Page 113 of Every Move You Make
Akash’s father.
Before she could react, she saw the gun in his other hand, and it was pointed straight at her.
“Hello, my to-be daughter-in-law,” he said, his voice calm, almost conversational. “We finally meet.”
Shauna forced herself to breathe.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice steady despite the way her pulse thundered in her ears.
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze moved over her slowly, assessing.
“You’re pretty,” he said after a moment. “My son has chosen well. And you’re a Sehgal. Janak Sehgal somehow managed to get both my children married into his family.” Something darker flickered in his eyes. “I wonder what love he has for those two useless brats.”
A surge of anger rose inside her, but Shauna locked it down just as quickly. She gave him a flat look, showing no reaction whatsoever.
“What do you want?” she asked again.
“I read about your engagement to my son in the news. I’ve seen you come here to this house daily. You come every evening after work at seven p.m., isn’t it? So many workers move in and out. It was rather easy for me to impersonate one of them and enter the house.”
She’d figured that out the moment she’d seen him standing in a staff uniform of the AC company.
“If you’ve been watching the house, then you also know that Akash joins me here on most evenings. In fact, I was waiting for him. He could be here any moment,” Shauna said. “So why don’tyou put that gun aside and tell me what you want? I haven’t done anything to you, and that gun is scaring me.”
“Good, because this will ensure you do exactly as I say.” He lifted his gun higher. “Call Akash and tell him not to come here. Convince him that you’ve already left.”
Shauna lifted her chin. “No. You’re his father. He deserves to hear what you have to say.”
“He and his sister deserve nothing from me,” he said, his voice turning colder. “Especially not after the way he behaved with me when I met him in his office. He was rude and arrogant. If he were younger… I would’ve beaten that arrogance out of him. Taught him a lesson he’d never forget.”
A wave of horror surged through her as she heard his words, at the cruelty in his tone, at the casual way he spoke about hurting his own son. God, was that what Akash had endured while growing up with him? Thank God he’d escaped that life and grown into the kind, wonderful man she loved
Keval Karia’s gaze narrowed on her, and a cold shiver slithered down her spine.
“Hm,” he murmured, studying her. “I may not be able to lay a hand on him now… but there are other ways to punish him.”
Her breath hitched. Fear coiled inside her, but she refused to let him see it.
Instead, she lifted her chin. “You won’t get away with this… whatever it is you are planning. My bodyguard is right outside. He will come looking for me if I don’t go outside soon.”
“Is he?” Akash’s father let out a sharp laugh.
“I’ve been here a week,” he said. “Smiling at him, greeting him every evening like I was just another harmless staff member going about his job.” His lips curled with satisfaction. “He trusted me. Never saw it coming. One swing of a rock to the back of his head, and he was out cold. So no… he won’t be coming for you. He’ll be unconscious for a couple of hours.”
Shauna gasped, her panic spiking. Fuck. He had thought through every detail, just to get her alone for God only knew what.
“Now call Akash,” he said, “and break up with him. It’s time he learned a lesson.”
“What?” she gasped.
“He won’t believe me,” she said quickly, her voice shaking despite her effort to steady it. “If I just call and say that I want to end things, he won’t believe it. Besides, I told you he’s on his way here.”
“Make him believe you’ve left from here.” Keval stepped closer. Too close. “I’ve been watching you and him. This past week, I’ve worked with one or another of the various teams you hired to complete this house.”
Her blood ran cold at his words. He’d been right here in their house, watching them? God. How fucked up was this man?
“The way he looks at you…” A faint, cruel smile touched his lips. “I’m quite certain you mean the world to him.”
Her heart lurched. The past few times she’d been here with Akash flashed through her mind—them holding hands, laughing, Akash kissing her cheek, her forehead, uncaring if anyone was watching them.
