Page 5 of Hexed
I shrug. “Yeah. You know how he is.”
It’s not like I want to admit my uncle, whoclaimsI’m his most important asset, sent me out here to do an in-person, late-night checkup with his spoiled daughter and, because I’m desperate for his approval, I said yes.
My best friend, Fisher, says being so unwaveringly loyal is my biggest weakness, but I disagree.
“So you’re all right? Barring whatever this is?” I wave my hand up and down her disastrous frame.
She shoots me a dark look. “Would you shutup? God, you’re always so?—”
A deep, low groan cuts off her sentence, and I reach out to grip her arm, shushing her, my heart ratcheting up in speed.
That sounded like a person.
And I don’t know how Aria ended up here or what kind of trouble she might have gotten herself in to make her look so haggard, but hanging out at a deserted part of a river known forcement shoes attached to dead bodies isn’t exactly high on my list of to-dos.
Aria looks around, arching a perfectly manicured brow. “Hear what?”
Another groan has me spinning, my vision skimming over the large damp rocks and the dark pockets of shadows that line the area.
“Seriously, you don’t hear that?”
“Who cares?” Aria looks at her nails like she can’t be bothered. “Listen, since you’re here, tell Daddy I could use some more wiggle room with the monthly allowance.”
I ignore her, walking toward the water to find the source of the noise.
Aria stumbles as she comes after me. “Hey! Are you listening to me?”
“With a voice like yours, who can ignore you?” I bite back.
“You’re pathetic, you know that? I wish you’d go back to where you came?—”
“Quiet,” I snap, my eyes homing in on a figure in the distance.
There’s a man laid out along the rocks, close enough to the water that it laps at his body like it’s attempting to shove him awake. But his eyes stay closed, and every time the small waves hit him, he just moves like a limp rag doll.
Great. Dying men were not on my agenda tonight either.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I drop my head back and stare up at the sky.Waxing crescent moon.Fantastic for acting on new beginnings. I should have never claimed I wanted to be a better person. It’s not like I meant it anyway. Beinggoodis overrated.
Now the universe ismockingme.
“Venesa,” Aria hisses.
I ignore her and take a step closer, cocking my head. He looks young, but nottooyoung, and he’s strangely familiar, although with how much dirt and blood covers his face, it’s difficult to tell.
“Urch, what the hell are you…? Holyshit,” Aria breathes as she comes to stand next to me.
“Mm-hmm.” I nod, taking inventory.
He’s definitely unconscious, at least partly, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s injured. Probably some low-level gangbanger who got himself in trouble. Although with the way he’s dressed in an expensive—and thoroughly ruined—suit, it could be worse. He could be a made man.
I shouldn’t get involved.
“We should leave,” Aria whispers, her blue eyes wide.
I shake my head. “We can’t just leave him.”
“What?!” she hisses. “Are you crazy?”
