Page 87 of Blood Ties
I choke down a few mouthfuls of soup. Then black creeps into the edges of my vision again. In the seconds before unconsciousness takes me, I feel Knox’s hand in the pocket of my jeans, rummaging.
No,I think.The key...
But I’m too tired to even lift my head. I’m gone again, sinking into darkness.
*
WHEN I WAKE UP AGAIN, wincing at the light streaming through the window, there’s a jug of water and some food on the floor in front of me. I slowly, painfully, drag myself up to a seated position. I’m tempted to throw the meal, to break the plate and rage. But I need my strength if I have any hope of escaping with Riley, and so does Momma. I feed her and then myself, choking it down even though I have no appetite.
The door is still locked. There is nothing to do but limp back and forth in the cramped room and torture myself with my thoughts. Will they hurt Riley? Will they kill her? Maybe they already have. I press my ear to the door and strain to listen. The house is quiet, but the basement is so far away. Anything could be happening down there in the dark. Knox could be there right now.
I must pass out again, because I wake to the sound of the door opening. It’s Knox, pressing a finger to his lips as he sets down more food and water. It’s dark outside the window, and the house is silent. Sleeping.
I could fight him, or scream, probably get him in trouble with Dad. But trouble isn’t enough to punish him for what he did. I need to bide my time.
“You alright?” Knox asks, as if everything is still the same.
I stare up at him from the floor, fists clenching on my lap. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
He rolls his eyes. “Oh, get over it. I didn’t do anything that you didn’t do yourself.”
I falter. It’s just for a second, but I know he sees it. He always senses weakness. “That’s not true.”
“No?” He grins, though it’s grim and humorless.
“I had to,” I say. “Dad would’ve shot me.”
“He ordered me to do it too. You think I would’ve gotten off any easier?”
“But...” I shake my head, uncertainty worming its way through the anger that’s been simmering in my chest.
“You think Ilikedfucking a girl in front of my family? Christ, kiddo. I’m notthatkind of messed up.”
“You sure seemed like you didn’t mind,” I grit out.
“I don’t remember you protesting too much, either.”
“She told me to!” The argument sounds weak even to my own ears. Fucking pathetic.
He laughs. “As if she had any choice,” he says. “She knew you couldn’t get it up unless she pretended to like it.”
Pretended? That cold uncertainty spreads through me. It’s hard to remember now when my brain has tried to black it out for the sake of my own sanity. Was Riley pretending the whole time?
Of course she was. It was stupid to think otherwise. Did I think shereallyenjoyed my fumbling first time in front of my family?
Knox laughs again at the look on my face. “Trust me,” he says, “I know when a girl is faking.”
I sit frozen, stomach churning.
He sighs and leans forward, grasping the back of my head. “When are you gonna admit it, kiddo?” he murmurs. “We’re more alike than you think.” He smirks. “Even got the same taste in girls. Blood brothersandEskimo brothers now, ain’t we?”
I shove him off of me and glance sideways at Momma on the bed. She’s as still and silent as always, her gaze distant, but I hate the thought that any part of her might hear this, any of it. I’m sick to my stomach at the thought.
Knox follows my gaze, and the humor drains from his face, along with the color. He looks shaken. Like he had forgotten Momma was here at all.
“Man, fuck this,” he mutters, the slightest tremble in his voice. Then he pulls me in again and kisses my forehead quicker than I can yank out of his grip. “I’m gonna talk to Dad and get you out of here. Just hang tight, kiddo, it’s gonna be alright.”
