jaw. He looked rugged, capable, and, Aster had to admit, ridiculously attractive.
She shook her head, bemused by her own thoughts. Since when did she notice such things? But then, she reasoned, it wasn't every day a man swooped in to save her life. Perhaps a little appreciation was warranted.
Squaring her shoulders, Aster approached the two men. ‘Aster Byrne,’ she introduced herself, extending her hand to the mercenary. ‘I owe you my thanks. Now, can you bring me up to speed?’
The man's single eye flickered to Edward, seeking silent permission. Edward nodded almost imperceptibly, but it didn't escape Aster's notice.
She bristled slightly. ‘I am the one paying your bill,’ she said firmly.
The mercenary's weathered face cracked into a grin. ‘Actually, yer man here has already paid for today's action.’
Aster turned to Edward, a mix of gratitude and annoyance warring within her. ‘I shall repay you in full, with our thanks,’ she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Then, turning back to the mercenary, she continued: ‘Are you able to take me to their compound and update me on the situation as we drive? Edward, perhaps you'd come with us and explain how you knew we were in trouble. I'll ask Amit to join us as well, so he can assess their operation. How does that sound?’
The mercenary's grin widened as he looked between Aster and Edward. ‘That works for me,’ he said, amusement evident in his gruff voice. ‘Name's Bill, by the way. Bill McTavish.’
As Aster went to fetch Amit, she heard Bill mutter to Edward, ‘Quite the cool customer you've got there, mate.’
Edward's response was too low for her to hear, but she could have sworn she caught a note of pride in his tone.
Soon, the four of them were piling into one of the Land Rovers. Aster made to climb into the front passenger seat, but both Bill and Edward objected.
‘No way, Miss,’ Bill said, shaking his head. ‘You're not secure up front. You go in the back with Edward.’
Edward patted his rifle, flashing Aster a grin that was equal parts reassuring and infuriating. ‘Don't worry, I'll keep you safe.’
‘This is very good,’ Amit chimed in, clearly pleased with the arrangement. ‘I will sit beside Mr Bill and see where the road goes.’
Outflanked by all three men, Aster bit back a retort and climbed into the back seat. As they pulled away from the village, she found herself hyper-aware of Edward's presence beside her. The Land Rover's cabin suddenly felt claustrophobic as it bumped along the rutted track, throwing her constantly against Edward’s side. Each time she scootched further away from him, a bump in the road threw her back against him.
‘Relax,’ said Edward, ‘I’m not bothered. But if you’d feel secure, you can sit on my lap?’ He laughed at her expression, then attempted to adjust her seatbelt and placed a jacket between them. ‘Better?’
Aster just glared at him, then returned to looking out the window whilst she hung onto the door handle.
As they drove, Amit provided a running commentary on the landscape. ‘This land is very fertile,’ he explained, gesturing to the lush greenery surrounding them. ‘But it is low-lying, you see? There is always a risk of flooding. This is why it is not populated.’
‘Perfect for hiding illegal operations, though,’ Bill grunted. ‘Remote, fertile for growing crops, and close enough to the village to exploit local labour.’
Aster nodded, filing away this information. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together.
As they rounded the bend in the earth track, the compound came into view. It was a sorry sight – a run-down factory building surrounded by a handful of ramshackle living quarters. The corrugated iron roofs were rusted, and many of the windows were broken or boarded up. It looked more like a setting for a post-apocalyptic film than a centre of textile production.
Bill pulled the Land Rover to a stop a short distance from the main building. ‘Watch your step,’ he warned as they climbed out. ‘We've cleared the area, but there might be traps we missed.’
As the engine died down, the silence enveloped them.
‘Stay in the car,’ said Edward, opening his door. ‘I’ll let you know when it’s safe.’ He stared at her, waiting for her to comply. Seeing a discussion would be futile, she nodded her head.
As soon as he was out of the car, she undid her belt and got out on her side and walked across the compound.
Aster's eyes were immediately drawn to the bodies lying in the dirt – the casualties of the earlier firefight. She regarded them dispassionately, her analytical mind already at work. These men would have killed her without hesitation, so she didn’t waste a moment in regret.
