Tyrant Daddy by Isabella Starling

Chapter 19

Willa

My world has imploded. Everything I thought was real has been smashed into pieces, and I'm left picking up the shards lying at my feet alone.

Raphael is gone. The only man I've ever wanted has left me broken.

I barely acknowledge my surroundings on the way home from Raphael's office. By the time I walk into our house, I feel completely numb.

"Hey, Mercy came looking for you," Nox tells me when we cross paths in the hallway. "Woah, are you okay, Wills?"

"What?" I snap. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay." He gives me a doubtful look before growling, "This better had nothing to do with that prick Santino, or I'll gouge his eyes out and –"

"Oh my God, knock it off, Nox." I run my hands through my hair, feeling frustrated. "Just lay off me for one second."

"Jesus, fine." He raises his hands in defeat. "Mercy says to call her."

"Why?"

"Because she's your best? Christ, I don't know, kid. You having one of your fights again?"

I'm faced with a decision and my heart and head disagree with which option to pick.

I could tell Nox everything right now, pour out my heart and let him help me out of this mess I've created like he's always wanted to.

Or I could keep it to myself like I always do. Let it fester and rot until it poisons me from the inside.

"Everything is fine," I mutter with a tight smile. "I need to go, sorry."

I push past him on the stairs, ignoring it when he calls out my name. All I can think about are the lies Dove and he told us about Nox's past, about the reason he went to prison. I can never trust them again.

Once the door of my bedroom is safely locked behind me, I finally let the tears fall. They burn against my cheeks but I don't make a sound, I just lie on the bed and stare up at the ceiling while the war rages on in my heart.

Time passes and it feels like I'm being torn apart. Frozen, unable to do anything about my imminent death but lie there and take it. Horrible memories flow through me and a sort of paralysis takes over, rendering me unable to cry for help.

Once I can finally breathe again, I pick up my phone with trembling fingers and delete all of Raphael's contacts, breaking my own heart again. Once I'm done, I set the phone down and carefully reach for a pair of scissors on my desk.

I treat them with care, careful not to hurt myself, which is ironic, given what I want to do.

I remember the first and only time I hurt myself like that and how deeply I'd cut. I was only twelve, and when Dove found me, she cried for hours. I couldn't bring myself to do that to her again, no matter how badly some things hurt.

But now, I don't want to cut into my skin to feel pain.

I want to feel oblivion, I want this to end.

Just as I dig the tip of the scissors into my skin, my phone pings with a text.

The scissors fall and I take deep, ragged breaths, realizing how close I was to something I swore I'd never do again.

I check my phone, finding a text from Mercy.

Call me when you can?

With trembling fingers, I hit call. She picks up within seconds.

"Hey, Wills."

"Hey." I swallow thickly, but the lump in my throat remains. "Mercy, I..."

"What?" I don't answer even though I can hear the worry in her voice as she goes on. "Is everything okay?"

"I wanted to hurt myself," I blurt. "Right before you called."

"No, Wills." Her voice breaks. "You promised you wouldn't. What happened?"

"I just gave up," I whisper. "If I hadn't gotten your text..."

"Wills, you can't keep going like this."

"I know, I just –"

"Can't you talk to Raphael about it?"

I hold my breath, his name like a punch to the gut. "I... I think we're done for good."

"Fuck, Wills. You sure?"

My silence answers for me, and after a pause I whimper, "I just want to leave, Mercy."

"Then leave." She hesitates, then blurts out her speech. "Look, I think Scott's in with some bad people."

"What people?"

"Some people he might owe money to," she bites out.

"What? Fuck, Mercy!" I cover my mouth with my palm. "Did they hurt you?"

"No, but they might try." I can feel her shame through the phone. "I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I should've believed you about him. What I mean is... we should leave. Together. This place is bad for us."

Silently, I agree with her. "Where would we stay?"

"Doesn't Nox have family in New York?"

"Yeah," I mutter. "But they don't ever talk."

"So? You know how weird he is about his family, I bet they're eager to connect. And you could find out more about Nox, too," she says. "In fact, I looked them up. They're kind of famous, you know."

"You did what? You looked up Nox's brother?"

"Kade," she says. "And his wife, June. They have three kids."

"I can't believe you stalked Nox."

"Let's just say I saw something like this coming. They've lied to you for a long time, Wills."

"About what?" I knit my brows together. "Nox killing someone?"

Mercy pauses on the other end. "Do you know who he killed, Willa?"

"Probably someone bad. I'm pretty sure he thinks he's some vigilante superhero with a name like Nox," I mutter.

"Wills... He killed Dove's brother."

My hand shakes. "Robin died in a shoot-out."

"Yeah, he did." She pauses meaningfully. "See what I mean?"

My heart beats into overdrive and I panic. Could this possibly be the truth?

"Look, we can get plane tickets for tonight," Mercy rushes on. "I stole some money from Scott."

"You did what?" I groan. "He'll kill you, Mercy!"

