Arranged by the Stars Read online

In two hours he had enough information on the drug dealers in Goa to know where most of them sold their substances and where their popular hangouts were. The information was broken down to what they loved to sell, and to who, and what their personal drug of choice was.

  He also knew the name of every member of the special anti narcotics cell that operated out of the police department in the local police station. But all of that information wasn’t any good without someone who could infiltrate the organisation and kick down doors for him.

  Four hours and the clock continued to tick. Still no news if Ash was alive.

  *****

  Ash had spent time in the good part of town and the bad part of town, but this was ten times worse. There was definitely the smell of salt and sea, but she hadn’t smelt death so rife before. Her legs had grown numb and as she twisted to a more comfortable position in the dark, murky place she was in, she squirmed. Was that human flesh? It was too warm to be dead human flesh.

  Her immediate reaction was to pull back, but it took forever to make one motion of her limb happen. The thing she touched made a groaning sound. A barely human sound.

  It was hard to do anything with her hands tied, but she tried rolling slowly onto her side. The small enclosure was more like a mud…she tried to feel the sides to see if it was a hut. Maybe a building? Her gaze went up to the sky. She could smell earth. The damp earthy smell held a hint of sea and fish. A thick, heavy curtain of darkness covered the enclosure.

  Another sound from her companion. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  As her legs stretched out, she realised there wasn’t much space in this dungeon like cell. When she kicked out at the end, the edge started falling in.

  She was in a grave. About to be buried. Alive. With a stranger.

  “Stop it.” A female voice. Weak, but audible. Indian. Posh. “You will bury us alive.”

  “Thanks for the newsflash, but I already figured that out.” Ash couldn’t see a thing, but she knew there had to be a way out.

  The moment that idiot tried to take hold of her, she knew they were amateurs. Who would send low life thugs to kidnap her? It’s not as though Kieran would pay millions for his pretend girlfriend. They got it so wrong.

  “Would you stop it? The more you fight it, the smaller you make the grave.” The know-it-all stranger said.

  Ash dragged out a slow breath. “How long have you been here?”

  “Two days. Unfortunately I tried to kick my way out and ended up with a smaller living space.” She sighed.

  Her voice was pure-bred university trained. Maybe Oxford? She had to be smart, so what was she doing here? Not that it mattered because right now Ash wanted to go home. Even if it meant the real home she had waiting for her.

  “What are you thinking?” the stranger asked.

  “The fate I have waiting for me, pales in comparison to this current situation.”

  The girl coughed like she was clearing her throat of mothballs. “We have all the time in the world. You can pass the time by confessing your sins. Tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”

  “It’s not a great story although sometimes I wish it was.” Did the girl next to her have to contend with an arranged marriage like many girls in their culture? Like herself. “Most girls have a story that’s similar and I don’t think I’m special. We all have to make choices, I am sure you do too.” Marriage to Alok wasn’t the worse choice. She’d known him for a lifetime, and although he was as boring as filling sugar containers in a restaurant, he was safe.

  The kick to her shin didn’t hurt, but it showed curiosity. “You make no sense.”

  Ash’s eyes closed as she tried to picture Alok and his perfectly combed black hair. With the neatly pressed kurta, he wore every day, and his moustache that had to be measured with a ruler every morning, Ash could see her future laid out for her. “I am going to marry a very nice man and live a very stable life.”

  If she was, why was Kieran filling her thoughts?

  Her companion laughed. “Is that it? Did anyone tell you, that sometimes you could be a drama queen?”

  Ash nodded. “Miss Tasmania told me that once. I never paid much attention.”

  The voice next to her had a sombre quality. “You’re weird.” She let out a huff of air. “We’re not getting out, are we?”

  It hurt when she sighed. “I don’t know. I’d settle for knowing who these goons are and how I can get out.”

