Hexed (Never After #6)

52. Venesa

FIFTY-TWO

VENESA

“What would you do if I ever got kidnapped?”

It’s a question I don’t ask Bastien lightly, but it’s something I’m curious about, because Aria’s been gone for less than fourteen hours, and although Uncle T can tell where she is from all the GPS trackers he installed in everything she owns, he’s convinced someone took her in order to get to him.

It’s…very annoying.

The way Uncle T is acting completely unhinged at the thought of someone touching his precious daughter has me realizing even the greatest of men have their weaknesses.

And it’s usually a woman behind their downfall.

Also, it stings seeing him get so emotional over her when I can’t imagine anyone ever being that way for me.

But that’s the way life deals my cards, I guess.

Bastien shrugs. “I’d pray you had finally learned how to be more aware of your surroundings and that you had your gun.”

I snort, because he’s always going on about that. I hate guns. They’re so…pedestrian.

“He needs to get it together, or else everyone will realize they can use Aria against him,” I mutter.

Bas gives me an exasperated look while Uncle T stomps back and forth in his office, flinging random things around like he’s a child having a tantrum.

“Where would you take someone if you were going to kidnap them?” I continue my line of questioning, mainly because I’m curious but also because I’m bored with watching Uncle T lose it.

We all know Aria ran away. She’s been desperate to leave since forever, and the fact she’s in New York, the place she had plastered all over her walls for years? Speaks for itself.

But Uncle T isn’t big on logic right now, apparently.

Whatever. I’m in a great mood because ding, dong, the bitch is gone. Fisher seems sad, though.

“I don’t know,” Bastien replies.

I loll my head back and give him a smirk. “Now, I don’t believe that for a second. You’ve always got a plan for everything. Come on, Bas, it’s me.”

He sighs, crossing his arms and looking over at me. “I have a cabin I’d probably take them to.”

“You have a cabin?” My mouth drops open.

“Yeah, so?”

“Rude. I can’t believe you haven’t taken me there.”

“You should be happy I haven’t, since that’s where I’d take my victims.”

“I guess.” I sink back in my seat. “Well, I want to see it anyway. Where is it?”

“I’ll take you.” He looks at Uncle T again, who isn’t paying us any mind because he’s currently screaming in a housekeeper’s face. “But you have to promise it stays between us.”

I reach out my little finger. “Pinky swear.”

It’s funny how moments that seem inconsequential turn out to be the things that save you in the end.

It’s because of that seemingly inconsequential moment and Bastien’s mouthed word earlier that I know exactly where he went with Aria.

Three hours inland and in the middle of a forest sits an unsuspecting cabin registered to a John Doe. It has no neighbors for miles, and it’s so densely covered with trees that cell signals don’t even get picked up.

“This is fucked,” Enzo states, Fisher’s car, which we jacked, bumping this way and that as we wind up a narrow, unpaved drive.

“Yeah, well, what about our situation isn’t fucked right now?”

He grins over at me. “When we’re done with this, I’m going to fuck you .”

A laugh breaks out of me. “You’re so romantic.”

“We haven’t had our makeup sex.” He pouts. “I’m still pissed. I plan to take it out on every part of your body.”

Arousal shoots through me at the thought. “Promise?”

“Guaranteed.” He side-eyes me, then looks back out at the road. “So what’s the plan when we get there?”

I look over at him with an arched brow. “You mean you don’t have one?”

“This is your show, baby. I’m just along for the ride.”

I frown. “What about your father?”

The lighthearted moment dissipates at my question, and his face drops into a scowl. “He’s been handled. It’s over.”

“I’m sorry.” I’m not. Not really, but I am sorry he had to be the one to do it.

“He had to die anyway. It was the only way.”

“Fisher told him I was with you. He only knew because of me, because I said things to Fisher I shouldn’t have.”

His brows lift, and he nods. “Then I’m really not sorry I killed him because it’s his fault you were in danger.”

A pang of hurt punches my chest. Even though Fisher betrayed me, even though he chose Aria over me, I’m still sad he’s gone.

“Also,” I say, “you should know it was your bitch assistant, Jessica, who actually kidnapped me, so if you haven’t killed her yet, I’d appreciate you letting me have the honor.”

His fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “Jessica?”

I shrug. “Yeah. Your dad had her under his thumb, I guess.”

“Noted.” His jaw clenches.

And then he laughs at me.