"We're leaving," she insists. "It doesn't matter, because I'll be long gone by the time he finds out. The only reason I haven't brought it up is because you were happy with Raphael. Are you sure it's over?"

"He doesn't want me," I whisper.

"Then we're leaving," Mercy says resolutely. "Meet me at the airport tonight. I'll deposit the money and buy our tickets. Bring as little as you can."

"What about Dove and Nox?"

"Do you want them to know where you're going?"

"No," I admit.

"Then leave now. They don't know about Parsons. Please, Willa. Come with me."

I find myself nodding along with her words. This is what I need. To pursue my dream, to follow my talents and study where I've always wanted to. I've saved up enough – I can pay for myself and Mercy, at least until we both find jobs. I got into Parsons on a scholarship and I think I can just about cover living expenses.

"Okay," I finally say. "Let's leave tonight."

"That's my girl," Mercy laughs. "I'll text you where to meet me. Don't tell anyone."

The call ends and I stare at the phone in my hand. What the hell have I just agreed to?

1 week later

"Try this one." Mercy pushes my phone back into my hands. "It says it's the personal line of Theo Wildfox-Miller."

"Is that their oldest son?" I scribble down his name on a Post-it.

"Yeah. Tell him you want to meet."

Nervously, I call the number while Mercy expectantly watches me from across the tiny table we eat at.

We've been staying in a motel for a week, but we need to find a different place soon. I was against calling in favors from Nox's family, but Mercy talked me into it, telling me it would be good for me to have some closure.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end of the line is harsh, deep and filled with anger.

"Um, hi."

"Who is this?"

He's clearly hostile, but Mercy's pleading look makes me launch into an explanation, hoping he doesn't end the call.

"You don't know me – probably. Maybe? I don't know. I'm Willa. I'm... your cousin, I think?"

"What the fuck?" he growls next. "Are you drunk?"

"No," I hiss, rolling my eyes and shushing Mercy as she whispers how’s it going. "I'm Nox's daughter."

"Whose?"

"Are you Theo Miller?" I ask, losing my patience.

"Theo Wildfox-Miller, yes."

"Well, I'm Willa. Willa Canterbury-Miller."

A long silence follows before he finally mutters, "Well, fuck. Can you meet me? Where are you?"

"I'm here in New York," I manage to get out, surprised by his eagerness to see me. "And yes, I can meet you."

"Text me your address, I'll send a car."

"Okay."

He hesitates before adding, "I hope you don't scare easily."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Before I can get a reply, the line goes dead. Frustrated, I stare at my phone before shrugging in Mercy's direction.

"Guess he's sending a car."

"Can I come with you?"

"Better not, Mercy," I mutter. "You have to watch our stuff."

My laptop has already been stolen in this crappy motel, and I don't want to risk losing more stuff. Mercy nods and sits by the TV. Its sound is the only thing that blocks out the shit that goes on in this place.

I say my goodbyes and run downstairs to find a black car with a chauffeur waiting for me. He opens the door, as if he knows who I am, and I spend the rest of the ride in awe before finally pulling up in front of a brownstone building.

"Right through to the garden, miss," the driver nods at me. "Good luck."

I glance at the house suspiciously. This feels like something out of a book, and I'm getting scared of who Theo really is. But then I remember the alternative to leaving – going back home with my tail between my legs, never seeing Raphael or worse, running into him with someone else. I set my shoulders back and resolutely walk into the house.

I follow the open doors to the garden where a man is sitting with his back to me.

"Willa?" he asks in the same deep, rumbling voice.

"That's me."

"Come here."

I step in front of him and fight my shock at seeing his face. But Theo doesn't let me look away, his eyes taunting me as I take in his scarred face with one dark brown eye and one milky white, almost silver.

"Are you surprised?" he asks calmly, and I decide to go the honest route, nodding. "But not afraid, I take it."

"I've met scarier men than you." I point to a chair in front of him. "Do you mind?"

"Go ahead." He watches with amusement as I take a seat. "I've wanted to meet one of you for a long time."

"One of us?"

"I knew Parker... Nox had a family, but I didn't know who with."

"Is Parker his real name?"

"You didn't know?" I shake my head and he smiles solemnly. "Seems I'm not the only one who's being lied to."

"Your dad is Nox's brother, right?"

"Indeed. And you're adopted?" I nod, making him grin. "Thought so, the timelines didn't quite add up."

"Why did you want to meet me so soon?"

"I want information," he mutters. "And I assume you want something too, and this isn't purely an attempt at a familial reconciliation?"

I swallow. "I... My friend and I need a place to stay in New York."

"Should be easy enough," he shrugs, making me pale with surprise. How freaking rich is this guy?

"You look just like Nox, you know," I mutter.

"I look like my father."

"They must look alike. What information do you want?"

"Anything about Nox you can tell me. I need to keep my father and Nox separated."

I knit my brows together. "Why?"

"Because they'll kill each other if someone doesn't keep them apart."