Page 3 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“Who did you kill?”

It was obvious by the amount of blood what happened to me had been brutal and violent. I struggled not to replay the scene over in my mind.

“Uncle Justin.”

“And why did you do it?”

“He tried to… hurt me.”

I almost said rape. Almost. I could feel his hot breath on my neck, his branding touch on my skin as he tried to undress me. I could feel his skin give way as I stabbed a knife into his flesh over and over.

I bit down on my lip. The blood. There was so much blood. I was covered in it. It clung to me like a second skin. I wanted it off me. Wanted to wash it all away and forget the past two hours had ever happened. My life had turned into such a fucking mess, and I was about to make it even worse by appealing to the merciful side of this man.

Zayn cocked his head to the side. By the look in his eye, I knew he had figured out exactly what I didn’t want to voice out loud. My uncle had tried to force himself on me without a second thought. He was a dick. I wasn’t sorry for killing him. I was just sorry I was stupid enough to go with him and not listen to my gut feeling that something was very wrong.

“Why didn’t you go to your father?”

I flinched. My father had enough problems without me being one of them. I’d murdered his right-hand man. It didn’t matter if my uncle was double-crossing him. I couldn’t prove it. I couldn’t do a single damn thing. He wouldn’t believe me if I told him Justin had been feeding his enemy information, and he’d taken me with the intention of blaming it on Derek McGovern’s gang. My father trusted Justin with his life. Sometimes I wondered if he trusted me that way. It’s partly why I came here. My doubts about my father and whether or not he would save me had driven me to it.

“I panicked… I killed his brother, for fuck’s sake.”

Zayn straightened and stepped closer. He drew a lighter out of his pocket and lit his cigarillo. I watched him place it between his lips, sucking down on it for a moment before puffing out the smoke. It made him even more imposing.

“So, you killed your uncle after he assaulted you, then you ran here… to me.” He waved the cigarillo at me. “I can’t help but wonder what you expect me to do about this situation.”

I tried not to bite my lip again. Now came the hard part. Convincing this man to shelter me from my own stupidity.

“Help me.”

The slow smile spreading across his face made me wary.

“With what, Tink? Be specific.”

He stepped closer, almost right up into my personal space. Jesus, did this man have a degree in intimidation or something? I was practically shaking in my damn shoes and trying my best not to show it. This was the very first time I’d ever been alone in a room with Zayn. I couldn’t say I wasn’t terrified of what he might do to me.

“Cover up what I did… and… and keep me away from my father… and McGovern.”

“What could Derek McGovern possibly want with you?”

I almost scoffed.

“He takes me, he gains the upper hand against my father. That’s what Justin planned to do after he… he…” I couldn’t say the words. “He was going to give me to McGovern.”

Zayn stared down at me, puffing on his cigarillo again.

“Quite the pickle you’ve got yourself into, Tink.”

I nodded, even though it wasn’t a question. If anything, Zayn sounded amused. This was anything but funny to me.

He reached out, stroking a finger along the bruise on my jaw. I winced despite his gentleness. And tried to ignore how warm his skin was on mine.

“I don’t do things for free. Not for anyone.”

I daren’t get my hopes up at his words. Zayn was bound to ask something from me in return. I’d been counting on it, not that I had anything of substance a man like him might want.

“What do I have to give you in exchange for your help?”

The way he smiled sent a chill down my spine.

---