Page 145 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

“She mentioned things,” I say. “Enough to piss me off.”

“Good.” He nods. “That’s how you’resupposedto react. Someone you care about tells you they grew up in a commune, getting holy water dumped on them after their father put out cigarettes on their back, you get mad.”

My stomach turns. “They did that to her?”

“No. That was me.” He exhales. “Her, it was more psychological. Emotional torment. See, they didn’t want to damage the goods, not before they could gift her to somefamily friend.That exchange was scheduled for about three days after we got her out, by the way. Hence the urgency in that.”

I clench my jaw.

“Anyway, the point is… Anger. Hatred. Distrust. That’s what sticks with you after that kind of life. It forever taints the world around you. At least it did for me.” He shakes his head. “But not Katrina. Despite everything she and I went through, she still sees good in people. She’s bright. Hopeful. Annoyingly optimistic. All summer long—even while you were popping our tires and spying on us—she kept saying maybe it’s not what it looks like. Maybe… The Electrics aren’t so bad.”

He gives me a sharp, sideways look.

“So tell me, Logan,” he says, “what does my sister see in you I don’t?” He stares at me while I stay silent. “That’s the important question, by the way. Took a while to get there, but I’m feeling my feelings right now, so just go with it.”

“I don’t know,” I answer, honest.

He glares.

“I don’t know, Knox,” I repeat. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. Everything I’ve done was for my band. To give those girls a better life without…” I stop. That part isn’t his business. “I care about Katrina. But I had to choose.”

“Choose?”

“If someone put a gun to your head and told you you could be with Harmony, but being with her meant sending Katrina back to that hellhole you came from, who would you choose? Your girl or your sister?” I ask, staring hard at him. “Let’s call thatmyimportant question.”

Knox snorts. “Easy. I’d choose both.”

“You can’t have both.”

“Sure I can. I’m Knox fucking Benton. I don’t compromise. I’d fight like hell for both of them and I wouldn’t stop until they were safe and happy.”

I rise off the couch. “Well, I’m glad Katrina has you, then. I’m not so bold.”

“Boldness has nothing to do with it,” Knox says, settling in like he owns the place. “But I’ll bite. Who did you choose over my sister?”

I swallow. “It’s not important.”

“Sure as shit was important enough yesterday.”

“Yeah, well. It’s over now. Doesn’t matter why I did what I did. I still did it.”

“Was it Monroe?”

I freeze.

Knox smiles. “Man, you’ve really got to work on that poker face if you’re gonna hang out in Vegas.” He leans forward, smug. “You know, after what we did to him, I figured he’d come for payback eventually. Thought he’d come to me, though.”

“Guess I was just lucky.”

“What’s the guy have on you?”

“He doesn’t—” I hesitate, his eyes hard and insistent. “Not me. Tesla.”

“That the blue-haired one?” he asks.

“Yes.” I sigh. “The blue-haired one.”

“What’d she do?”

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