#theswallows

[hand-written-dreams]

CRIMSOM SHADE

Prologue

The Monster in the Shadow

How can such an innocent women have

Such dangerous hands?

- ( The song of the Chapter is "Dangerous Hands" by Austin Giorgio.

2 Weeks ago

A shadow loomed in the dark stillness of the night.

A pair of eyes gleamed.

The eyes of a predator.

Eyes like fire and thunder, laced with venom.

Multiple computers flickered to red all of a sudden. Someone had dared to invade the monster's lair. He was at once thrilled and in awe of the audacity of the intruder, "TheSwallow."

TheSwallow had breached the first layer of firewall the monster had built around his empire of dark web.

And the monster was no stranger to TheSwallow.

He knew her.

He had stolen from her.

How did the monster know the intruder was a "her"? Experience. Years of navigating in the dark corridors of hacking taught him to distinguish between a "he" and a "she". The "she"s usually had a specific style in writing code. These codes in his screens were so damn gorgeous to be written by a man.

The "she"s were very rare in the hacker business, but when there was a "she", it was a fucking spectacle to behold.

Just like what's transpiring right now.

The monster could kiss her dainty little fingers for the show she was putting on. So sexy, so sensual.

A smile curved in the corner of his lips.

His smile was a blade wrapped in silk.

A sinister mixture of danger and delight.

It was time to lay a trap for the little bird. Let’s see how the swallow fared in the sky of the eagles.

Chapter 1

A Serpent in the Eagle's Den

Did you really think

I'd just forgive and forget.

- ( The song of the Chapter is "I see red" by Everybody loves an outlaw)

TheShadowMonster

It's the name she hates the most in the whole universe right now. Who is TheShadowMonster? She doesn't know. No one knows. He is a notorious hacker on the dark web, the lord of that shadowy world. Hackers all over the globe admire him, some worship him and others wet their pants at the mere mention of his name. He is a name of admiration, reverence, and fear in their world.

Khushi Sen Gupta used to admire him, even worshipped him in certain weak moments, but not anymore. Right now, she hates his guts.

TheShadowMonster is a thief.

He has no morals.

As if growing up in a notorious mafia family in Kolkata wasn't bad enough, now she has to deal with this setback in her secret life as well.

Yes, Khushi Sen Gupta is a hacker.

A highly proficient one.

A childhood full of mommy issues and daddy issues does that to you, when you find computers more emotionally available to you than your own parents.

And, Khushi Sen Gupta is a born genius. She discovered the language of computers when she was 8 years old, and since then, she never looked back.

Her father, Sashidhar Sen Gupta is the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kolkata. Behind that badge, he is also the most corrupt in the country's history, not that anyone knows about his crimes. He is a member of 'The Serpents,' one of the three families that established the mafia in this country in the fifties.

The infamous 'Triad.'

Three powerful families came together to form an organized mafia syndicate that have been dominating the country for decades. These families swore to follow the laws laid down by The Godfathers and to stand by each other in times of need.

In every family, there’s The Boss, often called The Godfather, the unquestioned head who rules the entire empire. Just beneath him is The Underboss, The Heir, waiting in the shadows to take the throne. On par with the Underboss in power is The Consigliere, the trusted advisor who, though not bound by blood, holds the family's fate in his hands.

Beneath this triad of authority are the captains, who oversee specific operations and territories, managing their own teams to ensure the family's orders are executed with precision. At the end of the food chain are the foot soldiers, who carry out day-to-day tasks on the streets.

When territories were being distributed, the then head of the Serpents, Samol Kumar Jha, claimed West Bengal and its borders. They started operating from there. The Sen Gupta family had the honor of being The Consiglieri of The Serpents from the very beginning and they have held that position ever since.

A Consigliere is someone who is not related to the family by blood.

An outsider to the family,

But not an outsider to the mafia society.

He offers legal and financial counsel to The Boss while shielding them from impending threats.

That is Khushi's father now.

The Consigliere of the Serpents.

The Serpents have been ruling West Bengal for decades, but a few years ago, they moved to Delhi when The Boss of that time, Prakash Narayan Jha, decided to dip his toes into politics. As a result, the Sen Gupta household also relocated to Delhi. Even after The Boss was mysteriously murdered, they didn't move back. The Serpents now operate their business in Kolkata from Delhi, as the brother of the deceased boss took over that part of the business a few years ago, giving The Heir a chance to pursue his other interests. The Heir wants to venture into even more dangerous games.

The Politics.

The son of the deceased boss, Shyam Manohar Jha, is eager to try his luck in the political arena, just like his father.

People call him "The Viper".

A fitting description of his nature.

The second family of The Triad is the Mumbai Wolves. As the name suggests, Mumbai is their territory. Khushi knows very little about them. She never had to. In her entire 22 years of life, she hasn't crossed paths with any of them. But she could vaguely recall that the boss's daughter was killed last month, brutally and brazenly, in broad daylight, such an insult to the power the Wolves possessed. The news sent shockwaves through the underworld, leaving everyone on edge and wary of a brewing storm ahead.

And the last but not the least, the most notorious of them all.

The Black Eagles.

