Page 20 of Hexed
Trent clears his throat, and Venesa perches back on his desk.
I let the air stay pregnant with silence, a sharp jab of arousal hitting me when my mouth covers the same place Venesa’s lips just touched. I shake off the feeling, trying to get my mind straight.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally say.
Trent frowns.
“You’d be silly not to do it,” Venesa cuts in.
I flick my gaze toward her, amusement sparking in my chest. “And you’re someone I should take business advice from because…?”
“We’re about to befamily. I hear that means a lot to you Italians.”
My interest wanes, and I point my finger at her. “Don’t get cute.”
“Think about it, E,” Trent interjects. “I know you’ve only been running your brother’s business for the past few years, but it’s a good choice to expand down here. We’ve got a hold on the unions, and I’ve got the construction company built right in. It can be a…mutually beneficial experience.”
I purse my lips and stare at him because is he really lecturingmeon racketeering? I’m from New York. Iamracketeering. “Is that right?”
Trent smacks his palms together like he’s dusting them off. “One hand washes the other, you know? Together…we can rule the world.”
Blowing out a ring of smoke, I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “You seem to know a lot about my business, so let me make something clear: I’m not my brother, and I don’t care what deals you may have been working on with him or how good your relationship was.Heis notme.” I jab my chest with my thumb.
Trent smiles like I’m throwing a tantrum instead of laying down a law, and honestly, it’s a little condescending. My fingers twitch to curl into fists, but I shake off the urge.
“Sleep on it,” he says. “After all, the important thing is that you’re marrying my baby girl, yeah? And as long as she’s happy, I’m happy.” He cuts me a look. “And so is your father.”
I take another puff of the cigar, hearing his words for exactly what they are: a thinly veiled threat. It’s laughable, really, that he thinks he has the power to go against me in any capacity. His corn bread Cosa Nostra isnothingcompared to the real thing. He should feel fucking honored he’s even breathing the same air as me. And if he thinks Pops is someone firmly on his side, then…well, he hasn’t experienced the many facets of my overly suspicious and trigger-happy father.
One thing is for sure after this, though, and that simple truth is this: I do not like Trent Kingston.
“All right,” I agree. I point at Venesa, the smoke from my cigar swirling around her silhouette like evenitcan’t resist her. “Butyou’llhave to convince me.”
“Pardon?” She tilts her head, blinking quickly.
“You were so confident a few seconds ago when you were telling me what to do. It’s only fair you’re the one who shows me why Atlantic Cove is worth my time. Business-wise, I mean.”
Fire flashes behind Venesa’s eyes, and her jaw stiffens. “Uh, no thanks. Ask your fiancée.”
I grin like a Cheshire cat, standing up and placing the cigar on the ashtray. “There you go again, spitting orders like I’m your bitch.”
A slight flush dusts her cheeks, and it makes my smile widen.
She crosses her arms. “Yeah, well, I’m not a tour guide.”
I brush a piece of lint from my sleeve and move toward her until we’re closer than what’s socially acceptable. In my peripheral vision, I can see Trent frowning at us from his chair, but I don’t give a damn. My words aren’t meant for him. They’re meant for Venesa alone. “You better brush up on your history, piccola sirena, because those are my terms.”
Her eyes flare, and adrenaline pumps through my veins like a drug.
“Your terms suck. But I’ll do it if it means you’ll stop swinging your dick around, acting like you’re the biggest man in the room.” She slips off the corner of the desk, her gaze dropping to my belt before rising again. “Compensating for something?”
A laugh escapes me, and I step back to take her in fully.
Goddamn, she’s interesting.
I don’t know a single person in the world who would dare speak to me the way she just did. It’s both refreshing and off-putting in equal measure. I definitely don’t think I can trust her.
Venesa walks past me and leaves the room, and I follow, heading back to the woman I’m about to marry. But my thoughts are filled withher, and the realization that I can’t get her out of my mind makes me sick to my stomach.
