Page 3 of Obsession

Ananya exhaled a heavy breath. This was happening because of her. Because Mihir had seen her and now he wanted to meet her. While this was exactly what she’d hoped for when she’d decided to gate-crash his party, now, after seeing that cold look on his face and sensing the danger that surrounded him like a shroud, she didn’t want anything to do with him. She didn’t want Navya and Sheena anywhere near him. She’d made a terrible mistake.

One of the men swept a hand forward. When they didn’t move, he tipped his head to the gun in his holster. Shit. They had no choice but to follow him. Another man stepped in place behind them. They led them to the side stairs and up to the deck of the next floor.

Her mind spun. What did Mihir want? Did he remember her, or was he summoning her because she’d trespassed on his yacht? Fuck, it was all so confusing and intimidating.

The sounds from the party subdued as they moved further away from the ongoing entertainment. They crossed a private and empty Jacuzzi, its blue glare flashing in the night lights like an ominous omen. Her heart rate escalated with each step that she knew was taking her closer tohim.

From beside her, both Navya and Sheena looked as panicked as she felt.

“I’m sorry,” Ananya whispered to the two girls. “I’m so sorry for getting you both stuck in this mess.”

How could she have forgotten that Mihir Oshnov was considered to be one of the most dangerous men on the planet? Too many years had passed since she’d loved him, and… Ananya left the thought incomplete. Right now, with the annoyance and anger she felt for Mihir, their time together was the last thing she wanted to think about.

The man in front of them opened a door, and then all of them entered into a lavish living room. The breeze filtering through the room caused the hair on her arms to rise. Without a doubt, she knewhewas here.

“Hello, my beautiful Anna. Were you trying to leave without saying hello? And that too, after taking so much effort to sneak onto my ship.”

Ananya froze. She turned slowly toward that thick, accented, but familiar voice and finally came face to face with the man who had at one time meant everything to her. The only man she had ever loved and believed she had lost to death. The man she had never forgotten, and who, she now realized, had clearlynotforgotten her.

Mihir Oshnov—her husband.

Oh God. Despite their circumstances, a feeling of pure joy spread through her veins, making her heart beat with renewed energy. It filled her whole being as she took him in fully after three long years—threeverylong years. Mihir was alive and breathing. He had lived.

“Mihir…” Ananya stared at him. “You really are alive.”

“No thanks to you,da?” he scorned. “After all, you did try to get me killed.”

Her eyes widened. Wait, what? Her annoyance resurged at his words.

What did he mean?

Her heart skipped a beat when she finally realized what his words meant, no thanks to the look of pure hatred on his face. He thought she’d tried to…. Her heart shriveled. No. How could he ever think that? This was crazy.

She studied the harsh angles on his face, his icy cold eyes and the long scar that ran down the side of his face, cutting across his temple down his cheek. His entire demeanor screamed dark and threatening. Everything about him was different now.

Mihir’s eyes ran over her. He took in her short royal blue strappy, flowing dress and her high heels, and then his eyes slowly traversed her body in reverse before finally halting at her mouth. Every molecule and atom in her body came alive under his perusal. Tingles erupted all over her skin, and her body began to hum in pleasure, as if waking up from a long slumber, reminding her thathewas the only man who made her feel like this.

“Tell me, Anna,” Mihir drawled. “Do you think I’d let you go so easily? You walked in of your own free will; now you will leave only with mine. Unfortunately for you, you got your friends involved too. Now, all of you are my captives until I let you go. If I let you all go, that is.”

His words infuriated her. But before she could say anything, Sheena cut in, “Do you know who I am? And who both of them are?”

“Of course, I know Navya—Ananya’s sister.” Mihir tilted his head to look at Sheena. “Sheena Sehgal, right? My men sent me pictures of you with Ananya.”

Ananya’s jaw dropped. Fuck. As if his vile assumptions about her weren’t enough, she was now learning that he had someone following her. For so long, she’d been trying to get in touch with him. And all this while, he’d had someone fucking following her and reporting abouthertohim. Blood roared in her ears so loud that she couldn’t hear what was being spoken around her.

She focused on Mihir. She saw him lift a hand to touch Sheena’s cheek, and Ananya saw red. She stepped forward and slapped his hand away before he could touch Sheena.

“What do you want, Mihir?” Ananya asked.

His gaze hardened. “You. I want revenge from you, and I will have it.”

He looked at the two men. “Take her friends upstairs. I need to have a chat with her. Alone.”

Mihir grabbed her arm. Something raw ignited under her skin. He stared at her arm in awe, as if he too felt that energy, that pull that had always existed between them. That spark that still continued to dance on her skin while he held her. His eyes turned glacial.

“You never should have come here, Anna,” Mihir whispered. “You should have left me alone. But now… you will face the consequences of your actions.”

His words were laced with threat. Mihir wanted to punish her but she had no idea for what. Fear resurfaced in her chest once again. At one time, she could never have imagined fearing Mihir, but right now, seeing his hate-filled gaze and the tick in his jaw, she was scared.

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