Page 81 of Shattered

“What?” I ask slowly, disbelief colouring my voice.

“Fuck me,” Sidharth murmurs.

“Is that why you gave Kavya a job in your office, as some sort of retribution… All because you felt guilty?” I ask, my tone more accusing than questioning.

His gaze falls to the floor, and he nods slightly. “I loathed having to bury the case to protect my brother, no matter how much I despised his actions.I thought, maybe if I helped Kavya, it would somehow ease my guilt, and then as I got to know her better, she gradually became one of my closest friends,” he admits, his voice strained. “I can’t put into words how sorry I’m for the decision I made back then. At that time, I was blinded by brotherly love and loyalty, but now,I understand I was wrong—so wrong—about everything.I chose wrongly, prioritising family loyalty over justice,foolishlybelieving that this one incident would be enough to shake him up and set him on the right track, but it only made things worse.Now, I realise just how deep my mistake was.”

“Yes, it was, and look where it got us—Suman is dead, and Kavya and Nisha are missing, all because of your brother,” I accuse bitterly.

Akash’s eyes are full of regret as he looks up at me and continues,“He stayed clean for a while, hiding away in the house,trying to lay low. But when the case resurfaced, all his fears came rushing back. I tried to reassure him that I’d makesure it wouldn’t come back to haunt him, that I’d try burying the case again, butit wasn’t enough.He became increasingly paranoid and violent, afraid of ending up behind bars again.”

“That’s why he started threatening Kavya,” Sidharth interjects, connecting the dots. “It explains how he obtained information and monitored things. He pretended to be you to retrieve the mobile from Kavya’s house.”

Akash nods. “Yes, and… there were also many instances where he would impersonate me. When I would confront him, he would brush it off, claiming he was only trying to protect himself by erasing all the proof against him without actually harming anyone. Foolishly, I went along with it, thinking I was just fulfilling my duty as his brother. I honestly thought he would change. I had no idea he would do something like this.”

“Brotherly duty,” I say with disgust in my voice.

“I’m sorry,”Akash looks down, his shoulders sagging before he speaks. “I know you might not believe me, but there were times when my conscience gnawed at me, urging me to come clean about Prakash, especially after Suman’s death. I wanted to be honest with you, to lay bare the truth I’d been hiding. I knew deep down that Prakash didn’t deserve my forgiveness, not this time. He needed to face the consequences of his actions. Yet, my courage faltered, and the fear of losing Kavya’s friendship held me back.I kept battling with myself, torn between doing what was right and the fear of what the truth would cost me.”

“I don’t need your apologies, nor do I believe your excuses.And even if, for one second, I believed that you were scared of losing Kavya’s friendship, let me make it very clear—after this, you’ve lost her trust, and as far as I know her, you’ve lost her friendship as well. She’ll never forgive you for what her sister has gone through.” I state bluntly before adding. “Honesty is the foundation of any relationship, and you failed her, Akash. Because if you can’t uphold something as fundamentalas honesty, you don’t deserve Kavya’s friendship. Now tell me where the hell he has taken Kavya!” I demand sharply.

Akash takes a few seconds before he replies,“I think I know where you can find him.”

“Where?” I ask urgently.

“He might be at his hideout, the house near Ulsoor Lake. Let me send you the address,” Akash says, swiftly pulling out his phone, typing the location, and sending it to my mobile.

“Thanks, Akash, that’s helpful. But next time, don’t keep things hidden, especially when people’s lives are at stake,” Sidharth advises firmly.

Akash nods, his expression filled with regret. “Believe me, I’ve learnt my lesson. I won’t.”

With a nod to Akash, Sidharth and I stride out the door. This time, Sidharth takes the wheel, while I settle into the passenger seat,my mind racing. Throughout the drive, he issues rapid instructions into his phone, coordinating with his team for the next plan of action. I lean back, closing my eyes against the headrest. Fear churns in my stomach, and I run my hands over my face, trying to steady my nerves, but nothing seems to calm me. My only source of solace is Kavya’s face. I pray fervently that she is safe and that we find her before it’s too late.

Chapter 39

Reyansh

Thirty minutes later, Sidharth and I stealthily slip into the house where Akash told us we would find Prakash. We quietly climb through a window and land in the dimly lit living room.We quickly scan the roomfor any signs of trouble, but it’s all clear.Sharing a quick nod, we cautiously move forward when we hear faint voices drifting down from the upper floor. I signal to Sidharth, and together, we quietly tiptoe our way up. As we reach the top, we spot a single room at the end of the hallway and move towards it. Standing outside the closed door, Sidharth draws his gun while I tighten my grip on the doorknob. My pulse races, adrenaline coursing through me as I slowly turn the knob, ready to unleash hell on the bastard who’s wreaked havoc in my woman’s life and dared to take her from me.

With a deep breath, I push the door open and step inside.The moment I take in the scene before me, my blood boils at the sight of Kiara and Kavya tied to chairs, their mouths gagged with white cloth.Nisha hangs limply in her chair, likely unconscious, while Kavya’s wide, panicked eyes lock onto mine. Forcing my eyes away from her is agony, but when I finally do, an uncontrollable fury skyrockets within me as I see Prakashstanding behind Kavya, his arm locked tightly around her neck, a twisted, sadistic grin carved into his face. But in the next moment, my heart plummets when I notice he has his gun pressed to her temple.

“Welcome, buddies. I was expecting you,” Prakash sneers.

“Drop your gun and surrender,” Sidharth orders sternly, his gun trained on Prakash.But all I can focus on is Kavya—her terrified eyes and her tear-streaked cheeks. I have to get her out of here.

“Why should I follow your order?” he mocks, pressing the gun harder against Kavya’s head. She whimpers, tears streaming down her now pale face.The sight of her trembling under his grip fills me with rage, and my hands clench into fists.

“You fucking bastard. You have one chance to let her go this instant, or I’ll make sure you regret every single second of your wretched life,” I reply, barely disguising the fury brewing within me.

“Quit barking orders at me, both of you. You’re the ones who need to listen to me—unless, of course, you want to watch her die right in front of you,” he laughs maniacally.

“You bastard, you wouldn’t dare!” I yell, lunging towards him, but I freeze in my tracks as he cocks the gun. The sound echoes like a cruel reminder that everything—Kavya, my child, their lives—hangs by a thread, and it terrifies me to my core. One misstep, and I could lose them both.

“Don’t be stupid and do something you’ll regret,” Prakash warns in a deadly tone.

“The cops are already on their way as we speak. You can’t escape,” Sidharth says sternly.

“Prakash, listen to me. Put down the gun, and let’s talk this through. No one needs to get hurt.”I add calmly.

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