That Night - 11:56 PM
Nimisha couldn't sleep.
She kept thinking about the packages, the stalking, the danger Samarth seemed convinced she was in.
About Kabir's wandering eyes and Bruno's protective growls.
About the fact that her husband was going to extreme lengths to protect her but couldn't admit she mattered.
She was staring at the ceiling when the bedroom door opened.
Samarth entered, already stripping off his shirt.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
"No."
He climbed into bed beside her—rare for him to actually sleep here lately.
The mattress dipped under his weight. She could feel the heat of his body even though they weren't touching.
"I can't tell you who I think is stalking you," he said quietly into the darkness. "Not until I have proof."
"Why not?"
"Because it would complicate things. Cause family drama before I'm ready to handle it."
Family. Of course.
"But I need you to trust me," he continued. "Trust that I'm doing everything I can to keep you safe."
"I trust you to protect the family assets," she said. "I always have."
He rolled toward her, his hand finding hers in the darkness. "You're not just an asset."
"Then what am I?"
His fingers threaded through hers. "I don't know how to answer that."
"Try."
"You're..." he paused, struggling. "You're the woman I think about when I shouldn't. The face I see when I close my eyes. The reason I can't focus in meetings because I'm wondering if you're safe."
Her breath caught.
"You're the one person who's gotten under my skin despite all my efforts to keep you out," he continued, his voice rough. "And it terrifies me."
"Why?"
"Because people I care about get hurt. Because caring is weakness in my world. Because—"
He stopped, but she heard what he didn't say.
Because I don't know how to care without destroying.
"I'm not asking you to love me," she whispered. "I know that's impossible. But maybe... maybe you could stop pretending I mean nothing."
His hand tightened on hers. "You don't mean nothing."
