Hexed (Never After #6)

32. Enzo

THIRTY-TWO

ENZO

Well…this is fucked.

Luckily, neither of us is in any state of undress, so it’s easy enough to step back and let her dress fall, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Trent see any part of her, so when I turn around, I stand in front of her to offer her protection because I already know this won’t go down well.

Was it the smartest choice to do this here, right across the hall from everyone, at my engagement party to another woman?

No.

Do I feel like a piece of shit?

Yes.

But I don’t regret it. This isn’t the same thing as Ma and Pops. I’ve never loved Aria, and we’re not married yet.

My fingers are dripping, and my only regret is that I didn’t get to taste them before Trent walked in and demolished the moment.

Well, that and not kissing her.

Which Venesa avoided, and I’m not sure why.

A shot of panic hits my stomach when I imagine this little rendezvous being found out by my pops, but I push it to the side because my immediate concern is right here and now with Venesa.

She’s strong, she’s so fucking strong, but her uncle is her weak spot, even if she can’t see it, and familial ties are hard to break, even the dysfunctional ones.

I would know.

And even though she was the one who instigated this moment, I can’t help but feel like this is my fault.

The door slams behind Trent, and he flicks the lock, his eyes as stormy as a hurricane.

“You ungrateful little bitch,” he spits.

“Uncle T…” Venesa murmurs from behind me.

“I’d think carefully about the next words that come out of your mouth, Trent,” I cut in, because I don’t really feel like hearing her try to explain this away. Part of me is terrified she’s going to minimize what just happened. I don’t know if I can take it if she says something to make this seem like it didn’t matter. Like it didn’t just change everything.

Or worse—that it was a mistake.

Trent slides his eyes to me, his chest heaving like he’s a fire-breathing dragon. “You little piece of shit. Just wait until your father hears about this. I suggest you take your leave, go out there, get yourself together, and find your fiancée. You know, the one who’s wearing your ring and has been looking for you for the past thirty minutes?”

I swallow, guilt weaving its way through me, not because I have feelings for Aria but because I’m not that guy. I’m not a cheater.

Although, technically, I guess now I am.

But it doesn’t matter. I’m not leaving Venesa until she tells me to.

I shake my head. “How many times do I have to tell you, Trent? You don’t get to tell me how high to jump and expect me to submit.” I take a step closer to him because surely he’s out of his fucking mind. Or else he has no clue what I’m capable of.

“I suggest you don’t push me.” I lower my voice until it’s a dark rumble. “Or I promise you won’t like the outcome.”

“Son, when your father finds out what you’ve done, I’ll be the least of your concerns. You better hope you make it back to New York tomorrow before he hears from me.”

“Enzo.” Venesa’s voice is powerful behind me, deep and sultry, with a pleading note.

She moves until she’s in front of me, facing me, and I take a second to soak her in, because there’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach from the tone of her voice that tells me this might be the last chance I get.

She’s going to push me away.

My heart cracks at the thought.

She’s so fucking beautiful. Her hair is mussed, her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes have a glaze that only a spectacular orgasm can provide.

“It’s okay.” She gives me a soft smile and squeezes my arm before spinning to face her uncle, who is standing across from us, fuming.

“I’m not leaving you here alone with him,” I say through gritted teeth.

She looks back at me. “I can take care of myself, remember?”

I step into her, not giving a single fuck if Trent is watching, and I lean down until I’m next to her ear. “And still…you shouldn’t have to.”

The words taste bittersweet on my tongue. I mean them, more than I’ve ever meant anything in my life. But Trent isn’t wrong. I’m suffocated by the will of my father, at least for now.

I’ve never hated being part of the family, of promising Ma I would stay loyal, until this very moment.

Venesa sighs and turns to face me again, her chest brushing against mine as she gazes up at me.

“Venesa…” Trent starts.

I cut him a glare, and he clenches his jaw. But at least he shuts up.

“We both knew what this was, right?” she murmurs.

“I’m not leaving you,” I repeat.

Her gaze softens, and she stares up at me from underneath her long black lashes, her hand cupping my cheek. My eyes close and I press against her, my chest feeling like it’s physically cracking in half.

Fuck this.

“In a different life, right?” she whispers.

My lids snap open.

And then she rises, her hand wrapping around the nape of my neck and dragging me down, and she presses a soft, chaste kiss to my lips.

My heart stalls out, and I free-fall because it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

She lingers for a few moments before pulling back, a sad look in her eyes.

I swallow around the knot in my throat, hating myself for what I’m about to let her do. But at the end of the day, I need to control the narrative with my father before Trent gets ahold of him. And the only way to do that…is to walk away.

For now.

My nostrils flare with my inhale, and I grit my teeth so tightly, my jaw aches.

She takes a step backward, and she looks every bit the calm, collected woman I know.

In a different life…

But in this one?

I’m bound by the Mafia and a woman I’ll never love.