Page 48 of Snake

Nim

There’s a plate of fries in front of me, and I’ve gone and drowned them in ketchup, but you’d swear I was on a hunger strike the way I’m picking at my food. I guess when you’ve been satisfied the way I just have, mortal urges like hunger and thirst no longer hold the same weight as before.

The guys have been quiet ever since they walked me back from the courtyard. I think they’re too scared to say something, in case it breaks the bubble we’re trapped in.

But screw it, I’m curious about these men who’ve broken down every defense I could put up.

“So Mason said you have two sisters?” I say to Knox, hoping it won’t trigger thoughts of the abuse his family suffered at the hands of Lorenzo. But I guess he’s had a lot of time to pretend that everything at home was normal, because he doesn’t seem in the least upset by the question.

He nods, glances at my hair. “What, you think I’m just naturally good at throwing together a braid?”

I laugh, but I cut off the sound too quickly when no one joins in. “Brothers?”

Knox shakes his head. “That’s Silas’s department.”

I glance over at Silas, and he gives me a wary look over his steaming cup before shrugging reluctantly. “Three of them.”

“Holy crap. You guys have big families out here.”

“Brand defense,” Knox says. “Although some families are opting for smaller broods these days.”

“I got one of each,” Mason says. “Little brother and a little sister.”

“You’re an only child, right?” Knox asks.

“Yeah. Guess I was a handful.” Shrugging, I chew on a fry as I study the Serpents. “So why a machete?”

“Why not?” Knox mutters, and then gets to his feet as if eager to end this conversation. “We should be going.”

My body tightens, and a flash of anger twists my mouth. “Hey, you don’t get to choose which secrets you offload on me,” I say, and hurriedly lower my voice. We’re at the Serpents’ usual bench, and there are more than a few eyes locked on us. Probably because Knox hasn’t bothered to dye his hair back to its normal color yet. Possibly because we’re all a little flustered from our romp in the courtyard.

Knox’s grimace makes me think that he’s already regretting telling me about Lorenzo. So then why did they? But maybe he’s used to keeping everything bottled inside, because when he throws a look over at Mason, then Silas, his shoulders sag. “He used to threaten the girls and me with it. Only right it’s what killed him.”

“But why all three?” I know I’ve asked before, but Silas and Mason weren’t just helping a buddy out back there in the woods. There was something like vengeance on their faces…and it was personal.

Mason tugs down the collar of his shirt, pointing at his chest with a finger on the same hand. “I owed him. He broke my fucking collarbone.”

I frown. “How? When?”

Mason looks down. “When I tried to interfere. I thought if someone stood up to him, then he’d have to back down. But he was used to dealing with people who got in his way. He punched me so hard I broke a collarbone. Had to tell my parents I got it during football practice. I couldn’t play for ten weeks.”

“That’s what he did,” Silas says. “If you fought him, he’d come back swinging even harder.”

“Sounds familiar,” I mumble into my plate of fries. I yelp when Knox grabs my chin and wrenches my head to face him.

“Don’t you ever compare us to him,” he snaps. I’m used to his calm face, to his even tone…not this.

I wait for him to let go, before slowly pushing away my plate.

The thing that always used to scare me about Knox was how calm he was about everything. Like he’d considered every plausible conclusion to every event, thought, or action.

I realize now it’s a mask, hiding his pain and uncertainty.

“Enough,” I murmur calmly. “I know you’re strong.” I take my time, looking at each of them making sure they lock eyes with me, so they know I mean business. “I know you’re fast. And you’re clever, too. But I won’t stand idly by while you treat me like shit.”

They’re all three watching me now, eyes unblinking, chests frozen. Three snakes waiting for the right moment to strike.

“You didn’t, when Lorenzo treated you like garbage,” I tell Knox. “So why should I?”

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