Page 131 of Since You Stole My Heart

He pushed his hands into his pockets, loosening the chain from around his fist. He took a deep breath, but it did nothing to slow the lingering rush of adrenaline. His whole body buzzed with it.

They turned the corner and spotted a young woman in a heavily embroidered lehenga that glittered under the lights with every step. The red fabric shimmered almost as brightly as her hair.

Her eyes lingered on them. Burgundy curls framed her face, her expression curious and faintly suspicious as she walked past.

Beside him, Vihaan asked loudly, ‘So, what are you getting your wife for her birthday tomorrow?’

‘Uh...’ Dhruv stammered. ‘I don’t know. Maybe a football or something.’

Vihaan made a strangled sound. ‘There’s still time. You can try a little harder.’

‘She might want to take up a new hobby,’ Dhruv muttered, embarrassed.

He waited two seconds before glancing over his shoulder just in time to see the woman turning towards Viraj’s suite.

His muscles tightened as he caught the same panic reflected in Vihaan’s gaze.

‘Our luck just ran out.’

Then they were running.

The corridor somehow seemed longer now. The service elevator stood at the far end, and Dhruv jabbed repeatedly at the call button. Through the blood rushing in his ears, he strained to hear a shout or cry for help.

A soft chime rang.

They rushed into the elevator, and the doors slid shut. Dhruv leaned against the metal wall with a relieved exhale.

Vihaan let out a long breath, dragging a hand through his hair. ‘I need to know. In what world does someone gift his wife a football for her birthday?’

‘You gave me two seconds to catch up with this fake wife and her birthday. That’s the best you get,’ Dhruv shot back.

‘Remind me never to rely on you for gifts,’ Vihaan muttered as they stepped out of the elevator.

The heavy exit door opened with a low creak, and cool night air hit them instantly. Their pace slowed into a jog through the basement parking lot towards Vihaan’s car.

Dhruv followed him, quickly sliding into the passenger seat. Vihaan drove out of the parking area and onto the long road ahead.

The hotel disappeared behind them in a blur of traffic, and Dhruv leaned back against the seat. ‘I’ve got to say, as stupid as your attempt was, that distraction worked. That woman was looking at us suspiciously.’

‘How else do you expect anyone to look at you?’ Vihaan asked.

Dhruv frowned. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Vihaan adjusted the rearview mirror and angled it towards him with a quiet laugh. ‘See for yourself.’

Even in the dim light, Dhruv could make out the darkening bruise around his right eye. The skin was swollen, and a jagged cut above his eyebrow still bled faintly.

‘Okay, that makes sense. Guess I’m getting rusty,’ he said dryly.

‘I would say so,’ Vihaan chuckled. ‘I manage to knock you flat every time we spar.’

Dhruv shot him a look and flipped him off.

Vihaan shifted, keeping one hand on the wheel while reaching into his jacket pocket with the other. He handed over Viraj’s phone, or what remained of it.

The screen was webbed with cracks, the glass fractured beyond repair. Dhruv saw his bruised reflection staring back at him in uneven, jagged fragments.

‘You can tell Kashvi to relax now. We got it,’ Vihaan said with a faint smile.