Chapter 19

Dead or alive ? Shilpa wondered as she slowly started to get back into consciousness.. As she was getting back to her senses, the memories started to rush back in her mind.. Her hasty visit to London.. Coming to meet Armaan.. And then.. Her eyes flew open as she grew alert.. The last thing she remembered was being hurt.. The man had almost grazed her neck.. Had he been successful.. She wondered as she started up at the ceiling of a strange room.. No.. She realized.. She was definitely Alive.. Shilpa drew a breath of relief , suddenly she grew still as she felt a movement beside her.. Small hands punching on her chest.. She glanced down hurriedly and instantly regretted the sudden move as pain shot through her neck..

"If I were you, I wouldn't have done that.. " A drawl came from the corner of the room sending chills down her spine.. Shilpa carefully set up on the bed and glanced at the owner of the voice.. Who set in the corner of chair entertaining himself with a drink.. She swallowed nervously seeing how intently he was studying her with a amused expression..

Kill her fast… His words rang in her mind as her eyes filled up with tears.. She glared at him as he set straight frowning… "You told him to Kill me.. " She spoke bitterly accusing him.. "You tried to KILL ME!!!" Shilpa shouted hoarsely she clutched her neck as pain shot through it hard..

Steve got up from his seat as he glared back at her in frustration.. Why was she even accusing him.. Who the hell was this lady.. He came closer and stared down at her narrowing his eyes.. "You better not shout in this condition.. Your going to bleed that wound.. "

"As if you care.. " She whispered angrily staring right at him.. "What did your loyal men do.. Slice open my neck..?? "

He clenched his jaw and bit out.. "You should be thanking me right now.. That I had stopped him from killing you.. Be thankful to me its just a small cut.. "

"Oh how generous of you… Mr.Steve.. " She spoke sarcastically and glanced away from him.. Steve tried to retort back when he noticed the change of her expression..

"Ohh " Shilpa gave a cry as she stared down at Arav who was lying beside her.. Studying her intently.. So it was him who was hitting her chest.. As Arav noticed a familiar person he gave a dazzling smile which brought out the dimple on his left cheek.. Steve stiffened as he stared down at them…

Shilpa scooped the baby in her Arms and held him close to her.. He noticed how easily her expressions from hatred to tender.. Just who the hell both of them were.. Steve wondered as he turned away abruptly.. And why did they effect him so badly..

"So this is your baby.. " He faced her with a controlled look.. "If you love him so much.. Why did you even leave him in a corner of store room.. "

Shilpa glanced back at him tiredly.. He felt surprised seeing the anger vanish from her eyes.. Her eyes fluttered as she whispered softly.. "I was just trying to protect him.. If I had taken him along with me , you wouldn't have hesitated on killing him too.. " I cant let you hurt your own child… She thought miserably…

Steve went still ,he snapped angrily… "Whatever I do.. I don't do killing.. I apologize my men had tried to kill you.. "

"On your order.. " She interrupted him…

Steve narrowed his eyes .. "I was just trying to be alert.. I had no intention of killing you.. Or the baby.. " His voice trailed off as he stared down at the baby in her arms.. For a minute his eyes were soft.. But then it became hard as he glanced back at her.. "If I really had the intention of killing anyone.. You would have been dead instantly.. "

Shilpa took a breath of relief as the anger started to fade slowly.. She hadn't meant to be angry on him.. But whatever he had done few hours ago had hurt her terribly.. You are forgetting Shilpa.. This is not your Armaan.. It's a man named Steve who does whatever he want… She realized painfully..

It was then Shilpa realized Arav growing restless in her arms.. He started to suck her neck which indicated to her how hungry he was.. Oh god.. Her heart sank as she realized Arav had been hungry from hourse..

Steve folded his arms and studied her seeing her expression change once again.. It grew shuttered as she stared down at her baby.. Who the hell was she.. Her presence was intimidating him with every passing minute.. She was indeed beautiful.. He had realized the moment he had seen her.. But damn.. He didn't have time for even a bit of romance.. And not with this stranger.. Not at all.. He had to find out who she was and what she was doing here.. And also find out about his look alike baby in her arms.. He grimaced staring down at the baby who was now crying.. Why did he have to look similar to him anyway..

Shilpa glanced up at him and spoke hesitantly.. "I have to feed him.. "

"What " Steve blurted out at first not understanding her words.. Shilpa swallowed painfully rubbing her wound.. She indicated down at the baby who was crying.. " He is hungry.. And I assume none of you have milk.. " She spoke mockingly.. "So I need to feed him myself.. "

"Feed him.. " His words trailed off as he realized what she was meaning.. With a embarrassed look he quickly glanced away…

"Exactly.. Breast feeding.. "Shilpa muttered tiredly.. "Now are you staying here or going.. ? "

Steve glanced back at her mortified.. "You really think I would like to stay and see… " he hesitated with a disgusted look.. "You feed him.. "

Shilpa raised her eyebrow with a amused look.. "Why not.. " She shrugged her shoulders.. "I don't mind.."

"You don't mind ??? " Steve asked angrily.. This lady was far from being normal… He shook his head and started to walk away when she spoke…

"Why should I mind.. " She muttered softly.. "After all you are his father..Am sure Arav wont mind you being here.. "

His steps grew halt as he glanced back at her stunned.. "What did you say.. "

"Exactly what you heard.. " She replied as she started to pull up her top.. Steve's eyes grew wide as he spoke mortified… "Oh will you just stop it.. I am not interested in seeing you feed him.. "

Shilpa suppressed her laugh and tried to keep a straight face.. "You can leave if you don't want to see.. "

Steve shook his head and muttered.. "We will talk later.. " And strode out of the room embarrassed..

