The Alpha's Assistant & The Dom Next Door: A Billionaire Romance Collection by Michelle Love, Eliza Duke (14)

‘Who?’

Cosima flushed. ‘Not best buddies, we’ve just reached a détente, is all.’ She looked at Jack. ‘Naveen Chowdry.’

Jack gulped a mouthful wine awkwardly. ‘What the actual hell?’ He looked at Arlo, who shrugged.

Cosima looked annoyed. ‘Why do you look at Arlo as if he ‘allowed’ it to happen? I choose who I talk to, both of you. And it was nice. We talked, he apologized, and he’s trying to make amends.’

‘Trying?’ Arlo spoke up, ‘as in you’re still talking to him?’

‘I refer to my earlier comments,’ Cosima said snippily but then sighed. ‘Look, this was supposed to be a happy occasion so let’s forget Nav, and concentrate on getting the gossip from Jack.’

The men nodded in agreement and Cosima relaxed. The lamb pasanda was a big hit and even though they all tried, they couldn’t finish it all. Jack and Arlo sat back in their seats and groaned. Cosima looked at the leftovers. ‘You think I made too much?’

Arlo chuckled and kissed her cheek. ‘Maybe, baby. I’ll clear it up.’

She waved her hands. ‘Later, later. Jack, come let’s go crash on the couch and chat. Will you stay, we have the room?’

Jack smiled. ‘No, thanks, I have a room at a pretty swanky hotel downtown. Managed to get the agency to pay for it too.’

‘Nicely done.’

They sat in the living room talking, Cosima curled into the crook of Arlo’s arm.

‘So, what’s next for you two now this place has finished?’ Jack smiled at the both of them, gesturing around the beautiful apartment.

Cosima grinned up at Arlo, who nodded. ‘We’re thinking of going to San Francisco for a while, to find a new build there.’

‘You’re working together again?’

Cosima nodded. ‘Through my company, of course, Arlo has very generously negotiated a contract with Tal, which means I get to work exclusively with Arlo, wherever he wants. So we decided to go to Frisco, as Arlo’s friends and family are there.’

‘Wow…that’s great.’ But Jack didn’t look happy, and Cosima frowned.

‘What is it, Jack?’

He shook his head. ‘No, nothing. I just…you’re safe here; this place is like a fortress now. But look, ignore me, I’m too used to policing where you go, I’m sorry, it’s a hard habit to break. Seriously, that does sound great.’

Later, when Jack had left, promising not be late for the opening the next night, Cosima was wrapping the leftovers in tin foil and stacking the dishes in the washer when Arlo, finishing a business call, came back into the kitchen.

‘Jack wasn’t keen on us moving, huh?’

Cosima hid a smile. She knew this tone of his – he wanted to know what she really thought about the move, not Jack. She kissed Arlo’s cheek. ‘It’s no longer any of his concern. I can’t wait to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz…but most importantly, I want to meet Margaret.’

‘I just spoke to her actually.’ His tone had changed, and she looked up to see him studying her, his brow furrowed.

‘What? What is it?’

Arlo sighed. ‘A reporter called Margaret. Apparently your mother – ‘

‘Oh god, what has that viper done now?’ Cosima’s whole body wilted in defeat, and Arlo put his arms around her.

‘Apparently, she’s been giving interviews to some tabloid rag – and said some pretty inflammatory things. At least that’s what the reporter said. Seems this journalist has some morals and wants to talk to us about them before the story goes to print. In the morning.’

Cosima glanced at the clock. It was past ten at night. ‘She didn’t leave us much time, did she? Does she want you to call her tonight?’

Arlo hesitated. ‘Not me. You.’

Cosima stared at him. ‘What?’

‘She says she’ll only talk to you.’

Cosima sighed and reached for her phone.

Naveen Chowdry walked slowly back to his hotel. It was time to leave New Orleans, he figured. His relationship with Cosima was – if not mended – then resolved enough that he could leave now. Except…he felt responsible. Whoever had taken Cosima was still out there.

And then there was Sabine Karlsson. Despite himself, despite seeing her for the gold-digging Machiavellian creature she was, he still felt drawn to her. When they were in bed together, after her usual, initial wildcat thing was done, he saw the real woman underneath, vulnerable and soft.

Who are you kidding? Sabine hired someone to attack Cosima with a knife – soft? Vulnerable? Still…he pulled out his phone and called her. She was surprised and nonplussed to hear from him but invited him to her hotel room.

‘You just caught me,’ she purred, ‘tomorrow I leave for Geneva.’

Naveen grinned to himself. A likely story if Arlo had cut her off. ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’

In the car across the street, he watched the handsome Indian change direction and walk back down to the Quarter. Now the news had been reporting that the Malhotra girls were safe from their father’s enemies, was this dude still a threat? No way. But he could be a useful scapegoat…

The watcher started the car and moved off. Soon, he thought, soon…

Cosima said goodbye to the woman, Bree, the journalist, and slowly put her phone down on the table. She was trembling and wide-eyed. Arlo waited patiently.

‘That evil, fucking bitch,’ Cosima said, slowly, ‘that low-life, dirty, bottom-dwelling whore…’

Arlo looked alarmed as Cosima stood, obviously looking for something to throw. ‘Hey, hey, hey…’

He locked his arms around her, but she shook them off. ‘Don’t touch me right now, Arlo, I’m too angry.’

He let her go, half concerned, half-amused. ‘Just tell me.’

Cosima paced some more then sat down. ‘That venal bitch who calls herself our mother? Did an interview where she basically told the world I’m a cold-hearted bitch who deserved what she got. That’s not the bad stuff.’

‘It isn’t?’ Arlo felt his temper flare. ‘Cos, I gotta tell you, that sounds bad.’

Suddenly Cosima looked bleak and her eyes filled with tears. ‘Arlo…she said Harpa isn’t my father’s daughter. She told that interviewer that she had an affair after I was born, when I was about eighteen months, she found she was pregnant. My father knew and decided to raise Harpa as his own. Jesus…this could all be bullshit, of course, except…’

‘Except?’

‘There was something, one, my dad said to Harpa and I overheard and thought it was a weird thing to say to a kid.’

‘What was it?’ He reached for her as tears dropped down her cheeks.

‘He said, Blood isn’t a bond, love is a bond. Oh, God, Arlo, what the hell am I going to tell Harpa?’

Harpa woke to hear Mikah talking on the phone in the living room. Throwing his t-shirt over her body, she padded into see him standing at the window, talking on his cell phone in a low voice. His body was taut, racked with tension. Harpa glanced at the clock – just after one a.m. Who the hell was he talking to this late? A little jolt of jealousy flashed through her, but she swatted the thought away.

She was about to go back to bed when he turned and caught sight of her. His eyes were wary, but he beckoned her over.

‘Yeah, she’s awake now. Talk to her.’

He handed his phone to Harpa. ‘It’s Cosima.

Harpa was shocked. What was going on? She took the phone. ‘Cos?’

‘Hey, Bubba.’ Her sister sounded tired and upset.

‘Are you okay, Cos? Is Arlo okay?’

‘Yeah we’re both fine, Harp, don’t worry. Listen…I have something to tell you and ordinarily I would want to tell you this in person, but we don’t have any time left.’

Harpa’s heart began to thud uncomfortable, and her legs trembled. She sat down on the couch with a bump. Mikah put his arm around her. ‘Just say it, Cos, please, you’re scaring me.’

Cosima drew in a long breath. ‘Harp, Mom’s done an interview, trashing me. Now, that I can deal with. It’s what she said about you…Harp…she said that…oh god.’ Her sister’s voice cracked and Harpa’s eyes filled with tears.

‘What?’

‘She says that Dad….wasn’t your biological father.’ Cosima rushed the end of the sentence then gave a sob. Harpa, numb, heard Arlo’s voice, comforting her sister then taking the phone. ‘Harpa?’

‘Arlo, what the fuck…?’ Her voice was barely a whisper.

‘I’m so sorry, Harpa. We had to tell you because the magazine will be out in the morning and we didn’t want you to find out like that.’

‘But she’s lying, Mom’s lying, right?’ Bewilderment had set in, and Harpa couldn’t stop shaking her head. No. No. It wasn’t true.

Cosima came back on the line. ‘I’m so sorry, Harp.’

‘Tell me it isn’t true.’

There was a long silence then, in a broken whisper, her sister said, ‘I can’t. I just don’t know for sure, Harpa. All I know is you’re my sister, and I love you. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.’

Not knowing what to say, Harpa ended the call abruptly and walked out of the living room.

Mikah followed her and watched her pulling her clothes on. ‘What are you doing?’

She didn’t look up. ‘Mikah, I need to ask you a favor.’

‘Anything, baby, just ask.’

She looked up then, and her eyes were hard, cold, and broken-hearted. ‘I need to get to San Francisco. Now.’

Cosima awoke hollow-eyed and drained. When Harpa had hung up on her, she had cried in Arlo’s arms, tried to call her sister back. When eventually they got through to Mikah, he told them he was taking Harpa to San Francisco to confront her mother. Harpa didn’t want to talk to Cosima.

‘I shouldn’t have told her,’ she had fretted, but Arlo shook his head.

‘You didn’t have a choice, darling.’

Cosima hoped her relationship with her sister wasn’t irreparable; that Harpa wouldn’t blame her for not being able to reassure her. But she couldn’t lie – inside she had held that secret with her for a lifetime. She had even, at age eleven, asked her father what he had meant by the ‘Blood isn’t a bond’ statement and he’d told her that she would understand one day.

She had hoped never to find out what it meant but when the reporter – Bree – who had been kind and apologetic – had told her, she knew, for once, her mother wasn’t lying. That she’d been saving this particular piece of information for when it could hurt her daughters the most. A piece of Cosima’s heart turned dark at that moment, with loathing for the narcissist in her mother, the selfish being.

The best revenge is to live well – wasn’t that the saying? Then fuck you, Monica…

Cosima got up and went to find Arlo. He was at his desk and looked up as she came in. He raised his arms, holding them out to her and she went into them, settling on his lap and kissing him.

‘Good morning lover.’

‘Morning, gorgeous,’ he swept a hand over her hair and smiled, his eyes alert and concerned. ‘Are you okay?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. We will get through this.’

His arms tightened around her. ‘At this point, Cos, I don’t think there’s anything you couldn’t get through.’

‘Thank you for saying that, honey. What’s this?’

She glanced down at his desk, frowned when she saw a to-do list for the Grand Opening with ‘Cancel?’ written on it. ‘Absolutely not,’ she said firmly. ‘Today, we are opening our hotel. Nothing more is getting in the way of it. Nothing, Arlo.’

He smiled at her. ‘I agree, honey. Why let your mother win? There will be journalists there.’

‘And I’ll answer any questions they have about the interview honestly.’ She looked at the clock. ‘I’m going to grab a shower then go downstairs to check everything is ready.’

Arlo nodded. ‘Good idea. I’m meeting the shareholders at Tal’s office, and then we’ll bring them here before the ceremony starts.’

Cosima half-smiled. ‘Come join me in the shower first.’

‘Right behind you, sweetheart.’

Arlo waited until Cosima had left the room and quickly dialed Jack’s number. Voicemail. ‘Hey, Jack; hope you’re still coming tonight. Listen, we need to talk, but I don’t want Cos overhearing me so can you call me back in about an hour? Thanks.’

He ended the call then went to join Cosima in the bathroom.

Harpa asked for her mother’s room as soon as they reached the hotel. The smug receptionist told her that Monica was expecting her, and giving the simpering woman a death stare, Harpa went to the elevators. She had asked Mikah to stay away from the hotel until she called him and he had graciously acquiesced albeit with a concerned expression on his face.

