Chapter 68 #2
The house was quiet, but voices drifted up from the patio below.
I followed the sound, my steps soft on the marble stairs, needing to know what I was walking into.
Downstairs, I eyed the pitcher of what looked like freshly squeezed orange juice and poured myself a glass.
Thirsty, the first few sips refreshed my dry throat.
“I heard Rossi survived the cartel ambush, how the fuck did that happen? Those men are brutal.”
Oh God!
The glass of juice slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a loud crash, interrupting the conversation between Ajay and his father, standing on the patio threshold. My thoughts scattered by their exchange, I didn’t dare look at them and instead glanced down at the broken glass.
“Everything all right, Ishika?” Mrs. Gupta’s stern voice penetrated my fog.
Nodding nervously, I bent to pick up the shattered pieces.
“Leave it,” she instructed, approaching me.
“The maid will clean it up. Come.” She held my elbow, directing me toward the patio where Ajay and his father were taking their seats opposite each other.
Mrs. Gupta might possess a no-nonsense attitude, the austerity of a powerful woman and the undisguised maternal instincts of a doting mother, she was probably the reason I hadn’t been violated yet.
The night of the engagement, she warned Ajay to not force himself on me. He’d never go against her wishes.
How then would she react when she found out what he’d done last night, or did she already know? Walking up behind Ajay’s seat, she gestured for me to go sit, then slapped him hard across the back of his head.
“Ma.” He jumped up, scowling at her while rubbing the spot she’d smacked.
Rolling my lips to keep from smiling, I took the seat opposite Ajay’s father, meeting his narrowed eyes with an unwavering glare of my own.
“You stupid boy.” Mrs. Gupta’s reprimand broke my stare down with her husband, pulling my gaze. “Did I not warn you not to force yourself on the girl?” she asked, confirming she knew what he’d done last night.
Ajay gulped, flicked me a livid grimace then looked at his mother again. “I didn’t.”
“Don’t you lie to me, boy,” she threw back. “Her uncle might be a mafia boss in India but here he is an esteemed minister first. You will not bring disrepute to our family by disrespecting him, do you hear me?”
“Yes, ma,” he mumbled, retaking his seat and avoiding my gaze.
“Was that necessary?” Mr. Gupta asked his wife.
She huffed. “He won’t be happy if he finds out Ajay’s been up to no good, Tej. We have an agreement, remember?”
I perked up at her little share, hoping she’d elaborate. They weren’t talking about my uncle, of that, I was sure.
Instead, her husband glared at their son. “A lot is riding on this arrangement, boy, so don’t piss people off,” he warned. “Forget me disowning you because that man will kill you long before I can.”
So who were they talking about?
Mrs. Gupta’s eyes darted to me. The first day I met her, I gathered she was a shrewd woman, now I got the sense she was way more intelligent than she appeared.
“I’m a stickler for tradition, Ishika,” she said.
“You’ll marry Ajay like all the other arrangements before you, but I won’t tolerate disrespect to any women.
” She shifted those piercing eyes to her son.
Something about their behavior hinted that this was way more than just a simple marriage arrangement.
Why else would they delay the DNA test? Kai wasn’t allowed to accompany me alone for me to get a hair or salvia sample from him.
After the first visit, I was watched like a hawk.
Why did I feel like a pawn in some stupid chess game they were playing?
I nodded, my smile more compliance than friendly. The idea of approaching Remo surfaced again, and Dia’s caution followed, ringing in my ear.
Remo won’t leave you with Ajay for long.
Kai walked out of the house. “Hi.” He smiled at me and I was once more captivated by how closely he resembled a younger version of my father. I mentally decided that no DNA test was needed, unless he wanted it.
“You missed breakfast, Kai,” Mrs Gupta scolded yet when I glanced at her, she was staring at me, her frown burrowed deep.
“Sorry, Mama.” After greeting his parents with a kiss to their cheeks, he turned to fist-bump his brother.
My insides roiled, hating that they were considered his family and me, the outsider when I was the blood relative.
“Did you kill him?” Ajay asked.
I froze.
Did they get Kai to kill someone? How? He was barely twenty three.
“I did.” Kai laughed like it was the most natural thing to talk about death. “And his brother paid up.”
“That’s my boy.” Grinning, Ajay slapped him on the back, igniting my anger.
Fists clenched, I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind.
Mr. Gupta beat me to the punch. “Is that what I taught you, son?” he addressed Ajay. “To teach the boy how to shoot blanks?”
“It’s just a video game, papa. I killed the competition and won.” Kai responded, laughing.
Thank God.
My shoulders slackened, the anger ebbing.
“Come, Kai, let me get the chef to make you something to eat.” Mrs. Gupta held out a hand, motioning for him to join her.
After they left, a different kind of tension settled over the patio, I could sense it in the way the two men glanced at me then looked at each other.
My nerves were shot trying to figure out this plot I’d cornered myself into.
I had to find a way to convince Kai to come with me, now was not that time though.
Getting back home to regroup and come up with a solid plan worked in my favor now.
I moved to rise.
