Page 101 of Addiction

Navya’s pulse began to skip. “Guys, English, please. What is going on? Can someone fill me in?”

“Alexander has a nephew, Ivan Oshnov,” Armaan began. “He’s always thought that we cheated him out of his inheritance, and hence, he holds a grudge against us. A couple of months ago, Vedant got a tip that Ivan was planning something against us, and that’s why we all stopped going out at night, and we triedto take our security with us everywhere. That night was the only night Vedant and I didn’t have our security with us.”

Everything suddenly made sense to her—the training sessions at home, Armaan insisting on meeting her either here or at the yacht—both places he felt were secure for both of them, but never at night. He’d been protecting her as well.

Armaan addressed Mihir, “We need to check which of our bodyguards were at home that night of the attack and if anyone was on leave.”

Mihir pulled out his phone and began to tap into it. “All the security staff is accounted for except for Arlo and Vasily. They both had planned to take the evening off, but Vasily was there with me when I got the news about Vedant. He travelled to London with me as well. He must have cancelled his leave.”

“Bloody hell,” Armaan said. “I can’t believe Arlo would do this. I trusted him.”

“Right now, we can’t trust anyone,” Mihir said.

“Alright, let’s get to the bottom of this,” Armaan said. “Navya, call Rehana and ask her to send you some pictures from that night. Make up any excuse and see if she sends you pictures of her boyfriend.”

Fear flared in her stomach. “Oh God, what if more of your men are involved?”

Armaan shook his head. “I don’t think that’s likely because they would have had ample opportunity to hurt us at home. The fact that they haven’t means that if your guess is right and it is one of our men, then he is probably acting alone. However, we need to run checks on all our security personnel everywhere.”

“I’ll get on to that,” Mihir said.

“Guys, speak to my brother,” she said. “You can trust Rajiv. If nothing else, you can come home and discuss more on this. It will be safer for you both there.”

“That may be a good suggestion, indeed,” Armaan accepted. “Our security has access to our cars, our homes, and our offices. They’d know how and where to place bugs. Which means we cannot talk safely anywhere they have access. Not until we get to the bottom of everything.”

“I’m not going toherhouse,” Mihir told Armaan, his tone tight.

Fuck. She’d forgotten about Ananya. Of course, Mihir wouldn’t come to her house.

“Then ask Rajiv for the use of his office,” Navya said. “We need a place to talk safely. We cannot keep meeting here out on the beach. It looks suspicious.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to Rajiv,” Armaan said. “Mihir, you start looking into the staff, and Navya, talk to Rehana. Until then, let’s all behave like all is normal.”

“Armaan,” Navya said. “I think it’s better if Mihir talks to Rajiv.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“My brother doesn’t like you very much.”

His eyes narrowed. “Since when does he like Mihir?”

“Since I wasn’t stupid enough to brawl with the man to gain attention from his sister,” Mihir said. “Even then, I told you that was dumb. Do you ever listen?”

“Excuse me,” Armaan scowled at him. “Your history with Rajiv’s other sister is even worse. So, why am I the bad guy here?”

Mihir’s jaw hardened. “Unlike you, I don’t want anything to do with the man’s sister, and he knows that.”

“This is rubbish,” Armaan grumbled. “I’m the most likeable Oshnov brother.”

Navya patted his cheek, smiling. “That you are. But you also cut me out for days when I was trying to reach you. Rajiv is verypissed about that. But he loves me, so all you need to do is talk to him and convince him that your intentions are good.”

Armaan’s eyes sparkled. “My intentions toward you are never good,moya tigritsa.”

“Oh God, not again,” Mihir complained. “Can you get your mind out of the gutter for even a minute?”

Armaan winked at him.

Mihir sighed. “Armaan, you run a thorough check on all the security staff, and I will talk to Rajiv.”

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