Monica opened the door without a trace of remorse on her face. ‘Harpa, darling.’

Harpa stalked in, and Monica had barely closed the door when Harpa started talking in a low, angry voice. ‘Is it true?’

Now Monica wore a regretful expression. ‘I’m sorry, darling, yes.’

Harpa knew it, had readied herself for it but it still hurt like hell. After a moment, she spoke again. ‘Then who is my father?’

Monica didn’t answer for a time, settling herself down into her chair, arranging her dress carefully. ‘Iqbal Chowdry.’

Harpa’s knees collapsed, and she sank to the floor. ‘Iqbal Chowdry? Naveen’s father…Naveen, the man, who up until recently, had planned to murder Cosima? Naveen is…’

‘Your half-brother. As Cosima is your half-sister.’

Harpa shook her head. ‘No, Cos is my sister…my sister. You can’t take that away from me, I don’t give a fuck who the sperm donor was, you filthy whore.’

Monica bristled. ‘How dare you…?’

Harpa was incensed. ‘How dare I? How dare I? Who the fuck tells their daughter that her dad isn’t her dad in a god damned tabloid interview? What’s the matter, Mom, running low on cash? Your dealer getting antsy? Your plastic surgeon getting tired of ramming poison into your face? What am I saying? You have enough poison inside you anyway. I hate you, Monica, I hate you for this, I hate you for making Cos’s life a misery because she’s a billion times more loving and beautiful than you’ve ever been. I hate you for cuckolding my Dad. Because Arjun Malhotra was my father, whether he provided the sperm or not.’

Monica’s smile was chilly. ‘Have you finished?’

Harpa shook her head. ‘No. There’s one last thing, and you better listen. I never want to see you or speak to you or even think about you again. Ever. And I’m speaking for Cosima now too. You go for her again, and I’ll be standing right in front of her. I wish it had been the other way around, that Dad had cheated on you, that I had a real mother, someone with an ounce of empathy in her. Actually, I guess I did; I had Cosima. Thank God. And don’t think I won’t use Mikah or Arlo to close major doors on your career. Because I will, God help me, and I know they’ll do it.’

Monica smirked. ‘And you accuse me of being a whore? Do you open your legs for every rich man that crosses your path?’

Harpa’s smile was humorless. ‘People in glass houses, Monica. I mean it…don’t get in contact with either of us ever again and leave our names out of your pathetic interviews. Or I’ll make you sorry.’

She turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her. In the elevator, she sucked in deep breaths. Her anger was a wild, burning thing that would not abate and even when she saw Mikah, she almost growled at him until he put his arms around her and would not let go. They stayed locked together, out in the middle of the sidewalk, people eyeing them curiously as they moved around them.

Harpa closed her eyes and leaned against Mikah’s solid, warm chest. He stroked her back gently, rhythmically until she felt calmness descend on her. She looked up into his eyes.

‘It’s over, it’s all done. Monica confirmed what she said. I’m not a Malhotra, it seems, I’m a Chowdry.’

Mikah frowned. ‘Isn’t that the name of…?’

‘Yep. Naveen Chowdry is my half-brother.’ She looked at her watch. ‘We have to get on a plane to New Orleans.’

Mikah nodded. ‘Although I think Cos wouldn’t mind if you wanted to give the opening a miss.’

Harpa looked away, and when she spoke, her voice was gravelly. ‘I’m not going to see Cosima. I’m going to see Naveen.’

Naveen slowly put down the phone, confused and unsettled. Sabine, naked, fresh from the shower, wandered into the bedroom, towel-drying her hair. She caught his awkward posture, the way he was staring at the screen of his phone. ‘What’s up?’

He looked at her unseeing for a moment then focused. ‘I’m not sure. Mikah Ray just called me and asked me to meet him before the opening.’

Sabine stopped. ‘Who is Mikah Ray?’

‘Harpa Malhotra’s boyfriend. An art dealer from Seattle. I’ve met him a few times – that was before he knew Harpa though.’

‘Did he say what he wants?’

‘Just that he needs to talk to me today. He’s flying into New Orleans in a couple of hours.’

Sabine lost interest and shrugged. She began to dress then stopped. ‘Wait…before the opening? You’re going to the opening of the LaBelle?’

Naveen met her gaze steadily. ‘Yes. I was invited.’

‘Oh.’

Naveen smothered a smile. ‘I would ask you to accompany me but, in light of your history with Arlo Forrester…’

Sabine gave him a weak smile. ‘Plus I had his girlfriend attacked. Probably not the most popular girl with those two.

‘Probably not.’ Naveen touched her face. ‘Do I detect a hint of remorse?’

Sabine rolled her eyes but then grinned shyly. ‘You know what? Yes. I was jealous. Crazy jealous…I mean…look at her. Gorgeous, brilliant and sweet. Ugh.’ But she laughed. ‘I honestly don’t know what I was thinking because now I get why Arlo just fell for her. That utter and complete feeling when you’re wiped out by love. You make me feel like that.’

Naveen pulled her to him. ‘You are a viper, Ms. Karlsson, a conniving, slippery pit viper but I have to admit…you’re intoxicating. We both of us have done things or planned things that are the worst that people can do. How about we try and make amends for that – together?’

She studied him, and he saw mistrust in her eyes. ‘Sabine…are you really that damaged that you cannot trust a man telling you he loves you?’

Sabine’s eye filled with tears. ‘I guess I am…but I don’t want to be, Nav. I want to trust myself that this is different, that I don’t care how much money you have, or status or connections. This is new for me, wanting to be with a man for him…even with Arlo, although I did love him, without everything he had, I doubt I would have felt this strongly.’ She pressed her lips to his. ‘Darling, can you trust that I love you for you?’

Naveen smiled, cradling her face in his. ‘Why don’t we both try and see?’

‘Where’s Cos?’

Jack was sitting in the small diner where Arlo had suggested they meet, a half-empty glass of soda in front of him. Arlo, his tie pulled open, his jacket off sipped his coffee. ‘Back at the hotel. She’s distracting herself with work…she’s hoping Harpa will call her or turn up tonight.’

‘It’s not Cosima’s fault, any of this.’

Arlo shrugged. ‘I know…and I’m sure Harpa knows that but I can imagine what’s going through her head right now. Cosima is Arjun’s daughter, Harpa loved her Dad as much as Cos did but now she finds out…Mikah called me earlier. Harpa went down to Frisco to confront her mother. He was waiting outside Monica’s hotel for them to finish when I last spoke to him. God, that woman…’

‘Piece of work, isn’t she? You know, she never once got in touch when the girls were being threatened, asked how they were, if enough was being done to protect them. She just didn’t give a crap.’

Arlo made a disgusted noise. ‘God, just when I think we’re getting back on track, something else happens.’

Jack nodded but was silent. ‘Changing the subject…you two made any firm plans for the Frisco move?’

Arlo shook his head. ‘All I know is that we definitely won’t be going while Monica’s in town. Cosima is contacting a lawyer to see if she can get a restraining order on her mother ever contacting her again. She knows it’s a long shot because there’s no physical threat but she says it’s worth a try.’

‘Unless there’s money in it, I doubt Monica will be in touch again. Not that that’s any consolation in this case. Any idea who Harpa’s real dad is?’

‘None.’ Arlo shook his head. ‘Damn it, I feel so useless. If she were coming after me, I’d throw every legal thing at her but when it’s not my call…anyway. You’ll still come tonight?’

‘Of course. After that, though, I’m probably being reassigned…now the international and political threat to the girls has gone, it’s unlikely they’ll fund any more protection. But you’ve got it from here, right?’

‘You have my word. Until we find Cos’s abductor, I won’t rest. I already have people out looking for him…it would help if you could spare any information?’

Jack smiled. ‘All I know, that I can tell you, you know already. The guys didn’t find anything at the house where Cosima was held – dude wiped the place clean and the ownership was buried so deep in false papers we’ll never know. I promise, though, anything I think of, I’ll let you know.’

‘I appreciate it.’ Arlo glanced at his watch. ‘Look, I have to get going – see you tonight?’

‘Count on it.’

Late afternoon and as Arlo got home, he heard the shower running. Smiling, he walked towards the bathroom, pulling his clothes off and leaving them where they fell.

Cosima jumped slightly as he pulled open the shower door and stepped into the cubicle with her. She grinned at him, her hair soapy with shampoo. ‘Hey, gorgeous.’

He kissed her mouth then let his lips trailing down to her throat. ‘Hey yourself, beautiful.’ He cupped her full breasts in his hands and then smoothed his hands down over her curves. ‘Everything all set for this evening.’

Cosima’s hands were in his hair, her fingers knotting in the dark strands. She nuzzled her nose to his. ‘All set. All done. It’s going to be great…I tried to take a peek at the new signage and was batted away by Mac.’

Arlo grinned. ‘You’re so impatient. I told you I wanted one thing to surprise you with…’

Cosima was ignoring him, tilting her head up for a kiss. ‘We have a few hours left…what shall we do?’

He grinned and pulled her against him, sliding his hands down to cup her butt. ‘Well, if I remember rightly, there a basket of toys in our closet which haven’t seen the light of day for a while…wanna play?’

Cosima grinned. ‘Oh hell, yes I do…’

They finished showering and then Arlo was lifting her into his arms and carrying her to their bed…she protested as he dropped her onto the bed, still wet. Arlo dropped on top of her, pinning her hands to the bed.

‘I love it when your skin is wet, it glows…in fact, let me get the basket because I remember some special oil…’

He found the basket and took out the small bottle of monoi oil. He dripped some into her navel then smoothed it over the rest of her belly and her breasts with his warm palms. Cosima sighed happily as his hand dipped between her legs and he began to massage the oil into her sex, feeling her dampen, her labia swell and redden at his touch.

‘Sweet, sweet Cosima…I’m going to fuck you so hard right now…first with my tongue on your clit, as I fuck you with that big dildo that we have yet to use…then I would like you to suck me until I come….then my cock is going to nail you to this bed, and this floor…’

Cosima moaned with arousal and excitement as he dropped to his knees between her legs. ‘You have the prettiest little cunt, my darling,’ Arlo smiled lazily up at her before his tongue found her clit, already sensitive and trembling. His tongue lashed around it, his teeth grazing the small bud. His fingers dug into the flesh of her inner thighs, pushing them apart.

Cosima gasped as Arlo slowly inserted the dildo into her vagina, the friction of his tongue working her into a frenzy as the toy filled her. Arlo slammed it in hard and Cosima cried out as he worked the toy, teasing her with it before plunging the length of it in. Her back arched as she came and he quickly moved to grab the silken rope from the basket and using it to tie her hands in front of her. Her eyes were alive with passion, almost delirious with pleasure. She cupped his cock in her hands; it was already engorged and throbbing and jerked when she gently ran her fingertips down the long shaft. Before she took him in her mouth, she looked up at him.

‘Tell me what you want to do, Mr. Forrester…’ Then her warm, wet lips enveloped him, taking him deep, the gentle sucking motion enhanced by her tongue teasing the tip, licking the salty pre-cum from the head, her hands fisting the root of his cock. Her other hand massaged his balls and Arlo sighed at her touch.

‘The things I want to do with you, to you, Cosima Malhotra…I want to fuck your perfect cunt until you scream, kiss and taste every delicious part of you, suck your delicate nipples, bite the soft mound of your belly, wrap your thighs around my head. I want to put that rope tighter and have you completely at my mercy as I fuck your perfect ass.’

