CH-8: Mine To Watch🌹

"And why are you following me around like a lost puppy, little poison?"

He let out a sigh as he turned to face her.

She didn't answer immediately, avoiding his gaze instead.

His brows furrowed.

Why was she suddenly following him everywhere around the mansion like his shadow?

"I... I don't know anyone here," she muttered softly. "I don't feel safe with anyone else."

The words should've amused him. Instead, they felt strange.

Her head was lowered. Tears slipped down her cheeks one after another.

No. Not this. Not the tears.

A quiet groan escaped him as he rubbed a hand over his face.

Then a slow smirk tugged at his lips.

"Aren't I your kidnapper?" he asked lightly. "The one who trapped you here, little poison?"

He was teasing.

At least, that was the intention. But he genuinely wanted to know. If she was really feeling safe around him. The smirk faded the moment he looked at her.

The fear in her eyes was real.

He jolted awake.

For a moment, he simply blinked at the ceiling before rubbing both hands over his face.

"Damn... did I fall asleep?"

Then it hit him. Wait.

That was a dream? A horrified look crossed his face.

Of course it was. There was absolutely no universe where she would follow him around the mansion with tears in her eyes like some lost little thing.

He shook his head.

No. If she ever followed him anywhere, it would be to smack him on the head and call him an idiot.

He stared at the ceiling for another few seconds.
"The fuck was that?"
Out of all the things his brain could dream about, it chose that. Her Crying. Following him around. Trusting him. His face twisted.
"Disgusting." He muttered under his breath.

The more he thought about it, the worse it got.
She wasn't even arguing in the dream.
Not a single insult. Not one threat. Who was that woman? Because it certainly wasn't her.

Yet somehow, that dream was the most disturbing thing he'd experienced all week.

Little poison with tears in her eyes?
Ridiculous. She wasn't even trying to stab him.
Who the hell was that?

He dragged a hand down his face and sat up. Why was he even dreaming nonsense? Clicking his tongue, he grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it across the room.
It hit the wall. The satisfaction lasted less than a second.

The pillow hit the wall and dropped to the floor. Silence. Ekagra stared at it for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

Ridiculous.

Shaking his head, he leaned back against the couch, one arm stretched across the backrest while the other rubbed over his face. Just as he closed his eyes, the phone on the table started vibrating.

The name flashing across the screen made him straighten.

Maan.

He picked up the call and pressed it against his ear.

"Hum aa rahe hain." [ We are coming ]

The moment the words left Maan's mouth, a breath he didn't realize he was holding escaped him. His hand slipped into his pocket as he glanced around the mansion.

Finally.

His brothers were coming.

"Even that bastard?" he asked.

"He is."

A smile tugged at Ekagra's lips.

"He doesn't give a shit about the council meeting."

It sounded less like a statement and more like he's confirming whether the impossible had actually happened.

"He doesn't," Maan replied. "He just wanted to see if you're really okay."

A pause.

"But he won't admit it, so don't start teasing him." Maan answered

A laugh almost escaped him.

"So he's missing me, huh?" Ekagra teased.

The line went quiet.

Ekagra's smile faded slightly.

Maan only went silent when he was deciding how much truth to reveal.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm.

Too calm.

"He touched you."

The words landed heavily.

"I burned his empire to the ground."

Ekagra's eyes flickered.

"You'll be receiving twenty-five heads by morning. Courtesy of the idiots who thought attacking you was a good idea."

"Tsk."

Ekagra leaned back against the desk.

"Only twenty-five?"

He made a fake shooting gesture with his fingers.

"Three hundred and sixty-nine this month. You're getting lazy."

"I'll try harder next time." Maan's reply came flat, unbothered.

"Good."

A beat passed.

Then Maan asked the question.

"Any update on Rooh?"

The amusement vanished. Just like that. Ekagra's jaw tightened. The room felt colder. Nothing. No evidence. Not a single trace.

Maan didn't push immediately. He knew better.

"Ask Raghav to track her down," Maan said at last. "Let him handle it."

Another pause.

"If the Serpent find her before us, it won't be good." Maan spoke

For the first time during the call, Ekagra smiled.

"Good for who?"

"Unke liye ya mere liye?"

The line went quiet for another moment. For a few seconds Maan didn't answer.

"Tell the bastards to hurry up." Ekagra shook his head, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

"The mansion's been boring without you idiots. I'm running out of people to annoy."

A low scoff came from the other side.

"The Vipers are finally crawling back to their nest, huh."

For the first time in days, the weight sitting on Ekagra's chest felt a little lighter.

"About damn time." He let out a slow breath

The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It never was with them.

"Tell that bastard to at least hug me when he sees me," Ekagra said, with a teasing grin. "If he was so worried about me."

Maan snorted.

"He would never"

A look of genuine disappointment crossed Ekagra's face.

"That's disappointing." He scoff

As the call disconnected.

For a moment, he stared at the dark screen before slipping the phone back into his pocket. A slow breath escaped him as his gaze wandered across the mansion.

