AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Forever.
His chest knotted. Dev leaving meant freedom for his family. It meant they’d be able to live in peace once and for all. They’d never need to look over their shoulder again. Fuck! This was too tempting to ignore. If Luthra really did go away then Avi and Neil would be safe, always. Shaurya’s unborn child would be safe. His heart began to pound as the lure of this bet began to weigh on him.
“Come on, Vihaan, let’s do this,” Dev persisted. “I know you’re itching to agree.”
Vihaan stared at Tiya from across the distance. It could be so easy to do this. He just didn’t have to fall for her. That was it. Simply really. It meant that she’d be safe from Dev too. She’d never be a target. But to do that, he’d have to break her heart. A sharp pain sliced through him at that prospect.
Fucking hell.
Tiya spun around to look at him. Noticing Dev beside him, she squinted before her deep brown gaze fixed on Vihaan. She tipped her head, wordlessly asking him if he was okay. Vihaan nodded. Already they’d begun to understand one another so well. Accepting this bet also meant accepting the fact that he could never have her. Ever. Could he do that when just minutes ago he’d been thinking of making it real between them?
She winked at him, her lips curving into a sweet smile that knocked his breath away. Whispering something in her friend’s ear, she walked towards him, her hips swaying with every step she took. The music changed to another famous retro number and Tiya shut her eyes, humming to it. She began to move to the music. All by herself, she danced in the middle of the floor for a few seconds, totally unaware that people beside her were staring at her. She raked a hand through her silky hair as she shook her hips and his heart rumbled. God! She was stunning. Perfect in every way. His lips curved as he watched her.
“Losing your heart already?” Dev’s words brought him crashing back to reality.
“Of course not.”
Dev smirked, holding his hand out. “Then, do we have a deal?”
Vihaan looked at his hand for a long second. “If we do this then this stays only between you and me. No one can know this. Not Tiya, not her parents, no one. And win or lose after this deal, I want Shaurya and Myra to live freely. I don’t want spies following me ever again. I want Tiya and her parents to never be involved in this war between us.”
“Agreed. You have three weeks.”
“How can I be sure you will honour your word? History reminds me that you have none.”
Nothing crossed Dev’s face, not even a flicker of emotion.
“I swear on the life of my sister that I will honour this deal with you,” Dev said. “You have but a few seconds to decide before Tiya reaches us. You have to choose if taking a risk on this bet is worth it or not. It’s her or your family. Think about it Vihaan, you and your family will have everything back and I will go away. I’ll never come back. I’ll never look for Av—”
“—we have a deal,” Vihaan cut him short, taking his hand. “Prepare to lose, Luthra.”
“We’ll see about that, Rajpoot,” Dev said.
“Hey, Vihaan.” Tiya put an arm around Vihaan’s waist. She searched his face. “All okay?”
“Yes,” Vihaan replied.
“Dev,” Tiya lifted her chin. “Bad form to ask my parents where we were.”
Dev shrugged. “Your dad quite happily informed me where you both were when I asked him. I can’t help it if he likes me.”
“Iought toclear his misconception about you, because I’m never happy to see you or spend time with you,” Tiya retorted, fearless as ever.
Dev chuckled. “I like this one. I’m waiting to see how muchyoulike her.”
With a small wave, he backed away from them and disappeared into the crowd.
“Dickwad. He’s always talking in riddles,” Tiya muttered, once they were alone. “Considering the subterfuge you employed to get us here, the only way he could have found out where we were was by asking my dad. My parents were the only ones we told where we were going. What did he want anyway?”
“Nothing. Forget about him.”
“You can trust me, you know.” At his silence, she rolled her eyes. “You could let me in and share your secrets with me. It will just lighten your load.”
“Not tonight, baby.” Vihaan squeezed her waist. “Now, are you ready to return home?”
She nodded and he ushered her to the reserved and private parking where he’d parked his car. Throughout the drive back toPoseidon’s headquarters, Vihaan was quiet, lost in his jumbled thoughts.
When the car stopped at a signal, Tiya put her hand on his. He immediately removed his hand from under hers.