Here she stands, right in the heart of their territory.

It’s not that people from one family can’t visit another’s territory. The Serpents have basically been living in Delhi, which is the Black Eagles' domain, for the past two decades. However, a rule has been established. The Serpents can’t meddle in The Eagles' affairs. So, Khushi being here wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t for two facts, first, the Serpents and the Black Eagles don’t see eye to eye, and second, she came here to stick her tiny nose in their business.

The serpents and the Eagles are enemies, they have been for a long time, bound by a fragile alliance that forces them to tolerate one another. What turned once-friends into bitter foes? That’s a long story, one best saved for another time. For now, there's a more pressing issue to focus on.

Her whereabouts.

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.

It is a mistake.

It can't be nothing but a mistake.

A grave one in nature.

Entering enemy territory like this!

But it is a mistake she has to make.

There's a party going on, a costume party with masks, nonetheless. At least it will be a tad bit easier to hide her identity.

The knives strapped to both of her thighs are biting into her skin, adding an extra notch to her already frayed nerves.

Ignoring the pain in her thigh, Khushi simply observes the scene in front of her. She has been preparing for this night for days. She has meticulously transformed her appearance for the evening. The long black sleeveless gown conceals the knives. She's paired the dress with a simple black lace mask. Her dark hair is curled into long waves with lips painted a vivid red.

It is anything but her.

But it is absolutely essential for her plan to remain unrecognizable.

She forces herself to maintain an air of nonchalance. She feigns drinking from the wine glass in her hand, but her eyes are locked on the crowd, never losing focus. A few sips of the drink might have soothed her jittery nerves, yet she refrains. A crystal clear focus is more crucial than any illusion of liquid courage.

The party is being held in the sprawling lawn of a grand mansion owned by a businessman associated with the Black Eagles. The mansion comes alive with the vibrant energy of the party, where twinkling fairy lights drape the trees, casting a warm glow across the night.

Laughter and music fill the open space, a lively symphony of chatter and clinking glasses. Guests mingle in elegant attire, their faces hidden behind an array of intricate masks, each more ornate than the last.

The scent of fresh blooms from the immaculately manicured hedge fills the air. She scans the softly glowing lawn area from the shadows of one of those hedges, observing faces she recognizes from the news over the years. She watches as the soldiers of the Eagles parade around with women mostly decorating the arms of the men they are with, just like those lavish centerpieces, adorning the beautifully arranged tables.

"Mr.Rathore, so nice to see you."

A man's loud greetings draw her attention. Khushi studies the man being greeted. He stands tall, his slender yet agile frame filling out the sharp lines of his tailored suit, a classic black that contrasts with his neatly combed white hair. The burden of age is visible on his face, etched deeply with wrinkles.

Vikrant "the Butcher" Singh Rathore.

The Boss of The Black Eagles.

Everyone in her world has some sort of crimson stain on their hands. But his hands bear the darkest stains of blood, deeper and more haunting than anyone else, the darkest shade of crimson.

They call him "The Butcher" for a reason.

His cold-blooded attitude is a thing of admiration in their world. Khushi has been around men like him in her life long enough not to let that shake her, or at the very least, to ensure none of it betrays her perfectly stoic face, carefully honed through years of practice.

Standing beside him is his son, the Prince of the Rathore Empire, Akash Singh Rathore. A tall, leanly built, lanky man. His role within the Eagles is still uncertain. Rumor has it that the Junior Rathore wants to leave the mafia world, not a promising prospect for the Rathore family, with an heirless empire hanging in the balance.

Those men in the eastern corner of the lawn care very little about the masquerade, standing barefaced while others conceal themselves behind masks. Good for Khushi. Nonetheless, she has studied them so much over the past few days that she will recognize them anywhere whether masked or unmasked, veiled, or unveiled.

Khushi finally lets herself take a little sip of the red liquid for the first time that night. The bitterness of the wine burns her throat, a spark compared to the burning hate prickling her skin as her eyes wander to the man who stands silently beside Junior Rathore.

The man she has come here for.

Arnav Singh Raizada.

The Consigliere of the Black Eagles.

The Vulture.

Her eyes trace over him, lingering on every detail. He stands tall in an all-black suit. The black shirt underneath has its top three buttons open in absence of a tie. His black hair is slightly messy, as if he has just run his fingers through it. He has his gaze fixed on the man in front of him with the most bored, expressionless face she has ever seen. It’s hard to see his eyes from this distance.

But she knows they are brown.

Light chocolate brown.

Like caramel and chocolate mixed together, sprinkled with a hint of orange and green if you get the right angle.

Eyes like shadow and flame.

Eyes that could kill you, literally and figuratively.

She's observed pictures of him in great detail, just for research purposes to be absolutely clear.

Purely and absolutely.

Not because she finds him attractive or anything. Like right now, she can't take her eyes off the handsome man, not because his well-built body is flexing in all the right places as he shakes someone's hand, but because of the stories she has heard of him over the years since he returned from the States seven years ago.

The words have it that after Senior Rathore's retirement, he will be the boss of The Black Eagles, not Junior Rathore. They say Vikrant Singh Rathore favors Mr. Raizada over his own son. In parts, Mr. Raizada even bears a closer resemblance to Senior Rathore than to his own father.