"So where is this Ms.Indian now.. " David asked as Steve joined them in the living room..

Steve took a sip from his drink and leaned to the chair.. He closed his eyes and muttered without thinking.. "Breastfeeding.. "

David chocked on his drink while Robin and Logan stared at him horrified.. It was Devlin who broke the silence by breaking into fits of laughter….

"Hell " Steve muttered as he realized what he had said.. "So what exactly we say to a lady feeding a child.. " Steve snapped at them irritatedly as they stared to laugh..

"So Steve.. " Devlin asked jokingly.. "Did you see her go through this process.. "

"Keep you mouth shut Devlin.. " Steve warned him angrily..

Devlin rolled his eyes and got back to him game instantly…

"Did you get any information about who this women is.. " David asked him curiously..

Steve shook his head rubbing his neck.. "Not yet.. But I will get it out of her soon.."

"You should have let Robin kill her.. It would have been less complicated.. " Logan murmured..

Steve cursed under his breath.. "Damn it.. She has a baby along with her.. "

"So what.. " David shrug his shoulders.. "Its not like we haven't deal with such cases… "

"You must have but I don't do.. " Steve muttered glaring at David who smirked…

"Until I don't find out why she is here.. " Steve continued grimly.. "I am not letting anyone touch her.. "

David raised his eyebrow and muttered softly… "Steve and sensitive.. "

Steve heard his mocking words but decided to ignore them.. He stood up at walked to the window..

"Whoever she is.. She is really making me curious.. " Steve murmured distractedly.. He recalled her words.. .. After all you are his father… He flinched on the words.. Just on what the hell this lady was playing.. Was she really telling the truth.. He wondered restlessly.. Did she really meant it when she had referred that was his child… Not to forget that kid looks like him.. He thought frustratedly.. No way its possible !! Its been long time and he hadn't had a affair with anyone.. And this was definitely not his type of women.. But your still attracted to her.. He taunted himself.. What if he had met her before…memories he had forgetten.. A chill ran down his spine…

"Steve " David interrupted his thoughts.. "If its hard for you to deal.. We could easily.. "

"No ! " Steve spun around instantly.. "I said no one is going to deal with her.. Only I will.. No one else will come close to her remember that ! "

"But Steve " Logan interrupted instantly… "We leave to cruise tomorrow.. Whatever you have to do with her.. You have to do tonight… And then get rid of her.. "

"One night isint enough.. " Steve gritted his teeth.. "I need clear information from her.. And she looks stubborn enough not to answer any of my question.. "

"So what you say Steve.. Take her with us ? Hell man we could just kill her and get rid of her.. ?" Robin replied grimly…

"Oh you better stay quiet.. " Steve spoke angrily.. "You almost kill her tonight.. Don't even think of repeating it again.. " He calmed a bit and spoke.. "And about taking her along , that's exactly what we do.. Ms. Shilpa and the baby is coming along with us for the cruise.. "

"One big happy family.. " Devlin joked grinning to himself.. Steve rolled his eyes and started to walk away when david stopped him.. "Steve ! You must not forget we are going to meet our clients on the cruise.. And we are going to be gone for a month.. It's a long time.. "

"I am taking her with me.. " Steve muttered stubbornly.. "As I said before she is going to come with me.. And I am going to deal with her on my own way.. No need for anyone else to worry.. I will deal with her myself.. "

As Steve left them David shook his head in anger.. "What the hell is wrong with him.. "

Logon spoke quietly.. "Did you notice Steve is growing overprotective towards that women.. "

"Maybe he is just curious like us.. " Robin spoke.. "After all she have come looking for him.. He must be wondering why she is here.. "

"Maybe " David agreed.. "But then we have to be very alert.. After all he is going to take her with us.. "

"Why do I have a feeling she is his wife and that's her kid.. "Devlin joked once again.. David narrowed his eyes and his younger brother.. "Oh keep your mouth shut Devlin.. Never say a good thing.. "

"Steve " Logan spoke impatiently.. "If This lady is really a threat.. "

David interrupted instantly.. "If she is really a threat.. We will get rid of her even if Steve likes it or not ! " He spoke with a cruel smile..

Steve gave a nudge to her once again.. "Damn women.. Wake up !! "

Shilpa groaned and set up on the bed glaring at him.. "My neck hurts.. " She whined angrily.. Steve narrowed his eyes.. "Then you better eat some food.. And take this medicine it will ease you pain.. "

Shilpa stared down at the soup as her stomach growled in anger.. She glanced a look at Arav who was now sleeping contently.. "Ok.. Anyways I am hungry.. "

"No wonder.. " Steve spoke sarcastically as he handed her the soup.. She took it and started to eat hurriedly.. He clenched his jaw and warned.. "Slow up before you choke yourself to death.. "

"Oh then you must be so happy when I die.. " She replied back mockingly… Steve controlled his anger waiting for her to finish.. As she put the plate to aside he handed her the medicine which she took quietly..

"Are you done.. ? " He asked impatiently… "We need to talk.. "

"No ! " She shook her head feeling sleepy.. "I need some sleep.. "

"But you were just sleeping.. " He retorted as she lay on the bed.. " Get up !! Get up now and speak to me.. "

"No.. " She moaned softly and closed her eyes..

Steve stared down at her frustrated and gave a pat on her cheek.. But she was instantly asleep… He stared down at the mother and child who was rocking his world now.. He had never felt so restless in his life.. Ever.. "Gave you a chance lady.. " He drawled tiredly.. "Now we will deal with you in my way ! "