Page 29 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

She released my shirt and put her hand on my chest instead. My skin tingled at the contact.

“Sexually,” she murmured, her eyes intent on mine.

“No. I already told you I’m not interested in that.”

Liar. You fucking liar. She knows you’re lying and so do you.

“Then I have nothing to be afraid of.”

“And if you do want it, Tink? What then?”

“Isn’t that a moot point when you don’t?”

“Answer the question.”

I needed to know. Had to be sure I wasn’t alone in this fucked up attraction. My eyes tracked the way her tongue ran across her bottom lip.

“I’d tell you.”

It wasn’t the exact answer I wanted, but I’d take it. Stepping away before I did something stupid, I tugged on her leash. She followed me back into my office without saying a word and knelt next to my chair without complaint. I took out a bottle of water and a small bag of sweet and salty popcorn from my desk. Setting them down in front of her, I took my seat.

“For you,” I murmured before turning to my screen.

Last night, I’d questioned her at dinner about what she ate and told Arlo to make sure I had adequate snacks for her in my office. He’d done it, but I was pretty sure he wasn’t pleased with being tasked with making sure I had everything I needed for Ari.

I watched her pick up the bottle of water from the corner of my eye. She was just reaching for the popcorn when my office door opened. Arlo walked in, looking like he was about to blow a fuse. He paused when he noticed Ari next to me. Turning, he shut the door and let out a frustrated breath before proceeding to talk to me in Italian so Ari wouldn’t understand what was being said.

“I swear I’m going to kill your brother.”

“What did he do?”

I did him the courtesy of replying in Italian. Whatever he had to say about Enzo wasn’t for my little pet’s ears.

“He asked me how Lissa is, as if he deserves to know after he left without saying a fucking word to her.”

Alissa was Arlo’s younger sister. She and Enzo had been friends since childhood, as they were of a similar age. I paid their friendship no mind, but Arlo couldn’t stand it, given Enzo’s reputation.

“He doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself. I swear, Zayn, if he doesn’t stay the fuck away from her… I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

My attention went to Ari, who was struggling to open her little bag of popcorn. I put my hand down, indicating she should give it to me. She handed it over, looking up at me with a grateful expression on her face. I opened the bag as Arlo continued raging on about Enzo. I patted my leg, keeping a hold of the bag. Ari frowned, so I reached out and took her arm, pulling her towards me. She came willingly, crawling into my lap and settling herself in it. I stroked her arm as confusion flitted across her features.

“She was miserable when he left, crying all the time about how he’d gone and hadn’t told her anything about it. I don’t want him seeing her. He’ll only upset Lissa again,” Arlo raged on.

I dug my hand in the popcorn, bringing some out and offering it to Ari. She squirmed in my lap for a moment but opened her mouth to let me feed her. I gave her some more, watching her chew. Her cheeks were bright red. A sense of contentment washed over me. Taking care of her made me… happy.

“What do you want me to do about Enzo?” I said to Arlo, interrupting his diatribe against my brother.

Arlo paused in his pacing and levelled his gaze on me. His eyes narrowed at me feeding Ari, but he didn’t make a comment about it.

“He won’t listen to you, even if you tell him to stay away from Lissa.”

“He’s a little shit, but I’ll put the fear of God into him if I have to.”

Arlo snorted.

“Did you put it in her?”

He indicated Ari with his head, his eyes going to the collar around her neck.

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