Arnav "The Vulture" Singh Raizada.

He is The Vulture among The Eagles.

In the mafia world, he is known as 'the vulture'. Whereas in the business world, people refer to him by the acronym, ASR. He is the son of the former consigliere of The Black Eagles, Arvind Singh Raizada. Arvind Singh Raizada and Vikrant Singh Rathore were best friends. After Arvind was murdered, his wife tragically ended her life by taking matters into her own hands. Soon after that, Senior Rathore sent the only surviving Raizada to the USA to study at Harvard.

At the age of 25, Mr. Raizada took over the reins of Rathore Industries. It primarily consists of high-end fashion houses, garment factories, and various other business ventures. He transformed the once-dying company into a Fortune 500 corporation. People say his net worth is over 500 million dollars, with some even claiming it is more.

But the more impressive thing is how he got his nickname. He cleared away all their illegal affairs and whitewashed all of their black money, giving them the squeaky clean reputation in the entire mafia world in the police database. Under the shade of the massive wings of The Vulture, The Eagles can now easily operate their business without any hitch.

Such a waste of a Harvard education, Khushi huffs.

There's a saying in her world that became popular in the last few years, "When the vulture surrounds you, try not to die."

He has the reputation of being the deadliest Eagle of them all, the most predatory. He rarely goes on a hunt though, but when he does, it's said to be over in the bat of an eye.

He goes straight for the jugular.

No distractions.

No playing around with the prey.

But no one ever saw him in action. Her bodyguard-turned-driver, Mohan, thinks they are all just rumors The Eagles have spread to instill fear among the masses regarding the next in line.

She fakely smiles at a waiter who offers her some desserts. Slightly raising her wine glass, she pretends to take a sip once again. She keeps her inspection ongoing from under the rim of her glass. She is right. Mr. Raizada does run his fingers through his hair a lot. The tattoo on his hand catches her eye.

He has a tattoo of a swallow on his right hand. Her favourite bird.

She even named her hacker ID "TheSwallow." She yearns for the freedom of the bird and wants to fly away to a far-off land one day. She doesn't want to be frowned upon like the peacock or the swan. She wants to be free, lost in the crowd like a normal human, not caged away in a castle.

She feels bad for the bird inked into his skin. Such a pretty bird to be trapped on the hand of such a despicable man. Just as he has caged the swallow forever in his skin, The Vulture has robbed her of her freedom as well.

She worked tirelessly throughout her years at IIT Delhi to gather information and evidence about the crimes committed by his father and the Serpents, so that by the end of her graduation, she could share them with the police in exchange of protection and escape from the country. She also coded a deadly virus that could evade any high-end security system, which she intended to sell on the dark web for a high price. But as she was transferring the data to the CBI, it stopped at the 10% mark, and all her data and the virus she created were gone. Abso-fucking-lutely gone. Not a single file remained on her computer. To make matters worse, her computer was formatted.

She was hacked by none other than TheShadowMonster. Why did the infamous hacker in the history of all hackers need to target someone like her? She has no idea. She was in the dark then, and she’s still in the dark now. She doesn't care about the 'why's, 'how's, or 'who's anymore.

She only knows that the information he has hacked is dangerous. It can demolish the entire mob world if it falls into the wrong hands. They can use it as leverage against the mob families, especially the Serpents, to achieve anything. And it has ended up in the worst hands possible.

The hands of an enemy.

She has been tracking the data and TheShadowMonster relentlessly for the past few days. She even managed to hack TheShadowMonster's server. All of this tracking has led her to Mr. Raizada. TheShadowMonster has sold the information to him. She discovered text messages, transactions, and every detail that pointed to the fact that the information was sold to Mr. Raizada in exchange for a huge amount of money.

And with that, all her escape routes have been blocked. She is trapped in this hellhole.

However, the thing is she can't stay in Delhi any longer. She can't afford to wait to collect more information against them as the day of her wedding approaches rapidly. She needs to retrieve the information tonight, at any cost, from none other than Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada.

She is going to kill The Vulture.

She knows it seems foolish and utterly illogical, but she has no other choice. Either she will kill him and obtain the information, or he will kill her and put her out of her misery. Either way, she will be free.

There is one more reason behind her desire to eliminate The Vulture.

Her only friend from university, despite her father's hovering and overprotectiveness, has vanished after the hacking incident. She doesn't want to assume the worst, but her efforts to track him down and her inquiries among other students led nowhere. Neil Kashyap, whom she calls NK, has vanished without a trace. She knows NK can remain untraceable if he wants, as he is skilled with computers and adept at erasing his online tracks as well. But Khushi is Khushi. She discovered a number NK shared text messages with before his disappearance, and that number belongs to Mr. ASR.

Khushi doesn't have time to cry over her pathetic life or the fact that she befriended someone sent by The Eagles to keep an eye on her. She not only befriended him but also made him her best friend for life.

The pathetic, lonely, friendless life that she has.

That is indeed a solid reason to kill Mr. Raizada, for giving her a best friend and then snatching it all away.

