Page 121 of Titan

“I don’t do any of this for recognition, Theia. I can’t stand the idea of people being trapped in places like that with no choice or freedom. No one deserves that.”

“Gil told me about your mother.”

Zayn bowed his head slightly.

“She’s the reason I started it all, the club, my team of people, everything. It’s easier to work in the shadows when no one knows you’re behind it. We can do more good that way.” He shook his head. “One day I’ll be able to set everyone she’s hurt free.”

He was referring to Pippa.

“I know.”

He let go of my hand and leaned back.

“Not that I think he would, but if my brother does ever fuck you over, I’ll sort him out.”

I bit my lip. Gil had been nothing but protective, understanding and good to me.

“You’d be on my side?”

Zayn shrugged.

“He should know better.”

I grinned.

“Trust me, he does.”

He nodded slowly.

“Good.” He rose from his seat and looked down at me. “You’re family now, Theia. Villettis protect their own.”

He patted my shoulder and moved towards the kitchen. I stared at the place he’d been standing in. Gil and I hadn’t been together long, and yet his brother still saw me as part of their family. It made my heart ache. My parents hadn’t cared about me, but these people did.

Gil walked back in, his eyes immediately going to me. He was by my side the next moment, taking his seat and lacing his fingers with mine.

“Theia?”

I blinked back the tears forming in my eyes.

“I’m okay.”

He leaned closer and dropped his voice.

“You don’t look okay.”

I gave him my best smile.

“I am.”

He frowned, his eyes darting across my face as if he didn’t believe me. I dropped his hand and cupped his face.

“I’m perfect, I promise.”

There was a look in his eyes that told me he wasn’t going to drop this. His worry for me made my already aching heart squeeze harder in my chest. How could I tell him all I ever wanted was to feel like I had a place in the world, and he’d given that to me just by being with me? I hadn’t thought I was capable of loving someone the way I did him. I hadn’t said those three words yet, but I needed to soon because he should know how I felt. How I wouldn’t let go, no matter what happened between us.

Gil’s phone going off interrupted my thoughts. He pulled away and took it out of his pocket. He stood up and paced away as he answered it. He spoke in low tones, so I couldn’t make out everything. He didn’t look particularly happy when he ended the call. In fact, his expression grew conflicted. Then he was walking into the kitchen to talk to his brother, who nodded at him before squeezing Gil’s shoulder.

Gil came back over to me with a grim expression on his face.

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