Page 39 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

I stiffened, my eyes on Zayn, who didn’t react to his statement.

“Is she?”

Gennaro nodded, giving his son the once over. I was used to Zayn’s calm in the face of chaos by now, having been on the receiving end of it. His lack of reaction annoyed me all the same. I wanted to see him rattled.

“Did he tell you?” Zayn asked when Gennaro didn’t offer up anything else.

“No. My man on the inside did.”

It didn’t surprise me to learn that was how he found out. After hearing the recording Zayn had, I surmised he had a man on the inside too.

“If you’re going to discuss this with me, then they can leave.”

Zayn looked at the two bodyguards with a blank expression. They both gave Zayn a dark look, even as Gennaro waved his hand at them.

“Are you sure, boss?” the taller one asked.

“Yes. My son isn’t a threat to me.”

The way Zayn’s eyebrows shot up at his father’s statement had me biting down on my lip. Somehow, I didn’t think his assessment was accurate.

The two bodyguards gave their boss a nod before leaving the house and shutting the front door behind them. Zayn waved a hand in the direction of his office. Gennaro moved towards it, turning his back to both of us. Zayn looked up at where I was hiding and gave a subtle shake of his head. It was all the confirmation I needed. He knew exactly where I was.

He walked along the hallway after his father, leaving me to creep down the stairs. I didn’t care if he’d shaken his head at me, I needed to hear what his father had to say. Zayn disappeared into his office as I reached the bottom. He didn’t close the door behind him. I moved silently until I could press myself against the wall by the door.

“Her disappearance isn’t a good sign, Zayn,” was the first thing Gennaro said. “Things in the city are already at a tipping point. This could be the final straw.”

“She’s not that important, is she?”

I didn’t think Zayn meant it in a bad way, but I couldn’t help the sinking feeling in my stomach at his words.

“In the grand scheme of things, no, but when you combine everything that’s happened recently together… I fear it will get worse before it gets better.”

It made little sense to me why Gennaro would be so concerned about petty gang wars when he was head of the mafia. It wasn’t like he ran in the same circles as men like McGovern. My father was a different matter entirely. He wasn’t meant to be involved with the Villettis.

“Will it affect your business?”

“Our business, Zayn,fai parte della famiglia.”

“Yes, yes, I know, I’m family, but you forget I’m not involved in your business the way Gil is.”

I assumedfamigliameant family since I’d heard Arlo say it too.

“You should be. It’s your responsibility as my eldest.”

“Did you really come here to discuss my role in our family? I already know what’s expected of me. You’ve made it very clear.”

Gennaro made a noise of exasperation. I shifted on my feet, trying not to make a sound.

“What Bennett does outside of our business dealings has nothing to do with us. We should let him fight his own battles.”

For a long moment, there was absolute silence. I didn’t know how I felt about Zayn’s comment or why he’d said it.

“You’re right.”

“I’m always right.”

Gennaro grunted, but I didn’t know whether it was in agreement or not. I rolled my eyes. Of course, he thought that about himself.

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