Page 108 of Hexed
She inhales shakily, her breath hot against my fingertips, but she doesn’t reply.
“In a different life”—I bend until my mouth is centimeters from hers—“I would do anything to make you mine, and I’d bring you any person who’s wronged you and make them beg for death at your feet. All you’d have to do is say the word.”
“Enzo.” Her voice is deep and raspy. Like she’s seconds away from giving in and letting me have her in all the ways I dream about.
“Shh.” I stop her from speaking. “I know what you’re about to say, and I know we can’t…but I just needed you to hear it, out loud, at least once.”
I let go of her face and reach into my pocket, then pull out heractualgift and pass it over. Leaning down, I brush a kiss to her cheek, but her face moves at the same time, and instead I ghost across the corner of her lip. My body lights up with flames, my heart slamming against my rib cage like it’s trying to break from my chest and fall into her hands.
“Good night, piccola sirena. Happy birthday.”
Aria sighs loudly next to me as Scotty drives us back from a date she insisted upon.
I ignore her, because I don’t really have it in me right now to give a fuck, not when my head is filled with images of Venesa last night, of how she doled out retribution so flawlessly and how I couldn’t take away her pain.
“You okay, babe?” Aria asks, brushing her hand down my arm.
I shift away from her.
She scoffs. “You’re a real drag since last night on the yacht, you know?”
“So call it off, then,” I bite back.
Her body physically recoils and slams into her seat. “I…I don’t even know what to say to that.”
I run a hand through my hair, tugging on the roots.
“Why are you mad at me?” Her voice is meek now, and for the first time, I can hear the manipulation in its tone.
Christ, is this how I’m supposed to live the rest of my life?
“How could you have done that?” I spit out.
She gives me a confused look. “Done what?”
“Brought Harald Andersen here.”
A dark look covers her features, and the innocent, gorgeous girl I proposed to washes away like sea-foam being taken out by the tide. “This is all because ofher?”
I roll my eyes. “You havegotto get over whatever shit you have going on with your cousin. That’s not how you treat family.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? She’s not family.”
I chuckle. “You’re being delusional.”
“And you’re being a prick.”
My tenuous control snaps, and I lean forward, gripping her face in my hand harshly. “I’d remind you to remember just who the fuck it is you’re talking to. I may be your fiancé, but I’m not your bitch, and I’m getting real tired of this spoiled-princess routine your dad helps flourish. You may get away with mouthing off to him, but you won’t disrespect me again.”
Tears line her lower lid, and a bit of guilt whips through my middle.
I loosen my grip. “You get me?”
She swallows and nods, a few tears creeping out of the corners of her eyes and trailing over my fingers. I pat her cheek before releasing her and sitting back in my seat.
We don’t speak another word until we get to the estate, and even then, she simply opens and slams the car door before disappearing inside. It’s funny, because for the longest time, I waswishingfor the fire she just showed me, but now it feels like a square peg in a round hole or a shoe on the wrong foot. Uncomfortable and out of place.
And I’m wondering if I ever really knew who Aria was at all or if she’s been putting on an act this entire time—similar to how I am, I suppose. Though it’s not like she knows the marriage is a business arrangement.
