by M. V. Kasi
The Revenge Games
by
MV Kasi
About the Books
Fast-paced, hot and thrilling romantic suspense series which are top bestsellers with over a MILLION+ kenp reads.
SOULLESS
Sia Sampath is the sole heiress to a large fortune. Instead of enjoying her life, she flew halfway across the world to India with one burning desire—the need to take revenge, no matter what or who got in the way. But soon, she learned that sometimes, things in life don't always go according to a plan. Especially when it came to things related to the heart.
Ajay Manthena is a successful businessman who lived his life to the fullest. Whether in business or in life, he was used to going after what he wanted, until he achieved it. One look at the beautiful woman he accidentally met, he lost both his heart and his mind. He was determined to make her as his own. But what he hadn't expected was the shocking consequences to his hard pursuit.
RUTHLESS
Sia and Ajay's story began where most romances ended. But instead of a happily-ever-after, their marriage was a match made in hell, that was completely based on Sia's manipulation and lies. However, over the course of time, they opened up to each other, each willing to work it out between them for the sake of their unborn child. And soon, it wasn't just about the baby. They had fallen in love with each other.
But their happiness didn't last long. Dark secrets and betrayal were revealed. And this time, it was Ajay's manipulation and lies that were threatening to tear them apart.
Also by MV KASI
Enemies to Lovers Series
THAT SAME OLD LOVE
THE HOLIDAY AFFAIR
The Revenge Games Series
SOULLESS (Book #1)
RUTHLESS (Book #2)
The Singham Bloodlines Series
BOUND BY REVENGE (Book #1)
BOUND BY HATRED (Book #2)
BOUND BY DUTY (Book #3) (Foreword Contributor)
THE PROPOSAL
THE CAPTIVE
Soulless
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2016 by MV Kasi
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
DEDICATION
To all the children and adults who suffer from anxiety: bravery isn’t enough praise.
And to ALL my readers and my VIPs!
Thank you for everything.
I love you all!
EXCERPT
“Looking for me?” a man’s deep voice spoke close to her ear from behind.
When Sia turned around in surprise, the man smiled at her sexily.
“What makes you think I was looking for you?” she asked, trying to calm her heartbeat and the adrenaline rushing through her body.
“I don’t know. Maybe because you are here at a place where you know I hang out often on Saturday nights. I’ve invited you several times before, and you kept turning me down. I’m glad you are finally here,” he said.
Sia knew she should not encourage him. She also knew that she should insult him with a callous remark and ask him to buzz off like she did with the other guy a while ago. She should probably also lie that she wasn’t interested—but she couldn’t do any of those things.
Desire like nothing she had ever felt before was ruling her brain and body. She needed this man. Only him.
“Let’s get out of here and have dinner. There is a great place that I know—” he began.
“No,” she replied, cutting him off.
She saw the frustration tearing into his face at her reply. She had rejected his dinner invitations way too many times. It was quite ironic that over the past few months, during most of the nights, she had imagined being with him.
And now, all her fevered fantasies she had about him during those nights was coming back to her, more vivid than most of her real memories with other men.
“I meant…that I don’t want to have dinner. Take me home with you. To your bed,” she said softly, making it obvious what she wanted from him.
But surprisingly, he didn’t appear shocked at her bold invitation. In fact he began to smile slowly. And this time, rather than his usual sexy smile, it was a fierce smile. It was so scorching that her entire body broke into goosebumps.
“All right then. As you wish. Let’s go,” he commanded and held her hand firmly.
Blindly, she followed him to his car.
When they got on the road, and stopped at a signal, he broke the tension filled silence.
“Who was that guy you were talking to earlier at the club?” he asked.
She wanted to reply that the man was a stranger, which was sort of the truth. But she wanted to be a little more forthcoming with the truth that night, even if rest of their future would be based on lying and manipulation.
“He was my supposed date,” she stated quietly.
He turned to look at her sharply. “Oh?” he asked. “I thought you said that you didn’t date.” He said that with a controlled calm even though his fingers had tightened over the steering wheel.
“I don’t. But sometimes biology takes over, and you have to go after your desires.”
His eyes flared as he threw her a possessive look. “Desire isn’t based on biology, Sia. And I think you already know that,” he said, running his eyes over her in a slow perusal, making her heated under his gaze.
“Desire starts here,” he said, tapping softly at her forehead with his finger, and then slowly trailed his fingers down her cheek, and her neck, and then lower. “After you begin desiring someone with your mind, you will want them with the rest of your body. So even if the guy was great to look, but your mind didn’t want him, he’d stand no chance at satisfying your desires.”
