He stepped back. Forced himself to watch her fall apart for a fraction of a second because he’d earned that too. Because he was the reason her eyes looked like that.
Then he got into the car. Closed the door. Only then, shielded by blacked-out glass, did the agony hit like a freight train.
“FUCK!”
He slammed his fist into the seat, the sound ringing through the quiet interior. His driver didn’t flinch. His guard didn’t even blink.
The car pulled away.
None of them noticed what was still happening on the sidewalk.
Tani stood there, phone pressed to her ear, breathing shaky.
“Dad,” she whispered. “I need you.”
CHAPTER 18
TANISHA
Her father’seyes tracked her as she paced up and down in front of his desk, the click of her sandals sharp in the quiet room. Frustration and anxiety warred for the upper hand as she tried to get him to understand her urgency.
“Dad, I’m telling you something is wrong.”
Karam leaned back in his chair, watching her closely. “On the basis of him storming out of a family lunch and ditching a shopping trip?”
“Yes.” Tani threw her hands up in the air.
Karam laughed. “Honestly, Tan Tan, that sounds like Kabir on a good day.”
“Dad!” She groaned in irritation. “Please.”
“Okay. What would you like me to do?” He was still smiling, an amused smirk that annoyed her.
“There is someone contacting him, all the time. Messages, calls. He doesn’t take them. But every time his phone pings, I see his expression change. Dad, it hurts.” She swallowed hard. “Hehurts.”
Karam’s smile disappeared, his gaze sharpening. “He has a stalker or something?”
“I don’t know.” Tani shrugged helplessly. “He won’t tell me what’s going on.”
Karam frowned even as he reached for his phone. “Did something happen between Kabir and you, Tani?”
She froze, ice trickling through her. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” Karam thumbed his phone open, watching her. “You guys have seemed off since you came back. And Kabir and you…you’re never off. Never have been before.”
Her mind raced frantically, thoughts tumbling over each other like hamsters in a race. “We’re not off,” she said finally, unable to come up with anything more convincing. “Come on Dad. I’m twenty five, in love and getting married. He’s…well he’s Kabir. He’s a freaking rockstar, older, definitely wilder, nowhere close to settling down. I guess, we’re just…growing apart.” Her throat hurt as she forced the last couple of words out.
“Hmm.” Karam didn’t move, his gaze boring into her.
“Dad,” she said, her hands going to her hair, tunnelling through and tugging. “Please.”
Karam tapped on the phone he still held, dialling. It connected a second later and he said, “Ved, we need to talk.”
“No!” Tani surged forward but Karam held a hand up, palm out, stopping her from saying anything.
“Tani’s worried about Kabir.” Karam listened to what Ved was saying, the expression on his face growing grave. “Why don’t you come down to my office? Tani’s here with me.”
He put the phone down and looked at her. “Ved’s worried too. He picked up on the same things you mentioned.”
