Page 103 of Addiction

It was a big ask from a man who clearly wasn’t fond of them, but they didn’t have too many people they trusted and he was someone they could trust.

“Why not use your own security?” Sheena asked cleverly.

“As of now, he’s one of them,” Armaan explained. “We have no means of conducting a meeting with the rest of the team without this guard finding out, and we cannot raise any flags right now. None of our security ought to behave differently with him, which they would if they even had a hint. They wouldn’t take defection of one of their own lightly.”

“Besides,” Mihir said, “right before we came here, Arlo asked to speak to us alone. We put him off for the time being. Hence, we need your help.”

Rajiv stared at each of them for a long moment. He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “Let me be absolutely honest here. I don’t like you guys?—”

“Rajiv, please,” Navya interrupted.

He threw her a sharp look, which shut her up.

“As I was saying,” Rajiv continued, his tone harsh. “I don’t like you guys, and while I have communicated with Mihir in thepast, it was because Navya and Armaan could work things out. She’s my sister, and she was hurting, so I called Mihir for her. That doesn’t mean I trust you. In fact, none of your actions in the past have endeared you to me. You held my wife and sister hostage. You bargained with me for their release, and then you challenged me to a fight.” His angry gaze landed on Armaan. “I knew then as well that you did that only to get Navya’s attention. Now, years later, you both come into my life again and add to my burden by requesting me to get involved in something I know I ought to stay far fucking away from.”

Sheena clutched his hand. He shared a look with her and exhaled. He sounded calmer when he spoke again. “You both also need to remember that now, thanks to you, I already have twenty-four-hour protection around my family because Navya is in love with Armaan. They attacked her once, and we all know that someone was following her car the other day.”

“What?” Navya choked out.

“Yes,” Armaan said. “I was going to inform you of this, but it slipped my mind. They escaped when Rajiv’s men tried to catch them. We got to know this because apart from the security detail your brother has put in place for you, we hired someone to protect you as well. No one from our team knows about that.”

Navya looked at Rajiv. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I didn’t want to scare you.” Rajiv looked at Armaan. “Once your enemies learn that I am standing by your side, it makes my family a direct target. I have no choice but to accept you in Navya’s life; however, I need not involve myself any further.”

Armaan chanced a glance at Navya. She had paled considerably.

He stood to face Rajiv. “Every word you spoke is true. When we met four years ago, I admit that I gave you ample reasons to dislike me. But I am not that person anymore.” He smiled at Navya. “She’s calmed the storm inside me and changed me. I ama better man now because of her. I love her so much. And while we can find our enemies without your help, I am requesting you to help us, because like you, I, too, want to see my family safe. I want to ensure the safety of the woman I love more than my own life itself. I agree I have made mistakes, and that I may make more mistakes in the future. However, the one thing that will never change is how I feel about her. I will die for her, if needed. Navya is my world.”

Navya took his hand in hers and stood up with him. She addressed her brother. “Before Sheena, I know that you weren’t really happy in life. But after her and the kids, I can see that you’re so much at peace, and I get why you’d want to protect all this that you’ve found and created. Please know that I would never hold a grudge against you for choosing them first, because you should choose them first.”

Sheena exchanged a long glance with Rajiv. It felt like a whole conversation happened between them in that one glance.

“We will always choose our family first,” Sheena said. “And you are our family too, Navya. If this is what you need from us, then we are all in with you. If you need us to support Armaan and his family, then we will.” Sheena’s razor-sharp gaze fixed on Armaan. “But if he hurts you, then even God won’t be able to help him.”

Navya laughed. Even Mihir had a tilt to his lips. Navya’s sister-in-law was bloody formidable.

“Thank you,” Armaan said to Sheena.

“Alright,” Rajiv took over, “Sheena, I want Navya and you to go home while I plan everything with Armaan and Mihir. Navya, tell Lavina to forward the images to me as soon as she gets them. In the meanwhile, we’ll go through the security footage from that night.”

As soon as the girls left, Rajiv strategized with Mihir and Armaan, and then called his security team inside. He gave theminstructions to set the plan to apprehend Arlo in motion. Once they left, he put on the security footage from Club Poseidon on his laptop. Armaan let out a relieved breath. Having Rajiv on their side would definitely help them act faster. He and his brothers had been alone for far too long. They’d battled the world all by themselves, but now, to have an ally as powerful as Rajiv Mehra, who was firmly in their corner, warmed his heart. Thanks to Navya, he was part of a bigger family now.

Very soon, they’d learn all they needed to learn, and hopefully, they’d be safe again. All they needed was confirmation via one photograph from Rehana or through the camera footage from that night. Their whole plan was dependent upon it.

32

Navya exited the Poseidon building with Sheena, her mind at peace, knowing that her brother and his wife were firmly on their side.

“Thank you, Sheena, for everything you said in there,” Navya told her as they stood at the curb waiting for their cars. “It means a lot to have both of your support.”

Sheena gave her a warm smile. “We are family, and families stick together through thick and thin.”

“You know that until Armaan and his brother catch Ivan, you and your kids will need protection 24/7?”

“I know, but that is the price we pay for falling in love, isn’t it?” Sheena tilted her head. “Rajiv adores you, and it would have eaten him up alive if he had to refuse you today, which he would have done for me, our kids, for Reina, his parents, and Ananya. It is one thing to support you from the sidelines, but to do so openly puts us all at the forefront of danger. Of course, he was afraid. So, I took the decision for him. I’m certain he will do whatever he can to ensure our family is safe. I trust him.”

Sheena’s driver stopped her Rolls Royce in front of her. Sheena put a hand on the door and then faced Navya again.“I am so delighted for you. You are brave and strong, and you fought hard to get your man. And listening to him today convinced me that Armaan’s crazy about you too. The road ahead may be tough for both of you, but now you have something worth fighting and living for, right?”

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