Chapter Five

Tallulah

I was raised by my parents to be a cruel, cold-hearted assassin. And now, I've disappointed them fully by marrying the man I was supposed to kill. I wonder if they'll ever forgive me, but I've realized I don't need their forgiveness. I forgive myself for falling in love with a monster because that monster changed my life and made it so much better.

I hear Matilda giggling as she explores the drawers in the foyer, while Hades and Zeus patiently wait for their turn for some yummy treats. An awkward silence falls over the room, and I quickly realize my parents are waiting for me to speak. However, I have nothing to say. All the insults and nasty things I've wanted to express to them over the years die a silent death on my lips. I can't bring myself to utter a word, and we just stare awkwardly at one another as we wait for Matilda to return.

Xavier promised he wouldn't be here for this meeting, but now I'm almost wishing for my husband to be by my side. His heavy palm against my shoulder would make it so much easier, comforting me.

Is that everything I want right now? Silently, I make contact with the camera positioned in the corner of the room, wordlessly signaling Xavier to come into the sunroom and put an end to this.

However, he thought it was important for me to see my family, and I didn't want to argue with him. I've let him down too many times already. All I want now is to be a good girl, as challenging as it is with my whole family around. My husband certainly didn't approve of my outfit, which is a sky blue simple dress with long sleeves and a modest hemline.

I'm certain that Xavier would prefer to dress me in something revealing and sensual, but there will be a time for that later. Before Matilda returns to the room, my mother sighs heavily and faces me for the first time. I can tell she's about to say something I probably won't appreciate, but I want her to have the chance to do so.

"Go on," I say in a neutral tone, indicating that she can tell me anything.

My father lets out a snort, and I glare at him. He always acts so self-righteous, as if he wasn't exactly the same way with my mom. He caged and imprisoned her, much like my husband did to me. After all, it's the tradition in the cartel. None of these marriages are exactly willing, at least not from the bride's perspective. Yet I can't bring myself to hate them. A small part of me wishes it had died years ago, but it's still desperate for my parents' approval, something I'm constantly searching for but always come up empty.

"We love you very much, Tallulah," my mother says softly. "That's why we're concerned."

"You're concerned?" I ask, mocking her tone. "Well, there's a first time for anything, isn't there? You sure as hell weren't concerned before."

"Stop making this worse," Mom mutters.

"Oh, what a martyr you are. That's a role you play very well, Mother," I say, my words dripping with venom. "And what do you have to say for yourself?"

I turn to face my father, his impenetrable gaze locked with mine, challenging me in a silent battle of wits. "Do you have something to say? I bet it's nothing I haven't heard before. It's just going to be another barrage of you saying how disappointed you are with me, how much I've let you down, like I always do. Isn't that right, Dad?"

"For all of Xavier's bragging, I was convinced he would knock that bratty side out of you faster," Dad says.

I glare at him. "Xavier has nothing to do with this. You're talking about my marriage now, and we both know that's not the only thing we're discussing."

"You're right, Tallulah," Mom speaks up. "We're not talking about your marriage. We're talking about your well-being."

"What are you even trying to say?"

"You're not the same girl we raised," Dad states.

"No, I'm not," I hiss. "Because I'm not a stupid, mindless puppet anymore."

"You've changed, and we're not sure how. Xavier has done something to you."

"Dad, I know it's hard for you to accept, but Xavier did nothing. This is me. I'm finally being true to myself. You were the ones who kept me captive and turned me into this. You can't blame him."

"But we don't trust him. And neither should you," Dad says. "Tallulah, the cartel isn't a safe place. Especially not for a girl like you. You should know that."

"You mean a girl with a target on her back?" I hiss.

"It's not that," Mom says.

"Yes, it is. Don't you get it, Mother? You made a huge mistake. You made me marry a man you wanted dead, and now everyone's out to get me. You and Dad are the reason why I'm in danger."

"Don't blame us for this. We did what we had to."

"Oh, really?" I sneer. "Did you have to send me off to be trained as a killer?"

"Yes," Dad states.

I'm getting tired of this. All I can think about is Matilda coming back to the sunroom, hearing this conversation and having to process it. The poor kid's going to grow up with a broken mind.

"Why do you have to do this now?" I mutter.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. It's just... It's just not fair," Mom says. "Look at you. You're not the same girl you were before, and I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

"That Xavier has changed you," she whispers, and my dad looks at her in alarm, urging her to be silent.

I'm surprised he doesn't tell her to shut the fuck up.

"So this is about Xavier again," I state. "You know what? You're right. He's changed me. But not the way you think. I'm not a robot anymore. I'm my own person, and I can make my own decisions. And I'll decide whether I'm safe or not. Not you."

"But Tallulah—" Mom tries, but I cut her off.

"No. No more. We're not doing this. You should go. Now. Take Matilda with you."

"But Tallulah—" she starts, but I shake my head.

"Take her, or I will. Get the fuck out of my house," I growl, my anger building.

"I'm not done talking to you," Dad tries, and I shoot him a death glare.

"You have no fucking say in my life," I hiss.

"This is still my house," he growls.

"No, it isn't," I respond, "not anymore. And it's not mine either. It's his. Xavier Gunn owns every part of me. And if he were here, he'd say the same thing."

"You're an ungrateful little—" Dad tries, but the words are stuck in his throat as his eyes move past me and a terrified expression takes over his face.

"Leave. Now." Xavier's voice thunders behind me, making me flinch.

Dad gulps and nods, taking his wife's hand and hurrying towards the door.

I stand, watching my parents rush to the exit, not bothering to look back at their daughter, their pride and joy, their biggest accomplishment, or the one who will one day inherit the entire cartel. They don't care about that, only about keeping their asses safe and not making Xavier angry.

They're scared. Of him, of me, of their daughter.

They're scared of me because they think he's changing me, but I've never been the same person. Maybe he is molding me, but he's only giving me a chance to be myself.

As my parents rush away, I turn around and meet Xavier's eyes.

"Hey," I whisper, and he pulls me close, enveloping me in a tight hug.

"You're so brave," he murmurs into my ear, holding me tight. "You're a good girl. You're such a good, good girl, Tallulah."