Page 103 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

I prodded his rib.

“You better not be lying to me now.”

“Does Queen Tinkerbell need me to get on my knees and pledge allegiance to the pussy I’m currently in, promising to pet and worship it every day until its owner is a trembling mess, begging for more?”

“Zayn!”

“Just say the word, Ari. I’m more than willing. Or did you also want me to pledge allegiance to the rest of your holes? I very much want to pet those too.”

I shook my head before burying it in his neck.

“You are terrible.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me—”

“Don’t you dare.”

The way he laughed had me smiling through my embarrassment over what he was suggesting. It didn’t matter if he’d not told me the truth about wanting me the day we made our deal. It’s not like either of us expected to end up needing each other this way. All that mattered was we were together now. We had each other, even if outside forces were trying to keep us apart. I just wondered what Zayn was going to do about it and how he’d make it possible for me to come home where I belonged.

Thirty Four

Zayn

The past three days without Ari by my side had tested me. I’d never needed anyone before, but I needed her. There was a desperate ache inside me, knowing she was back with her father. Even as I tried to plot a way out of this mess, I found myself pacing my office in agitation and snapping at Arlo every five minutes. It was a miracle he was still speaking to me at this point. And why he’d all but insisted I come and see her today, not that I’d objected. I needed her presence like I needed air.

It had been a mistake to think I could keep my relationship with her from my father for long. The fact it had been my brother who had told him was something I didn’t wish to think about. Whatever the fuck Gil’s motives were, I didn’t have time to deal with it or him. I should have known by refusing to bow to my father’s pressure regarding my role in the family would cause problems. I’d wanted Gil to take over the mafia from our father. He would be a better fit than me. What I hadn’t wanted was for him to become so blinded by loyalty, he would betray his own brother. And it was partially my fault. I hadn’t allowed him to see the monster hiding in plain sight.

Gennaro showed me his true colours. I was his heir, who refused to do what he was told. I saw his darkest parts. Ones that made me hate him more than I’d hated anyone in my life. The monster had deprived us of our mother. And here he was, trying to deprive me of the only slice of happiness I’d had since I found out what he did.

I wouldn’t allow that to happen. He couldn’t take Arianna away from me. She belonged next to me. She was my queen. My little fairy. My Tinkerbell. My fucking everything. And these past three days had only confirmed that for me.

Ari pulled away and got off me when I stopped laughing. She tugged on her dressing gown and disappeared into the bathroom across the hallway to clean up. I took that as my cue to get dressed. As I did it, my eyes darted around her bedroom. The place she’d grown up in. The walls had framed photographs and there was a board with a collage of pictures of her family and friends. There was one of her from what looked like a Halloween party. I rubbed my bottom lip as I realised she’d gone as Tinkerbell in a green dress, golden wings and her hair up in a bun. On the shelf next to those photos was a little model of Tinkerbell sitting on a log with her arms crossed. And stuck to the wall by her headboard, a little silhouette of Tinkerbell sat.

“Tell me, Ari… is this a coincidence or did the nickname I gave you when you were four mean more than you’ve let on?”

I turned and found her staring at me from the doorway. Her cheeks were tinged red and her hands twisted in front of her.

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“The truth.”

She walked into the room, closing the door behind her and leant against it.

“It doesn’t mean I had a crush on you if that’s what you’re thinking. It wasn’t like that. I just related to her and her plight. She just wanted to be number one in Peter’s life, you know.”

I grinned and closed the distance between us. She looked up at me as I stroked her cheek.

“She’s a jealous little brat with a heart of gold. I can see why you relate to her.”

“Shut up.”

I leant closer, brushing my lips against hers.

“I happen to like bratty little fairies who demand all my attention and want to be taken care of. One, in particular, has me so crazy about her, I’m defying my own father to be with her. She’s fiery, passionate and likes to call me daddy… maybe the two of you have met.”

“Maybe we have,” she whispered. “She sounds fun.”

I kissed her, pulling her against me because I couldn’t get enough of this woman and her mouth. Ari was my air. She made it possible for me to keep breathing.

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