Page 139 of Since You Stole My Heart

A hollow ringing filled her ears as she crouched to touch the torn head of her childhood teddy, Mr. Buttons.

A terrifying sense of panic closed around her ribs, and she reached beneath the heap of clothes for her charger. With trembling hands, she plugged it in beside the bed and the next few seconds stretched endlessly as the phone powered back on.

Her gaze drifted towards the window, and she froze at the lipstick-stained words smeared across the glass.

I’ll do worse to you.

That merciless threat felt horribly familiar, and the recognition made her gasp.

Viraj had done this.

Now that she looked around properly, she could see the echo of his rage in every broken thing.

Her phone vibrated in her hand, snapping her attention back to it. Acting on instinct, she pressed and held number two on the speed dial.

Call Swayam?flashed across the screen.

Kashvi hesitated for a split second. Maybe she should call the police first.

But she needed her anchor in this storm.

So she hit yes.

As the call rang, she tapped her foot restlessly. Then a loud, abrupt slam from the front door made her flinch.

Relief rushed through her. ‘Swayam?’

No answer.

She unplugged the phone and hurried into the hallway leading back to the living room. Confusion flickered through her when she found it empty.

Kashvi was about to call out again when a hand clamped around her throat, choking her painfully. Another yanked her wrists behind her back with such force that she thought her shoulder might snap.

‘Let me go,’ she wheezed out.

‘Why should I? This is how your brother choked me last night.’

Her pulse thundered in her ears, but Viraj’s menacing voice cut through the panic easily.

‘It’s a pity he stopped, isn’t it? Because now it’s my turn.’

Viraj squeezed harder, cutting off her air. Her hands struggled uselessly behind her back, but she still tried to type blindly on her phone. Her vision blurred as breathing became harder and harder.

‘I can’t breathe,’ she forced out, frantically fighting against his hold.

‘I couldn’t either,’ Viraj said coldly.

Cruel amusement laced his voice. ‘You made me wait all night. Do you always make a habit of sleeping your way through the city before coming home?’

Viraj caught her fumbling with the phone and snatched it from her hand. ‘Trying to call for help? I don’t think so,’ he sneered, flinging it across the room.

A surge of anger broke through her panic. ‘What the hell do you want?’

His grip tightened in response. ‘Answer my question first. Did you spend last night fucking around with my dear cousin? Is that why you were too busy?’

‘Swayam was... with you,’ she choked out.

‘Was he? Then how come I didn’t see him anywhere at the venue?’