  The girl moved. “Drug dealers. They were stealing from the clinic I worked in. Unfortunately to feed my habit, I was helping them. I changed my mind, was going into rehab, they didn’t like the change in plans and so threw me in here to rethink my decision. They aren’t exactly the hospitable kind.” She coughed again.

  Ash couldn’t see anything that looked like a water bottle around her so she could help the girl. They hadn’t let her keep her purse. Not that it would have mattered, aside from her nailfile; there was no gun in there. “How often do they bring water?”

  She croaked the next words. “Twice a day.”

  “Do you know where we are?” Any information would help. Even if she couldn’t figure out how to develop Spidey powers, just yet she could think of a way to get them out.

  A sniff this time. “I think we’re somewhere near the clinic. I used to buy drugs around here, but I can’t be sure. It smells the same.” She paused. “I’ve really done it this time, haven’t I?”

  Ash kicked back this time. “You better not be crying. I don’t know you, but we need to get out of this because I don’t want to die here with you. Please don’t take offence to that last part. I would say the same to anyone I was about to be buried alive with.”

  This time her companion laughed. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

  Ash closed her eyes as the distant sounds of seagulls and waves washed over her senses. This grave wasn’t big enough for two people. It was covered with a thick plastic cover and at any time their captors could decide to fill the hole. So they could die at any time because they were in a hole that was at least six feet deep.

  She turned to the woman next to her. “Why not? I don’t have other plans at the moment.”

  The girl who bathed in cinnamon essence laughed again. “You don’t strike me as the sort of person who would do the stable marriage thing.”

  The muscles at the back of her neck tensed. She’d never thought about it before. “I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I only met you, but I can tell that you’re strong and confident.” The very intelligent girl next to her paused. “I didn’t think strong-willed girls married boring men anymore.”

  We do, when we’re too scared to be alone.

  Chapter Seven

  “I can hear lots of movement above. Something is happening out there.” The hesitation in the girl’s voice sent a sliver of unease down Ash’s spine.

  The raised voices caused the bumps on her skin to lift. The sound of people running from one end of whatever enclosure they were in, to the other meant something was not going as planned. It meant trouble. It was easy enough to fill the hole they were in and move on. If she was going to ask the question—why didn’t they—out loud, she knew the person next to her might freak.

  “With all this time we’ve been spending together, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Ash.” She knew better than to twist around in the awkward position they were in, and try to extend her hand. This wasn’t the time for niceties and manners.

  A weak laugh sounding more like a puppy’s squeal filled the air. “I wouldn’t want to be buried with a stranger either. I’m Latha.”

  Ash swallowed her next breath with the shard of information. The alarm bells were a screeching clanging sound in her head. This was Kieran’s Latha. As much as this piece of the puzzle fell into place, it also didn’t. But she had to be the same person. Yet she was here and a drug addict, not the doctor and an old friend. Her presence brought more questions than answers.

  The noises above them
escalated. “Does that sound like a tractor starting to you?” she asked. It was definitely a loud sound that had bursts and bangs mixed with screeches and screams. “I don’t know what language that is.” Ash felt Latha’s hand clutch her arm at the same time she realised someone was up there barking orders that could mean their death.

  “They wouldn’t bury us alive. They are drug dealers, not murderers,” Latha’s death-like grip pinched her wrist. Ash heard her kick against the edge of the grave and more dirt fell into the hole.

  The thudding in her ears and her chest accelerated in such a way that she imagined her heart would explode from beating so rapidly. She elbowed Latha. “You’re going to bury us if you continue to kick against the edge like that.” When she swallowed, her throat ached. The screaming was so loud that she wasn’t sure where she was. Her eyes closed and there was darkness. Darkness and screaming.

  A large chunk of dirt fell over them and more screaming and even louder voices followed this. “We’re dying, aren’t we?” Latha said.

  Ash opened her eyes realising the screaming wasn’t her. What she could hear was choking sounds and rapid breathing. The smell of sweat mingled with rotten fish and wet soil heightened the pounding of her heart echoing in her ears. Isn’t this where you saw your life flash by?