Empty. Not for long.

His brothers were coming home.

His gaze drifted toward the second floor. Toward her room. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. Then the memory surfaced. The gunshot. The fear on her face. The hesitation. And just like that, he was back there.

"Ring around the roses... your chapter closes..."

His eyes never left her.

Not once.

Not even for the man bleeding out on the floor.

The mocking sing-song lingered in his voice, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. As if the chaos around them bored him, while every reaction flickering across her face was infinitely more entertaining.

The way she flinched when the gunshot echoed through the mansion. The way her eyes squeezed shut for the briefest second. The way her gaze kept darting between him and the man on the floor, silently demanding answers no one intended to give.

The panic settling beneath those shaky breaths. The way her hands curled into fists despite the fear crawling beneath her skin.

He stood too close now. Close enough to count her lashes.

And those damned brown eyes.

Holding storms he was still drowning in for years.

For a moment, his gaze lingered. Then he stepped away as if the conversation had already ended.

Both hands slipped into his pockets. His posture remained relaxed, almost careless. A quiet whistle echoed through the hall as he walked away, fully expecting her to follow.

Behind him, she didn't move. Not immediately.
He could feel it without looking. The hesitation.
The uncertainty. The silent war between fear and survival. A smirk tugged at his lips.
Still deciding whether to run or follow?
Cute.
He turned and walked away.

The footsteps behind him came a second later.

Neither of them spoke. Armed guards stood along the hallway, rifles resting against their shoulders.

One by one, heads lowered as he passed.

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor until he stopped in front of a door and pushed it open.

"Better than the warehouse, isn't it, little poison?"
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, following her gaze around the room.

Windows. Door.Corners.

Cameras.
The moment she noticed them, her face twisted.
"These cameras-"
He took a step closer, hands in his pockets.
"Yes."
He cut her off.
The amusement was gone from his voice.
"The cameras stay on."

He stepped closer again, standing right in front of her.

"Twenty four hours. Every day."

"You use the restroom. That's it."

His eyes remained on her.

"You don't go outside."

"Locked."

His gaze flickered toward the door.

"Caged."

He watched her expression carefully. The disgust was gone now.

"The cameras aren't for security."

His voice stayed calm.

"If you breathe, I see it."

"If you move, I know it."

His eyes settled on hers.

"Every hour. Every minute. Every second."

"You’re not leaving this mansion, little poison."
He leaned slightly closer, voice lower.
"Stay here. you stay alive."

Then a sudden realization struck him. Before he could question it, the words left his mouth.

"Why didn't you ever beg me to let you go, little poison?" Genuine curiosity slipped into his voice. "After everything you've seen. After what happened to those girls. You never cried. Never begged."

"Would you?" she asked immediately. "Would you let me go if I cried? If I begged?"

Disappointment lingered in her voice, but it never shook.

He didn't answer. Didn't need to.

"Exactly."

A bitter laugh escaped her.

"Yes, I'm scared. Terrified, even. Anyone would be in my place." Her jaw tightened. "But I'm not naive enough to believe you'd suddenly grow a conscience because I cried in front of you."

For a second, he just stared at her.

Then he laughed.

Amused.

A strand of hair had fallen across her face. He brushed it aside.

"Good... Good"

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"I like people who don't waste tears on things they can't change."

His gaze lingered.

"That's my girl, little poison."

Her expression hardened instantly.

"That doesn't mean my fight is over."

Something flashed through her eyes.

Defiance. Then, unexpectedly, her tone softened.

"At least let me inform my grandfather."

She stepped forward, A hint of desperation slipped into her voice for the first time.

"He must be worried. Please. Just one call. I won't tell him anything. Please." Her voice came out quieter than usual

"And you think Colonel Adhiraaj Singhania would believe that?"

A scoff left him.

Confusion crossed her face.

"I have your file, little poison. Did you forget?"

He shrugged and walked towards the door. Before stepping out, he glanced back at her once. Then the door closed.

"Colonel Adhiraaj Singhania."

Interesting.

Dad was going to love this.

Shaking his head, he continued down the hallway. His eyes landed on the frame hanging on the wall.

Four men. Four Vipers. His brothers.

A smirk appeared.

They were coming.

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌹⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ.

Hi lovelies! 💋

Before anything else, don't forget to vote and drop a comment. Your votes genuinely mean a lot and every comment makes my day more than you know. 💌🌹

Anddd. the Vipers are finally coming. 👀

I've been waiting for this moment for so long and trust me, you are going to LOVE these idiots as much as I do. Some chaos, some madness, some brotherhood, and a lot of trouble is on the way.

Also. I know exactly what some of you are going to ask after this chapter. 👀

If you want the full Raghav × Sia chapter (yes, THAT chapter🌶️), then spam the comments and let me know. The more comments I see, the faster it might appear. 👀

Now go tell me your thoughts because I desperately need to know what you're thinking after Mine To Watch.

~ Vyanna ✍🏻