Page 119 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“She’s not coming back, is she?”

“No.”

The next thing I knew, Ari ripped herself away from me. I turned my head to find her staring at me with disbelief. She shook her head. Horror flitted across her features.

“This… this is barbaric, Zayn.” She waved at my mother. “How can he keep her this way? It isn’t a life. It’s cruel!”

For a long time, I’d been filled with rage over the situation. It had eventually given way to apathy and resignation when I realised my father would never let her go.

“He’s punishing her for leaving him. No one leaves Gennaro Villetti without consequences.”

“That makes it so much worse.” Her eyes turned sad. “Can’t you do something about it? It’s not fair. How is this fair?”

I stepped towards her.

“It’s not. Nothing about this family is fair. I’ve wanted to unplug this shit from her body a thousand times over, but you know what he’ll do to me if I disobey him. The same thing he’ll do to you for getting in the way.” I pointed at my mother’s bed. “This is who Gennaro Villetti really is. A monster. He rules with an iron fucking fist with no one standing in his way. Fuck, Ari, he has the police commissioner under his thumb. He’s dangerous. Make no mistake, he will end us both if I don’t play this right. If I don’t have enough power behind me to make him back down. I’m doing that for you. So I can have you. So you can be safe with me.”

Tears welled in her eyes. This wasn’t me trying to scare her. She needed to understand how precarious our position really was. How much of a risk I was taking, all because I wanted her.

I’ll burn it all for you, Tinkerbell, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I’ll do anything to keep you.

“I can’t save my mother, Ari. Not while he still lives.”

She was quiet for a minute, contemplating what I’d said. Then she stepped into me, reaching up to place a hand on my cheek.

“I’m sorry.”

“What do you have to apologise for?”

“I’m sorry I can’t take your pain away.”

I sighed, pressing my face into her hand. Allowing her warmth to consume me. Having Ari here made this bearable. Gave me something to hold on to. My life had been dark and unforgiving for so long. She was the life force I needed to breathe again.

“I don’t need you to do that, Tink. All you have to do is be here with me. That’s what I need. I need you just the way you are.”

She stared up at me for a long moment before her hand slid from my face. I watched her lower herself to her knees in front of me. She bent over and pressed her lips against the soft leather of my shoe. Then she leant her cheek against it, wrapping her hand around my other foot.

“I’m not going anywhere, sir. I’m yours. I’ll walk through fire for you. I’ll burn if it means we’re together. I’ll do it because I love you.”

I didn’t stop her from staying there for as long as she needed. It reassured me she’d be with me no matter the risks. She understood why I couldn’t do anything about my mother at this moment in time. One day, I’d be able to let my mother go peacefully. Ari would be there with me to help me say goodbye.

“Tinkerbell.”

She didn’t raise her head.

“Yes, daddy?”

“If mymamáwasn’t in this state, she could see how happy you make me. I hate that she’ll never know you.”

She let go of me, raising up back to her knees. Ari’s eyes were full of understanding.

“I might not have a mother to introduce you to, but I hate that too.”

I put my hand out to her. She took it, allowing me to pull her to her feet and wrap my arms around her.

“What matters most is we have each other. You and me against the world.”

She nodded. Even if everything fell apart after tonight because I’d outwardly defied my father, I’d still have her. I hung onto that fact as I pulled away and stroked her face with my thumb.

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