Heeriye

Thirty Four.

Sidharth

COMPARTMENTALIZING.

That's what helped me acclimatize to my role as the boss. It helped to keep work out of my home. Made things simpler. More focused.

And yet here I am, bringing my work home.

Because it means I'm just a call away if the kids need me. Shehnaaz can just walk right in whenever she feels a little lonely.

Not that she has. Since we slept together two nights ago in what she likes to call the beginning of my redemption tour, she hasn't sought me out once. Maybe she's just testing me, checking to see if I'll keep going to her.

If that's all it takes to convince her I'm in this for the long haul, I'm willing to make the first move for as long as it takes. Day after day, week after week, year after, I'll find her and hold her close and remind her that she's mine.

"Yo," kanan greets when he walks in smelling of cigar smoke. "Just wanted to let you know: the team's on Ranjhit's tail. They should complete the job today."

I nod. "Tell me when they have a body."

"Will do, boss."

"Any news from the board meeting?" I ask.

"Vanraj was shocked that you weren't there. In fact, he was shocked that you're working from home in the first place." Kanan gives me a playful smirk. "To be honest, so am I."

I roll my eyes. "It's just easier this way."

"Easy access, you mean."

I throw him a glare. "Did you get your hands on a sample of Sopernik?" I ask, pivoting without the least bit of subtlety.

Kanan's smile drops immediately. "That's what I came here to talk to you about."

Fuck.

"Let me guess—it's a match for Venera?"

He nods. "It's a perfect match. Aarush definitely ripped you off."

"I'm shocked," I drawl sarcastically.

"That's not all."

I clench my jaw. "Go on."

"He's basically copying your rollout plan to a T, also. Sopernik is going to be circulating in his club exclusively. The crowd is going to be invite-only and there's gonna be extra security casing the place throughout the night."

"That asshole..." I rake a hand through my hair. "What about the house Suyansh was found in? Do we have an ID on who owns it?"

"That's the weird part. It definitely has an owner. The problem is that, at this point, the owner seems to be untraceable."

I frown. It's odd for Kanan not to be able to chase down loose ends like that.

"Does it matter?" he asks, studying my face closely. "We already know that aarush is behind this. Who gives a damn which stooge he set up as a front man?"

"Exactly. He's been obvious about his involvement in this steal," I point out. "Which means he wants me to know it's him. He wants the credit for this. So why try to hide the fact that he owns that house?"

Kanan shrugs. "Who knows what that little shit has up his sleeve?"

I shake my head. "Something's not right about this. There's a missing piece we're overlooking. Why hide that bit of information? Unless..."

I drift off, caught in the half-formed puzzle in my head.

"Sidharth?"

I clear my throat. "Unless there's someone else involved. Someone who doesn't want credit for any of this."