Page 197 of Hateful Games

I was going after her but my mom had insisted that she’ll take care of her. I’m glad she did. Because they quickly formed a bond. Even now, my mom pulls Rosalie beside her and they lock hands.

“Thank you everyone for joining us tonight,” speaks my father. “As you all know my son, Nova, has tied the knot with the beautiful Rosalie, blessing me with a daughter in our family. Not only are we celebrating and wishing them a very long and happy married life, we’re also gathered here to make another grand announcement.”

Anticipation and suspense spread among the guests as they hold their breaths for the reveal. My father doesn’t make them wait.

“The D’Cruzes and the Kapoors have collaborated on our first joint venture. As of yesterday, we’ve acquired the largest shipping port in the country and it’ll be now known as The Cruz Port.”

The room thunders with applause, people raising their glasses in the air. I, however, watch Mihir’s reaction. Still wary of his intentions. He gives nothing away and smiles at our rapt audience. Our main competition has always been in the export and import sector. This joint venture will not eradicate it completely.

Nevertheless, the deal has been made.

With one last smile, all of us mingle with the people congratulating us. Some have envy in their eyes while others are wishing they were us. Half of them I wouldn’t trust because in the end, they will stab each other to climb to the top.

Seeing a familiar face in the crowd, I nod at him toward the outside hallway. Bending, I whisper in Rosalie’s ear, “I’ll be back.”

Pausing from conversing with my mom, she glances back. “Where are you going?”

“Restroom,” I lie. “Stay with my mom.”

“Okay.”

I nod and shake a few hands along the way as I stride outside. Down the deserted hallway, I find Zenith waiting at the end, shrouded in semi-darkness. He’s the private investigator I hired the same day I saw Rosalie’s scar.

I might have confronted her, but she won’t give up the name easily.

Besides, I’m still unsure Mihir isn’t complicit in hurting Rosalie. No way it didn’t happen without his orders. Whoever it was held no fear for the consequences of their actions.

“Did you find anything?” I question, not wasting time with small talk.

“With the information you’ve given me, which isn’t much, it’s like looking for a needle in the haystack. Since the scars look old from the picture that you sent, I’m guessing she was really young when it happened. Mihir wouldn’t risk hospitalizing her and leaving a record trail. So, he must have had a doctor on his payroll, who fixed her at home. It’s the only solid lead and I’m looking into it. Even then, it won’t mean we’ll know the person who assaulted her.”

I hear his hidden meaning. Unless I bring a useful clue that could narrow our suspects, we’re at a dead end. It sours my mood.

“I’ll try to see if I can learn anything new,” I answer. “Meanwhile, I want you to dig deeper into Mihir and see if you can find evidence whether or not he’s abusing his wife or older daughter, Jasmine.”

He nods and walks away.

Maybe there’s a way I can expose Mihir for the violent, vile, and misogynistic prick he is without hurting the ones Rosalie loves.

Marching back into the glittering and lively ballroom, I search for my wife. When I seek her out, my shoulders go rigid at the sight of who she’s standing with. I eat the distance, causing Rosalie to startle when I wind my arm around her waist. She relaxes when she feels me. Though not without giving me a side-eye for possessively holding her.

“Kaiden,” I greet one of the two other men and shake his hand, before turning to the next. “Keith.”

The former is a notorious playboy in Bollywood. The third sibling of the Mallick brothers. While the latter is one of the underworld kings of the north, corrupted and known for ruling with an iron fist. Both dangerous and malicious.

I’ve run into them only a handful of times but it was enough to know to keep my distance. Those men are into playing games that leave dead bodies in their wake. The reason my family even knows theirs is because our grandfathers used to be close friends.

Still, I wouldn’t want them anywhere near my Rose.

“You didn’t tell me you are friends with the Mallicks,” accuses Rosalie, staring at the other man with stars in her eyes. She looks almost giddy.

I do not like it. Not one fucking bit.

“Because I didn’t know you were a fan,” I say, barely hiding the jealousy.

“Your wife is a treasure, Nova,” flirtatiously says Kaiden.

Rosa giggles. She fucking giggles.

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