Page 91 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

Zayn didn’t react other than to rest his gaze on his father. My eyes were fixed on him, needing to soak up every inch of Zayn. I was scared of what would come out of Gennaro’s mouth. Of what would happen next.

“Gilberto had some rather interesting things to share with me about your activities.”

I saw Zayn’s fingers twitch at the mention of his brother.

“Gil told you.”

Gennaro tapped his fingers on his chin.

“Your brother understands loyalty, unlike you, it seems.”

Zayn’s jaw clenched and I could almost feel him grinding his teeth.

“You going to tell me how Gil found out?”

That made Gennaro smile.

“Enzo was upset with you after your little talk with him.”

For the briefest of moments, pain flashed in Zayn’s eyes. I don’t think Gennaro caught it, but I did. It made me take a step towards him. Arlo put a subtle hand on my arm, holding me back. My heart squeezed, knowing underneath his cold exterior, Gennaro’s words had hurt Zayn.

If he’d spoken to Enzo, did it mean his brother had put two and two together about me and who I was to Zayn? If that was the case, then I could see how this would be an act of betrayal. Him telling Gil and Gil going to Gennaro.

“It doesn’t matter how I found out, son, it matters that I did,” Gennaro continued, his voice growing harder. “It matters because you have been lying to me.”

Zayn’s jaw ticked, but otherwise, he kept his mask in place. Arlo’s hand curled around my bicep. He knew I was so close to running to Zayn, holding onto his hand and making sure he knew I would stand by him through thick and thin. I couldn’t do that. He needed me to remain where I was, no matter how much I hated it.

“I know what you did for her.” Gennaro stabbed a finger in my direction. “And I know why.”

“Do you?” Zayn asked, his tone almost bored.

“Attento a come parli, figliolo.”

“I’ll watch my mouth when you explain to me why you barged into my house and intomybusiness.”

“Your business? That girl is not your business. This is not how we do things, Zayn, making deals for protection. She is notfamiglia. Andsheis not worthy of you.”

My insides twisted, making me sick to my stomach. He knew we were intimately involved. He knew and now he was confirming what I’d known deep down. Daughters of gang leaders weren’t fit to be a part of his family. I wasn’t fit to be Zayn’s partner in Gennaro’s eyes. I wasn’t some mafia princess who would make a good, obedient wife. Who would stand behind her husband no matter what he did. No matter the violence and chaos he committed in the mafia’s name. I wasn’t that girl… but I was Zayn’s regardless. I belonged to the man Gennaro thought I wasn’t worthy of.

Zayn didn’t say a word in response to Gennaro. He didn’t do a single thing. My eyes darted to Arlo, who was frowning at the men in front of us.

“You cannot have her and you know why. You know where she comes from.” His gaze swung to me. “Clearly, you didn’t tell her.” He scoffed. “Here you are, making her believe this is real. Poor thing has no idea… well, you were always a good liar. You learnt from me, after all.”

The way he smiled chilled me to my bones.

“You cannot have my son, Arianna. He does not belong to you. He belongs tome. And what I say goes. It’s time I reminded him of that.”

I flinched and stepped closer to Arlo, feeling small at that moment. Feeling like I was nothing. He didn’t need to tell me why he disapproved of me. I already knew. I’d known it my whole life. I wasn’t the right class. My father was a gangster. I would never be anything other than where I’d come from in Gennaro’s eyes.

Zayn didn’t feel that way. He never looked at me like I was below him. He looked at me like I was precious. He’d told me I was perfect. There were things he hadn’t told me, but Zayn didn’t lie about his feelings towards me.

Gennaro looked at his son again, leaving me to process my feelings alone.

“You are going to send her back to where she came from. Back to Bennett. And you are going to leave her alone. She is going to stay away from you too. If you disobey me in this, you will face the consequences and you will not like them. I don’t want to hurt you, son, but this is not a debate or a negotiation. You will obey me.”

For a long moment, nobody spoke. Then Zayn turned to Arlo, his eyes skipping over me.

“Take her home… take her home to her father.”

---