Page 23 of Blood Ties
I climb the stairs to the second floor and walk right into my brother.
Knox stumbles, shoves me in automatic retaliation. “Watch it, dumbass,” he says. Then he catches a look at my face, and stills. He grabs my arm before I can try to sidle past him. “What are you doin’?”
I try to yank my arm out of his grip, but he refuses to let me go. “Nothing.”
“Hm.” He studies my face. Try as I might, he somehow always fucking knows what I’m thinking. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about killing myself, and not the first time he’s stopped me, either. After a moment, he throws an arm around my shoulders, squeezes harder than necessary. “Didn’t you just get done visiting your new plaything? Why so glum? You kill her already?”
“No,” I snap. “Leave it alone, Knox.”
“You fuck her yet?”
“None of your goddamn business.”
“That’s a no.” He grins, wolfish. “Well if you ain’t gonna put her to use, I will.” He lets me go and ambles down the stairs.
Panic jolts through me. I hesitate for a moment, considering getting the gun and finishing what I set out to finish. Then I swear and rush after my brother. “Don’t!”
He heads right for the basement door. By the time I follow, he’s standing in front of Riley, arms folded over his chest as he scrutinizes the untouched water and food sitting on the floor.
“Leave her alone,” I say, advancing on him with my hands clenched into fists. He lowers himself to a crouch in front of Riley, ignoring me.
“Didn’t take you for a weakling,” Knox says. “Giving up so easy?”
She stares at nothing, her head lolling back against the wall.
“Can’t have that,” Knox says. “I can always get another girl, but my brother likes you. And he doesn’t like anyone.” He picks up the bottle of water. Before I can intervene, he grabs Riley’s face with his other hand, squeezing to force her mouth open. He shoves her head back and pours water into her mouth. She sputters, trying to twist away, but his hand holds her steady.
“Drink it down like a good girl,” he says.
She spits in his face. I tense, expecting him to hit back, but he only laughs and licks the water off of his lips.
“I saiddrink,” he says. He leans forward, pours more water between her lips, and then clamps a hand over her mouth. She struggles weakly, slapping his chest, but after a few moments she’s forced to swallow. He pulls back as she chokes and coughs, and looks over his shoulder at me, where I stand frozen.
“That’s how it’s done, kiddo,” he says. “You want a turn?”
I refuse to respond. Shame is hot in my gut, even worse than earlier. I could’ve stopped him — but as usual, I didn’t. I try to tell myself it’s only because he’s keeping her alive.
Smirking, Knox turns back to Riley. She’s sitting up now, glaring at him. I’m relieved to see some of the fire back in her eyes.
Knox picks up the ham sandwich I brought her for breakfast. “You gonna eat on your own, or do I need to force this down your throat, too? ‘Cause I will.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she grabs the sandwich and takes a bite. Then another, and another, the hunger seeming to overtake her the moment her resolve crumbles. Knox chuckles, wipes his hands on his pants, and straightens up.
He clasps me on the shoulder as he walks by. “You’re welcome,” he says.
