Page 19 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“I thought you would last a little longer, Tink, but perhaps I overestimated your ability to behave.”

His hand slid behind my neck, cupping the back of it.

“Zayn.”

The word came out hushed, almost pleading. I had no idea what he was going to do to me. My body trembled under his gaze and touch.

“If you think that will make me lenient, you’re mistaken. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

He reached up with his free hand, tucking a curl behind my ear in a gesture so fucking tender, it made me shiver. It was at odds with his stern expression.

Zayn forced me to the floor, making me kneel at his feet. His fingers curled under my chin, tipping my head back. Those dark eyes of his were emotionless, making him ten times scarier.

“Hands behind your back.”

I did as he said, noting my trembling fingers as I clasped them behind me. He stepped away, pulling open a drawer. My eyes followed his hand as he extracted what looked like a leather collar with a black chain attached to it. I swallowed at the sight of it.

“Disobedient little pets need to learn their place.”

My body went rigid as he snapped the collar around my neck, buckling it at the side. He fisted the chain, tugging on it and almost forcing me off balance.

“Do I need to teach you to sit and stay, hmm?”

“No, sir,” I whimpered.

The sound was fucking pathetic, but I couldn’t help it. It was as if all of my power had been stripped from me. I was at his mercy. And mercy wasn’t a word in Zayn Villetti’s vocabulary.

“Good.”

He held onto the chain as he sat back in his seat. It stayed wrapped up in his fist even as he turned his computer on. There was no slack. I was trying to stay balanced with my hands behind my back. The leather dug into the back of my neck, making the whole thing incredibly uncomfortable.

I watched as he wrapped the chain around the arm of his chair, securing me in place.

“Don’t move or I will make you stay that way for longer.”

I bit my lip, wanting to retort, but knowing it wouldn’t do me any good. When I wanted to know what type of punishments he would inflict on me, I was not banking on wearing a collar like an actual pet. It was degrading. Then again, wasn’t that the whole point? My place had been dictated to me. On my knees by his side.

Was this really better than going to my father and telling him I’d killed his brother?

His chestnut brown eyes full of disappointment flashed before my eyes. As did the way his hand would have cupped my face, a darker shade than my own, and how he’d have told me he would have to make an example of me. I didn’t want that. Hurting my father was the very last thing I wished to do. I couldn’t have faced it, but the situation with Zayn? I could face this. I could endure it to keep myself safe. No one could use me as leverage or bait if I was with the man who’d collared me. I’d rather this humiliation than facing my father and owning up to what I’d done.

I don’t know how much time passed as I knelt there watching Zayn work. My thoughts were chaotic, but my body remained still. Obeying him was my only goal. Living through my punishment and getting out the other side unscathed.

A knock at the door startled me. I fought hard to stay in place even as Zayn called for them to enter.

Oh god, someone else is about to see me like this.

I didn’t move from my spot. I was obscured behind Zayn’s desk, so I couldn’t see who had come in, but I heard their footsteps.

“Hey, Z,” came a feminine voice.

“Remi, what can I do for you?”

He had a soft note to his voice like this was someone he cared about. Everything urged me to look at them, but my gaze remained on Zayn, waiting for him to tell me this punishment was over.

“Am I interrupting something here?”

Great, she’s seen me.

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