Her body heated up even more at his words, and then at his touch.
During the past month, after their heavy make-out session on her couch, inside her house, both of them had barely spoken to each other. Apart from the chin nods, and polite official communication when needed, they didn’t acknowledge each other. But the tension has always remained between them.
And now it was at an exploding point.
She could hardly remember the rest of the ride, or how they got into his home.
CHAPTER 1
“YOU ARE PREGNANT.”
Listening to those three words, Sia felt goosebumps breaking out on her skin. And it wasn’t entirely due to the cold, sterile room at the hospital.
“Are you sure, Dr. Rey?” she asked calmly. “Or do I need to go through any other tests for confirmation?”
“I’m quite positive, Miss Sampath,” the doctor replied with a smile. But when Sia didn’t show any visible reaction on her face to the news, the doctor’s smile wavered, and she just stood there awkwardly. “I…uh…I’m going to get a re-fill for your prenatal vitamins. In the meantime, please wait here. I’ll send my nurse to book a follow-up appointment,” she said, before hurrying towards the exit of the room.
“Thank you,” replied Sia.
Sia had been seeing Dr. Rey for almost three months. And during that time, she had made it pretty clear that she didn’t indulge in any kind of small talk. She didn’t want to reveal any intimate details of her life, and neither was she interested in knowing anything
about the doctor’s life.
As soon as Dr. Rey left, Sia locked the door and removed the hospital gown to change back into her regular clothes. And when she was done, she sat on a chair and bent her head down between her knees, trying to calm down.
Oh my God, this is really happening. I’m pregnant.
The news brought both dread and relief to her.
Dread, because she was going to charter into unknown territories. And relief, because the wait was finally over. Things were now moving according to the plan.
She was one step closer to meeting her dear family. And her baby would give her the best leverage.
A baby…
How on earth would someone like me manage to raise a baby?
She had been asking herself that question over a hundred times.
She knew nothing about babies—hadn’t even been around one to even know how they were or what they needed. All she knew was that she wanted someone she could love and protect unconditionally.
But was that really enough? What about the things her child needed?
She had read that most expecting mothers doubted themselves. But her thoughts were vastly different than the rest of the expecting mothers.
Because unlike her, no mother would desperately wish for her baby not to inherit any of her genes.
And no mother would plan the nursery far away from her room to ensure that the baby wouldn’t be disturbed by her terrified screams during the night.
And no mother would prepare an iron-clad will for her unborn child to inherit all of her material possessions, in case something untoward happened to her.
And most of all, no mother dreaded about breaking the news of her pregnancy to the father of the child—even before she had planned to conceive…
Taking a deep breath, Sia tried to compose herself by blanking out everything.
Feelings and self-doubt made one weak. They would overwride rational thoughts and cause reckless impulses that would lead to bad decisions. And she couldn’t afford to make any bad decisions. Not now.
A loud knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” she said quietly.
An excited looking nurse entered the examination room. “This news must be so thrilling for you and your husband, Mrs. Sampath,” she beamed. And even though she received no reply, she continued with her excited chattering.
“I’m a new mother myself. My baby is already eleven months old, but I still can’t forget how thrilled my husband and I were when we found out that I was pregnant.”
The smile slipped from the nurse’s face when she saw that there was no joy, or any sort of emotion on the soon-to-be mother’s face.
“I’ll be free on the second Tuesday of next month. Please book that appointment for me.” Sia instructed the nurse evenly.
The nurse looked confused, and then a little hurt. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry about my chattering. It’s just that…I’ve seen you coming here so often from the past two months, and so I know that you and your husband must have been planning for a baby from a while. Where is he? I want to see his face when you announce it to him. He would be so thrilled. I can never get used to seeing the expectant father’s faces after—”
Losing patience, Sia cut her off. “I don’t have a husband. Now, if you can confirm the next appointment for me, I’d really appreciate it.”
The stunned nurse was gaping at her. “B-but you had ordered…but you had planned. I-I…” She flustered for a while. Then taking a deep breath, she managed to calm herself, and finally opened the calendar to make the follow up appointment.
Sia regretted snapping at the nurse.
It was quite rare for her to snap at someone. Because losing patience meant losing control. And having control was the only way to ensure that you had control of things happening in your life. And now because of her momentary loss of patience, she had let out the fact that she wasn’t married.
The nurse knowing that fact shouldn’t really matter that much. But she still felt it was an unnecessary risk.
“I have blocked a slot for your next check up, Mrs…Miss Sampath. You will get a reminder call and a text message before your appointment,” said the nurse, adopting a more professional tone.
Sia nodded.