Cosima moaned at the thought, and her mouth grew quicker on his cock, her pull harder, drawing him close. He tangled his fingers in her long dark hair. ‘I want us to fuck like animals, hard, dirty, fast then slow and sensual like lovers. I want to spill my seed onto your belly and massage it into your skin. I want to fuck you against the cold glass of the big windows in the living room, taking you from behind, pressing your breasts and belly to the cool glass so everyone can see your breathtaking loveliness.’

He felt his cock thicken to a painful extreme and knew he was close. ‘Cosima…my love…my life…’ He came, and she swallowed his seed down as it shot onto her tongue. He couldn’t wait any longer and push her back onto the bed, pushing her knees to her chest so her swollen, red, wet cunt was laid bare to him. He plunged into her, as deep as was possible, and his balls were hard against her butt as his cock slammed into the center of her. God, the way her muscles tightened around his cock made him almost frenzied. Her hands still tied stroked his stomach, her mouth sought his hungrily. Her legs curled around his chest as he slammed into her, her back bending with the effort. He felt her vagina contracted around his cock, become warm and she shuddered and whimpered with an overwhelming orgasm. It was the perfect sound to his ears and he felt himself peak again, shooting hot, sticky cum deep into her womb.

As they recovered, he pulled her on top of him, released her hands then tied them again behind her back. She grinned down at him. ‘You like tying me up, don’t you?’

He nodded, still breathless, his fingertips tracing patterns on her belly. ‘As much as it sounds caveman-like, I like that you’re entirely mine when we make love. When we fuck…’

Cosima smiled. ‘That’s better…I do love you but damn it, Forrester, we fuck, and we fuck hard…that’s us, that’s what we do. You nail me to the freakin’ bed and I love every moment of being yours when we’re in bed.’

Arlo grinned. ‘Good. Now be a good little girl and sit on my cock, would you?’

Cosima laughed. ‘My pleasure, sir…would you be so kind as to help guide you in…my hands are a little tied up.’

As he spread her labia with his big fingers, she lowered herself back onto his already hard cock and sighed happily. ‘Consider this hotel duly christened….oh god, Arlo….that’s so good…’

Naveen Chowdry made his way down to the hotel bar where he had agreed to meet Mikah Ray. When he got there, however, he was surprised to see not Mikah, but Harpa Malhotra waiting for him. The young woman stood, and he could see she was trembling. She didn’t look much older than when he’d last seen her, nearly twenty years previously. He had been so preoccupied with Cosima then, and had dismissed her younger sister, but he could see now she had grown into a beauty; dark hair, dark eyes, slim but curvy figure. He held out his hand, and she shook it.

‘You remember me then,’ she said in a soft voice.

‘Of course, Harpa, it’s very nice to see you. Shall we sit and you can tell me what you needed to see me for. Can I get you a drink?’

When their drinks were brought to the table, Harpa took a big gulp of her cocktail then winced as the tequila hit the back of her throat. She glanced at the patiently waiting man with a half-smile. ‘Thanks for not killing my sister.’

Nav inclined his head. ‘It would have been a tragedy and one brought about by petty jealousy and age-old grudges that are no longer relevant to my or your lives.’

‘Yes.’

A long silence then Harpa, in a half-broken voice, spoke. ‘So, I don’t know if you’ve heard…my mother – ‘ she spat the word ‘ – gave an interview in which she said that I am not the biological daughter of Arjun Malhotra. My dad is not my dad.’

Nav shook his head. ‘I hadn’t heard, no.

Harpa shrugged. ‘That’s not surprising unless you were an involved party or a reader of some of the gutter press.’

Nav smiled. ‘Not really.’

Harpa took another slug of her Margarita. ‘The thing is…you are involved. At least, that’s what my mother says.’

Nav laughed. ‘Harpa, I may be older than you, but I assure you, I am not your father.’

Harpa gazed steadily at him. ‘Not you. Your father. Iqbal.’

The smile faded from Nav’s face. ‘No, that isn’t possible.’

‘According, to my mom, it is. We’re brother and sister, Nav.’

Nav shook his head. ‘No. Look, my father worshiped my mother, there’s no way…’

He trailed off, and Harpa looked sympathetic. ‘I know how you feel. Look, the quickest way to settle this is a DNA test.’

‘No,’ said Nav shortly, ‘the quickest way to settle this is to go to the source. We’re going to see my father.’

Cosima grabbed Jack as he arrived, a relieved look on her face and handed him a flute of champagne. ‘Thank God, Jack, I’m surrounded by Arlo’s business associates who either ignore me or can’t stop staring at the ladies.’ She indicated her chest and rolled her eyes. ‘How Arlo puts up with them, I do not know.’

‘Do they stare at his breasts too?’ Jack said with a mockingly innocent look on his face. He grinned and she laughed.

‘I hope so, and then he’d know how I feel. Thanks for coming, though, I mean it, it’s good to see you.’

‘Anytime, sweetheart, you know that.’ He held her gaze for a beat too long, and she colored and changed the subject. They were in the reception room of the hotel, a room now filled with businessmen, journalists, local celebrities.

‘Lord knows if Harpa is going to turn up, or Mikah or Nav. Tal’s coming later with the others.’

‘Naveen Chowdry’s coming?’

She nodded, searching his face. ‘Yes. I invited him. Problem?’

Jack shook his head. ‘I do not trust that guy. Who spends years fixated on killing someone then changes his mind, just like that? It doesn’t make sense.’

Cosima sighed. ‘That’s what Arlo thinks too, but I’ve had enough of this unpleasantness for a lifetime. I’m choosing to believe he’s changed, that he’s my childhood friend again.’

Jack again shook his head, taking a sip of his champagne. ‘Don’t blame me if you end with a bullet in your gut.’

Cosima flinched, and he regretted his harsh words. ‘Sorry, Cos, I didn’t mean that. Just…for me, for Arlo…be vigilant, okay? I couldn’t bear it for anyone else to hurt you, I just couldn’t.’

She touched his face briefly. ‘Jack…’

‘Hello, hello.’ Tal appeared behind Jack, grinning widely. ‘Cosima, this place is a triumph.’ He kissed her on both cheeks then stuck his hand out to Jack, and they shook as Cosima introduced them. Jack excused himself then wandered around the room, out into the lobby. Although he’d now been here many times, he never stopped marveling at the renovation Cosima had masterminded. The hotel, full of Orleans flavor was finely balanced with a classic, elegant French atmosphere while incorporating state of the art technology. Talmidge Hunt was right; this place was a triumph.

Jack finished his champagne and went to grab another, looking for Arlo or Cosima, but finding the place full of strangers instead. He turned and stopped when he saw a blonde woman slide silently into the room. Jack’s mouth popped open in amazement. What the hell was she doing here? He stood back, never taking his eyes of the newcomer, waiting to see the next move she would make.

Sabine Karlsson told herself again, and it would be okay. Naveen had called her, told her he had to suddenly leave town on business. It had taken her no more than a few minutes to decide to come to the opening, use Naveen’s invite. The doorman hadn’t blinked.

The hotel was gorgeous; she had to begrudgingly admit, as she wandered around. She kept her eye out for Arlo…she was really here for Cosima. She reckoned the younger woman would be more receptive to her. Ha, you’re kidding, right? You had her stabbed, you psycho.Sabine grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a big swig.

There was Cosima, all elegant, a dark red dress that fell halfway down her thigh and that clung to every curve, her dark hair piled up on her head, minimal make-up except for a deep red lipstick. As jealous as she was, Sabine could appreciate true beauty, and it shone from every cell in Cosima’s body. She would have been a fantastic model if she’d been taller,’ Sabine, thought, critically. She could see a little of Monica Lascelles in Cosima’s face, but Cosima’s face was softer, kinder, sweeter than Monica’s had ever been.

Draining her glass for courage, Sabine moved slowly to Cosima’s side. The other woman didn’t see her at first, but as she turned to Sabine, her smile faded.

‘Sabine.’

Sabine gave a slight smile. ‘Hello, Cosima.’

Cosima’s face hardened. ‘I don’t remember inviting you.’ She took a deep breath. ‘But seeing as you are here, welcome.’

She started to move away, but Sabine caught her arm. ‘Cosima, please, please just give me a moment.’

Sabine let go of Cosima’s arm; then noticed the jagged scar on her forearm. She touched it with a finger. ‘For this, I am truly sorry. I mean it. For years, I have been behaving badly, with no-one to check me, no-one to reel me in. I take full responsibility; however, I don’t know what possessed me. I’m sorry.’

Cosima studied her, her eyes wary then she gave a brief nod.

Sabine smiled. ‘Thank you. That’s all I came here to say, I won’t keep you. It’s just now that I am seeing Naveen – and I know you have reached a peace between you – we may run into each other from time to time. I don’t want it to be awkward.’

Cosima sighed. ‘Fine.’ She chewed her lip. ‘You modeled with my mother on some shoots, didn’t you?’

Sabine nodded and Cosima half-smiled. ‘Utter bitch, isn’t she?’

Sabine wasn’t expecting that and burst out laughing; Cosima had to join in eventually. Sabine wiped her eyes. ‘Sadly, yes. The apple fell a long way from the tree, though.’

‘Thank you. Look, there’s food later, after the official sign…disrobing, is that what it’s called? Anyway, the ceremonial bit – Arlo’s so excited, he’s like a kid. Stay, have some food, meet some people.’

‘Maybe we can meet for coffee sometime?’

Cosima smiled. ‘Maybe. Look, I need to find Arlo, we’re about to start.’

After Cosima had gone, Sabine felt a satisfaction settle inside of her. Yes. A new life. A new woman, that’s what I’ll be. She considered Cosima’s offer and decided to take her up on it. She wandered around, trying to see anyone she knew; a blonde man she faintly recognized was talking to a short man who looked like he didn’t belong there – maybe one of the construction workers. She saw Arlo the other side of the room but didn’t feel like dealing with him tonight. He might ruin her buzz. Instead, she aimed for a group of businessmen who looked bored and turned on every last bit of the Sabine Karlsson charm.

Mikah had tried to convince Harpa not to go with Naveen, but when she refused, he gave up and told her – ‘I’m coming with you.’ Now they were on a flight which took them from Los Angeles to Mumbai, a grueling nearly twenty-four-hour journey. Harpa also refused to call Cosima to tell her where she was going. Mikah reasoned with her.

‘None of this is Cos’s fault,’ he said again and again, but Harpa merely shook her head.

‘This has nothing to do with Cos – and I’m not blaming her for anything, it’s just something I have to resolve on my own. If I told Cos, she would go into Mother Hen mode, and I’m old enough to sort this out myself. Cos’s had to deal with enough. I will call her when things are settled.’

She also banned him from texting Arlo, whipping his phone out her hand. ‘For the next few days we are incommunicado,’ she said firmly, ‘or I don’t want you to come.’

He’d reluctantly agreed to that too. Now she was curled up asleep on one of the airline’s business class beds – Naveen had insisted on paying for all three of them despite Mikah’s protestations. The other man sat reading a book across from Mikah, and he took the time to really observe him.

The truth was he could see similarities between Naveen and Harpa. The shape of their eyes, the quick smile, the chin dimple. It had never even occurred to Mikah when he’d seen photos of Arjun and Monica that neither of them shared the same trait.

Naveen felt his scrutiny and looked up. ‘Something the matter?’

‘Not at all. Forgive me, I was comparing and contrasting. Naveen…’ Mikah leaned forward. ‘Deep down…you know this is true, right?’

Naveen sighed. ‘I do…but I need to hear it from my father’s lips.’

Mikah raised his eyebrows. ‘What if he didn’t know?’

