Page 77 of A Royal Deception

“She went there to meet Kavya,” I said through numb lips. “That woman kidnapped Zarna from her school, and Shivina has gone there to rescue her. And she’s gone in blind. She doesn’t know it is Ayush’s old house. Ten minutes might be ten minutes too late.”

CHAPTER 30

SHIVINA

Istared at the hand extended to me as if it were a snake poised to attack me.

“It is not a pleasure to meet you, Mr Goel,” I said, ignoring the hand.

“Careful, Shivina. I won’t hesitate to rip your tongue out of your mouth if I feel like it,” he warned, turning away from me.

I reached up as if to move my long hair off my neck and gripped the hilt of the sword I had strapped to my back before I pulled it out in one quick, smooth move.

Before anyone could react, I went up behind Ayush Goel and held the Mirpur Durga Talvar to his neck, backing up immediately to cover Zarna.

“And I won’t hesitate to cut your throat ifIfeel like it,” I countered. “You guys up on the roof, throw all the guns down into the courtyard with the safety on, or your boss here will bleed to death like the pig that he is.”

Kavya shrieked in anger and came running towards us, so I allowed the blade of the sword to nick Ayush’s neck slightly. He squealed loudly and told her to stay where she was.

“Now, tell your men to drop their guns,” I ordered.

Ayush was shaking with fury, but he had to do as I said.

“You won’t get very far, Shivina. We have you outnumbered,” he snarled.

“Oh, you will very kindly escort us to our car,” I informed him before I nodded towards a pillar near the entrance. “Zarna, go stand behind that pillar.”

When she was out of shooting range, I nodded to the men who dropped their guns.

“Pick up one of the guns, baby,” I ordered.

Zarna picked up the one closest to her. It was a little big for her, but she took off the safety expertly. She clearly remembered what I had taught her. I was glad I had signed her up for sharpshooting lessons at her school, which had a strong Olympics program. It had certainly come in handy today.

“Shoot anyone who so much as twitches in our direction, Zarna. Especially this bitch,” I said, glaring at Kavya, who was furious at her planning failing so spectacularly.

I didn’t know how or when Kavya had teamed up with Ayush Goel, but I knew why she did it. She wanted to get back at me for her wedding fiasco.

Only, they hadn’t counted on me fighting back because this warrior version of me was nothing like the timid, obedient version Kavya had known for years. And they certainly hadn’t counted on me being armed with a sword.

I had stopped at the palace earlier to grab a gun just in case I needed it, but all the gun cabinets were locked, and I couldn’t find the keys. The Durga Talvar was my only option because someone had forgotten to lock the case after they cleaned the sword last. I took it as a blessing from Goddess Bhawani andgrabbed the sword, feeling as if I was unworthy of even touching such an illustrious weapon. Just before I got out of the car, I threw the crossbody chain of the sheath over my shoulder and put on a denim jacket over it to hide it from view.

Zarna’s hands were shaking as she aimed the gun straight ahead.

“Start walking backwards towards the big hole in the wall, baby. I’ve got your back,” I murmured as I began leading Ayush towards the entrance.

When he tried to struggle free, I locked my ankle around his.

“If I pull my ankle behind even a little, you’ll fall forward onto the blade of my sword, asshole. So don’t make any sudden moves,” I warned.

He turned pale with fear.

“Okay,” he whimpered and began to crab-walk sideways as I asked him to. Zarna walked backwards slowly, her gun trained on the people behind me, and I kept one eye out for the area behind her.

I could see a fleet of choppers in the air racing towards the mansion through the desert and a convoy of police jeeps driving up through the desert. And I realised that the cavalry had arrived.

Rajan inched our car over to the hole in the wall from outside and opened the passenger door.

“Get in, Zarna,” I ordered.

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