Page 54 of Shattered

I clench my jaw.“Be careful what you promise, because if you fail, I’ll hold you accountable and shut down your goddamn business.”

“That’s never going to happen, so just relax and let’s focus on what we’ve got,”he replies, unbothered.

My eyes drift toward Kavya’s house as I speak into the phone. “She’s bringing me the phone. Once I’ve looked through it, I’ll send it over with Karan.”

“I’ll wait.”

“But I need the phone back. The asshole wants it, and Kavya has no choice but to hand it over,” I say, irritated.

“I won’t need the phone for long. I’ll make a copy of the data and give it back.”

“Alright,”I mutter as Kavya’s front door creaks open, and she steps out. “Kavya’s here now. I’ve got to go. I’ll send the phone over.”

“Later,” he says before hanging up the call.

“All okay?” she asks softly as she looks at me.

“Yeah, I was speaking with Sidharth and filling him in,” I say, taking her purse from her hand and opening the back door to put it inside. Then, I take her hand and guide her to the passenger seat. Once I have her buckled safely, I close the door and shift my gaze to Karan, who is still standing in the same spot next to the car.

“My house, and this time, keep an eye out to see if anyone is following us,” I tell him as I approach him.

“Copied,” he says before turning around and slipping into his car.

I exhale a long breath and get into my car.

As we drive, a dreadful silence fills the car. Kavya, who was cheerful just a few hours ago after meeting my parents, now wears a tense expression, her eyes glued on the window.

“Are you okay?” I ask gently as I try to break the tension.

She takes a deep breath before nodding. “I think I am.”

“You know I am right here,” I say softly.

She nods, but I can sense her unease. “I know you’re here, but I can’t help feeling scared,” she admits quietly, her eyes darting to the crumpled note lying on the dashboard. Even in the dim light cast by the streetlamp, the worry and fear in her eyes areunmistakable.

I reach out and gently squeeze her hand, offering whatever comfort I can. “It’s going to be okay,” I say, bringing her hand to my mouth and brushing my lips across her knuckles. Then, I place her hand on my thigh. Fuck. I wish I had more than these hollow words to ease her pain. It’s so damn frustrating to feel so powerless and unable to calm her nerves.

She gives me a weak teary smile as she turns to stare out of the window, which only serves to heighten my frustration,fuelling an anger within me that feels almost beyond control.

The sudden horn of a passing car causes Kavya to jump slightly, and my heart sinks as I witness her vulnerability.I squeeze her hand a little tighter. “Hey, it’s okay, you have nothing to fear. I am here for you,” I repeat reassuringly. “We’ll figure this out together,” I add, trying to sound confident despite my own unease.

She doesn’t reply, just leans her head back and closes her eyes.

I hold onto her hand like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded, while my other hand grips the steering wheel,anger pulsing through me at the mere thought of anyone daring to cause her harm.

As I continue to drive, I feel my own fear surge alongside the need to keep her safe. Each passing moment heightens my anxiety, but I know I can’t show it; she relies on me. She’s my rock, and I’ll be her shield against anything that disrupts her peace. Her safety is my mission, and I refuse to let anything compromise that. I won’t let any darkness take away her light.

Chapter 27

Kavya

I’m not even sure if there’s a level above dread, but whatever it is, that’s exactly what I’m feeling right now. Sitting on Reyansh’s couch with my feet bouncing up and down, I anxiously listen to Officer Viraj and Reyansh talk quietly a few feet away.The room feels heavy with tension, as if the walls are closing in on me.

It’s been four hours since we arrived at Reyansh’s house with Officer Viraj, who showed up at the same time. Reyansh had called him on the way, saying we might have something that would need his expert eyes. Since then, the three of us have spent hours combing through my sister’s phone, going through countless messages, calls, and photos,hoping to uncover something that explains why this person is so desperate to get their hands on it. But we found nothing out of the ordinary. Noticing the exhaustion on my face, Reyansh asked Officer Viraj to give me a few moments to rest while they talked.

“Kavya,” Officer Viraj says, coming to sitdown across from me, while Reyansh settles beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.His warmth is comforting, but I can feel the unease radiating off him too.

“Can you handle a bit of honesty?” Officer Viraj asks as Reyansh’s grip on me tightens. A voice inside me screams thatwhatever he’s about to say will pull the ground out from under my feet.

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