Naveen closed his book and set it aside. ‘I don’t that is possible. I think he knew all along but couldn’t say anything. I think that’s the reason he hated Arjun so much, why he wanted Cosima killed. Revenge. Now that I think about it, he never once said anything about Harpa – his wrath was for Arjun and his offspring. My father was directly involved with Arjun’s murder. He must have known.’

Mikah rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘Naveen…will Harpa be safe in Mumbai?’

‘I guarantee it, Mikah. No-one will touch her.’

Mikah glanced over to his sleeping girlfriend. ‘If anything ever happened to her…’

Naveen nodded. ‘Regardless of whether she is my sister or not and I think she is, then she will be well protected.’ He glanced over at her. ‘It’ll take some time to get used to.’

Mikah noticed how warm Naveen’s tone was when he spoke about Harpa. ‘I worry what it’ll do to Harpa and Cosima’s relationship. Your father being involved with murdering Arjun is bound to have some effect.’

‘Yes. But I cannot do anything about that, I’m afraid. What’s done is done.’

Naveen went back to his book then, and Mikah decided to try and grab some sleep. Boy, if he had known what he was getting involved with when he agreed to have dinner with his friend that day in Harpa’s restaurant…

Wouldn’t change a thing. Not a thing. Because when it came down to it, he was in love with the young woman asleep across the aisle from him. One day soon, he hoped that she would allow him to tell her just how much she meant to him. Something told him she would need him in the next few days, and he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else than by her side.

Arlo called for the attention of the gathered guests and led them outside to the front of the hotel where the hotel’s new sign was draped with a curtain. He made a speech, thanking them for coming, praising the efforts and professionalism of the contractors (most of which were listening and cheered when he mentioned them). Smiling, he congratulated Tal and his company and raised a glass to the elderly architect.

‘Finally, the most important person on this project. The most important person in my life. Cosima Malhotra had led this project from the beginning, finding the old LaBelle and seeing its potential. She is the reason that wherever you go in this building, you see her masterful touch in every painting, every fixture, and fitting, every fabric. She is the reason that we are booked solid for the next year. She is the reason I breathe in and out every day. Cosima, come up here, darling and take your due.’ He held out a hand to the furiously blushing Cosima and led her to the front.

Cheers and applause – the loudest from her co-workers and the workmen she had supervised over all those months. Arlo leaned to kiss her cheek, murmuring, ‘I love you, baby. I hope you enjoy the surprise…’

He grinned at her bemusement and then grabbed the rope of the curtain. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, we say goodbye to the old LaBelle…and welcome you all to the L’ Atelier Cosima…’

He pulled the rope sharply and the curtain fell, revealing the new name, scrolled on a beautiful sign above the main entrance. The crowd burst into loud applause.

L’ Atelier Cosima

Cosima’s hands flew to her mouth, stunned, overwhelmed. Arlo laughed at her shock. ‘Gotcha,’ he said and kissed her thoroughly to the delight of the crowd.

Afterward, people came up to them both and congratulated them, and Cosima didn’t have time to let the surprise sink in. It wasn’t until Tal hugged her and said, ‘Well, I’ve never had a colleague have their project named after them before.’

Cosima shook her head, laughing. ‘I’m so shocked, Tal. He didn’t give an inkling that he was planning this, not a clue.’

She finally managed to get Arlo alone, pulling around the corner of the hotel into the alleyway. She kissed him then looked up at him with shining eyes. ‘Thank you, my love, for the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I can’t believe it.’

Arlo tightened his arms around her. ‘You’re welcome, my love, my Cosima. It was only fitting that your masterpiece should bear your name. I should say, your first masterpiece. Notwithstanding this fine body of yours,’ he grinned, and kissing her, running his hands down her body. ‘This dress is something else, but I can’t wait to take it off you.’

Cosima chuckled. ‘You have a one-track mind.’ She smiled, but her eyes were suddenly sad. ‘I wish Harpa were here.’

‘I know, baby, but she has to do what she has to do.’

Cosima nodded. ‘I just hope she forgives me.’

‘For what? Your mother being an adulterer?’

Cosima shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to spoil our night. Come on, let’s get back to the party.’

As they made their way back to the lobby of the hotel, a journalist stopped Cosima and asked her if she had any comment on the interview her mother had given. Arlo started to protest, but Cosima stopped him and smiled at the young woman.

‘Actually,’ she said, ‘I do. Come and have a drink and we’ll talk.’

Harpa stood under the cold shower, trying to shake off the jetlag. Mumbai was even more beautiful than she remembered – the little she saw of it in the cab ride to the hotel. She was so tired, her eyes kept closing, and her head would fall onto Mikah’s shoulder. In the end, he’d chuckled and said, ‘Sleep, baby. We have plenty of time.’

She’d woken up in a sumptuous, thankfully air-conditioned hotel bedroom, Mikah beside her, reading. She’d forgotten how hot the city was at this time of year, and now she felt gross and dirty from the heat and the plane journey.

Walking back into the bedroom, naked, the air-con cooled her skin. She pulled on panties and a cotton dress. Mikah was working on his laptop. He looked and smiled at her. ‘There are pictures of the opening on the news sites if you want to look at them?’

Harpa hesitated then shook her head. ‘After.’

Mikah nodded, understanding. ‘Of course. Let’s go get some breakfast, Nav’s already down there.’

Nav. My brother. She had been thinking about that the whole time she was awake, on the plane. She’d even pretended to be asleep so she could study the man from beneath half closed eyes. She still couldn’t believe they shared some DNA.

Nav met them with a smile. ‘The breakfast buffet is here is out of this world,’ he said, steering towards tables laid out with every kind of food; Indian, American, European. ‘Caters for every taste.’

Harpa fell on the food, but Mikah looked a little lost. Harpa grinned at him. ‘Try that one,’ she pointed at a curry dish. Nav laughed loudly.

‘Don’t listen to her; that’s Misal – for the uninitiated, it can be intense. Try the Sali Par Edu, it’s like a potato chip omelet with chili.’

Mikah grinned. ‘Thanks for the tip. I’ll remember that, munchkin,’ he murmured to a giggling Harpa.

The coffee was hot and strong, but Harpa went for the chai. The men laughed at her blissed-out face. ‘There’s nothing like Indian food in India,’ she said, ‘the spices are more intense, fruitier, hotter, the sweetness is intense…god, I have missed this place.’

‘How old were you the last time you came here?’ Nav was tucking into a fiery looking curry, scooping it up with roti.

‘Ten,’ she said, and swallowed, looking at him. ‘About two months later, my father was blown to pieces. The man I thought was my father.’

‘I know.’ Nav put down his fork. ‘Harpa, if I could turn back time…’

‘We’ll get answers later. I assume you’ve called your…our…father, set up the meeting.’

‘Yes,’ Nav resumed eating, ‘Although he thinks it’s just me. We’re more likely to get the truth out of him if he’s caught off guard.’

Harpa concentrated on her food for a moment. Mikah finished his breakfast and sat back, sipping his coffee. ‘What’s your read on what he’ll do?’

Nav shrugged. ‘I honestly don’t know…my father doesn’t have the power or the position he thinks he does in his own mind. There was a time when his word was almost law in certain circles. Now he’s just an old, angry man.’

‘Impotent rage,’ Harpa muttered, and Nav smiled.

‘Quite.’

Harpa glanced at her watch. ‘What time is he expecting you?’

‘Eleven a.m.

Harpa blew out a long breath. ‘Well, then. I guess we’ll soon know how this pans out.’

Harpa found herself trembling violently as they drove towards Iqbal Chowdry’s home. The man lived in an affluent suburb in South Mumbai and on the short journey, Harpa’s hands began to sweat. The fact Nav didn’t know how his father would react made her nervous. She began to imagine the worst scenarios…Iqbal, outraged, gunning them all down in his anger. She glanced at Mikah and wished she’d insisted he stay at the hotel, safe, out of reach.

Nav squeezed her hand as they got out of the car at the apartment complex. ‘Remember, he’s just an old man now. Don’t be scared. If he gets nasty, we’re out of here, and he will have lost a son as well as a daughter.’

She smiled gratefully at him as they walked into the plush lobby of the luxury building. Mikah whistled as he looked around the interior.

‘This is something else…’

Harpa half-smiled. ‘Cos would love it here.’ She realized how much she missed her sister being part of this…but even though the threat had been lifted, she knew Cosima would be in danger here, still, the anger still raw among the older generation.

Iqbal’s maid opened the door, and her eyes popped when she saw all three of them but led them into the living room. Iqbal was sitting at his desk, writing, and he too looked surprised to see them all. He stood and greeted his son. Nav took care to introduce Mikah first then Harpa saw him take a deep breath.

‘Father…this is Harpa Malhotra.’

Iqbal blinked, and Harpa saw the battle in his mind – was it because he knew she was his daughter or was it the fact a hated Malhotra was in his home? Finally, he nodded, gave her the hint of a smile. ‘Welcome, Harpa. It has been a long time.’

Neutral. She couldn’t read his mood. Damn…

‘Thank you, Mr. Chowdry. It has been a long time since I was back home.’ She kept all recrimination out of her voice.

Iqbal recovered himself. ‘Please sit, we’ll have some tea.’

Harpa felt Mikah take her hand and was grateful for it. Nav glanced at him then turned to his father.

‘Dad…we’ve come because we have to ask you something. Something important and I would ask you, as your only son, for you to be honest with us.’

The wary look was back in his father’s eyes, but he nodded. ‘If I can.’

Nav took a deep breath. ‘Here it is….Monica Lascelles has claimed that you, and not Arjun Malhotra, are Harpa’s biological father. Are you aware of her claims?’

‘I am.’

Harpa couldn’t bear the tension. ‘Is it true?’ Her voice was soft but heavy with emotion. Iqbal gazed at her, and a small smile played on his lips.

‘Yes.’

Harpa let out the breath she was holding in and with the rush of air, tears popped into her eyes and she crumbled. Mikah hugged her to him. Iqbal got up and walked to her side, Nav getting up so he could sit next to his daughter.

‘Harpa,’ Iqbal said softly, ‘Your mother told me at the time that she had fallen pregnant. We argued. I was afraid the affair would become common knowledge, that my position in the community would become untenable. My wife….my beloved wife…was the one with the family connections, not me and if it became knowledge, then she would leave me. But I wanted to be part of your life. Your father…I mean, Arjun, would not permit it. As for as he was concerned, you were his daughter. At first, I was resigned, but as you grew, I became resentful, angry. When my wife died suddenly, I went to him, told him I wanted my daughter back. He refused. Then the families started warring and I was on the opposite side to your grandfather and your father. When he was exiled, he sent you away, and I knew I would never see you again.’

Harpa studied him. His old eyes were full of remorse – and of hope. Hope that she would be part of his life. Harpa looked away from him.

‘Did you kill my dad?’

‘I did not. But neither was I ignorant that it was going to happen.’

Harpa swallowed and closed her eyes. ‘And my sister? Why was she targeted for so long?’ She glanced at Nav who nodded.

‘Yes, Dad, and I was as much to blame for that…. I just got caught up in the frenzy of anti-Malhotra feeling. But I too would like to know why Cosima was such a threat.’

Iqbal hesitated. ‘Because she was Arjun’s daughter and he had taken my own daughter from me. So…if I couldn’t have my daughter, then neither should he.’

Harpa felt sick. ‘And her kidnapping earlier this year? Was that your people?’

Iqbal shook his head. ‘No, and I have made extensive investigations within our circle but no-one is admitting anything, and I think the threat must have come from outside.’

