Page 40 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“Have you thought any further about what we spoke of at your club?”

“What? About you wanting me to find a wife?”

I stifled a squeak of surprise.

“Yes.”

“I haven’t had time.”

“You promised me you would.”

I could imagine Zayn’s face right now. The thought of his father commanding him to do something had me wanting to laugh. Zayn didn’t seem like the type of person who would take orders from anyone, let alone ones involving his personal life. No wonder he was so pissed off by his father’s presence at his club. Things were beginning to make a whole lot more sense.

“It’s not even been a week. What do you expect? For me to magic a woman out of thin air?”

“Don’t be impertinent.”

“Then don’t make unrealistic demands.”

Gennaro said nothing in response. I waited, but it seemed they were having a silent standoff with each other. A part of me felt wrong about eavesdropping on another conversation I shouldn’t be, but then again, they had been talking about my father to begin with.

“I told you I would find someone. Let me do it in my own time, Father.”

“Fine, but don’t take too long.”

I heard footsteps coming towards the door. I practically ran from my spot towards the kitchen. When I reached it, I skidded across the floor and hid behind the kitchen island. Their voices carried down the hallway, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. The front door slammed shut a few minutes later.

I uncurled myself from my prone position on the floor and peered over the top of the counter. I was met with two disapproving eyes staring at me from the doorway where the man they belonged to leant against the frame. The man who made my heart race and skin tingle.

“Good morning, Tinkerbell. I trust you slept well.”

Fourteen

Arianna

Oh shit,didn’t even cut it. I’d been caught out by him. There was absolutely no way in hell I would escape disciplinary action now. Why was I always so reckless? Maybe if I stopped to think about things, I wouldn’t get into so much trouble all the time. Or maybe playing with fire was my thing, especially when it came to Zayn Villetti.

Knowing I had to accept the consequences of my actions regardless of my internal turmoil over him, I straightened to my full height and rested my hands on the counter.

“I did.”

“Good.”

His expression and response were bland. It scared the shit out of me. I had no way of knowing what he intended to do as he shoved off the doorframe and approached me with even steps. My heart pounded in my ears, my whole body on high alert. I watched him come around the counter and stop behind me. My breath hitched when he leant his hands on the counter next to mine, effectively caging me in.

“I thought you might be a good girl for me today,” he murmured in my ear, his breath dusting across my skin. “After all, you were very disobedient yesterday now, weren’t you?”

“Y-y-yes, sir.”

I could hardly breathe, my knees threatening to buckle. His nearness had an extreme effect on me. I’d been tucked up against his hard body last night. I’d felt the bare skin of his chest against my own. The memory of it flooded my senses.

Damn him.

He lifted his tattooed hand, curled it around my throat and pressed my body back against his. It made it worse. Parts of my body that weren’t meant to throb did. They ached with a need I would rather not acknowledge after what he said to me last night.

“Did no one ever teach you it’s rude to eavesdrop?”

I knew I should answer him, but my mouth was bone dry.

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