  The one question that she kept asking herself was, what would she change? What would she have done differently? Would she have married Alok years ago? If she had, she wouldn’t have been here. Wouldn’t have met Kieran or been a fake bride-to-be. The thought caused a slowing of her pulse. She shifted awkwardly.

  She expected more dirt to be thrown over them, but the tractor stopped. Silence gripped her attention with a lot more force any loud bang would, she stilled and tried to listen for any change above. All the noise had stopped. The thick, heavy curtain covering them started to lift. Her eyes hurt when the light filtered in, and her hand went across her face as her chin lifted towards the sky. The voices above sounded familiar.

  “Ash, are you okay?” The voice sounded exactly like Kieran. But it couldn’t be. Right. Why would he be here?

  With a head full of lead, there had to be shards of glass mixed with it inside because each time she moved, it hurt and rattled. It couldn’t be real, she must be dreaming. Kieran was a doctor, a man in a suit. He would be the last person to come to the rescue. Especially her rescue. His tie would get in the way and he would trip on his perfectly polished shoes.

  Did she know she was being unreasonable? Of course. But she was making a point.

  Yet in the next moment it was his face that peered from above. The brightness of the sunlight didn’t matter. Just knowing he was right in front of her was enough to leave her pulseless for a millisecond. But then his gaze didn’t find hers first and she had to blink back the burning behind her eyes.

  “Latha? What are you doing here? Are you okay? Papa said you were in rehab.” Ignoring her, Kieran lifted Latha up to safety. First.

  Still lying in the grave, with the lead filled head and heart, Ash watched Kieran pull Latha into his arms and give her comfort. Her insides turned out and the twisting in her tummy made her sick. As much as she wanted to be the one in his arms, she couldn’t deny it. They looked good together. As a couple. She could see why Julie would want Latha as Kieran’s wife.

  “Let me help you up,” A voice from above said.

  She had barely noticed the man until his bronzed well-muscled arm was extended towards her. The khaki outfitted man was square-chinned and classically handsome. Very unlike the sexy-I-don’t-care attitude that Kieran wore like a quarantine suit.

  “Thanks.” The man lifted her out of the grave with little effort.

  A quick look around her, and she acclimatised to her surroundings. She was on a remote part of the Island. “Was this the base of operations?” she asked the man who helped her.

  “It was. We have handed everything over to the police. You two were very lucky they were holding you as a bargaining chip. They could have killed you.” He motioned to his colleague to bring water.

  “The thought did cross my mind when they started filling the grave with soil. That was a telling sign.” she looked around the compound and a cold shiver sliced through her. Being this close to death was not something she was comfortable with.

  Her rescuer gave her what appeared to be a smile, but she wasn’t sure GI Joe was actually capable of smiling. Or that he had a heart. “Kieran did say you were feisty.”

  Her gaze went to the man in question who was busy tucking Latha’s hair behind her ear. She grabbed the bottle of water, tipped her head back as she drank. They might belong together but she didn’t have to watch it.

  Water from a bottle had never tasted so good. She’d been in an actual gravesite. When she quenched her thirst she surveyed the area. The dark cover was a blue tarpaulin. That’s what they had over their gravesite. The kind they had on boats. That’s why it was always so dark and it stank like rotten fish.

  “It’s better not to think about the what ifs.” Her rescuer was a very large capable man and, if he were in that hole, he would have had the Spidey powers to get out.

  “I hadn’t scheduled being buried alive by drug dealers into my day.” She met his gaze and gave him a salute. “But thanks for the rescue. I might have to sleep with the light on for a few days.” Ash wasn’t sure when her voice had taken on that throaty quality. She didn’t like the vulnerable edge it showed.

  Kieran’s gaze found hers and her heart fell to the bottom of her gut. His gaze narrowed and her blood heated in such a way that all the heat rushed to her midsection. For just a moment time stopped, and she forgot to move her chest out. She forgot the movement was required to breathe, to move air in and out, to get oxygen to her body.

