Akash’s jaw tightened. “What do you want?”
A pause.
“I want my children back. My grandchildren…”
Akash’s blood ran cold, but he kept his gaze on him. “You lost the right to all of us a long time ago. Keya and I want nothing to do with you. So I’m asking you for the last time… what do you want? And I don’t believe for one minute that you want anything to do with us, not after everything you did in the past. Not after you abandoned us the way you did.”
“And that was my biggest mistake.”
“I’m sure it was,” Akash retorted. “You’d probably have asked our grandfather for more money in retrospect.”
Something sharp flickered in the older man’s gaze. “Don’t talk to me like that. I am still your father.”
Akash barked out a laugh. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”
Keval stepped forward. “I regret how I left things with you and Keya. I really do. I’ve made many mistakes. Please, I need to make amends.”
“Make amends?” Akash scoffed. “Funny how that thought comes to you after spending years in prison for murdering someone.”
His father didn’t react immediately, but something in his eyes shifted. Something more difficult to read. “How do you know about that? Have you been keeping tabs on me?”
Akash rolled his eyes. “I want nothing to do with a convicted criminal like you. Neither does Keya. Do not contact me again. Do not try to get in touch with her.”
“Please, Akash,” his father pleaded. “Give me a chance to explain. I was wrongly convicted. I killed that man in self-defense.”
“I don’t care,” Akash shot back, his patience snapping. “Listen to me carefully. Leave Keya and me alone. We want nothing to do with you. And the next time you try to walk in here unannounced, security won’t even let you past the gate.”
His father stilled, shock flashing across his face. “Akash, please listen?—”
“—you have thirty seconds to leave, or I will call security.”
His father’s expression tightened. “This is not over.”
That look on his face... There he was. The man from his childhood.
His violence and his sharp edges were no longer hidden behind desperate pleas and hollow regret. Akash tipped his head to the security guard who had been watching him all along. His father saw the man approach, and without another word, he turned and walked away.
Akash let out a long breath, the tension draining from him all at once. The encounter had taken more out of him than he’d expected. For a moment, he just stood there, feeling exhausted. But at least it was done.
At least now… maybe they could finally put him behind them.
Maybe this was the end of him trying to force his way back into their lives.
25
Adull ache throbbed at the base of Akash’s head as he sat back, waiting for his bodyguard to pull the car to a stop beneath the porch of the restaurant Nirvaan had chosen for the night.
He sighed. Seeing his father had shaken him more than he’d expected.
The entire drive from the office had been spent on a conference call with Keya, Kabier, VJ, and Janak as he filled them in on everything. Together, they’d dissected the entire conversation with his father. None of them could make sense of why his father was back or what exactly he wanted from them.
All of them had agreed that he and Keya needed to be careful, and Janak was relieved that they had security watching over them at all times. Thankfully, the news of his engagement to Shauna wasn’t out yet. But when that happened… and it would happen soon after the board meeting… God, he had to protect her as well. Keep her safe. She was too damn important to him.
He sighed again. At least she had a bodyguard trailing her. He’d arranged that immediately after he’d seen his father trespassing in his house.
He exhaled slowly. He had to tell Shauna about this latest development. And he would. Just not tonight. She was out with the girls, and the last thing he wanted was to ruin that.
The car came to a smooth stop, and Akash stepped out. He gave his name to the hostess, who greeted him politely before ushering him inside. He slowed his steps once he entered, taking in the space around him.
