Page 66 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“Yes.”

Penn leant back in his chair and blinked before tapping his black painted nails on his thigh.

“What the fuck do you need a studio for, Zayn?”

“If I needed you to know why, I would have told you. I pay you to do what I ask and not question why. I’m not getting you to kill anyone today. I would have thought you’d been grateful for the change of scenery.”

The fucker laughed and stood up.

“I take it you’ll send me the listings.”

I gave him a nod. He leant forward and tapped his fingers on my desk.

“You’ve been acting differently since that Michaelson girl showed up. I’m going to find out why.”

Before I could say a word, he strolled out of the room with his hands in his pockets, whistling away like he had no cares in the world. I would have to nip that shit in the bud. Penn did not need to meet Ari, and he certainly didn’t need to get involved in my personal business.

Ari was personal to me. She wasmine. It was why I was getting him to find a studio space in the first place. When this was all over, I wanted to give her a future and a space to take her photographs in. Even if that future she had didn’t end up including me in it.

Twenty Two

Arianna

My fingers absentmindedly played with the chain of the ear cuff Zayn had given me while I stared out the car window. To say this was an awkward journey was an understatement. Enzo kept eyeing me in the rearview mirror, and Remi was fidgeting next to me as if she had no idea what to say. Clearly, Zayn had made them agree to take me out today.

I turned my head and stared at Zayn’s brother. It was the first time I’d ever met him. My dad told me Gennaro had three sons. Zayn, Gilberto and Enzo. I had the distinct impression the two younger brothers had no idea Gennaro was in business with my father. Zayn had only told Enzo my name was Ari, not Arianna. He was keeping my identity a secret. It made me question how much he trusted his younger brother.

Maybe Enzo was suspicious about who I was and that’s why he kept staring at me. He looked like a younger version of Zayn but with a short beard and dyed blonde hair, with his dark roots showing. I wasn’t sure what to make of his brother, but Zayn had assured me Enzo would keep me safe.

My trust in Zayn was probably stupid on my part. I couldn’t help myself with that man. I’d never been so enamoured with another person in my life. Probably explained why seeing him with anyone else brought out all of my possessive instincts. I wanted to own him in the way he owned me. Again, a stupid urge. Who could really own a man like Zayn Villetti? He wouldn’t bow to anyone, let alone me. Didn’t stop me from wanting it. From desiring a future with a man I couldn’t have.

“So, Ari, where are you from?” Remi asked. “I mean, what part of the city?”

I glanced at her. She seemed genuine, but I had no real clue what to make of the girl Zayn called his little sister.

“Hackney.”

Remi’s eyebrow quirked up.

“No offence, but you don’t sound like it.”

I gave her a sad smile.

“I used to until Dad shipped me off to private school. Kids can be cruel, you know. Was easier to fit in if I sounded more like them.”

Not that it helped. I was still seen as common working-class scum to them.

Remi reached over and gave my arm a squeeze. I could tell from her expression she understood. I didn’t want to make assumptions about her, but it was hard not to notice she came from a mixed background like me.

“People suck.”

I snorted.

“Yeah, they do.”

She leant closer to me and lowered her voice.

“If Enzo says anything fucked up to you, just tell me and I’ll kick him in the nuts.”

---