  Her heart raced, it floundered in her chest, hitting from side to side in a restless movement. Her instinct was to run. It was wrong to feel this. Wrong on so many levels that no matter how many ways she told it to herself to make it seem right, it would always turn out wrong. She’d seen the way he was with Latha, so why put herself through this?

  Kieran’s gaze didn’t leave her as he took a step towards her. The world started closing in. For once Ash had to stand there and make this choice that maybe there was a possibility that everything she believed was wrong. Maybe there was a way that marriage was not a prison or an end to freedom of choice. Maybe fairy tales were real. If Kieran took another step, then maybe she could take a step towards him too. Maybe they could work together.

  There was an aching in her heart that was so real, maybe all it needed was that one step. Those whiskey brown eyes had a smile she couldn’t turn away from. It couldn’t be imagined. His lips twitched and she saw the corners of his mouth turn up. His hand lifted towards her and he took another step.

  “Kieran,” Latha pulled his arm and turned him towards her.

  Her shoulders dropped as heaviness settled in her gut.

  First she heard a bang. There was a ringing. Burning. Sharpness. Then screaming. Movement all around. Darkness descending. Then light in the distance. Her name was called, of that she was certain. Then nothing.

  *****

  The air tasted of dust and sweat. There was nothing nice about this part of the Island and Kieran didn’t want to be here. He was ready to go back to London now. He was ready to go to any major city and close any major deal. As long as he wasn’t here, in this place. In this situation. The police were grappling with the shooter who was now surrendering. His gaze didn’t want to move to Ash. What if she was motionless? What if she was dead?

  “Dammit Kieran, get that medical kit and get over here.” Rohan shouted as he skidded to Ash and leaned over her. Kieran swallowed and looked at the tent covered police van they came in. It had the basics when it came to medical equipment. Did Rohan think they were on some mission and they could close her wound with a staple gun? They were not in Afghanistan or Doctors without Borders. He couldn’t play hero here. More importantly, he could not do this.
/>   Latha ran to the truck and brought him the bag. Each step he took towards Ash was a reminder of the past. He couldn’t save Johnny. He could see the blood seeping through Ash’s clothes. Bullet wound through the abdomen. He tasted bile.

  As he kneeled beside her, he knew this setback could cost him a lot more than he was willing to give. He couldn’t do this. This was Ash, beautiful and intelligent Ash. He wouldn’t know how to treat a bullet wound. If the bullet was still in there, he didn’t have the tools to extract it.

  He swept her hair aside and pulled his fingers away when she groaned in pain. “Ash, I’m sorry.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. Her pupils were dark but that green was so stark and real. “I hope you’re not going to tell me that you shot me. That’s no way to treat your future wife.” Her smile was weak and suffused with pain.

  Rohan tore part of his t-shirt and placed it under her. “Entry and exit wound.”

  Kieran nodded. So the bullet wasn’t in there. As his hand went out to apply pressure on the abdominal wound, he realised how much he was shaking.

  “You okay?” Rohan asked.

  Latha handed over the medical kit. “Ash, you’re going to be fine. Kieran was the top surgical intern.”

  Kieran wished she’d stop talking but she must have formed a bond with Ash while they were trapped together. Guilt kicked him in the gut. Neither of them would be in this situation if it weren’t for him.

  The bleeding wouldn’t stop. Ash’s breathing was getting shallow and her lips were turning blue. The blood was streaming out of the small hole on the left side of her body. She could have ruptured something. Later they had found out Johnny had internal bleeding and nothing he could have done would have made a difference.

  “Is the ambulance on the way?” What if he couldn’t save her? All these promises he couldn’t keep.

  He felt tugging on his sleeve and he looked down. Ash’s perfectly manicured nails were broken and dirty. She would have tried to scratch and fight her way out. Her hand felt cold and small in his. He placed the palm of his hand against her neck. “Ash?”