Page 172 of Hexed
“I’m sorry I can’t say the same,” he replies, clucking his tongue. “Not from my son anyway.”
What’s that supposed to mean?My spine stiffens. He’s implying he heard about her from someone, and I flip through who even knew about her to say something.
A rat.
“Iknowyou, though,” he continues. “I’m very surprised to see you in my son’s kitchen. You’re a much more forgiving man than me, Enzo.”
Venesa takes a step back from him, ripping her hand from his grip.
My brows furrow in confusion, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “Why’s that?”
I move next to her, giving her a funny look.
“Nervous?” Pops smiles at her.
Her chin stiffens.
“Oh, I see.” He tsk-tsks. “You didn’t tell him, did you? You stupid little girl.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I snap. “What thefuck?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You’ve always been so naive. So blind to what’s right in front of you,figlio mio.”
“This isn’t the time, Pops. You’re inmyhouse. You’ll respect the people in it, including meandher.”
“I think this is the perfect time,” he parries, his voice like a thunderclap that strikes across the room. “Don’t you,Venesa?”
He elongates her name, almost making it sound like a song.
Again, I look at her, expecting for her to look just as confused as I am.
But she doesn’t. She looks scared.
And that terrifies me.
“Somebody better tell me what the fuck is going on right now.”
Pops’s eyes twinkle with mirth, and he keeps staring at Venesa. “I’ve waited a long time to look into the eyes of the woman who tore this family apart.”
I laugh, thinking it’s a joke, but the way Venesa stiffens sends red flags waving and sirens blaring in my psyche.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I demand.
Now Pops looks at me. “I’m talking about the fact the woman you’re fucking is the one who killed your brother.”
FORTY-SEVEN
VENESA
I’m frozen in place.
Enzo laughs again, disbelieving. But then he looks at me, the humor slowly dropping from his face until all that’s left is dawning realization.
I don’t have the will to keep watching because I know what will come next.
Betrayal.
Hatred.
