Page 90 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“Find her,” Gennaro said to his men.

I backed away from the bannister, knowing immediately he was referring to me. Where the fuck did I go to hide? I moved faster, running towards Zayn’s bedroom on silent steps. I ripped open the cupboard door, shutting it before burying myself behind his suits. My hand went over my mouth to keep myself silent. Fear coated my veins, making my heart race out of control.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I knew hiding was futile. If Gennaro Villetti wanted to find me, he would. The mafia kingpin wasn’t a man you messed with. Dad had told me as much. It was safer to be in business with him than make the Villettis your enemies.

I could hear a commotion outside of my hiding place. The door to the bedroom burst open, followed by Arlo’s voice telling them they couldn’t go in there. My hand curled into a fist at my side, ready to swing at the first person who opened the cupboard and tried to take me. I dropped my left hand from my mouth and curled that one into a fist too. I wasn’t going down without a fight.

I held my breath as the door opened and hands dug through the suits. Instead of waiting, I burst through and swung at the man, my fist connecting with his jaw. He stumbled slightly, grunting at the impact. Dad had taught me how to throw a punch.

“What the fuck?” came the other bodyguard’s voice.

I ignored him, stabbing my other fist in the first bodyguard’s gut. He was the taller of the two.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he grunted, trying to grab me.

I darted around him and ran straight into Arlo. He pushed me behind him and glared at the two bodyguards.

“If you put your hands on her, I will cut them off,” he told them. “No one touches the boss’s woman without his permission.”

Arlo’s threat had me clutching the back of his shirt. The two bodyguards looked at each other, clearly sharing a silent conversation. The one I’d punched rubbed his jaw and scowled at me while the other one met Arlo’s gaze.

“Fine, but she’s coming with us. Gennaro wants to see her.”

I was worried about what I would find downstairs.

“I’ll bring her, not you.”

The first bodyguard nodded. Arlo turned to me, his expression dark.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

I nodded even though inside I was shaking like a leaf. There was no way I was going to show my fear. Not to anyone but Zayn. He needed me to be strong right now, anyway. Strong in the face of his father.

Arlo let me lead the way downstairs, keeping himself between me and the bodyguards. I held my head up, not caring if the bodyguards were giving me daggers. I would have kept hitting them if I thought it would have saved me.

We found Gennaro and Zayn in the office. Zayn was standing by his desk with a blank expression on his face, but I could almost feel the undercurrent of rage and violence radiating off him. Gennaro was leaning against the fireplace, looking every inch the mafia king he was in a three-piece suit with his thumb tucked into his waistcoat. His dark hair was greying and his eyes matched Zayn’s.

I didn’t run to Zayn, knowing I couldn’t go to him for comfort right now. Instead, I stayed close to Arlo near the door after the bodyguards walked in and stood near Gennaro.

“There she is,” Gennaro said with a smile. It sent a chill running down my spine.

“Hello, Mr Villetti,” I said, keeping my voice even and steady.

Arlo angled himself between me and Zayn’s father, his eyes darting between him and the bodyguards. For a man who didn’t seem to like me very much, he was certainly loyal to his boss. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to me.

“Your father will be happy to know you’re safe. He’s been very worried about you.”

The fake concern in his voice had me shoving my hands behind my back so he didn’t see my clenched fists.

“I’m sure he has.”

No way in hell I was telling this man how much I hated distressing my father. Nor that I missed him terribly and wished everything had been different.

Gennaro’s attention went to his son, effectively dismissing me from the conversation.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m here.”

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