They all sat in silence for a time. ‘Did you love my mom?’

‘I was enchanted for a time. To my great regret, I was not strong enough to resist her charms.’

Harpa gave a humorless laugh. ‘She has that effect.’

‘I take it you are not close.’

‘No, we are not. In fact, I don’t plan on ever being the same room as her ever again.’ Harpa’s voice was getting higher now, angry, the rush of emotions an unstoppable torrent. She stood up and paced.

The three men in the room were silent as she stalked about the room. When finally she stood still, she looked at Iqbal. ‘Arjun was my dad, even if he wasn’t my father.’

Iqbal nodded. ‘Understood. Look, Harpa, I do not expect anything from you except perhaps we can be friends.’

Harpa gazed at him, still conflicted. ‘I don’t know, Iqbal. I really don’t.’

He smiled gently. ‘Shall we try?’

She hesitated and then nodded. Iqbal’s shoulders relaxed. ‘Thank you. Now, as my guests, you will stay for lunch, yes?’

Saturday morning and Cosima woke up late, with the faintest hangover banging around her head. She wasn’t a big drinker but last night had been such a triumph, such a landmark day in her personal and professional life that she threw caution to the wind. Of course, most of the drinking had occurred later, alone with Arlo, most of the champagne being sprayed all over her body and then licked off by him slowly until she was screaming his name. Then his huge, pumping cock had sent her into heaven, again and again, late into the night.

She slipped out of bed and into the shower, feeling the relief of being clean again after the hot night. Throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, she wandered out into the living room to find Arlo had left her a message. Going out to get fresh bagels, be back soon. I love you, A.

She wondered how the rest of the hotel was coping with the sudden influx of customers. Today was the first day that the whole hotel was open for business and Cosima suddenly wondered at the wisdom of living above it; she hoped the manager they had hired was proficient and didn’t keep bothering them with problems. The woman, Ellie, had been their first pick; college degree, experience, and a warm, efficient manner. Her references had been glowing, and Cosima liked her immensely.

Five minutes later, Arlo came through the door, grinning. ‘Good morning, beauty.’ He kissed her then showed her the bags. ‘I got pre-filled ones because I was feeling lazy.’

‘Good idea.’ She slipped her arms around his waist. ‘Today should be all about lazy.’

‘I agree.’

They ate at the table next to the vast window that looked out over New Orleans, and Cosima told him about her concerns they might be living too close to work. She grinned while she was telling him but he nodded. ‘Hey, I’ve been wondering about that too. Sweetheart, we talked about San Francisco a while back…what are your feelings on it now?’

Cosima took a bite of her bagel as she considered. ‘As long as my wretched mother isn’t still there,’ she joked but then nodded. ‘I like the idea that we can go anywhere, anytime now and I really would like to see where you grew up. And meet Margaret of course. Do you have any real family left?’

‘A couple of cousins. One’s in the music business; the other lives in Lima. You might meet Dash, though, he’s a riot.’

‘And you’ve already met all of my family. I wish you could have met my dad.’

‘And I wish you could have met Mason. My brother would have adored you.’

She nudged his shoulder with her own. ‘I guess, if we want a bigger family, we’re going to have to make our own.’ She realized what she said and colored. ‘Not that I mean…’

‘It’s something we should talk about,’ Arlo said evenly. ‘There’s nothing I’d like better than to have kids with you but I get the sense your career comes first.’

She nodded. ‘I’m not ready for them yet, that’s a definite. But yeah, maybe, eventually.’

‘And of course, there’s the little matter of you marrying me.’

She grinned. ‘I remember what you said to me the day you came to New Orleans.’

‘That I was one hundred percent sure I was going to marry you?’

She nodded and laughed. ‘So cocky.’

Arlo grinned. ‘And yet so right. So, tell me, Cosima Malhotra, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?’

Harpa was lost in thought as they drove back to the hotel that afternoon. Lunch had been a pleasant affair, but the conversation was mostly led by Mikah talking to Iqbal about the art that hung on his walls. Harpa was grateful – yet again – for her lover’s understanding and patience. Really there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, she realized. Oh, how much I love you, she thought now, looking at his handsome face, his ear-splitting smile as he chatted easily to Naveen. Her brother. She giggled, and the two men looked at her.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘I think it just hit me. I have a brother as well as a sister.’

Naveen checked her cheek with his finger. ‘You do. It’s weird for me too, given our mutual family histories. So much blood and anger.’

Harpa nodded. ‘But we can start to make up for it.’

‘I’ll drink to that.’

Back at the hotel, Harpa and Mikah arranged to meet Nav later for drinks, but as they headed back up to the room, Mikah turned to her. ‘When we get back to the room, there’s something I want you to do before we take a nap…or whatever we decide to do. He grinned wickedly, but his eyes were serious.

‘What’s that?’

‘Your mother isn’t the only one who can give interviews. Last night, at the opening, your sister gave a pretty lengthy interview to a journalist, and it’s something else. Something special. You need to read it.’

In the room, he handed her his iPad, and she sat, a lump already forming in her throat. First, she looked at the pictures; Cosima looking radiant, her dark red dress hugging her curves, and the look of surprise when the new hotel name was unveiled. Harpa smiled; it had been so hard not to reveal the secret that Arlo had confided in her. She remembered that conversation clearly.

‘I’m worried she’ll think it’s cheesy,’ he had told her, and Harpa had laughed.

‘It is cheesy, but the good kind. You, Arlo, are not cheesy and so Cos won’t suspect a thing. And it is a beautiful name and a lovely tribute.’

Harpa flicked to the interview – at first, it was just about the hotel, but then the interviewer got personal…

‘So, obviously, we have to talk about your mother’s interview…did you have any idea she would say the things she did?’

Cosima smiles at me, and I’m struck by the friendly manner with which she approaches a difficult subject. ‘To be honest,’ she says, without a hint of malice, ‘I’m kind of used to my mother being vitriolic. The things she said about me? I could not care less. The people who know me, the people I love know who I am. No-one else’s opinion matters to me. What I cannot forgive is what she did to my beloved sister. What decent person does that?

‘Have you spoken to your sister about it?’

She looks away from me and hesitates. ‘Yes. She’s hurt. Upset. Wouldn’t you be?’

‘What would you say to her if she was here, right now?’

Cosima Malhotra looks me steadily in the eye. ‘I would tell her: Blood isn’t a bond, love is a bond.’

Harpa’s eyes spilled over with tears, and she began to sob, all the tension of the past days flooding out. Mikah said nothing, just took the iPad from her and wrapped his arms around her.

‘Is now an appropriate time, Harpa Malhotra, to tell you that I love you?’

Laughing and crying, she looked up into his eyes. ‘Yes…I love you, Mikah Ray, so, so much.’

He kissed her, wiped his big thumbs over her cheeks to catch the tears. ‘Well, good then,’ he grinned. ‘Now, go call your sister.’

Cosima blinked and suddenly flushed. ‘Oh…you’re really asking?’

Arlo laughed. ‘I never wanted to do the one-knee thing; it’s so dated. I thought I might just ask and catch you off guard. The odds are in my favor that way.’

She laughed. ‘Well, in that case…I’ll think about it.’ Arlo groaned, going along with her joke. She leaned in and kissed him. ‘Oh, alright, if I must.’

He grabbed her and started to tickle her mercilessly. ‘I’m going to buy you the biggest, tackiest gumball ring in the world.’

Cosima giggled. ‘Is there such a thing as an engagement cock-ring? Because I think you should have one of those.’

Arlo laughed and pulled her onto the floor, and they rolled around play-wrestling. Finally, laughing too hard to continue, he looked down at her. ‘We’re engaged.’

Cosima grinned. ‘Yes, we are. How grown-up of us.’

He caught her mouth with his, tasting her sweet lips, caressing her tongue with his own. ‘I think we need to celebrate.’

‘I wonder how?’

‘I wonder…’ He got to his feet and pulled her up. ‘Have we fucked in every room yet?’

‘I think we have, but maybe we should start another circuit.’

‘Good idea. Oh darn it,’ Arlo sulked as her cell phone buzzed. Cosima looked at the i.d. then up at him.

‘It’s Harpa,’ she suddenly looked nervous but answered the call anyway. ‘Hey, Bubba, how are you?’

She listened as Harpa spoke, her eyes widening. ‘Really? That’s….I’m not sure how to feel about that, but it’s not my….no….no, of course not. When are you…? Okay. Okay. No, of course, we’ll come to you, I’ll check with Arlo, but I’m sure…yeah.’ She smiled suddenly, a bright beam of light on her face. ‘Okay, honey. I love you. See you soon.’

She ended the call and put her phone down, sighing. ‘So, Harpa…is in India.’

Arlo goggled at her. ‘What?’

Cosima laughed, shaking her head. ‘You are never going to believe what I have to tell you.’

A month later…

‘So the question remains,’ Harpa said, spooning the last of her gelato into her mouth as she and Cosima sat at the little table on the terrace. ‘To meringue or not meringue.’

Cosima grinned. She and Arlo had been here in San Francisco for two weeks and she’d finally been able to spend some time with a vacationing Harpa and the two of them were having a ball, hitting every tourist trap in the city.

‘Definitely not meringue and it’s way too early to think about that. We haven’t set a date yet.’

Harpa shrugged. ‘Why wait? You and Arlo are practically married already.’

Cosima rolled her eyes. ‘Cool your boots, Harp. Let’s talk about what you’re wearing tonight.’

Harpa smiled shyly. ‘I have a beautiful sari that Iqbal sent me. Orange and gold. I think I might wear that.’

Cosima sighed. ‘Lovely…you know, I think it’s great you’re communicating with him. It makes me hopeful for the future.’

‘Our dad will always be our dad,’ Harpa said hurriedly, and Cosima patted her hand.

‘I know. But it can’t hurt.’

Harpa studied her sister. ‘You’re a very forgiving person, Cos. I wish I were more like that. Like that woman Arlo used to date – she has you attacked, and you go for coffee with her.’ She pulled a face and Cosima laughed.

‘Once, Harp, I went for coffee with her once and only because she’s with Nav now and I know it makes him happy. Anyway, I do have news…we’re going to stay in Frisco a little longer than we said. Tal and Arlo have been talking; we’re opening a west coast office of the company.’

Harpa’s eyes grew wide. ‘Wow. Will you be the boss?’

Cosima grinned. ‘Hell, no, it’s still Tal’s company and can you imagine me, a junior architect, being suddenly promoted above the colleagues who had been with him for years, just because I’m boning the major investor? Instant credibility destruction, no thanks.’

‘So…’ and Harpa grinned wickedly, ‘Arlo’s just your boss in the bedroom?’

‘Hey, you better believe I’m the boss, sis.’

They both laughed then Cosima sighed. ‘Can you believe this year? All that’s happened?’

‘Even for us, it’s been a real doozy.’ Harpa looked out over the Bay and shook her head. ‘Incredible highs and seemingly bottomless lows. The worst was when you were gone. I’ll take Mom being a fucking bitch over and over rather than that again.’

Cosima clinked her glass against her sister’s. ‘Cheers to that.’ She checked her wristwatch. ‘What time do we need to pick up Mikah?’

‘Three…listen, I can do that then take him to our hotel. You go home and get ready, it’s your engagement dinner after all. What are you wearing?’

‘Very pale pink tunic dress. Skirt’s way too short but what the hell?’

That’s what I like to hear. The Malhotra girls slutting it up.’ Harpa chuckled. They both got up and started back towards the car then, abruptly, Harpa stopped her sister and threw her arms around her.

