Ashraf started the car. “Where am I going?” he asked.

“Just take me home,” Reena said.

“Fine,” Saira said, nodding to Ashraf. “But we’re staying to run interference in case the dickhead shows up.”

But Nadim wasn’t there when they got to the building. Or at least, his car wasn’t there. And Reena wasn’t feeling generous enough to wonder where the fuck he had gone.

Ashraf and Saira spoke softly to each other as soon as they were in Reena’s apartment. He kissed Saira on the forehead and left, with a sad smile to Reena.

“He has to work,” Saira said.

Reena shrugged, lowering herself onto the sofa.

Saira sat next to her. “What a fucking tool. You had no idea? Did you know he worked for Salim Shah at least?”

Reena shook her head. “No.” A tear escaped her eye. She rubbed it away. Fuck. She needed a drink.

“Ugh. I hate men. Should I call Amira or Khizar? I’m sure you want someone better than me to talk to.”

“Amira.” Reena’s brain wasn’t working right, but Amira would tell her what to do.

Saira opened a video call on her own phone, and Amira answered with a concerned voice. “Saira. What’s wrong?”

“Reena’s in crisis. She’s here, hang on.” She passed the phone so Reena could see the worried face of her best friend.

“What happened, Ree? You okay?”

“Yeah. Just … at brunch … ” Her voice cracked.

Saira took the phone back and spoke into it. “Nadim is a lying cheater. He’s been engaged to the daughter of Dad’s nemesis for a year.”

“What. The. Fuck?!”

Reena leaned back and closed her eyes. She’d woken up so happy in Nadim’s arms in that hotel room. He had kissed her leisurely at dawn before moving on to rub her feet. That was just a few hours ago. Now, she had no idea if she would ever see him again.

Reena closed her eyes while Saira told Amira everything she knew. Which, admittedly, wasn’t a whole lot.

And none of it really mattered except that he was engaged. And that he had lied to her.

“I’m on my way, Ree,” Amira said the moment Saira got to the part about Nadim’s engagement. “Give me about two hours.”

“Amira, don’t.” She took the phone from Saira. “You have to work tomorrow. By the time you get here you’ll have to turn around to go home. I’m fine.” She was not fine.

“It’s not you I’m coming to see. It’s that snake. I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

“It’s okay, Amira,” Saira said, taking the phone back. “I’m already here. I’ll pour sugar in his gas tank or something. That’s a thing, right? Ashraf offered to disable his phone service remotely. I know it’s not the flashiest revenge, but it’s the thought that counts.”

“Enough, guys,” Reena said. She didn’t want revenge. She rested her head back and closed her eyes. She didn’t even want to think about this right now. All she wanted was to escape to a world where none of it was happening.