‘I told you to stay in the car.’
Aster looked over her shoulder at him. ‘I heard you.’
‘But it could be dangerous.’
‘You’re right. Tell you what. You go stay in the car and I’ll call you when it’s clear.’
He glared at her. Then, conceding defeat, he moved to her side, his rifle at the ready. ‘I just want to keep you safe.’
‘I don’t need you to do that.’
He ran his fingers through his hair, the humid air causing furrows in it. ‘I know you don’t need it. But I do. Humour me please, I just can’t relax if I think you are in danger.’
Aster pursed her lips. She was unused to this feeling of protection. She knew her sisters loved her and looked out for her as they all did for each other. But this was much more tangible. Normally, she felt like she was the person who would take the bullet. Now she was facing someone actively demonstrating he would take the bullet for her, and she felt nonplussed.
What did she want from someone when she was in the process of helping them? She wanted instant compliance. If people just did what she wanted, life would be so much easier. Her lips twitched as she saw the ridiculousness of her situation. Edward had the rifle, he had the mercenaries. He had the knowledge and experience.
‘I’m not going back to the car, but I’m happy if you want to lead.’
He sagged in relief. ‘Thank you. Are you okay?’ he murmured gesturing towards the corpses.
‘They deserved it.’
As they continued their inspection, Amit's expression grew thoughtful. ‘The crop,’ he said slowly, ‘we could keep it. But the machines, the looms – we should bring them back to the village. They are good quality, despite their poor condition. With proper care, they could serve us well.’
Aster nodded, impressed by Amit's practical thinking. ‘That's an excellent idea. We'll arrange for everything to be moved as soon as it's safe.’
They picked their way carefully through the compound. Inside the main building, they found rows of looms and spinning wheels, not dissimilar to those in the village, but here, everything was grimy, poorly maintained. And at each bench lay a broken ankle manacle. The air was thick with dust and the lingering scent of unwashed bodies.
‘My God,’ Amit breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. ‘This is where they kept my daughter? It is… it is monstrous.’
Aster's jaw clenched as she imagined the villagers forced to work in these conditions. She recalled the bleeding wound on Shakila’s ankle and knew that whoever was behind this operation was about to have their world destroyed.
Heading back to the Land Rover, Aster walked beside Edward. Despite the grim surroundings, she felt oddly at ease in his presence. It was a novel feeling for her, this sense of security with another person. She was used to relying solely on herself, keeping others at arm's length. But Edward… Edward had proven himself trustworthy in the most extreme circumstances.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. ‘For everything. I'm not used to… well, to needing help. But I'm glad you were here.’
Edward's expression softened. ‘Anytime, Aster. I mean that.’
As they climbed back into the Land Rover, Aster felt a subtle shift in her perception of Edward. He was still an enigma in many ways, but she was seeing beyond the polished exterior to the man beneath – brave, resourceful, and unexpectedly kind.
The drive back to the village was quiet, each passenger lost in their own thoughts. Aster's mind was already racing ahead, planning their next moves. There were still many questions to be answered, loose ends to be tied up. But for now, she allowed herself a moment of relief. They had survived, the villagers were safe, and they had dealt a significant blow to whoever was behind this operation.
As the familiar outlines of Bhasagram came into view, Aster straightened in her seat. There was still much work to be done, but she felt reinvigorated, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. And, she realised with a start, she was glad to have Edward by her side for whatever came next.
The village square was now jumping as preparations for the celebration continued. Climbing out, Aster caught Edward's eye. For a moment, they shared a look of mutual understanding – a silent acknowledgement of all they had been through and the bond that had formed between them.
Then the moment passed, and Aster was all business once more. ‘Right,’ she said briskly. ‘Let's get to work. We have a village to rebuild and a mystery to solve. Who was behind all this? I need to call my sisters and get the ball rolling.’
Edward’s face darkened and Aster was surprised by the sudden flash of anger in his eyes. Puzzled, she headed towards the office and filed that away to think about later.