Page 27 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“Sir?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you okay?”

Her words startled me. Why would she care about me? She should be more worried about herself.

“Yes.”

The light in her eyes dimmed at my lie. I wasn’t okay after my father’s visit. Seeing him always angered me, but Ari didn’t need to know about my internal conflict. How I wanted to bury my father in an unmarked grave after throttling the life out of the man for what he’d done to my mother. It was more than he deserved.

“Can I do anything to make you feel better?”

My hand clenched around the leash. She hadn’t bought my lie.

“Youwant to makemefeel better?”

She nodded.

“Why, little fairy?”

Ari looked up at me with something akin to understanding.

“Families can be… taxing.”

My eyes narrowed.

“What did you hear?”

“Nothing, I swear. You just became agitated when Gennaro’s name was mentioned, and I thought…” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I thought maybe his appearance bothered you in some way.” Her hands fidgeted in her lap. “I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn.”

Leaning down, I tucked my fingers under her chin and forced her to meet my eyes.

“You’re a perceptive little thing, aren’t you?”

Her cheeks flushed.

“I like to observe people… and things.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“And make assumptions.”

She waved her hands, looking stricken all of a sudden.

“No, not at all. I’m a photographer. At least, it’s what I want to be.”

I released her face and straightened. She liked to take pictures. I had no idea. Then again, I’d never asked the girl what she was into. It hadn’t occurred to me until now.

“You like to document things.”

“I guess so. You can learn a lot from a photograph, a snapshot or a moment in time immortalised in print. That’s what one of my lecturers at uni taught me.” She shrugged. “I only graduated a few months ago.”

University. The mention of her graduating reminded me she was only twenty-two. Still so fucking young. Completely unsuitable for me in every way, shape and form, yet perfect all the same.

“You’ve had trouble finding work.”

“Yeah, not exactly the easiest industry to get into. I’ll work it out at some point… when this is all over.”

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