Meantime, Dr. Rey returned to the examination room with a few paper bags in hand. “Here you go, Miss Sampath,” she said, as she handed the prenatal vitamins along with other medications. “You are running a little low on iron. That’s what is causing you to feel a little weak and dizzy these days. I have written down the instructions for the daily prescriptions.”
“Thanks,” said Sia, placing the prescriptions into her bag.
“Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any further questions,” said Dr. Rey with a tentative smile.
Sia looked at the doctor levelly. “Dr. Rey, I want you to know that I’ve chosen this hospital and you in particular, because I expect a very high level of service.”
The doctor looked disconcerted. “Of course, Miss Sampath. All of our patients can vouch—”
“I’ve repeatedly told you during all of my visits that I want to keep my medical history including my latest…condition, confidential. I don’t want to be discussed, even amongst the hospital staff,” she said, looking pointedly at the nurse who was now embarrassed.
Sia knew she was putting the well-intentioned nurse on the spot. But she couldn’t afford to take any chances. There were bigger things at stake than some woman’s feelings.
The doctor glared at the nurse, causing her to scamper away with a look of shame.
“I understand that Miss Sampath. You don’t have to worry about it. It’s in our policy to always keep our patient’s information confidential. No one outside the hospital—in fact, no one apart from me and the nurse know about the treatment you have been taking so far. Our hospital records, including the appointments indicate that you were undergoing cosmetic procedures,” explained the doctor.
“That’s good. I’ll see you next month then.”
Then picking up her purse, she walked out of the room, heading towards the exit.
And when she reached the exit door, she drew out her umbrella from the purse.
It had been raining quite heavily since the past few weeks. And even though the city was bustling with traffic and the crowds, the dark ominous clouds in the sky made the surroundings gloomy.
Quickly, she went towards the lone car that had been waiting outside for her. It was deliberately parked away from the entrance and garage to avoid scrutiny.
Sliding into the front seat, she closed the umbrella before shutting the door close. And then, she turned to look at the tall, muscular man seated in the driver’s seat.
His head was turned halfway, looking towards her, but not quite making eye contact. He was waiting for her to break the news.
She stared at his perfectly flawless features, contrasting with a wicked looking, jagged scar on his cheek. She also noticed that his hands were trembling slightly, displaying his anxiety.
“It’s done. I’m pregnant,” she announced quietly.
Satisfaction and relief flared in the man’s eyes at the news.
“Good. I was worried that you wouldn’t conceive through natural means this soon. And that we’d have to try—”
“I know.”
“When will the baby arrive?” he asked impatiently.
“Four months before I turn twenty five.”
Frustration tore into his face. “God, I hate this waiting. It’s killing me each day thinking about the other—”
“I have been thinking about the same thing too. But I’ve told you several times, we have to do this the right way, or we’ll risk everything. There’s nothing much we can do, or should even try to do, until this baby is born. We have to lay low as much as possible.”
“I know,” said the man with a frustrated sigh, resting the back of his head on the seat, trying to stop the now visible trembling of his entire body.
&nbs
p; The rain had picked up, and it almost blinded the visibility to the outside world.
Sia and the man remained quiet, lost in their own thoughts, thinking of the upcoming storm, both on the inside and the outside.
Finally, it was the man who broke the silence.
“So…when are you breaking the joyous news to the soon-to-be-father?”
CHAPTER TWO
“YOU ARE GETTING married, not executed, Ajay Manthena!”
Ajay laughed listening to that statement.
“Don’t you dare laugh it away! You are slowly becoming such a bore, without a speck of fun remaining in you. And to think, you are the leader of our pack. Come on man, this is going to be the first of your bachelor parties. Live your life to the fullest. As it is your days are numbered now,” said an exasperated man’s voice on the speakerphone.
Ajay laughed again at his friend’s exaggeration. He was preparing to step out for what his friends had termed as a fun evening out. Although, calling it an evening was quite an exaggeration. Their evening would definitely last until early hours of the next day
“Harsha, I just need to drop by at Jo’s place for a few minutes to finalize the invitation cards. I should be able to meet you guys by ten,” he said.
“Ten! What will you do at Jo’s place for that long? Knowing Jo, she’ll put you to sleep, and not in a good way. Call her and tell her highness that it’s not possible to meet tonight,” said Harsha.
Ajay was still staring at the cards that his soon-to-be fiancée, Jo had dropped a week before. He was to decide which ones he liked the best for their formal engagement invitations.
He didn’t particularly care about the cards, but Jo and her family were so enthusiastic about planning every intricate detail of the engagement party, that he felt compelled to participate in some of the planning.