Author's note:Thank you for reading! Don't forget to leave your thoughts, I love hearing what you think! Stay tuned for more!

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@featheredclover @arshifiesta @phuljari @jalebi-weds-bluetooth @chutkiandchotte @arshisrabbaves @titaliya

[faizal-skudal]

La O Be #theswallows #bapakmetal #popyehyeh https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb5CV6phsNi/?utm_medium=tumblr

[letsjoyful]

#CancerSupportGroups #cancer #cancerhelp #InspirationalSpeaker #shrenikshah #shrenikshah2110 #beingfearless #LaryngectomeeSPEAKEStoo #stoma #LiveTalkShow #ImageBuilidingBeyondBoundaries #GoingBackToWorkAfterCancer #BringingBackLostSMILE #hncconf2019 #hncconf2018 #theswallows #IWIllNotQuit #MakingDifferenceInLifeOfOthers #DedicatedToTheWillToWIN #electroLarynx #Laryngectomy #Laryngrctomee #FromDisabledToEnabled (at Nottingham, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5NkWfMghwM/?igshid=17xl50tais1hg

[cbarrowman]

Read a book! Right now! Link to my @morningblend fall book club seg in bio. #notreallyangry #liveTV #thewarehouse #theswallows #thedutchhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/B1-MafJHeBU/?igshid=1nh38k67ucg5d

[decoratingreader]

Happy Friday Eve 🤗 This week has flown by once again. I swear life went by slower when I was younger. Is it just me? . Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse for gifting me The Swallows by @lisa.lutz . It released this week and it’s high on my tbr. Have any of you read it yet? Or do you plan to? (Summary in comments) . When I went shopping Tuesday I stopped by @marshalls and found this Blessed @raedunn pillow and a sunflower candle that smells like fall 🍁🌻 because I am seriously SO ready for it. I also grabbed some sunflowers from Hobby Lobby! That place just makes me so happy every time I go in there. 😂😂 Anyone else? . . . #theswallows #lisalutz #thebookstagram #bookstagrammers #hygge #readersofinsta #lovetoread #bookaesthetic #ofquietmoments #penguinrandomhouse #tbr #raedunn #raedunnfinds #hobbylobby #cosy (at Memphis, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MSTyWHeM_/?igshid=1wzpcy2gc6y9j

[triadin]

I made a new post on #Patreon as the #Triadin tales move forward. “Time to let go of fear ... That is why we are here...” #Rogar #Ashyu #TheSwallow 🎨. #asiancharacter #panel #representation #translivesmatter #love #family #fantasy #love #LGBTQIA #ric4art #Japan #Shikoku #Kagawa #日本 #四国 #香川 #drawing #wizard #sketch #wip (at Kagawa Prefecture) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLe_prnIFE/?igshid=qdyw908vboui

[toomuchforyoutohandle]

It ain't the meat -The Swallows 1951 #girlswithtattoos #brunette #browneyes #50smusic #theswallows #sonnythompson #rhythm

[tugglegrassblues]

Book Review | The Swallows

Book Review | The Swallows

The Swallows Book Review | 📚📚📚 1/2 3.5/5 Lisa Lutz (author) | Ballantine (Random House) Books

The Swallows is a book about a high school prep school with a secret society, a badass teacher whose past troubles follow, and a growing group of renegade students. What could possibly go wrong?

Why I was interested in this book: I read a lot of grit lit and literature with social messages. I needed…

[bogusmerchandise]

New print at @tandang_store, @thezhongshanbuilding ♥️ . Go online at www.tandangstore.com/collections/t-shirts (link in bio). . 📷 @brrssherrehssrrbssrrbhe #diy #silkscreen #screenprinting #tshirt #collection #kassimslamat #theswallows #bijoxtshirts #tandangstore #bogusmerchandise (at Tandang Records Store)

[awe86]

Layan Kopi ☕️ #nowspining "Senandong Malam" cover by The Swallows 👌🏻. #okgo ✊🏻 #kassimselamat #theswallows 🎸🥁

[henrycavillportal]

#CᴀᴠɪʟʟᴏɴSᴏᴄɪᴀʟMᴇᴅɪᴀ | Zireael

#TheSwallow

#TheWitcher

@Netflix

@WitcherNetflix

@HenryCavill

#HenryCavill #Zireael #Sorceress #TheWitcher #Witcher #Geralt #GeraltofRivia #Netflix #NetflixWitcher #hexer #thewitchernetflix #thewitcher3 #gwent #Ведьмак #wiedzmin #witcher3wildhunt #gameofthrones #cirilla #bloodandwine #wildhunt #ciri #polish #yenneferofvengerberg #sapkowski #monsterslaying #yennefer #monsterslaying #cdprojektred

We're NOT Henry Cavill. He's @HenryCavill

[hand-written-dreams]

CRIMSON SHADE

Chapter 12

Stars Beneath Her Skin

You put a spell on me. I'm losing my mind

You better stop things. It's a matter of time

Before I hunt you down.

Grab your chin, And kiss your lips

- ( the song of the chapter is 'You put a spell on me' by Austin Giorgio.)

A fraction of eternity passes between them as they stare at each other.