‘Thank you for being so understanding about Iqbal, and Nav, I know he’s delighted that you’re friends again. Not just that, thank you for bringing me up, for making me the person I am.’

Cosima hugged her fiercely. ‘You made you the person you are, Harp.’

Arlo had been feeling antsy all day. It wasn’t the party that evening; it wasn’t even the pile of work on his desk. It was just…a feeling. It had started this morning after Cosima had gone to meet Harpa, a sense of, God, just dread. Was it because everything in their lives suddenly seemed settled and happy and right? Was he just being cynical, waiting for the other shoe to drop?

‘Get your head out of your ass,’ he muttered to himself. There was so much to do here, back in his office in San Francisco – it had seemed strange to him to come back here after all those months in New Orleans. Margaret was delighted to have him back, and she and Cosima had immediately gotten along – so much so they would gang up to tease Arlo whenever they could.

He looked up as Margaret came to the door. ‘Just to let you know, Jack Hampton’s plane was delayed so he’ll meet you at the restaurant this evening. Naveen is coming alone – thank God – and Cole and his new wife send their apologies.’

Arlo shrugged. ‘I thought they may not come.’ He’d invited his old friend as a way of beginning to rebuild their friendship after Sabine – he and Cole had met for drinks after work and said their pieces to each other.

‘I wouldn’t take it personally; the baby is due any day,’ Margaret said, sanguine. ‘How’s Cos, is she excited?’

Arlo smiled, his whole body relaxing at her name. ‘Very.’

‘Have you bought that girl a ring yet?’

Arlo chuckled. ‘Believe it or not, she says she doesn’t want one – doesn’t want the appearance of being ‘owned’. God, I love that girl.’

Margaret rolled her eyes. ‘She’s definitely not Sabine.’

‘That she’s not – although she tells me Sabine is a changed woman.’

‘I’ll reserve judgment on that if you don’t mind. Anyway, everything that’s urgent is done…why don’t you go home and enjoy the afternoon?’

He smiled at his friend. ‘You throwing me out?’

‘Yes – and not just because I want to go home and get dressed.’

On the drive back to his apartment, the feeling of dread seeped back into his bones, but he pushed it away. Nothing was wrong, everything was fine.

He forgot all his fears when he saw Cosima, wrapped in a towel, fresh from the shower, her long dark hair hanging in wet strands around her face. Scrubbed clean of make-up, she looked five years younger.

‘What a shame you showered,’ he murmured as he slid his arms around her waist, ‘because I’m about to get you very, very dirty…’

Cosima chuckled as he pulled her towel from her then ran his tongue down her spine. ‘Well, now, that’s a nice idea…oh dear god, Arlo…’

He tumbled her to the carpet and kissed from her throat to her belly. Cosima wriggled with pleasure as he stripped quickly and hitched her legs around his hips and before long, they were moving together in a slow, leisurely motion. Arlo’s thick cock drove into her rhythmically as they kissed, drinking each other in.

Afterward, they showered again and dressed. Arlo wore a dark gray suit that highlighted the salt and pepper hair at his temples, his dark green eyes. Cosima slipped into the pink dress she had bought. It was a loose fit and clouded around her body as she moved. Her caramel-colored legs were shown off by the pale color, and she strapped leather sandals on to complete the look.

‘Gorgeous,’ Arlo approved, and she twirled for him, before kissing him again. ‘You kiss me like that, and we’re going to get all mussed up again.’

Chuckling, Cosima steered him out of the bedroom. ‘Come on, Don Juan, let’s get going.’

At the restaurant, they were greeted by their friends and family and Cosima hugged Jack and Mikah, kissed Harpa. ‘Thank you for being here, it means the world.’

Naveen joined them a little while later. Seated next to Cosima, he leaned over to kiss her cheek.

‘You look radiant, Sima, I’m very happy for you both.’

When Margaret and Tal and Jennifer from her office got there, they ordered wine and food and sat talking. Cosima looked around the table. Everyone I love is here, she thought and sighed happily. Arlo, at the opposite end of the table to her, grinned and mouthed I love you to her. She blew him a kiss and giggled. Jack, on her other side, was talking to Nav and Cosima could see the mistrust still in his eyes. Old habits die hard, she thought.

The food was extraordinary, the wine vintage and flowing and after dinner, Arlo stood to make a toast as the champagne was being poured into flutes and handed around.

‘Friends, thanks for coming tonight to help celebrate with us. It means a great deal to both of us.’ He paused and looked at Cosima. ‘It’s now just over a year that I sat in a restaurant on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean and looked up to see the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. Not just her obvious physical beauty, something shone – and still shines – from her – warmth, love, brilliance. I was lost the moment I saw her.’

‘Cosima, my life began when I met you. Throughout this year you have been through so much, things that a lesser person would not have survived. You are my heroine, for all time, and I love you with every cell in my body, every breath in my lungs. Thank you for the honor you bestow by promising to be my wife. I cannot begin to repay your gift, but I’ll happily spend my whole life trying. Friends, please raise a glass to my beautiful fiancé. To Cosima.’

Everyone smiling raised their glasses towards a furiously blushing and tearful Cosima. ‘To Cosima.’

She couldn’t speak, couldn’t express how she felt at that moment. Instead, she got up and went into Arlo’s arms, and they kissed passionately, not caring who was watching. Their friends cheered and laughed.

During coffee, they all switched seats and Cos finally got to sit next to her sister. ‘That sari is heavenly,’ she said, nodding approvingly at the orange silk, decorated with a hand-stitched gold paisley design.

‘Isn’t it? I forgot how much I loved to wear a sari, so comfortable.’ Harpa’s dark hair was piled on her head and decorated with a Matha Patti, a head chain. Cosima smiled.

‘You’ve inspired me…no meringue, I think I want to get married in traditional dress.’

‘Perfect,’ Harpa looked excited. ‘Wow, can I help choose your sari?’

‘Of course, you’re my maid of honor. Listen…I was thinking…do you think if I asked Nav to give me away, he would?’

Harpa’s smile faded. ‘I think he would…but, Cos,’ she lowered her voice, ‘with the history….don’t you think you should ask Jack? After all, he’s been with us for years; he is part of our family.’

Cosima blinked. ‘I hadn’t even thought of that. Gosh, I feel bad now…perhaps that would be better.’

‘Don’t worry about it tonight,’ her sister said, ‘let’s just enjoy this wonderful evening.’

At eleven p.m., they stood to leave. Walking out, Arlo and Cosima linked hands. ‘Did you have a good time, baby?’ She gazed up at him adoringly, and he grinned, brushing his lips against hers.

‘A great time, sweetheart. We should get engaged more often.’

The restaurant led out onto the sidewalk and the night air was cool. Arlo had arranged limousines to take every back to their hotels, and as they said their goodbyes, Cosima hugged Jack.

‘Thank you for coming, honey, it means so much to me.’

Jack smiled, his gaze intent on hers. ‘My pleasure, Cos…always.’

The trash can across the street exploded. The noise shattered windows and caused everyone to panic.

Then the shooting started. A man, a pistol in his hand, fired rapidly at the group. The smoke from the trash can blinded them all as they tried to duck. Jack grabbed Cosima and pushed her into a limo; Mikah threw himself in front of Harpa. Arlo, shocked, watched from the ground as the limo with Cos and Jack in screeched away from the scene. He felt relief – Cos was safe – but the shooting continued. Suddenly, Naveen, on the ground beside him, swore violently, and Arlo looked to where Mikah, on the ground, had been hit in the shoulder. Naveen was up then, ripping his concealed gun from his hip and shooting back at the attacker. Three pops then the shooting abruptly stopped.

Arlo scrambled to his feet to see the gunman lying in the road, his chest a mess of bloody holes, sucking air in. Arlo dropped to his feet. ‘Who are you? Why have you done this?’

The gunman breathed in one last rattling breath and then his chest stopped moving, his eyes stared unseeingly.

‘Fuck!’ Arlo shouted then scooted back to his friends. Mikah sat against the building, his shoulder pouring blood. Harpa was beside herself, trying to call the emergency services.

Arlo took her phone from her and calmly dialed 911. After he had finished, he crouched down. ‘Let me see, Mikah?’

Mikah moved his hand, and Arlo could see his blood pumping from the wound. ‘Jesus.’

‘It’s not too bad,’ Mikah said calmly, ‘Could be a lot worse. Everyone else okay?’

Arlo checked everyone. Tal, Jennifer, and Margaret were shaken but physically okay, Nav had a cut on his forehead from dropping so quickly to the sidewalk, but he nodded when Arlo asked him if he was alright. ‘Fine, Arlo. Harpa…sweetheart, it’s okay, now, he’s dead.’

Harpa, by Mikah’s side, looked shell-shocked. ‘Where’s Cos?’

‘Jack got her into a car and got her away.’

Harpa sighed with relief. ‘Thank God. Let’s call him, tell him the danger’s over.’

Arlo nodded and pulled out his cellphone. Jack didn’t answer for a while, and Arlo began to get anxious. Finally, the call was picked up.

‘Arlo! God, man…’

‘Do you have Cos? I saw you get her in the car…tell me she’s okay.’

Jack hesitated and in the second, Arlo knew. His heart dropped to the floor. He went back inside the restaurant so the others couldn’t see his face. ‘Jack…’

‘She was hit, Arlo. She took a slug to the gut…I drove straight to the hospital but, man, it’s bad…she’s lost so much blood…’

‘She’s not dead,’ Arlo almost screamed it down the phone, ‘Cosima is not dead…’

‘No. she’s not dead, but it doesn’t look good. Come to the hospital, now, Arlo, right now…’ He gave Arlo the address and Arlo was out of the door. He grabbed Harpa on the street.

‘We have to go to the hospital…Cos was hit.’ He couldn’t say any more; his terror making him numb.

Harpa shook her head wildly. ‘No, no, Arlo…that’s wrong, it’s wrong, Jack got her in the car.’

‘Not soon enough…’

Naveen stepped forward, his own face drawn. ‘I’ll drive you.’

Harpa went to find Mikah, the paramedics still attending to his shoulder. ‘I really do advise that you let us take you to hospital, sir.’

Harpa took his hand. ‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’ Mikah stared at her.

‘What is it, what’s wrong, baby?’

She looked at him, her eyes full of the deepest sorry.

‘Cosima was hit. She was shot. Oh my god, Mikah…’

Arlo met Jack at the reception and almost threw up when he saw Jack’s shirt covered in blood. ‘Is that?’

‘It’s not mine,’ Jack said gently. He hugged Harpa. ‘She’s in surgery. Come; let’s go to the relative’s room.’

Once there, Arlo let out a shaky breath. ‘Right, from the beginning, what happened?’

‘It must have happened as we got into the car. One minute she was okay then when we were in the car, I tried to talk to her, but then I noticed she was breathing hard. That’s when I saw the blood. She got hit in the abdomen and Jesus, there was so much blood, and I think the bullet must have hit an artery. There was no exit wound. There’s blood all over the car. I got her here as soon as possible, and they took her straight down to surgery. Arlo, Harpa…it doesn’t look good. If that bullet tore her abdominal artery, she doesn’t stand a chance.’

Harpa gave a strangled cry of anguish and Arlo sucked in a sharp breath. Jack grabbed his shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry, man. What happened to the shooter?’

‘Nav took him down.’

Jack looked up at the silent Indian standing in the doorway, noticing he looked wan and devastated. Nav nodded. ‘I have a concealed weapon’s license. As soon as the shooting started…’

‘You probably saved everyone else. The downside is we don’t know who the killer…sorry, I mean, the shooter was targeting. Obviously one of you.’

