Page 110 of Twisted Alliance

“The man is like a damn ghost,” said Rishab. “He deliberately set his footprint all over the world to throw us off.”

“But why would an international businessman go through so much trouble?” Nakul asked. “We know he wants to gain control of the Singoor oil wells and has used Devraj Gujjar for that purpose, but something is definitely off.”

“Yes, it seems personal,” Rishab added. “He wouldn’t order a hit on Shivay and now on us.”

Shivay listened to his brothers discuss the man named Tantra. Although Devraj Gujjar had revealed information about the man, it wasn’t enough to track the kingpin. Devraj or his henchmen also didn’t have a clue about who or where Tantra was.

“He wants to stop the alliances.”

At Shivay’s words, his brothers looked surprised.

“Why would he care?” Nakul asked. “And how would he know about alliances when we haven’t made a final decision?”

“This is personal to Tantra,” Shivay added. “Everything the man has done points to the fact he doesn’t want the Singoor region to unify. He wants it to remain in a state of chaos.”

There was silence.

“Yes, that sounds plausible,” said Rishab. “I’m going to work with the investigators to check on families from prominent clans that relocated to countries outside India from Singoor.”

Shivay nodded.

Nakul looked at Shivay. “The Gujjars are fine for now. But we need to ensure Devraj Gujjar’s accidental death story is well executed.”

The Gujjar clan was told that Devraj had taken his mother to Australia for treatment. The people also believed that Devraj’s sister Ishani Thakvar had joined them. Shivay knew that for people to believe Devraj had died in an accident, just like how the previous generation of heirs from prominent clans had died, it was important for Ishani to be in Singoor to address the Gujjar clan.

“We have time,” Shivay said.

His brothers were silent. They knew he didn’t want Ishani to fly back to Singoor. Not yet. Or maybe not ever.

The thought of his wife once again brought sharp pain to his chest. Sucking in a deep breath, he ignored it.

He got up from the chair. “I’m heading back,” he said.

His brothers nodded.

“Nakul and I will stay and finish the rest of the calls,” said Rishab. “You better not join today.”

“Yes, catch some sleep, bro,” said Nakul. “You clearly haven’t slept well the last two weeks.”

Shivay knew his bloodshot eyes and thick stubble of his beard made that fact obvious. Despite working with the clans and controlling the aftermath of Devraj’s death in the Gujjar province, he had still chosen to work all night. He preferred the numbness that followed due to exhaustion and lack of sleep.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” he said before stepping out of the conference room.

He took the elevator and went upstairs to where the helicopter was waiting to take him to the Thakvar mansion.

But even as he sat inside the helicopter, the ache in his chest persisted. He couldn’t order his body and heart to feel numb. He had spoken to his mother a few times in the last two weeks.

She said that Ishani and her mother were doing well. Sujatha Gujjar was getting the treatment of detoxing the medication injected into her for over two decades. He was glad.

But he also fucking missed his wife. It had taken every ounce of self-control during the past two weeks to stop himself from flying to San Francisco and dragging his wife into his arms.

He held back for a reason. A damn big reason.

Letting out an angry breath, he ignored the ache in his chest.

***

It was close to midnight when he stepped into the Thakvar mansion. He recalled the times when his heart thumped in anticipation of getting home and going upstairs to the suite. But right then, his heart continued to ache.

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