Her, with roses on her cheeks,

And him, with his upper lip caught between his teeth.

'Is he fighting a smile?' She can't be so sure with him and his stoic face. But the amusement glimmering in his Caramel-browns betrays him slightly.

"Well, well, well," he says with a voice dripping with sin as he takes in the sight of her tangled in the fairy lights. Their soft glow clings to her like a web of stars. "If it isn't my favourite person in the whole world....all wrapped up in a situation."

'favourite person?'

Her eyebrows shoot up as she crosses her arms as best she can with the lights still draped over her. “Should I be flattered?”

His gaze roams over her, tracing the soft glow of the lights framing her shoulders, lingering a beat longer on her face. She can’t help but let her eyes wander as well. The faint light illuminates his features, casting shadows that make him look like a dark angel. Dangerous, yet undeniably alluring.

"Tsk, my sweet, despicable enemy, you're still as sparkly as I remember," he states, a hand gesturing lazily in her direction, "Didn't realize stalking required.....this much decoration."

"Hot and cold much, Mr.Raizada. Either I'm your 'favourite person', or I'm your 'enemy.' Pick a side," she snaps, trying to get herself out of the claw of the light string monster.

"Why can't you be both?"

She glares at him, and if looks could kill, he’d be a memory by now. He merely arches a dark brow, eyes alight with an unspoken dare, inviting her into the same sparring game they’ve been playing all this time. But instead, she focuses on untangling the fairy lights, resisting the urge to meet his challenge with a sharp retort.

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest, rich and dark, as he moves toward her with slow, deliberate steps, "So, you were stalking me, huh?"

"Stalking you!? In your dreams," and despite all her earlier resolve, here she is, taking his bait.

"Oh, really? Are you sure about that? Because it's funny how we always find ourselves in the same place, at the same time. Wherever I am, you seem to find yourself there.”

"Maybe you're the one who's always in my way," she huffs, irritated with the tangled heap of light strings, the more she tugs on them, the movement only seems to make them more stubborn. She's getting more tangled in them than she previously was. And she's equally frustrated with the beautiful bastard in front of her, who has not finished pestering her yet.

"Funny," he stops mere inches from her, the space between them narrowing, folding them into the soft glow of the lights. "I had an interesting interaction just the other night. A certain someone, calling themselves 'TheSwallow,' popped up on my phone to say 'hi.' That wouldn’t happen to be you, right?" His smirk sharpens as he tilts his head, savoring her reaction. "Fortunately, my manager thought ahead and set up a warm welcome...for my curious little guest. Sorry about your device, though."

Hear floods her cheeks, but she maintains her glare, unflinching. "Ok, I admit. It was a moment of weakness. But that virus nearly fried my laptop," she mumbles back, struggling to hide the nerves that creep into her voice.

A faint crackle of static snaps through the lights, sending a sting across her skin. She flinches, instinctively pulling her hand back. He reaches out slowly. His fingers warm against her skin, as his large hand seizes her delicate wrist, taking it hostage.

Her heart flutters like butterfly wings trapped within her rib cage, while her skin surrenders to the mercy of his fingertips.

A featherlight touch.

Nothing more than a fleeting caress.

Yet, it sends tremors through her, like ripples over still water.

He works with maddening slowness to free her from the lights. The gentle graze of his fingertips moves along her wrist, then her forearm and her arm, leaving a trail of scorching heat in their wake. The fairy lights twist around her like delicate chains, but beneath his hands, slow and unhurried, they unwind like silk.

All of a sudden, the air grows thin around her. Every nerve comes alive, attuned to his fingers. She can feel the steady thrum of her pulse echoing in her throat as her blood sings beneath his fingertips.

"You always find yourself in messes, don't you?" he says, tugging at a particularly stubborn knot around her forearm. "Or is it just me that brings out the worst in you?"

On one hand, his fingers work to free the lights from her with calm precision, while on the other hand, his gaze encircles her like an unseen thread winding tighter with every heartbeat.

Relentless and inescapable.

"If I'm in a mess, it's because you are always around to make it worse," her voice is steady, despite her full awareness that her body is betraying the calm she so desperately tries to maintain.

He hums softly as he loosens a loop of lights from her shoulders. His knuckles brush along her cheek, leaving her knees trembling. "Don't give me that much credit. If anything, you're the one who can't seem to stay away from..... trouble."

"Please," she scoffs, cursing herself in her mind. "You think I did this on purpose? Believe me, I'd rather be anywhere else."

His fingers glide along the curve of her neck as he deftly slips another string of lights free, his eyes fixated on hers with that infuriatingly unreadable gaze of his. "Could’ve fooled me," he murmurs, gently turning her in a slow circle, making her face away from him."Because you never seem to be anywhere else. Given how often I find you lurking around my business, one would think you are obsessed with me."

She stiffens, "Lurking?....I have better things to do than watch you."

"Do you?" His voice drops slightly as he inches even closer, the space between them shrinking. His breath warms the back of her neck, sending shivers racing down her spine, while his hands  work at the lights tangled around her back, where they’ve ensnared themselves in the ties of her blouse. His fingertips are lava against the bare skin of her back. "Because from where I'm standing, you seem pretty invested in keeping your eye on me."

