But maybehewould. What if she came back and he was gone?
Why do you care?“Who are you calling?” Her tone was sharper than she intended.
Krish’s gaze met Sejal’s. “Plans have changed. I need to work some things out.”
What did that cryptic shit mean? Was he still planning on going to see her aunt, only without her?
She’d spent days thinking about running away from him. Funny, how she hated to be separated now. “We’ll be quick.”
“Take your time.”
Sunil typed into his phone. “The driver’s downstairs.”
Mira stood. Even though Sejal was taller than her sister, she’d felt smaller for most of their adult lives.
Krish slipped his hand in Sejal’s and gave it a squeeze. That single squeeze brought Sejal to her feet, eager to get away from this particular vulnerability, even if it meant she had to cozy up with an even bigger one.
It’s not like youhave tohave a heart-to-heart with your sister the second you’re alone.
“Let’s go,” Mira said quietly, her expression serene. Poker face indeed.
Sejal pasted on a smile. “Great.”
Chapter Seventeen
Krish slipped into one of the empty bedrooms in the suite and closed the door behind him. The bed was neatly made, and there was no luggage in the room, so he hoped it was unused.
Sunil had gone to another room to handle some business. Naveen had left as well, right after the women had, presumably to be with his daughter. If it was his kid, Krish knew he wouldn’t be able to function unless she was in his arms at all times.
Ananya was very cute. He’d felt a pang of wistfulness for a moment when he’d looked at her, perhaps for a picture-perfect family like Naveen and Mira seemed to have. But then it had dissipated rather quickly. The mental load of worrying about a child was bad enough on a day-to-day basis, let alone in a crisis like now. He didn’t envy Ananya’s parents. He barely knew her and felt a great responsibility.
Sejal had been surprised that he’d encouraged her to go without him. But Krish had spotted the yearning in Mira’s eyes. The woman badly wanted to be alone with her sister.
Plus, Krish needed some time alone as well. Since his asinine plan had blown up, he had to come up with a new one.
Krish perched on the edge of the bed. The room was quiet, so well soundproofed that he could barely hear the city outside. He’d gotten used to having Sejal as a constant companion. Too used to her.
His mom might be right, that he was too soft for this life, but he’d rather be soft than cynical. HelikedSejal. Every new puzzle piece made him like her more. Especially the fact that she’d taken a literal fortune and used it to make her surrogate father’s golden years more comfortable. She wasn’t who he’d assumed she was.
You’re still lying to her.
Yes. He’d been relieved when she hadn’t perpetuated his lie to her family. There was only so much mess that he could clean up. When she came back, he’d tell her that he wasn’t really an FBI agent, and come clean about his brother. She’d probably hate him, but it wasn’t fair for her to go into this fight against Alexei without the whole picture of who was helping her.
Krish pulled his phone out of his pocket. His mother had been texting him since they’d been at the strip club, and each buzz had been like a nagging mosquito bite.
Why are you stopping in Vegas for so long? Are you at an EXOTIC DANCING place??
What are you up to?
Should I come there?
I’m packing the car.
He rubbed the back of his neck and hit reply.
We’re stopping for unrelated reasons. Please don’t come here. I can handle myself. I told you, I have everything under control.
He did not, in fact, have anything under control regarding Cobra, but she only knew about Alexei, and they definitely had a vague outline of a plan there.
