Page 9 of Possessed By Knox
“The people she’s been spending her time with. The places she’s been to?”
It’s at the tip of my tongue to say no. What does it matter anyway, seeing as I’ll be taking her away with me soon? “It doesn’t matter…”
“Humor me,” he says, shifting his hand to take mine. “I have several errands to run, why don’t I show you what this club is all about?”
I start to argue, but I barely get the words out before I’m being dragged down the hallway and to the bank of elevators. “Knox!”
“That’s the first time you’ve called out my name,” he says with a smirk, pulling me into the elevator when it opens. “I like it.”
“Look—”
“Have you ridden a motorcycle before?”
“I don’t…a motorcycle?” My eyes widen when his question registers. “You want me to get on a motorcycle? That’s insane!”
“Something tells me you’ll like it,” he says, dragging me out when the elevator doors open. “I can’t wait to see Miss Prim and Proper loosen up a bit.”
Miss Prim…
I blanch at the insult, and I’m about to say something scathing when I see where he’s brought me. It’s an underground lot, but instead of cars, there are rows and rows of motorcycles, gleaming chrome and paint that shimmers under the cold glow of fluorescent lights.
Silence hangs in the air, a stark contrast to the chaos I imagined would exist in such a place. I catch the sharp tang of fresh oil with a bit of exhaust fumes as we walk deeper into the lot, but other than that, the place smells as it looks—clean.
“Wow.” The word slips out. I didn’t mean to say that out loud, but it’s hard not to be impressed. I don’t know the first thing about motorcycles, but I can tell these are not the kind you find in a casual showroom. Goodness, there must bedozens of bikes in here[KB14]. I imagine there are just as many bikers in the building.
I run my eyes everywhere, trying to take in everything at once as Knox guides me deeper into the labyrinth, and I don’t pull my gaze away until he stops in front of a monster of a bike. It’s a sleek black silhouette with chrome accents gleaming like polished silver in the dim light. It suits him. It’s big, slick, charming, and attractive, just like its owner. And just like its owner, I’m tempted to climb on and see how it feels, but…
“I’m not going.”
Knox straddles the motorcycle and starts the engine. The deep rumbling of a caged beast sends my heart racing with excitement, but I stand firm. He turns, his gaze locking on mine. “Scared?”
“Of course not,” I breathe. Something about the smirk playing on his lips works to fan the fire he left burning in meearlier. I need his eyes to look somewhere else. At anything but me, because I can’t stand it anymore. “I’m not scared. I just don’t want to go anywhere with you. I don’t want to get arrested.”
“There are no cops where we’re going. All we need is a shovel and a secluded area to bury the body.”He’s joking. He has to be. [KB15]I glance at him, and I’m relieved to see the spark of humor in his eyes that tells me I’m right. “Come now, little bird. I promise not to do anything illegal while you’re in my care.”
Somehow, I doubt that, but the soft purr of his bike calls to me. I hesitate for a second, my eyes flitting between the gleaming machine and the man’s face. Before I can make the choice, he takes my hand and pulls me forward, slipping a helmet over my head before I can react. He leans in to fasten the strap and his fingers brush against my cheek, a fleeting touch that sends a jolt of electricity shooting through me. I look away when he lifts his eyes to mine, unwilling to let him read the conflicting emotions playing in my mind.
“I’ll go,” I say when he finally pulls back. “But just for a little while.”
“You won’t regret it.”
I grab his shoulder to anchor myself as I swing my leg over the seat and settle behind him. His hand reaches back and finds mine before bringing it around his waist.
“Hold on tight, little bird,” he says, chuckling when I hiss into his back. “Fuck, it’s so easy to ruffle your feathers.” I choose to ignore him, and I get rewarded with a deep chuckle. “Here we go.”
The engine roars and vibrates through me in the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever experienced. I hug him close, loving the feel of his muscles under my fingertips as we surge forward, and soon the world blurs into a rush of color and sensations. I realize, with surprise, that I like looking at the city this way,feeling it rush past me, the wind whipping through my hair as we speed away.
***
“What is this?”
I blink at the building, a towering structure with an aged brick facade exuding an unexpected warmth. Its clean lines and neutral tones blend seamlessly with the cityscape. Large windows reflect the urban sprawl and offer very little insight into what happens inside. My eyes trail over the ivy climbing the walls, softening the sharp angles and adding a touch of serenity. There are flowers too, hanging baskets overflowing with colorful flowers positioned at the entrance.
I stare up at the polished wooden door and the words written there.
Haven House.
“This is where your sister lived for nearly a month.”