"I don't keep an eye on you," she forces the words out through her rapid breathing. His fingers wrap around her shoulders to turn her around to face him again.

A slow, infuriating smile spreads across his face as their breaths mingle in the narrow space between them. Her hazels are held prisoner in his caramel-browns. Two dark abysses, a pair of consuming madnesses, both inevitable, both drawing her toward him, each promising her end, one day. And she can't escape.

"Maybe you decided to give your eyes a little break and keep your ears on me this time." He leans in, his voice turning to a low, teasing murmur, "So...have you heard anything interesting?"

“I've heard enough,” Her voice is tight as she lifts her chin defiantly. "But, why should I tell you? Maybe I've heard...all your deep, dark secrets."

His hand settles on her waist, almost possessively, brushing against her skin in a way that feels more deliberate than necessary.

"Secrets, huh?" His words are midnight whispers, cloaked with mystery, meant just for her. “Did you bring your notebook? Perhaps to take proper notes?"

In response, she shoots him a withering look.

His infuriating smirk and teasing tone are gone, his gaze dancing over her face as if he's studying her every reaction. His eyes darken with something far more dangerous as he leans in just a fraction more. "Here's the thing about secrets. You might uncover something.....dangerous," his fingers lingering on her waist a little bit longer, brushing the skin under her naval as he holds her gaze. "Something you're not ready to handle."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have anything to hide," her voice quivers slightly under his piercing gaze.

Leaning in even closer, his mouth hovers by her ear, each breath a tender caress, warm and lingering, weaving a spell that gently coaxes her eyes to flutter shut. She’s helpless against the storm brewing within her.

His voice is barely above a whisper, dangerously soft yet searing. "Just remember, the more layers you shed, the messier it gets. And soon enough, you might find yourself laid bare, more exposed than you ever intended."

She struggles to draw in a breath as the final strand slips free with a gentle tug.

Yet he doesn’t move, doesn’t step back.

His hand remains at her waist, the warmth of his palm grounding her.

Her eyes flutter open, only to be ensnared by his gaze. The air between them dances, weaving their breaths together. With the last knot of lights unravelled, she may stand free in appearance, yet her mind is still deeply entangled in him.

The glow of the lights casts a faint shadow over them. Her eyes slip to the sharp cut of his jawline, tracing the strong, defined lines. They wanders further, lingering on the subtle cleft in his chin before finally settling on his lips. Her mind wonders how the creator took his sweet time to make them so symmetrically perfect. They look so awfully soft despite the dark stubble guarding around them.

'Would they feel as soft as they look?'

A loud cheer from the main hall clears away the haze that falls around her mind, and her eyes dart to his. She abruptly steps back, causing him to retreat as well.

She tries to look at anything other than him, but she can still feel his eyes on her.

"Talking about uncovering, see what Mr.Mathur sent me. Your father had an... interesting video of you in his collection," he murmurs, watching her intently. "Surprised you haven’t erased it yet."

"You hacked his phone?!" She grits out through clenched teeth.

"No, my manager did, he's good at this kind of stuff."

"Why did you do that?"

"Well, you tried hacking mine. Thought I’d return the favor. So why haven’t you erased the video?"

She crosses her arms. "I tried. But he kept a hard copy, stashed away in a bank vault. So what’s the point?"

"Imperial Reserve Bank?"

Her eyes narrow. "How do you know?"

"Just a wild guess. I know he has a vault there." A calculating look crosses over his face. "So that’s why you were collecting evidence against him. What’s he blackmailing you to do?"

"None of your business."

"You made it my business when you held a knife to my back demanding that evidence back."

She sighs, looking away. "I once attempted to leave the country."

"Hmm..." A shadow of a smirk falls on his lips, "Miss Gupta, you can't just up and leave the family. Show a little heart."

Her jaw tightens as she stares daggers at him.

A gleam of amusement flashes in his eyes, as he continues, "Anyways, a ‘thank you’ might be in order, don’t you think?"

"Excuse me?.... You want me to thank you? What the hell for?"

"I got you permission to work."

"Firstly, I haven’t even accepted your offer. Secondly, what makes you think they won’t go back on their word?"

"Convince them then."

"It’s not that simple."

"If you really want it, you'll make it happen."

She rolls her eyes. "It’s not like I'm thrilled to work for you."

He smirks. "But you’re excited to work. I’ll email you the appointment letter. Looking forward to your service, Miss Gupta."

"You are impossible," she mutters, exasperation flashing in her eyes. "I can work anywhere, it doesn’t need to be for you. You are not the only person who can help me with the resources I need to locate my lost files."

"That’s probably true," he says, eyes gleaming with smug amusement. "But I’m the only one who's offering."

She isn’t a fool to pretend that he isn't right, that multiple tech companies are waiting at her feet to offer her a job with access to advanced technologies. And as she is not foolish, she acknowledges that he is absolutely right. But what makes this situation worse is, the smug asshole in front of her knows he is right as well.

She let out a long breath. These past few weeks they have been circling each other in endless loop and this has to end soon.

