Page 109 of Hexed
At least I didn’t used to think she knew. Now I don’t knowwhoI can trust.
I send Scotty away with the car right after because I’m not in the mood for chitchat, and I go on a walk around the estate instead of heading straight inside. I need to clear my head before I see Aria again. Unfortunately, in this life, games have to be played carefully, and I can’t piss her off too much until I figure out what the fuck I’m doing.
I need to get back to New York.
After about an hour, my head no clearer than it was before, I make my way to the front of the mansion, preparing to head inside, but my footsteps stutter to a stop right before I turn the corner when I hear voices.
“What do you mean, you’re not coming?”
My heart skips a beat.Venesa. Moving forward slightly, I see her standing on the front steps, talking with Bastien.
“Babysitting duty, on orders of His Majesty,” he replies, crossing his arms and leaning against one of the white pillars that line the front porch.
Venesa sighs, and I don’t have to see her up close to imagine the way those teeth are sinking into the pillowy-soft bottom lip of hers. “Babysittingduty?”
He nods. “Yeah, Aria’s…out of sorts, I guess? Came running into his office with tears, screaming about how she was losing Enzo.”
A brief stab of panic hits me because the last thing I need is for gossip to get back to Pops, especially when I haven’t spoken to him in days while I try to figure out what the De Luca family wants with me.
Venesa laughs, but the sound is hollow. “Of course, he has you watching her instead of going with me.” She glances at the front door and then back. “I should go ask him why. In fact, there areseveralthings I need to speak with him about.”
Bastien grips her arm tightly, rooting her in place. “We don’t ask questions, V. You know that. That’s not how this works, neverbeenhow this works.”
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do, go to meet these pricks alone? You know how they get. Especially if Johnston knows I took out his brother-in-law.”
My ears perk up with interest, and I take a step out from where I’m hiding behind the building so I can take in Bastien’s face.What does she mean “go alone”?
His brows are drawn down, concern etched plainly on his features. “You’ve got your gun?”
Venesa scoffs. “Please, give it up. You know I hate that thing.”
“I don’t enjoy thinking about you dead.”
“They won’t kill me.”
He shrugs. “They might.”
“Then come with me, Bas.”
He shakes his head, seemingly frustrated. “I can’t, V.”
I take a step forward, my foot crunching on rock. Venesa doesn’t turn around, but Bastien’s eyes flick to mine for a single moment before he lifts his chin, his nostrils flaring.
“I wishsomeonewould, though.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
VENESA
I still can’t believeBas didn’t come with me to the gun drop.
My chest aches from the realization that my uncle might not be who I thought he was. My father’s words ring in my ears, but I brush them off, because believing the words of my dad means upending everything I thought I knew about my uncle.
And what would be the reason? To collect on a debt? He’d kill his ownsisterto send a message?
I can’t just barge into his office and ask, because that won’t get me anywhere, and if it’s not based in any truth, then it will only damage our relationship more than it already is. He used to brush off my outbursts or when I’d do things my own way instead of how he wanted, but things are different now, and I don’t knowwhythat feels like the straw that would break the camel’s back, but it does.
I’m at the southern docks, where the MC always meets us to do the drop. The Atlantis MC and the Kingstons have had a mutually beneficial relationship for decades, one hand washing the other. We supply the guns to them, and they sell them at a markup, giving us 60 percent. It’s been the deal with them sinceyears before Johnston took over as president, when his dad was in charge.
