| Dark Devotion |

30

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I R A

Four days passed in a blink of an eye, and I had spent every single day trying to come up with a plan. Yet, the reality was far from the simplistic scenario I had envisioned in my mind.

First of all, I was being watched, and it was not as if I could casually announce, 'yeah, I'm just going to the LuxyPalace to snoop around a bit because I think I might get some answers about my mom.' Nope. I couldn't risk getting caught and having them call Abhiman.

I had to come up with a bulletproof plan and think like them. Spending enough time around Abhiman and his men had given me insights that could guide me in the right direction.

Second, I didn't know what to expect at the LuxyPalace. I had told myself always to expect the unexpected, but in the underworld, that saying held no real meaning. They always take shit to the next level with no limitations to their imagination.

Third, going to such a place without expecting at least one of Abhiman's men being present would be naïve. I needed to become unrecognizable.

Bits of memories came back to me about what happened in the woods. When I woke up in the hospital, everything was a blank slate, a protective mechanism, according to Janvi. Now, details were resurfacing, some clearer than others.

I remember my mother said he attacked sooner rather than later. Someone vwas after her, and she was aware of it. However, the attack in our own home caught her off guard.

I let out a small gasp when it hit me.

Maybe she wanted to talk to Mr. Romanov for protection?

Well, there was only one way to find out.

I grabbed the basket I had filled with delicacies and a nice bottle of wine, making my way over to Alka and Simran. As soon as I reached their front porch, the door opened. Since I knew they worked for Abhiman, they didn't bother hiding that they were watching me; hence why they opened the door before I even had the chance to step close enough to knock on the door.

"Sup, Ira!" Alka said happily, making me smile at her chipper mood.

"You're really watching my every move, huh?" I joked, to which she laughed.

"Yeah, I don't feel like being discreet anymore now the cat is out of the bag, anyway. Plus, a certain someone would have my head if I wasn't being thorough." She gave me a knowing look.

"I guess you're right." I chuckled.

"Come on in. Priya has just baked you a chocolate cake."

"Priya?" I asked.

"Oh, shoot! I forgot you didn't know her real name. Simran was just a cover up" She explained with an innocent grin on her lip.

"That makes sense. Wait, what is yours?" I squinted my eyes at her, making her laugh.

"It is Alka.I thought it was pretty safe for me." She said as we made our way to the living room. "But we had a feeling you were already onto us the moment we bumped into you."

"I had my suspicions, but I wasn't too sure. When you asked if I had a boyfriend and I said no, you seemed surprised, like you already knew the answer." I pointed out, and she looked impressed.

"Damn you're good! And here I thought you would be easy to trick. I totally underestimated you." Alka shook her head in amusement.

"I learned from the best." I winked with a smile.