Tyrant Daddy (Tyrant Dynasty 3)

After Dove gets some information, the car pulls away and she runs to her crying young boys, not even glancing at me and ignoring Willa.

"I'm... I'm sorry," my girl mutters miserably. "I didn't think this would happen."

"No, you didn't think, did you?" Dove's barely fighting back tears, sighing and shaking her head. "Can you watch them, Willa? While I go to the police station?"

"N-No."

We all look at Willa with surprise. She risks taking a long look at me before drawing a deep breath.

"I'm going to stay with Raphael for a while."

"Are you kidding me?" Dove shoos the crying boys inside with some comforting words before walking up to me and shoving her finger into my chest. "How dare you manipulate her! How dare you toy with her emotions! How dare you try to ruin my family!"

"That was never my intention," I reply, capturing her wrist in my hand. A few years ago, this would've wrecked me. But not now that I've met Willa. She makes everything I went through with Dove pale in comparison. "I can't help how I feel, but if you're against this, I'll stay away."

"No, you won't." Willa walks up to me and grabs my hand. "I want to be with him, Dove."

Her mother shakes her head in disbelief. "I guess I can't stop you, Wills. You're eighteen now."

"I'm sorry for hurting you and Nox. I never deserved you in the first place."

Before Dove or I can say a thing, Willa locks herself back inside the car.

Now, her mother's attention is firmly on me and she seems fucking pissed. She looks at me with pure disgust before saying, "I hope you finally got what you wanted and that it was worth ruining my life for."

"Willa loves you, Dove."

"Don't you dare say her name," she spits out. "Or pretend you know anything about my daughter. I know you're doing this out of revenge, Raphael."

"This isn't about you," I say in response. "It's about your daughter. I... I have feelings for her."

"You think that's enough?" She laughs bitterly. "That's nothing, Raphael. She needs love, not your fucking pathetic feelings. Bring her home once she realizes that, please. Because she'll realize just how bad you are for her soon. I'll make sure of it."

I remember the blackmail note in my office.

Could it have been Dove that sent it?

Is she capable of blackmailing me to get me to stay away from Willa?

The dark spark in her eyes tells me everything I need to know.

I'm about to turn around and get in the car when Dove's fingers wrap around my forearm, pulling me back.

Had this happened years ago, things would end a lot differently for Nox's little bird. But this time, I merely shrug her off with an icy expression. Dove doesn't have the effect she used to have on me, and she seems to have realized that now as well.

"Does she know about Elise?" Dove asks in a hushed tone.

Fuck. I managed to completely forget about the woman who's moved into my apartment to play a front.

I nod. "She knows I'm engaged. But that's –"

"Fuck, Raphael!" Dove runs her hands through her dark hair. "You're stringing her along. We both know she's going to get hurt, either by you, or by Elise herself."

"I'll take care of it."

"How?" Her thunderous eyes meet mine. "She's already falling for you, Raphael. I can see it."

The words ignite my heart and I glance at the car where Willa is waiting for me. This shouldn't excite me, but I can't fucking help it. I want Willa. Elise is long forgotten by now, and I'm going to end things with her, cut off all ties, tonight.

"I'm sorry, Dove."

I walk to the car while she watches me. She doesn't say another word, but I feel the weight of her gaze on my back as I get in the car with Willa. She grabs my hand and I make eye contact with her. She's panicking, I can tell.

"It's going to be okay," I mutter. "You can come and stay in my apartment tonight."

"What about..."

"Elise?" I shake my head. "I have another place. One she doesn't know about."

Willa nods mutely as I drive to my hidden bachelor pad in the city. A lot of women have passed through this apartment building, and bringing Willa here feels almost dirty. Still, she doesn't say a word as I guide her into the building and lock the door of my apartment behind us.

"This is a nice place," she whispers, sitting awkwardly on the white leather couch.

"Wills, I should've taken you somewhere else," I mutter. "This... this place isn't worthy of you."

"Why didn't you take me home?"

My expression must speak volumes as she grimaces before saying, "Oh. Because she's there."

"Yes, Elise is currently in my apartment," I admit. "But I want you to know, Willa, our arrangement... that's all it is. A business deal."