Page 47 of Villainous
My emotions are all over the place.
I finally told Villainous the truth; it was eating me up inside. He’s quiet, stroking his chin and lost in his thoughts. His facial expression displays shock, but regret haunts his baby blues. It’s so quiet I could hear a needle drop. Finally, he scoops me in his arms and strokes my cheek. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
My pulse accelerates at full speed, and all of a sudden, the temperature spikes. I wrap my arms around his neck, and it seems as if time freezes and the earth stops spinning on its axis. “What could you have done? If my da wanted me dead, he would have had it done. If he had killed you, Draco would have killed my family. And I don’t think I could have lived with myself knowing there would be a bloodbath because I wanted AJ.”
I nuzzle Villainous’s neck as he continues to stroke me. Once he puts me down and kisses my forehead, I melt like butter and my legs turn to jelly. Villainous doesn’t say a word, but his eyes venture to mine, and hope washes over his face. Our gazes drink each other in, and his jaw tics. I want him to say something, but he doesn’t. He twists on the balls of his feet and leaves.
Villainous
Anger burns deep in my bones. Fuck, she was pregnant with AJ, and she was all alone in this world. Her mother is going to pay for the shit she’s done to Maya. I’m not going to end Maya’s life. It wasn’t her fault she left—she was forced to. She thought she was doing what was best for our child and us. And I’m not mad at her anymore. She didn’t deserve my wrath. She didn’t deserve any of the shit I put her through.
Have you thought that maybe the reason why I left was for a good cause?
Everything is not black and white.
Her words echo in my head. She was trying to protect us, and I was too blinded by bitterness and rage to see it, but now I’m going to make it up to her. I need to make it up to her for how I treated her. And I’ll never keep her as my captive again. We need to make it work—not because of AJ; I would have still been with her regardless of if he wasn’t the reason—but because I still love her. She’s the only woman I want to be with, and I’m done fighting with myself for how I feel. I never thought that in a million years my world would be turned upside down.
When I make it to the foyer, I peer at Wyatt and AJ. They are looking up at the ceiling at the chandelier made out of gold and diamonds as their mouths hang open.
“Da…I didn’t know you were wealthy,” AJ says, folding his arms across his chest. “My grandma had us living in hotels and eating junk food,” he says with disappointment in his voice. “But I didn’t mind the junk food.”
The more I stare at him, the more I see so much of myself in him. He’s outspoken and not afraid to voice his opinion like me. If Maya had come to me all those years ago, telling me she was pregnant, I would have done anything to protect her and AJ. I would have killed Declan a lot sooner than Cashel did.
I slide my fingers into my pocket. “Well, you don’t have to live like that anymore, I promise.”
I need to speak to Maya and offer her a room for her and AJ in the manor to live. I’m not living the rest of my life without them. I’ll talk to her about it later.
“Follow me,” I tell both of them.
As they trail behind me to the living room, their eyes widen at the home decor. Their hungry eyes drink in the artwork hanging on the dark walls. AJ’s face lights up like a million stars, and it makes me smile on the inside. Once AJ sees Maya, he rushes up to her and wraps his arms around her back, hugging her tight. Maya’s eyes are glossy with tears, and her smile is as big as the moon.
“Ma. I’m so glad I get to see you. I missed you,” AJ says, squeezing her tight, not wanting to let go.
They hug each other for a while, and Maya plants a kiss on his forehead. AJ is almost as tall as Maya.
When they break apart, AJ asks, “Can I come live you and Da? Please. I don’t want to live with Grandma. She’s mean. She keeps lying to me. She told me you and Da didn’t love me and that’s why I was staying with her.” Anger warps in his eyes, and his olive skin turns a light shade of pink. “I heard you and Grandma on the phone the other day. I heard her lie to you and tell you I was asleep, but I wasn’t.”
I cock my eyebrow at Maya, and she bites her lip. “I was able to get access to a phone, and I called them.”
Fear etches her eyes as her gaze penetrates me, and I don’t want her to think I’m going to punish her anymore, so I shrug my shoulder. “It’s okay, little dove.”
She knits her eyebrows together, casting a curious glance at me and wrinkling her button nose, before she turns toward Wyatt. “How did you get here?”
“We took the bus here. I saved enough money so we can afford food and stuff. We haven’t had a bath in a few days.” Wyatt puffs out his chest with pride.
“Thanks for seeing to him,” I tell Wyatt.
He nods. “Of course. He’s like my little brother. You have to look after your siblings.”
“Can the kids get a bath?” Maya asks me.
“Of course.” I go to the intercom on the wall and press the blue button. “Lan.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go to the store and buy clothes for men and boys.” I turn toward them. “What sizes do you wear?”
They both tell me their sizes, and I tell Lan to get personal hygiene stuff, then call my butler, Ronnie, and order him to come into the living room. He appears, and then he bows.