"Mr.Raizada, what's the point of all this, anyway? On one hand, you're hell-bent on making me work for you, while on the other, you never miss a chance to remind me that one day you'll erase my existence from the earth."

She holds his eyes in her a moment too long and she knows she is not getting an answer from him tonight. That much she comes to know him. She can read it in his features. Giving up, She attempts to leave the garden, determined to escape, by bypassing him at the opening of the blind end of the hedges she had got herself stuck into earlier this evening. She suddenly feels a light tug on her dupatta.

She freezes, indignation flaring.

How dare he? Could he really stoop so low?

She whips around, ready to cut him down with a glare and a few choice words, only to find him standing there, hand raised, her dupatta caught in his cufflink.

Of all things in the universe or even across every alternate reality she can imagine, she never pictured herself in this clichéd, cinematic moment. She’s a student of science, for heaven’s sake. These things only happen in movies and romance novels.

A hint of a smile plays at the corner of his lips, like the early forecast of a biting comment. A warm flush spreads across her cheeks.

Why couldn’t the ground just swallow her whole?

With a resigned sigh, she reaches out, once again attempting to free herself from him. And to her surprise, he doesn’t say a word.

No sharp remark, no mocking tone.

Just a quiet, shadowy smile softening his gaze, his usually sharp eyes holding something almost...warm. She is absolutely sure she has imagined it or perceived it wrong.

She decides to head to her room, too drained to rejoin the wedding celebrations.

Lying in bed, she closes her eyes, letting the chaos of thoughts wash over her....apprehension, confusion, desire and a steady awareness humming through her veins. Her mind is filled with caramel-brown eyes.

Eyes she doesn’t trust, not for a moment. She’s sure he has ulterior motives. But was he telling the truth about having no involvement with TheShadowMonster?

But the thing is, what he claims his intentions are makes more sense than any ties to the hacker. A man like him would do anything to terminate an unpredictable threat like TheShadowMonster without any hesitation. And it's not a fight, where he can bring his gun.

On the other hand, if he were involved, wouldn't he have simply ended her life for exposing him? Not that he hasn’t implied he wouldn't do the same eventually. But why the delay? Why is he so adamant to make her work for him?

And against her better judgment, she’s dying to find out. And she knows she can’t learn the truth unless she steps into the lion's den.

His offer is a double-edged sword, on one side lies her lifelong dream of working with a proficient team, while on the other stands the devil himself as her boss.

For the first time in her life, she’s tempted to take the leap, to throw herself off the cliff and see where she lands. Life’s short anyway, why not live fully?

Living fully.

Her mind drifts to a memory of feeling most alive, in the shadowy world of the dark web. It’s not always filled with the nefarious activities people imagine. Most of the time, it’s a space where brilliant minds, understood only by each other, compete in exhilarating online games and challenges, only accessible in this hidden realm. Not for the ordinary people, who wouldn’t understand...or, worse, wouldn’t appreciate.

She remembers the first time she heard of him...TheShadowMonster. Back then, he was nothing more than a name, murmured in the encrypted chat room of 'The Phantom Hunt', which was an underground game for the hackers. A name resurfaced. The name was always there but dormant, always silently watching, monitoring, only striking when anyone ever crossed the line.

He was a mystery.

A myth among hackers.

A legend shrouded in shadows.

Yet somehow, the very moment his name surfaced, it latched onto her mind, igniting a spark of intrigue that refused to die out.

For the time being, he seized all of her attention. An attention that, in time, had cost her far too much.

And she will make him pay as well...or at least try. She owes that much to herself and to her intelligence.

Amidst the chaos swirling around her, she knows she must carve out a path for herself. To do that, she might have to make a deal with the devil and dance with him, playing his game on his terms, in the hope of outsmarting him enough to extract an opportunity-- something that could serve her own purposes. Somewhere in this haystack of lies and schemes, there has to be something useful for her.

There's something, isn't it?

Arnav Singh Raizada is shipping his boss's girlfriend out of the country.

A daring act.

Whatever his reason may be, a move like that would be seen as a monumental act of betrayal against the Eagles. If she can play her cards right and manipulate a few of the scenarios, maybe she can strike a similar deal for herself too.

Now, that's not a bad prospect to look forward to.

Author's note:

Hey sweet readers, I hope you all have a beautiful holiday. Be safe.

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@arshifiesta @featheredclover @phuljari @chutkiandchotte @jalebi-weds-bluetooth @9artsdragon @msbhagirathi @shiyaravi

[loomedbylacy]

I don’t even have words for the way these turned out after all the roadblocks I hit on the way to the end 🥰 Sometimes things don’t go as planned and the outcome is even more beautiful 🤩 ⁣. . . #bleachdye #trio #easysubli #purple #pink #blue #cassette #theswallow #sublimation https://www.instagram.com/p/CQJxT54ruEI/?utm_medium=tumblr

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[thesixweekseeker]

A land without a plan…

(5/2-5/12/17)

So I don’t always (usually) have a plan in life but I really didn’t have anything lined up for my next venture to Ireland that was coming up in less than a week. The only plan that I did have was a flight in and out of Dublin, and that kept changing by the minute. You can credit bad influence besties and a hot new romantic interest in NYC who were supporting my United change fee habit.  So, I decided to just wing it in the Emerald Isle and stick with no plan is the best plan.

