CHAPTER 35
MARCELLO
The ride to Sahil’s place was quiet. Mostly.
I kept quiet. He kept yapping.
No wonder he and Roxanne made good partners—ideas bounced between them like second nature. Sahil was easy to talk to, even when I wanted anything but.
Sahil’s place was quiet. Too quiet for a man getting married in a week. But I guess he preferred it that way. His home still looked like a bachelor pad—minimalist brown sofa, no-fuss décor, a one-seater swing. Easy-going. Uncomplicated.
He handed me a glass of whiskey. I took it without a word. I wandered through the living room, letting my eyes settle on anything that held them. I paused at a photo on the shelf—Roxanne and Sahil, laughing.
She was in jeans and a loose white top, hair tied up, holding a clipboard. He had his arm around her shoulder, pointing at something off-frame. I stared at it longer than I should have.
Sahil noticed. “That was the day we finalised Studio Rasa,” he said. “First space we ever shortlisted. Total dump—cracked walls, rusty doors, and broken windows. It hadn’t been lived in for almost ten years—looked haunted. But she saw potential. And the rent wasn’t insane.”
I nodded, listening with intent, even though I’d heard it all before.
“She fought for it. Said it had good bones—that it would breathe once restored. And she was right. It’s been five years, and now I think it’s our lucky charm. She always saw what others missed.”
We sat at the breakfast counter—Sahil didn’t own a formal dining table. I was pretty sure that would change once he got married.
“I hope Chinese will do.”
I nodded.
“You know we went through quite a bit of drama and stress, all thanks to your buddy Lorenzo.”
I tightened my grip on the glass.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“Nah, we sailed through. But Roxy tried to absorb most of it. Did you know that bastard touched her?”
I froze mid-sip and looked at him in disbelief. I knew Lorenzo was in Mumbai, but I didn’t think he’d corner her like that. My blood turned cold. Sahil went on to tell me everything that Roxanne told him.
I thought I knew what happened, but I was mistaken. It was time Lorenzo met his fate. All this time, he made threats through his people. But now—he touched her. My woman. My Roxanne.
I smiled, imagining snipping off each of his fingers—slowly. Letting the pain crawl through his veins. His screams echoing into the sea.
That night, I barely slept. I knew Roxanne was safe.
Healthy. Smiling. But danger still lurked around the corners.
Every time I tried, the same cold stone room dragged me back—me staring down at Roxanne’s lifeless body.
Still. Pale. Bleeding from places she shouldn’t.
It haunted me even when I knew it was a dream.
She was alive. I’d seen it with my own eyes. But I wasn’t close enough to feel safe. Not for her. Not for me.
I needed to be near her. To see her breathe. Having her next to me that was the only way I could be sure she was safe. And this paranoia, it wouldn’t end until Lorenzo did.
But I forced myself to see her as I saw her tonight. Smiling. Dancing. Carefree. I imagined holding her, breathing her in—her scent, her smile. It calmed the storm enough for sleep to come.
The next day, I was up earlier than Sahil. I paced around his living room and helped myself to the espresso. Thank God he had a good machine. My stomach was in knots.
I was going to meet Roxanne’s family—even if just for a short while. For me, that was huge. A step way out of my comfort zone,
I couldn’t even see the line anymore. And I couldn’t believe that after forty years living with danger, a woman could make me feel this nervous.
Sahil came in, still sleepy, wearing SpongeBob pyjamas with a matching tee.
“Why are you buzzing around the living room high on coffee?
He yawned. “It’s just eight, man. We still have three more hours before we can get to Roxy’s. What time were you up?”
“Five. I could barely sleep.”
“Dude, you need to chill. You’re not gonna win her over by being impatient.”
“I kept my distance so that she would be safe.”
“And yet she wasn’t.”
That one hit hard. My heart sank because I knew Sahil was right.
I had this deep-seated fear that I’d fucked up by keeping her away.
Letting Lorenzo get his filthy hands on her.
It clawed at my chest every time I thought about it since Sahil told me.
I’d lost too much time with her already.
I wouldn’t lose her. I couldn’t. She was now my sanity.
“You gave her hope. After your encounter in China.”
I looked at him, surprised.
“She never said it. But she wore that necklace like it was stitched to her breath. I think she hoped you’d reach out. When you didn’t—she broke again.”
He put a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me.
“She still has feelings for you. I don’t know what they are, but they’re there. And she’s definitely gonna make you beg and grovel.”
“I’m prepared for that. I just…” I shut my eyes, trying to bring the words out.
“I don’t want to lose her again. I can’t.”
“Good. Be prepared, ‘cause she’ll be ready to bite your head off.”
“I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“That’s what weddings are for, bro. Also, be nice to Kyra. But not too nice—she’s half Roxy, if you know what I mean,” he said, winking.
Winning Roxanne’s trust again would take time. It wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to work. I’d earned her silence—now I’d earn her voice. She was worth it. And I understood that too late—only when I saw her at the edge of life did it hit me.
She was mine.
And it was only a matter of time before she knew it too.