‘Of course, we know,’ Harpa exploded. ‘It’s him! It’s the fucking psycho who took her….I knew he’d kill her in the end, that cocksucking motherfucker…’ She was screaming now, raging in her grief.

‘She’s not dead,’ Arlo said quietly, his voice cracking and broken, ‘she’s not dead.’

‘The surgeon will come see us when he can,’ Jack stood. ‘I have to go brief the police on what happened.’

‘Where’s your driver?’

‘With the police, he's pretty shaken up as you imagine. Stay strong, folks.’ And he left the room.

Harpa and Arlo stared at each other. ‘She’ll come through, she has to.’

But they both knew it would take a miracle.

The surgeon pulled his gloves off and went to scrub out. He hated cases like this when he couldn’t give the family a definitive answer. The bullet had nicked Cosima Malhotra’s abdominal artery, and it was weakened, possibly in danger of rupturing. A graft to help strengthen it had been applied – but if it ruptured, the young woman would bleed out in seconds.

God, the things we humans do to each other. The bullet had smashed into the young woman’s belly but had not exited, bouncing around, causing major damage. He’d already had to remove her spleen, a kidney, and her liver was damaged. It would take a strong person to come through that.

The nurse came to see him, and he gave her aftercare instructions. ‘I want her monitored closely, blood and saline in. Pain meds…because if she wakes, she’s going to be in agony. I’ll go see the family.’

When the surgeon entered, Arlo stood, his whole body feeling like ice. Harpa had gone with Mikah to get his wound looked at. Arlo was glad she wasn’t able to see the doctor’s solemn expression.

‘She’s stable for now. We removed the bullet and repaired what we could, but she is in a delicate situation. We’ll monitor her closely, of course, but I’m sorry I can’t give you better news.’

‘Can we see her?’

‘Later. She’s in ICU. I’ll come back when we have more news, but there isn’t much you can do here. I suggest only immediate family stay.’

Naveen told Arlo he would drive the others back to their hotels. ‘I’ll wait until you have news but if you, any of you, need me, just call. Tell Mikah I hope he’s not in too much pain. I mean it, if you need anything…’

Arlo saw Jack’s eyes following Naveen out of the room. Jack noticed his scrutiny and nodded. ‘I don’t trust that guy,’ he said in a low voice to Arlo, ‘Who knew we were going to be at that restaurant tonight?’

Arlo was silent for a moment. ‘I won’t believe it until there’s proof, Jack. I don’t think Naveen would do that to Cosima…certainly, not to Harpa.’

‘Don’t be fooled. Once a killer, always a killer. I hear he didn’t blink taking that shooter down…covering his tracks?’

‘Jesus,’ Arlo rubbed his eyes. ‘Can we talk about that later? I just want to focus on Cos’s recovery.’

‘If she recovers.’

‘Jack, Jesus…’

Jack sighed. ‘Look, I’m going to check in with the investigation. Call me when things…change.’

And he was gone, and Arlo was alone. He sat down and dropped his head into his hands, feeling utterly bereft, and powerless. He didn’t think it possible to feel worse than he had when Cos was abducted but this was actual hell. She was dying, and he could not do a thing. He could pay the best surgeons in the world to come, that might be something, but the surgeons here were already amongst the best of them. When Mason, his brother, had been stabbed to death, the doctors here had worked on him for hours – even though Mason was already dead by the time he had reached the emergency room.

That was a scintilla, a glimmer of hope. While she was alive, she could breathe, she would fight. Fight, Cos, fight.

He sucked in a deep breath and got up, meaning to go find Harpa, but she came through the door at the same moment, followed by Mikah, his arm in a sling. He patted Arlo on the back with his good hand.

‘Just a flesh wound, no biggie. How’s Cos?’

‘No more news yet.’

Harpa clenched her hands into fists. ‘I can’t bear this,’ she said, her voice breaking. ‘I thought we were good now, I thought everything would be fine. After everything we’ve been through…’

Arlo hesitated before he spoke. ‘Harpa, I think you should know…Jack thinks Naveen might have had something to do with this.’

Both Harpa and Mikah, with some force, spoke up. ‘No.’

‘No way.’

‘I agree. I think Jack, like the rest of us, is just reaching. He's hurting, looking for any explanation.’

It was Mikah who spoke next. ‘Arlo, what you didn’t see, while we were in India, something was forged then. Between Harpa and her father, but also between Harpa and Naveen. They found each other, truly. Naveen would never do anything to hurt Harpa, and I think he’s very, very fond of Cosima. He really would not do this.’

Harpa smiled at her boyfriend gratefully and nodded in agreement.

Arlo sat back down. ‘At the moment, all we know is that asshole on the street shot Cos. Keeping her alive is all that matters right now.’

They sat in the relative’s room for hours. The night turned into day turned into evening. Naveen came back just as they returned from grabbing something to eat in the cafeteria. When Arlo told him there was no news, Naveen’s body slumped. Harpa slipped her hand into his.

‘Where have you been all day?’

Naveen smiled ruefully. ‘Talking to the police. I went in to see them as no-one had contacted me about shooting the guy…which I thought was weird. I asked about Jack’s driver, if he’d made a statement but no-one knew anything. So I went in and talked to them for hours, handed in my gun and went through some formalities. They’re not charging me with anything, so that’s something, not that I wouldn’t do it again. First time I’ve had my fingerprints taken.’ He held up his hand to show her the ink on his fingertips and smiled.

‘Have you been there all day?’ she asked, her eyes widening. ‘Did you come straight from the police station?’

He nodded. ‘I wanted to do anything to help, I would have stayed longer. I asked around…Arlo, apparently the shooter was from New Orleans – and get this – he was in construction. Maybe he worked on the L’Atelier Cosima? If he did, he could have fixated on Cosima during construction. I tried to find out more, but they clammed up so I came straight here.’

Arlo looked at him gratefully. ‘That means a lot, man. Thank for the information…I guess we’ll find out about this guy over the next few days.’

Naveen nodded his thanks as the door opened and the surgeon, looking as exhausted as they did, came in. He nodded to them politely then turned to Arlo. ‘We had to go in again and stabilize her artery, prevent further blood loss. She has a fever which is not unusual in gunshot wounds to the abdomen, but we think she’s picked up slightly this afternoon. You can go sit with her if you’d like, but please, not too much physical contact. She’s very susceptible to any infection or virus so use the antibacterial gel on your hands beforehand.’

‘Doctor? Will she live? I hate to be blunt, but we all need to know.’ Harpa’s voice wavered but didn’t falter as she locked her gaze on the surgeon’s face.

‘I don’t want to give you false hope, but I think she has a very good chance of recovery. She’s young and healthy. Listen, gunshot wounds, especially close range, are nasty but survivable if they don’t destroy organs or shred arteries. Cosima was lucky the bullet only nicked her abdominal artery and that she can live happily with one kidney and no spleen. It could have been a lot, lot worse.’

‘Can we go see her now?’ Harpa said before anyone else could speak.

The doctor smiled. ‘Of course.’

Cosima drifted back into consciousness, but the fog in her mind would not lift. She could remember nothing – only that a trash can had exploded, some firecrackers – had it been firecrackers? – something making a pop pop sound anyway then after that…

God, her whole body hurt. Where the hell was she and why was this tube in his mouth? She opened her eyes.

‘Cos? Darling?’

Arlo. She tried to smile, but any movement was agony. She moved her eyes around to focus on him. He looked so tired. She tried to raise a hand to touch his face, but she was so weak. She felt his fingers interlink with his. Try to squeeze them. She watched his face as she tried to move her fingers and saw him smile. Good.

‘Sweetheart, just fight, okay, just keep fighting. We’re all here, and we love you so, so much.’

She managed to nod her head a little then winced as pain shot through her body.

‘Cos?’

Harpa. A small hand was placed on her other arm. ‘I love you, sis. Please be better.’

I’ll try, I promise. But she couldn’t say anything. A wave of weariness passed over her, and she closed her eyes again. She felt someone come into the room, murmur something then a needle was pushed into her arm, followed by a wave of cold medication being pumped into her. The morphine spread quickly, and she drifted back down into blackness, glad of the relief from the pain.

Three a.m. Cosima slept, Arlo at her side, stroking the hair back from her forehead. Harpa and Mikah were asleep on the cot at the other end of the room, Naveen stood at the window, gazing out into the night.

‘She looks a little better, don’t you think?’ Arlo said softly. ‘There’s more color in her cheeks.’

Naveen came over to the bed and studied her. He smiled at Arlo. ‘I think so.’ He reached down to squeeze her fingers then glanced back at Harpa and Mikah. ‘Listen, Arlo, I don’t know how to put this, but something struck me earlier when the doctor was talking – ‘

‘Hey.’

They both turned at the sound of Jack’s voice. He stood in the doorway, not taking his eyes from the young woman in the bed. ‘How is she?’

They told him what the doctor had said. ‘Good, that’s good.’ But Arlo found the expression in his eyes hard to read.

‘What is it, Jack?’

Jack shook his head. ‘Just…we have no leads. No-one – ‘ and he glanced quickly at Nav – ‘no-one knows who could be behind this.’

‘Perhaps,’ Nav said, his voice cold; he hadn’t missed the accusatory glance that Jack had thrown his way. ‘Perhaps the shooter was working alone. Perhaps he was aiming for someone else but hit Cosima by mistake.’

‘Who else would he be aiming for?’ Jack retorted. ‘He’s clearly the man who abducted her, planned to kill her. He was just finishing the job.’

‘How the hell did he know we’d be there tonight?’

‘Maybe he followed Arlo or Cos or anyone of us.’

Arlo stopped them. ‘Enough. You’ll wake Cos again.’

Jack look startled. ‘Again? She’s been awake? That’s great.’

Arlo nodded. ‘But she needs to rest so if you two are going to argue, take it outside.’

‘Sorry, Arlo,’ said Naveen and turned away from them. As he did, he saw the Mikah was awake and looking at him. Almost imperceptibly, he nodded then looked at Jack then back to Naveen. Naveen’s heart began to thump. Mikah was thinking the same thing as he was. There was someone else who had been close to Cosima, who had been in love with her, who’d had a knowledge of practically every move she had made in the last twenty years. Someone who might be driven to madness by the fact she was head over heels in love with Arlo. Someone who would kill her rather than lose her to another.

Mikah got up; making sure Harpa was still sleeping and nodded to Naveen. ‘Let’s go grab some coffee for these guys, Nav.’

They walked down three corridors before Mikah stopped Nav and stared at him. ‘Close-range gunshot,’ he said simply, and Nav nodded.

‘Yeah.’

‘Jesus Christ.’

Nav could not think of anything else to say. Nothing. Because it was unthinkable; it was disgusting that they even considered the worst. But both of the men knew in that instant that it must be true. There was only one possibility.

Jack had shot Cosima.

Jack grabbed Cosima and wrenching open the door of the limo, pushed her into it, diving in behind her. ‘Get going,’ he shouted at the driver who pulled away immediately.

Cosima whirled around. ‘We have to go back…Arlo might be hurt, Harpa…’

‘They’re fine.’ Jack’s voice was cold and Cosima gaped at him.

‘How do you know?’

She watched him throw his agency pistol to one side then reach inside his jacket pocket.

‘Because the shooter wasn’t aiming at anyone, he was just there to provide cover.I paid him to be there.’

Cosima shook her head. ‘What are you talking about? Cover for what?’

Smiling now, he pulled out a pistol, with a long slim silencer attached to the muzzle. ‘I’ll tell Arlo that I got you in the car, that we drove away, but you were hit. So I rushed you to the hospital but you bled out, and they couldn’t save you.’

