Page 108 of The Heart of a Villain

I forgot you don’t ask Arson questions because he generally doesn’t give a fuck about them or conversations. He says what he wants, and that’s about it.

“Do you intend to do anything about the mess you’ve created?” He twists the platinum watch on his wrist. “Or will you continue to mope around like the coward none of us raised you to be?”

Rafael whistles and laughs, quickly taking a large sip from his glass when I send a deadly glare his way.

“I fixed my mess. Aileen has her freedom without me in her life. All the assets I’ve stolen from Lachlan over the years, I gave them back and even returned the fucking property his wife loved so much. What else do you expect me to do?”

Rafael called me an idiot when I signed over all the assets, not that it made any significant dent in my wealth. I still have billions in my account.

But it was a gesture, damn it.

He twists his watch once again. “Money and freedom. That’s what you’ve given her?” A beat passes. “She had those all along.”

I grit my teeth. “I gave back everything I stole from Lachlan and stopped my revenge.”

“Gave back what you stole.” He repeats my words, and annoyance zips through me at his calm tone that implies he finds the notion ridiculous. “So Aileen was a weapon you wanted to use, and when she no longer had a purpose, you gave her back?” He rubs his chin. “Interesting.”

“Don’t twist my words,” I warn him, barely controlling myself from saying what I really think, still fucking confused about what he’s doing here anyway.

While Lachlan stayed close with all the elites, Arson shares a special bond with him. He watched Aileen grow up, not to mentioned has a deep loyalty to her father.

Why is he talking to the enemy?

“Remember one of the first theoretical lessons we had during training?” he asks, and I furrow my brows, thinking about all the philosophical aspects the protégés drilled into us to keep us sane in our madness. “Cowards always have excuses for their actions, for they have no will to withstand the darkness and its call.”

It’s the second time he called me a coward in the span of five minutes, and I’ve had it. “Atoning for your sins is not cowardice. It’s the right thing to do.” What is he implying anyway? Maybe if he wasn’t such a vague asshole, I’d have a better understanding of his motives for coming here.

“And since when do we do the right thing?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer him, as he continues, “You kidnapped her, seduced her, and then made her fall in love with you.” He lists all my wrongdoings as the beast inside me roars in pleasure and hatred alike, for I thrive in the fact that all her firsts belong to me. But at the same time, I despise myself for stripping her choices from her. “And when her love no longer suited your narrative, you dumped her.”

“Kinda makes you an asshole indeed, brother,” Rafael pitches in, but we both ignore him.

“I did the right thing. My revenge to Lachlan should have never touched her, but I used her.”

“So you kidnapped her because of your revenge… and then left her as an atonement to Lachlan?” He laughs. “Looks like no matter what happens, Aileen always ends up being collateral damage in your plans. What a pity.”

Willing all my self-control into my fist for calmness I do not possess, I say, “No. I did it because I love her.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. Do you think I would have let her go if I didn’t? Do you think I don’t want to be selfish in my obsession and just take her away to my island so nothing and no one will matter to us?” The last line ends in a shout as I breathe heavily, squeezing my injured hand so hard the blood soaks the bandage and pain travels through my entire arm. “I love her.” I repeat the three words that seemed so pointless to me just a while ago, but now they represent a multitude of emotions. “And because of that, I let her go. A princess deserves better than me.”

“Except she didn’t choose a prince. She chose you. Interesting, isn’t it?” Arson snatches out a lighter from his pocket and flips it through his fingers. “We’re so used to the darkness consuming us and soaking our souls in despicable cravings that we cannot imagine anyone willingly signing up to join us in it.” He flicks the lighter on, the orange-blue flames merging and creating a mesmerizing picture, holding his attention for several seconds. “For that’s our personal hell on earth, where pure creatures have no place. Their love doesn’t change us, and I think that’s one of the hardest lessons a human learns, isn’t it?”

“Love cannot cure it all.” At least we agree on something.

“No. It can’t. My wife chose me all those years ago, but if she hadn’t? I still wouldn’t have let her go. That’s the truth I have to live with every single day, as she looks at me with love and adoration in her eyes.” I stay silent at this, not really knowing how to react, since Arson never talks about his family. “Because losing her is not an option. I would go insane without her.”

“Well, you didn’t try to kill her father, did you?” Why does he not understand my point of view? His girl came from a cult, and he saved her—in his dark and twisted way, but still. “And why are you here, trying to convince me to be with Aileen?” I half-expected him to kill me for all the mayhem I’ve caused.

“Our families come first, always. They’re above any loyalty we have to each other.” He chuckles. “And what Aileen wants is you. She loves you. Lachlan might try to convince himself that it shall pass, but I know differently.”

The idea of her love still being there for me soothes the dark edges inside me, although I have no right to feel this way or get relief from such knowledge. “Because I corrupted her mind.” And enjoyed every second of it at that.

A dangerous glint lights up his eyes. “Careful, Rush. I don’t react well when someone questions the intelligence of my niece.”

He takes out a red envelope from his jacket and throws it on the table. “This is an invitation to our club tonight. The girls will celebrate their anniversary there. Lachlan and Valencia are out of town, and I’m responsible for her safety. There are certain things I do not have to report. This is your final chance, Rush. Fix the mess, or I will personally burn you in my dungeon if we ever meet again. Because I do not have cowards in my family.” Dishing out his threat, he gets up, nods at Rafael—who salutes him with his drink—and walks off in the direction of the elevator.

“Lachlan will never approve it.” I get up too. “Aileen will be hurt in the process.” Why doesn’t he see that?

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