Page 94 of Since You Stole My Heart

She pushed the phone back into her jeans pocket and turned to Viraj. ‘Apparently there’s some elder relative I have to meet, and it’s very urgent, obviously. Will you come with me, please?’

He furrowed his brows. ‘Why do you need me?’

She looked away, fidgeting with the edge of her kurti. ‘You know how they make cheap comments about my weight. I just… I thought if someone is there, they might back off.’

The vulnerability in her voice made Kashvi’s chest clench, and she wished she could reach out and comfort her.

Viraj tipped his head back, letting out a frustrated groan. ‘Lavanya, I’ve had a long day, and it’s too crowded there. I feel like I can’t even breathe properly.’

Easy humour drained from his gaze as Swayam lightly admonished, ‘Viru, it’s no big deal. Just go with her for a bit.’

Viraj shrugged, dismissing it. ‘Lavanya will be fine. She’s handled worse.’

Swayam tightened his jaw, then glanced at Kashvi. ‘Would you be okay if I go with her?’ he asked apologetically.

‘Of course,’ she said, despite the fear flaring in her gut. ‘I can come along too, if that helps.’

Lavanya shook her head instantly. ‘No, don’t. They’ll just shift their target onto you. Believe me, they can be brutal.’

‘It’s fine, Kash,’ Swayam said, giving her hand a light squeeze. ‘I can’t stand them either, so I promise we’ll be quick.’

Kashvi nodded.

Lavanya exhaled, relief flickering across her face. ‘Thanks a lot.’

‘It’s not a big deal,’ Kashvi replied, managing a faint smile.

Swayam stepped towards the balcony door. ‘Try to be at least a little useful while I’m gone and keep her company,’ he instructed Viraj.

A flicker of rage shadowed Viraj’s face before he smoothed it into a neutral expression. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take very good care of her.’

With a lingering glance at her, he slipped out after Lavanya, leaving her alone with her stalker.

The universe had a wicked sense of humour.

Kashvi felt a shift in the air. In an instant, Viraj slid closer to her, and she took an instinctive step back. His eyes moved over her, dragging from her face to her toes.

‘You might be the birthday girl, but seeing that ass in those jeans is my gift for the night,’ Viraj said, leering at her.

Kashvi turned towards the balcony door, driven by the urge to put distance between them. She barely took two steps before Viraj grabbed her by the elbow in such a crushing grip that it sent a sharp jolt of pain up her arm, making her yelp.

‘Where the fuck are you running off to?’

He dug his fingers into her elbow joint so hard Kashvi was sure it would leave marks. He pushed her back until he had her trapped between him and the cold, hard railing.

Anger flared, bright and unrestrained, as she tried to wrench herself free from his hold. ‘Let me go!’

The earlier amusement in his gaze faded, leaving behind a dangerous glint of possession. In that moment, fear hit her like a slap, and she angled her body away from him.

He lifted his hand to brush back her hair, and Kashvi leaned back over the open space beyond the balcony railing at a painful angle to escape his scalding touch.

Viraj chuckled. ‘You’ll slip off the balcony if you keep doing that.’

‘I’d prefer falling to my death than sharing the same air with you,’ she snapped.

‘So desperate to escape me? I love it,’ he murmured, leaning closer until the sharp, intrusive scent of his cologne choked her senses.

Kashvi struck his hand with enough force to push it away. ‘Get the fuck away from me right now or I’ll scream loud enough to wake up the whole street.’