“You should be teaching Kai to use live ammunition, Ajay. It’s time for him to join the business.” Mr. Gupta’s statement paused my mid-flight, ramping up my irritation.
“He’s just a boy,” I blurted.
The older man’s gaze shifted to me. “The best time for him to learn to protect not just himself but his family.”
“I’d rather he doesn’t,” I argued.
“And what makes you think your opinion matters, young lady?”
“According to my uncle, Kai is my brother,” I hissed, unable to control my growing anger. “And you people promised me a DNA test.”
“You people?” The old man rubbed his jaw, livid brown eyes burning holes into me.
Sudden dread washed over me. Again, I got the feeling that his hands were tied when it came to disciplining me, that this marriage was indeed a farce and they wanted something else from me.
Ajay’s sudden grasp on my wrist jolted me out my thoughts. “Show my father some respect or I’ll smack it out of you,” he sneered.
I tugged my hand out of his hold and stood. “I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.” He grabbed my wrist again and yanked so hard I lost my balance.
“What the hell!” One second I was tripping over his feet, and the next, my chest hit the floor the same time my brow slammed against the porcelain tile. All the air whooshed out of me on a loud exhale.
Too stunned to move, I stayed there for a moment, breathing hard. My forehead burned, my chest ached and my body felt like I’d just been decked by a runaway train.
“Get the fuck up, Ishika,” Ajay’s demand echoed somewhere above me before he dragged me to my full height.
“The only way to bring a man down, is to hit him where it hurts,” Mr. Gupta said, his tone harsh. “Find his weakness.”
“Isn’t that right, baby girl.” Ajay’s hand fell to my hip, squeezing lightly. “One man’s weakness is another man’s strength?” The way he said it, had shivers crawling up my spine; something dark floated beneath his light-hearted tone.
I didn't answer, trying hard to relax, to ignore his touch. My mind raced. Weakness. Remo’s weakness. Did they mean me? Or did they know about the baby? My hand instinctively drifted to my stomach, but I caught myself, forcing it back to my side. I couldn’t let them see, let them know.
Mr. Gupta still had no idea about me and Remo, and so far, I assumed Ajay was too chickenshit to tell his father. His flagrant behavior now hinted otherwise. Would keeping up the pretense hurt me or help me?
Before I could decide, Ajay’s grip tightened. He yanked me closer, my feet stumbling to find purchase on the smooth tile. “You’re coming with me,” he hissed in my ear, his breath hot and sour.
“No,” I gasped, twisting against him. “Let me go!”
Mr. Gupta didn’t move. He just watched, his eyes dark and cold. “Take her to the east wing. Lock the door. She stays there until the wedding.”
“Dad—” Ajay started, but his father cut him off.
“Now, Ajay. Or do I need to remind you who holds the leash?”
Ajay’s jaw tightened. He nodded, then dragged me behind him. I dug my heels in, my nails scraping against his wrist, but he was stronger.
“Stop!” I cried, my voice echoing off the marble walls. “You can’t do this!”
He didn’t answer, just pulled harder, my feet slipping, my body jerking forward. I twisted, trying to break free, but his grip was iron. He shoved me against the wall, his forearm pressing against my throat, not enough to choke but enough to pin me.
“You think you can play us?” he whispered, his face inches from mine. “You think you can run to Rossi and he’ll save you? He’s not coming, Ishika. He has no idea you’re here.”
I kicked out, my heel connecting with his shin. He grunted but didn’t let go. Instead, he signaled to the shadows. Two men emerged, they flanked me, their hands closing around my arms like steel bands.
“No!” I screamed, struggling now in earnest. “Let me go! Help!”
Either the house was too big, or they all chose not to hear me. No one came.
They dragged me down the hallway, my feet scraping against the polished floor, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I twisted, I fought, I bit at the hand covering my mouth, but it was useless. They were trained for this.
We reached a heavy oak door at the end of the corridor. Ajay produced a key, unlocked it, and shoved me inside. I stumbled, catching myself on the edge of a four-poster bed. The room was lavish but cold, a gilded cage with velvet drapes and a view of the garden I couldn’t reach.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Ajay sneered, stepping in behind me. The two men remained in the hallway, blocking the exit. “You won’t be leaving until you learn your place.”
I spun to face him, my chest heaving. “You’re making a mistake,” I said, my voice low but steady. “Remo will find me. And when he does—”
“And when he does come…” His smile was eerily sinister.
“He’ll walk right into a trap he never saw coming.
And you, my sweet Ishika, will be the bait.
” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I flinched away, but he caught my chin, forcing me to look at him.
His eyes were dark, empty of everything but ambition. “Sleep well,” he whispered.
Then he turned and walked out. The door slammed shut, the lock clicking into place with a finality that echoed in my bones.
I stood there for a moment, trembling, listening to his footsteps fade down the hall. Then I rushed to the door, pounding on the wood, screaming until my voice was raw. But no one came.
I slid down to the floor, my back against the door, my arms wrapping around my stomach. “Hold on,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. “Just hold on. He’s coming.”
Clinging to Dia’s last words, I repeated them like a prayer: I’m trying.
But the silence that answered was deafening.