"Why are you here? What did you tell them?" I gasped, clutching the hard drive in my hand.

"They understand that a young couple needs some privacy"

"You're overselling it" I huffed. He chuckled, his eyes laser-focused on my face.

"Fine, I'll tone it down"
"How very generous of you"
"I'm feeling very benevolent today..." I rolled my eyes. "So, I'll ask, why are you standing with your hands behind your back?"

I flushed red. "I have my reasons"
"I'm sure I can't even begin to fathom what those reasons might be but I am dying to learn."

I swallowed hard. I could not let him get his hands on these files. I glanced behind him, searching for a distraction.

"The last thing I expected was to find you here. Especially since you left me hanging out there with the vultures," His lips kicked up in a smile and that damn dimple made an appearance.

I moved towards the door, trying to act casual. Haider walked over, blocking my path, his body leaning towards mine.

The playful light in his eyes had faded. "Where are the files, Elena?" I forced my body to relax. Brushing past him I tried to walk away without engaging in a conversation.

Haider caught me by the arm, bending it slightly so my grip on the dagger loosened.
"Not so fast. You have something of mine"

I looked at his wrapped fingers and I reacted. The silk sari had limited my ability to move and I was stuck using my upper body strength.
Twisting my body away from his I dipped and used the momentum to throw him off balance.
He growled and grabbed my arm.

With a yelp, I lost my footing and tumbled right on top of him. My hands reached for my dagger but he kicked it away from me. Before I could react, he flipped us over and had me pinned down on the floor.

His chest moved above me and I scowled. He was laughing. The bastard was laughing. It wasn't a harsh laugh or a patronizing one. He sounded genuinely amused.

Haider's eyes sparkled as he stared at me, his chin lowered. "That was certainly something. It's always something new with you"
"Let go"
"Not until you give me the files"
"No. You'll use it as your personal kill list. I can't let you do that"
"You have no authority to tell me what I can or can not do"
"Yes, but the state does"
"Don't talk to me about the state princess. Give it to me"
"Make me" a wicked smile flashed over his features and I stilled. Heat crept into my cheeks. "Ugh get your mind out of the gutter," I said pushing him off and sitting up.

He watched his gaze dipping and roaming slowly, starting at my shoulders, moving all the way down to the tips of my toes. A pulse of warm heat went straight through me. Why was he always looking at me like that?

"Just let it go, Haider"
"I'm willing to. Give it to me or I'll take it from you"
"I dare you," I warned.
"What will you do? Stab me with your trusty little dagger?" The dimple reappeared.
"Yes, I'll stab you with my trusty little dagger," I snapped, about two seconds away from throwing the thing in his face. Again.

He caught my arm and yanked me forward. Suddenly, I was against him and the wall, on the tips of my toes. Blood rushed to my face and I blushed all over.

"You were saying?" The rasp of his voice caused a wave of goosebumps to break out over my skin.

This was highly inappropriate. Again. The warmth of his body seemed to bleed through his clothes, radiating heat towards mine. Why did we always end up in highly inappropriate situations like these?

"But I like having you in these highly inappropriate situations" his husky voice was wreaking havoc along my skin. "I like it very much"

I groaned. I really had to stop saying things out loud.

"Don't do this?" I tried, looking up into his eyes. He blinked, unfazed. "They should be prosecuted in court"
"Those men tried to kill you. They ruined my career, kidnapped Uncle Bakht and you're letting them go?"
"I'm not letting them go. I want them to be accountable under the law. I want them to face the consequences so no one else does what they've done..."
"Give me the list Elena. This isn't your decision to make"
"You can't just go around shooting them in the head. That puts you in danger. It puts your family in danger. Plus it doesn't make you a better man. Would you want another Haider to rise up? Would that be fair?"

Haider gave me a long hard look, his hand coming to cover mine "I want to be a better man..."

"Please?," I bit my bottom lip as his fingers moved to unclench mine. His nostrils flared and the hue of his eyes seemed to deepen.

He didn't break eye contact and I could feel his struggle in trying to control himself. "They aren't going to stop Elena. They'll keep coming back. For you. For me. And I can't have that"

His head tilted and his lips brushed my ear. I sucked in a breath, my body arching at his touch. His nose touched my cheek as he inhaled.

Something crashed outside and we jumped apart.

I untangled myself from him. He leaned back, giving me some space, but I could still feel his heat around me.

He watched as I slipped my dagger into the small pouch I was carrying. I checked myself in the reflection trying to ignore how his eyes were glued on me. Not pausing to look behind, feeling an emptiness settle in my heart, I walked out of the room, flexing my empty hands.

Only to see Jahangir Khan staring at me.

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