Page 199 of Hexed
Amusement at his words swirls through my stomach and curls up my throat, and I throw my head back and laugh. “It’s adorable you think you have the power here, Uncle T. But I guessthat’s always been your problem, hasn’t it? Thinking everything is about you.”
“Isn’t it?” he barbs back.
“No!” I smack my hand on the metal right next to Aria’s face. “This is about me for once. And everything you stole.”
His eyes widen, dawning realization hitting them.
“That’s right, you absolute asshole. I know everything. So if I were you, I’d start figuring out how to beg appropriately, and maybe I’ll spare yourpoordaughter’s soul.”
I move the barrel of my weapon, pressing it to Aria’s temple.
She’s shaking, small whines pouring from her mouth.
Good.
Uncle T’s hands shoot into the air, his palms up like I’m the volatile one. “Let her go, Venesa.”
I run the gun down Aria’s cheek. Her eyes widen slightly, realizing that she didn’t hold up her end of the bargain, so things have changed.
“Now, why would I do that?” I question. “She and I made a deal.”
Aria tries again. “Daddy, I?—”
I whip the firearm out and smack her cheek, the satisfying slap of flesh hitting metal resounding in my ears.
Cracking my neck, I breathe in deep. “God, I’ve been waiting years to do that.”
Aria groans, pulling on her chains as she tries to focus her attention back on me. “You bitch!”
“What do you want?” Uncle T asks, stepping in farther.
I tilt my head. “What do you mean? I have everything I could want right here. The daughter of the great Trent Kingston—the girl who tortured and bullied me for years. She’s quite the prize to have.”
Lifting my nails, I look at the cuticles like I can’t be bothered. “So I guess the question is, what are you willing to give me that’s better?”
“Anything,” he responds immediately.
I tilt my head, a hit of anger and hurt swimming through me like poison because he’s giving up so easily.
For her.
He’d never have done the same for me.
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Well, then make me a bargain.”
“If you let her go, you can have me,” he barters.
“No, Daddy, she won’t actually do it. Don’t listen to her, I?—”
“Deal,” I interrupt. Nodding at Bastien, who has his gun aimed at Trent, I drop my weapon on the rolling table and pick up the syringe I made just for Aria.
“She’s lying! Enzo is here and?—”
Lunging, I press the syringe directly into her trachea. “That’s about enough out of you.”
“No!” Uncle T yells, surging forward.
Bang!