I cut him a glare. “What’s so funny?”

He lifts a shoulder. “I’m just… Jessica bested you? Baby, you’ve gotta get better at paying attention to your surroundings.”

Irritation slithers up my spine and wraps around my middle. I am going to kill her extra hard just for that.

Enzo puts the car in Park when we pull up to the cabin, turning the engine off and letting the world go quiet. We sit for a few minutes, and he reaches over, grabbing my hand in his and squeezing. “You ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We get out of the car and make our way to the door. It’s unlocked, so we walk inside, and even though I’ve only been here once after begging Bastien to bring me, I vaguely remember the layout. Not that it matters because even if I didn’t, Bastien’s easy to find.

He’s in the kitchen by himself, demolishing a sandwich, the Kingston family painting propped up in front of him on the square table. He gives us both a chin jerk when we walk into the room. “Oh good, you’re alive,” he says after he chews.

“Was there ever any doubt?” I grin at him.

“And Fisher?”

Another shot to the heart. I shake my head, my fingers aching to pick at each other.

He grunts and gives me a knowing look. “He would have let you die, V. You don’t have to feel bad for how things went down.”

“Doesn’t change what he was to me for years. He was a good friend.”

“Until he wasn’t,” Bas replies.

“Yeah, I guess.” I brush off the heavy feeling, looking around. “Where’s Aria?”

He points to the hallway, a piece of turkey falling from his sandwich. “In the back room, locked in.”

“Is she hurt?” I ask, peering down the dimly lit hall.

He shakes his head. “Nah, I didn’t know what you wanted to do with her.”

“I want to use her to lure out my uncle, of course.”

Enzo looks between us. “You think that will work?”

“I know it will.”

The words come out confident, but honestly, I’m not sure. I’m basing it entirely off the fact my uncle has always gone batshit if anything threatens Aria’s safety, and I’m hoping that still rings true.

The only thing I’m not as sure about is what he’ll give up in order to save her.

What’s more important to a man like my uncle: his daughter or his power?

The atmosphere in the cabin is heavy, and I walk up to the painting, chewing on my lip when I stand in front of it. I flick my gaze to Bas. “Were you serious? About the documents being here?”

He nods and gestures toward it. “See for yourself.”

After walking forward, I pick up the painting and flip it around, noticing there’s already a thin line splitting open the backing paper. I reach in and pull out two thick envelopes.

I snap my head up to Bastien. “Why are there two?”

“The first is your momma’s will—not anything fancy, just a scribbled piece of paper, but still. And then, your grandpa’s. Where he states emphatically everything belongs to his daughter and then is to be passed down to you.”

“I don’t understand,” Enzo chimes in. “Why would Trent keep those instead of destroying them?”

Bastien takes another bite of his sandwich, a knowing smile gracing his face. “Trent never knew. He used the MC to bribe everyone who knew of their existence and thought he burned all the copies, starting with the ones in the house when he killed his dad.” His eyes flick to me. “But when he gave me the painting to prepare for the engagement party, I found these hidden in the back. Figured it was best to just let them be. Trent doesn’t need to know everything.”

I nod, pulling out the papers and reading over the fine print, my hands shaking when I realize Bastien isn’t lying. He never was.

Uncle T stole the Kingston empire out from under my momma.

That’s why he killed her.

And that’s why I’m going to kill him.

I place down the documents and then spin around to look at Enzo, hating what I’m about to tell him. “I need you to do something for me.”

He quirks a brow but walks toward me, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Anything, piccola sirena.”

“I need you to pretend that you love Aria.”

He jerks back, shaking his head. “Fuck that.”

My arms come up to rest on his biceps. “She’s obsessed with you, Enzo. And if she thinks you’ll take her back, that you two will ride off into the sunset forever, then she’ll do what we want. Otherwise…none of this will work.”

He sighs, tugging on the roots of his hair. “How?”

“Tell her you love her. Convince her that working with me is the best chance for you two to be together.” I swallow over the thick lump in my throat because saying this out loud is making me sick to my stomach. I don’t want him to do this, but it’s the best chance we have. “Do whatever it takes.”

His chin stiffens, and he nods, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my lips.

“I’m doing this for us,” he tells me. “So we can finish this and I can love you out loud. In this life.”

Emotion swells in my sternum, and I nod, kissing him once more, and then I back away and watch him walk down the hallway to play the role and convince the princess she’s won her prince.