CHAPTER 17 #4
But Parag Reddy? The one who had mediated this deal and was supposed to ensure the convoy’s safe passage across the border was nowhere to be found. The b*stard got lucky.
“GLEN has taken over the remaining border cleanup,” Haider says beside me, finally lowering his phone.
“Ayaan’s people are handling the arrests from here.
They’ve already intercepted the buyers’ contact chain tied to the Southeast Asia route.
Every man connected to the exchange is being picked up one by one. ”
I give a distracted nod and drag a hand down my face before turning towards the estate pathway. A short distance away, I spot Esha hurrying towards us. She stops a few feet away.
“I’ve been looking for both of you since last night.”
A strange unease crawls up my spine, wondering if it’s about Siya.
“Where is Siya?” I ask immediately.
“Siya Ma’am checked out.”
I stare at her without moving. What?
Esha swallows nervously before continuing. “Last night, after we returned from the event, her fiancé, Parag Reddy, was already here with his men. And he took Siya Ma’am back to Cape Town.”
Every muscle in my body tightens. Parag was here? Inside RK Estate? Without my knowledge? Without my permission? That’s why the b*stard was missing from the border operation.
But he f*cking dared to take Siya away? A dark rage crawls up my spine so fast that my hands curl into fists automatically.
“Why didn’t you inform me?” I demand.
Esha immediately shakes her head. “I tried calling you both, but your phones were unreachable. There was no way I could communicate that information to you.”
My jaw clenches so hard it hurts.
“It seems Siya Ma’am’s wedding has been moved up to next week,” Esha continues carefully. “And… it didn’t look like she wanted to leave. But he forcibly checked her out.”
For a moment, I hear nothing after that. Her wedding has been preponed again? Haider immediately senses the shift in me and steps forward, but I walk past both of them without responding.
By the time I enter the estate security wing, everyone inside straightens instantly. Nobody speaks, because they can see exactly what mood I’m in.
“Pull up the lobby footage from Siya’s checkout,” I order harshly.
The screen lights up seconds later. And there she is.
My entire body stills. She’s wearing fitted dark jeans with a white woollen top beneath a long coat.
Her hair falls loosely around her shoulders.
Her face appears calm, but I know her enough by now to see through that facade.
She’s angry, restless, and unhappy. Because she doesn’t want to leave.
The footage continues, and then Parag walks into the frame.
Even through a CCTV screen, the man reeks of arrogance and smug confidence.
That jerk was here to take Siya away in my absence, and I couldn’t do anything.
If only I had been here at that moment, he would have been dead before even touching my Siya.
The footage shows Siya slowing near the reception lobby. For a moment, she almost hesitates, but then Parag reaches for her. The b*stard grabs her elbow roughly and forces her towards the car.
My palm slams against the desk before I even realise it.
On the screen, Siya struggles against Parag’s grip and glares at him sharply.
She says something I can’t hear through the muted footage, but Parag doesn’t bother.
He drags her forward anyway. My breathing turns heavier.
Then comes the part that nearly destroys whatever restraint I still have left.
While shoving her into the backseat, her shoulder slams hard against the edge of the car door. She immediately winces. Pain flashes across her face.
My entire body goes rigid. But Parag doesn’t care to check if she’s hurt. He simply grabs her again and roughly forces her into the vehicle like she’s nothing more than cargo to him.
Rage explodes through me so violently that the glass tumbler near my hand cracks beneath my grip. The guards around me step back at the look on my face… because right now, I look ready to kill.
The convoy begins moving seconds later. Ten, maybe fifteen vehicles leave my estate gates one after another. And all I can do is stand and watch the footage, realising it’s too late. Too f*cking late. I stare at the screen for a long moment even after the footage ends.
Her wedding is next week.
The words replay inside my head over and over.
A week! That is all the time left before Siya Vardhaan is forced into that marriage.
No! After last night, the idea of another man being anywhere near her is enough to make my blood boil.
Forget about touching her, I would burn down every man who even thinks he has the right to lay a hand on Siya Vardhaan. And I would do it without regret.
Siya Vardhaan might be gone. Away from RK estate, away from me, probably thinking this chapter of her life is over.
But I promise, this chapter between us is not over.
It has barely begun. Because Siya Vardhaan is mine now.
And no one, not Parag Reddy, not this bloody mafia world, not even Siya herself, gets to take what belongs to me.