Cosima went cold. ‘No...no…what…Jack?’

He aimed the gun at her. ‘You shouldn’t have chosen him, Cosima.’

Cosima shook her head. ‘No…no, Jack, please, don’t…’

He moved quickly, pressing her back against the car seat, shoving the muzzle against her belly.

‘I’m sorry, Cos, it has to be this way. I meant this to be over a long time ago, but I underestimated you. You were meant to die in my house, slowly, painfully. But I’ll settle for killing you now.’

Cosima stared at him in horror. ‘Your house? Oh god…it was you…you kidnapped me…you raped me…’

‘Of course, it was, Cosima, my beautiful darling. Of course, it was. Don’t you know I’ve loved forever…protected you, worshiped and yet you spread your legs for the nearest billionaire? ’ He ground his mouth down on her, and she cried out, struggling He smiled. ‘I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time, Cos…’ The muzzle of the gun was cold on her skin, her thin dress no barrier. Jack flicked off the safety and looked deep into her eyes.

‘Goodbye, my beautiful Cosima…’

‘No...please…’

But he shot her anyway, and the bullet slammed into her belly – lava-hot metal punching through her flesh. Cosima could only gasp – all the air was pushed from her lungs, and her ears rang from the gunshot. But nothing could compare to the indescribable pain. As her consciousness began to shut down, her muscles failed, and she slid down the seat.

The last thing she saw was Jack’s face, smiling down on her bloody body as if it were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen…

She had woken up. Yes, the breathing tube was preventing her from speaking, from pointing her finger, telling the world that he, F.B.I. Agent Jack Hampton, son of New England billionaire, Ronald Hampton, had kidnapped, held captive and raped her and just when she thought she was safe, had shot her in cold blood at point blank range.

He would have to finish the job before she could say anything.

He stood in the doorway, watching Arlo stroke her lovely face. Getting her alone was the problem. He could offer to watch her, but then they would know it was him. He needed a window where they didn’t know he was there. Take out the security camera, that was no problem. Creep in and switch off the machines that monitored her, then pull the dressing from her wound and stab her repeatedly in and around the original wound. That way, it might delay them finding out how she died…

No, that was ridiculous. He should have shot her in the heart, made sure she was dead. He had dismissed putting a bullet into her head; no way would he want to spoil the beauty of that face, even in death. But to press the gun below her left breast…it would have ended her life instantly.

You fucking idiot, he said to himself, all because you wanted to see her suffer, see her bleed, see the understanding that he was the one ending her life, watch her in agonizing pain. Your fetish could bring about your downfall.

Make a plan. Get your passport and cash ready. Kill her and flee the country. It wasn’t as if you don’t have enough money to disappear forever. But not without seeing Cosima die. She had to die; it wasn’t acceptable that she live…

The doctor removed the breathing tube the fourth day after the shooting. ‘Now, this doesn’t mean you can get up and start partying. Take it very, very slowly. But, good work, Cosima. You have a lion heart.’

She smiled at him. ‘Thank you, doctor.’ Her voice was croaky, dry and Arlo held a cup of water to her lips.

‘Drink. Baby.’

After a moment, after the doctor had gone, Arlo sat down next to her, kissing her lips gently. ‘I love you. Thank you for fighting.’

She smiled, stroked the hair over his ears. ‘I had a lot to fight for, the best reason to stay alive. I love you so much, Arlo, you didn’t think a little thing like a bullet was going to keep me from you, did you?

He chuckled, but his eyes were sorrowful. ‘No way. There’s way too much sex still to be had.’

She laughed, wincing slightly as the motion pulled on her tender muscles. ‘Of course.’ She sighed and pulled his lips down to hers.

After a while, after they’d stared at each other, not quite believing they’d made it through another crisis then Arlo, his eye serious, spoke softly.

‘Sweetheart…do you remember anything about the shooting at all?’

Cosima’s face hardened ‘Oh Arlo…I remember everything. Everything.’

Jack’s chance came sooner than expected. He’d had the idea as he spent the previous evening, drinking beer in his hotel room. He’d laughed out loud. Of course. So simple. A hypodermic syringe full of nothing but air. Stick it into one of Cosima’s veins, cause an air embolism to her heart. Boom. Dead. Less bloody than he would have liked but he’d already had that pleasure.

He could be in South America before they discovered what killed her.

When he arrived at the hospital, he went straight to her room. Arlo was there, but the others were M.I.A.

‘Where is everyone?’ Jack looked at Arlo, who looked worn out.

‘Gone home for now. They’re exhausted.’

‘You look all done in, too. Look, man, I can sit with her for a couple of hours. Go grab some sleep.’

Arlo nodded slowly. ‘That would be great.’ He got up and smiled at the other man, but Jack noticed something in his eyes – wariness, doubt.

‘Everything okay?’

Arlo nodded. ‘Everything is fine. I’ll be back before six.’ He leaned over the sleeping Cosima and kissed her lips. ‘I love you, chicken.’

Chicken? Jack worked to hide the sneer; could this dude be more of a sap? When Arlo had left, he went to work. Pulling the syringe from his pocket, he drew the plunger back, filling it with air.

He reached for her arm – and Cosima moved, quickly, her left arm coming up and he felt a sharp pain across his arm. Blood welled, and with a yelp, he dropped the syringe, realized she was holding a scalpel.

‘You son of a bitch,’ she hissed at him, ‘did you think I wouldn’t remember?’

Jack lunged for her – then felt something pressing against the back of his head, heard the click of a safety catch being flicked off.

‘Don’t even think about moving, motherfucker.’ Arlo’s voice was granite hard. ‘Give me one reason to pull this trigger and I will.’

Jack, trained in combat, swerved around to try and knock the gun from Arlo’s hand but the bigger man was ready. He brought his fist up under Jack’s chin as Jack managed to knock the gun from his hand, and Jack screamed as he bit through his own tongue. The others were there then, Harpa darting in front of Cosima to protect her sister; Naveen, sleek and dangerous, his own gun back in his hand. Jack skittered to the far side of the room as Naveen took a shot, the bullet wide, smashing the large window behind him. Jack flinched down, outnumbered.

Arlo sneered at him. ‘Did you think we would find out about the contractor? The one you bribed to shot at us? Believe it or not, it was Sabine who saw you talking to him at the opening.'

Jack sneered at him and his gaze switched to Cosima, shielded by Harpa and Mikah. ‘I loved you, Cosima, for years. I worshiped you. When I fired that bullet into your belly, you were finally mine, do you understand? I would do it again and again…’

Arlo, enraged, struck him savagely across the jaw with the butt of his gun. ‘Shut your damn mouth, motherfucker.’

Jack laughed, spitting teeth and blood. ‘Fuck you, Forrester, she was mine, and you took her away from me.’

Arlo roared at him. ‘Cosima is not a possession for you to lay claim to, you asshole.’ He stepped forward and pressed the muzzle of the gun against Jack’s forehead.

‘Stop!’ Cosima screamed, and they all froze. Both Naveen and Arlo kept their guns trained on the cowering man. ‘Look at him,’ Cosima said, ‘look at him cower. Harpa, help me up.’

Harpa looked concerned but then as Cosima began to get up, Arlo rushed to help her too.

On unsteady legs, Cosima walked to Jack and looked down at him. ‘You bastard,’ she began quietly. ‘You filthy, despicable coward. Did you think you had any right to decide who I loved? It would have made any difference. Even if I didn’t love Arlo as much as I do, I could never love a coward like you. You’re pathetic.’

Jack, smirking, got to his feet. ‘I should have cut your throat the day I fucked you, little girl.’

Arlo growled, but Cosima stopped him. ‘You’re mistaken, Jack. Fucking is a wonderful, magical, thing between two people who love each other. You raped me, Jack. Rape. After you drugged me because that would mean I couldn’t fight you off. You were scared I would fight you because that’s the filthy coward you are.’

He lunged for her again but this time, Arlo was ready. With an almighty shove, he knocked Jack backward, jabbing him again and again, hard until Jack was backed against the open window.

With just one mighty push, Arlo could end this now…forever. He stepped towards Jack, who gave him a bloody grin.

‘Do it, Forrester. Kill me. Because if you don’t, I’ll keep coming back and I swear, she will die.’

Arlo lunged but Naveen pulled him back.

‘Arlo,’ said Naveen, ‘Let the police have him. He does not deserve a quick punishment. Let him rot in jail.’

Arlo, quivering with rage, didn’t move, staring Jack down. It wasn’t until he heard the police behind them, moving into the room, and felt Cosima’s hand on his arm.

‘Arlo, come to me. Leave this scum to get what he deserves.’

He turned and saw she was struggling to stand up; all the adrenaline had left her body. In one swift movement, he swept her into his arms and carried her out of the room and took her to the new room they’d arranged for her.

They had all set it up, of course. After Naveen and Mikah had talked to Arlo, he hadn’t needed much persuasion to believe that Jack was Cosima’s shooter. When she woke, after the tube was taken out, she’d confirmed it, telling him exactly what had happened. The horrific truth shocked him with its cruelty.

So cold blooded, so merciless. But Arlo finally felt there was something he could do – he’d arranged the police guard but used his influence to delay their arrival until they had dealt with Jack themselves. He wanted to kill Jack, rip him limb from limb but knew they would never allow that.

But now, as they saw Jack being dragged past her room by the police, Arlo knew Cosima had been right to stop him pushing Jack out that window.

‘You’re not a killer,’ she said, as if she could read his mind, ‘There was no need to change who we are to beat him. It’s over, Arlo.’

She winced as she shifted on the bed, and now the horror and trauma were over, she looked exhausted. Arlo sat on the side of the bed and touched her cheek.

‘The minute,’ he smiled at her, ‘the minute you get out of here, we’re getting married.’

Cosima smiled. ‘That sounds good to me.’

He leaned in to kiss her, brushing his lips against hers ‘Now I can believe you’re safe at last.’

She wound her arms around his neck. ‘You and me, Arlo Forrester, that’s the only thing that matters. You, me, and our children…Turner and Hooch.’

Arlo burst out laughing and gathered her to him. ‘To our family,’ he said, kissing her passionately.

‘To us, forever,’ she whispered back and they kissed until they could no longer breathe…

Epilogue

The Maldives, Indian Ocean

Two years later…

He watched as the waiter led the woman to her table, saw her thank him. A beautiful smile. He couldn’t take his eyes from her; the luscious curves of her, her dark skin glowing against the dark gold of her sun dress. Her dark waves fell past her shoulder, and he watched as she pulled her hair over one shoulder. She glanced up and smiled at him.

He got up and walked towards her. She sat up when he approached. The night was sultry, sensual and her skin had a faint sheen of dewy moisture.

‘Excuse me, ma’am, I’m going to the bar,’ he said, ‘If you’d like to join me, I’d be pleased to buy you whatever is your poison.’

She smiled that radiant smile. ‘I’m sorry; I’m waiting for my husband.’ She ran a hand over her belly, swollen and blooming with pregnancy. ‘As you can see, I’m not alone.’

Arlo grinned down at Cosima, his gorgeous, healthy, wife and she laughed back at him.

‘Well, now, he’s one lucky son-of-a-gun.’

He leaned down and kissed her thoroughly to the amusement of the other diners.

‘Yes,’ she said breathlessly as they broke apart, ‘yes, he is.’

He held out his hand to her. ‘Screw the drinks?’

Cosima laughed, got to her feet and took his hand, gazing up at her beloved husband.

‘Screw the drinks.’

And they walked back to their villa on the water, knowing that they were walking into forever…

The End.