I landed bright and early on Tuesday morn’ and I luckily slept most o’ the way (I’ll stop) from EWR to DUB.  I apparently slept so soundly that I even missed the customs form handout portion.  I had a panic moment when I rolled up to the counter at the Dublin Airport ….

Agent: (Serious face) Customs form please.

Susie: (Red face) I’m so sorry, I don’t have mine … I slept through that on the plane … and

Agent: (Cuts off my monologue) Well, where are you staying in Ireland?

Susie: (Trying to sound like I have a plan) Ummm, I don’t know yet.

Agent: (Looking at me like I’m a hot mess) Well how long are you staying in Ireland?

Susie: (Feeling like a hot mess) I think 6 Weeks.

Agent: (Flabbergasted) Why would you stay in Ireland for 6 Weeks?!?

Susie: (Return Flabbergasted) Why wouldn’t I stay in Ireland for Weeks?!?

Agent: (Finally chuckling) That’s a good answer I suppose.  You don’t need a customs form.  Enjoy your stay.

True story.

After making it through that thorough interrogation, I needed to figure out where I would venture to first.  From those who have gone before me, the feedback was “you pretty much can’t go wrong” followed up with a general consensus of Galway City being the best.  So I decided to embark upon “The West Village of Ireland” and was off to find a mode of transport.  

Since I was still pretty loopy and a little anxious about driving on the left side (since I can barely drive on the right side), I passed on the car rental option for now. You’re welcome everyone in Ireland.  *Side note: learn how to drive a manual before arriving.  A monthly car rental was about $1,000 for an automatic but as cheap as $200 for a manual.  Click here for some good tips if you plan to rent a car while in Ireland.

Luckily, the bus system is super legit across the entire country.  At the Dublin Airport, each “city” or destination has its own bay if you walk around to the area between Terminals 1 & 2.  It is very clearly marked and organized, and for each destination there are several bus options (see helpful link here).  I found a CityLink Bus heading to Galway City, and I was wifi-enabled and set for the 2.5 hour journey for a mere 20 Euros.  Winning.

I unfortunately slept through most of the bus ride to Galway, but the parts that I saw half-awake/half-delirious were gorgeous. We arrived at the city centre bus station and since I was rolling with a non-low maintenance checked bag, I found a taxi right outside.   *Second side note: Everything less than 5 Euros is given in coin format.  So whereas my ride was 6 Euros and I thought I was giving him .40 Euros back, I actually gave him 4 Euros back.  I’m counting that as my Six Week Random Act of Kindness for the day. #rakitup

My friend had a friend who has relatives who own a B&B in Lower Salthill called Wards Hotel (did you follow that).  Lower Salthill is a pretty seaview area right next to Galway City, so I figured I would start my lodging adventure there.   Unfortunately as I strolled up to Wards I was shut down by the bartender (in a very kind manner of course) who let me know that it was completely booked.  If only there was a way to pre-book your accommodations and avoid this sort of thing…

Anyway, I was sticking to my no plan/spontaneous game and he directed me down Father Griffin Road where there were 6 B&B’s back to back.  Luckily there was one that still had vacancies called The Swallow.  I met the lovely grandpa-like owner named Jimmy.  *Btw, EVERYONE here is named Jimmy.  Makes it super sweet when addressing people if you are inept at remembering names like myself.  I can just say “hey Jimmy” to any guy and it usually sticks.

My reservation exchange with Jimmy lasted all of one minute.  He smiled at me and said “number 6 is available – go have a look.” To which I did and it was good. Bed, bathroom, clean, quiet – score.  I came back down and he said “take it day by day, stay as long as you’d like, pay when you leave and here’s your key.”  This man clearly knows his audience.  One day turned into two, which turned into three, and I ended up staying for ten days so that’s how it goes.

Jimmy and his wife Patricia are the owners at The Swallow, and they made everything great for me.  They were there when I needed them, and out of my way when I didn’t.  Breakfast was solid (not a full traditional Irish breakfast if that’s what you are searching for) but more than plenty to start the day.  They will also set you up with the West Coast tours that are must-dos (Connemara, Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands) and can even get you picked up right outside of the B&B.  

However the best part, next to them, is the location. It’s perfectly situated right between Galway City and Salthill.  Both are about a 10-15 minute walk away depending on your destination, and both spots are equally good (IMO).  The Swallow isn’t extravagant, as most B&Bs there aren’t, but with 45 Euros getting you an ensuite, free wifi, breakfast, amazing owners and an unbeatable central location, it’s a perfect deal for your home base in the West.  Click here to learn more and/or book your stay.

 Galway City completely won me over with its small town charm + big city energy. I’ll be sharing more of my epic highlights there along with my hunt for healthy eats (and maybe a few unhealthy ones that are worth the cheat) in blogs to follow.  I know most people say “it’s impossible to stay healthy while traveling” so it’s my mission to continue to prove that statement as a big fat FALSE. 

Stay tuned in eager anticipation for all of the goodness that is to come from Ireland …