Page 63 of Blood Ties

I look at Kai. He’s gone paler than normal, and his eyes are wide as they slide to meet mine. He scrambles to his feet.

“What’s going on?” I ask. “Who is that?”

I reach for him, but he steps away. “Nobody,” he says. “I mean, probably some locals.”

He won’t look at me. He’s lying.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Um. I’m just gonna go see what’s going on.” His gaze is still avoiding mine, but no longer darting around. I follow it to see he’s looking at the rag I usually use to clean myself. “Riley,” he says. “I’m supposed to... Youhaveto stay quiet...”

My stomach sinks as I realize what he’s thinking. “Please don’t.”

He looks at me, guilt written all over his expression. “You can’t make a sound while there are people here.”

“Please,” I say again. “Kai, you can’t.” I stare up at him. “I promise I’ll be quiet. You don’t have to gag me. You... you can trust me. You know that.”

He hesitates. I stay on my knees, staring up at him, hoping I look properly innocent. After a moment, he swears under his breath and nods.

“Okay,” he says. “Just... yeah. Quiet.” He backs toward the staircase, his eyes finally finding mine. “Seriously, Riley. It’s important.”

I only let out the breath I’m holding when the door shuts behind him. My heart is pounding in my chest. It echoes in my ears, making it hard to listen to what’s going on out there. I close my eyes and focus on the sound of Kai’s footsteps creaking overhead as he approaches the others.

They’re in the kitchen. Right above me. I can hear Kai mumble something, then Knox shooting back a retort that makes the girls laugh.

How old are they, I wonder? My age? Younger?

And IknowKai is lying. Those aren’t locals. Those are out-of-towners, like me and my friends were. They’re prey.

What is Knox going to do to them?

My stomach sinks. I know what he likes to do to girls. And I... I’m one of the lucky ones, as much as I hate to think that way. I survived. My friends didn’t. These girls probably won’t, either.

I want to believe that Kai will stop whatever Knox has planned, but I know that’s wishful thinking. He didn’t raise a finger to stop my friends from being slaughtered. He may be keeping his brother at bay now, but he’s also keeping me trapped here.

My anxiety winds tighter as I strain to listen to their conversation. Kai has gone quiet. Knox is still chatting away with the women. They seem calm. They have no idea what’s coming for them.

Am I really going to sit here in silence and let it happen?

My eyes dart to the gag, and I lick my lips. If I can hear them up above, they can probably hear me, too.

I open my mouth.

Knox might kill me for this. It’s safer to stay quiet.

I snap it shut. Then the guilt hits me like a fist to the stomach, bringing tears to my eyes. What the fuck is wrong with me? How could I think that even for a second?

No. I don’t care what happens to me. I have to try to save those girls. To at least give them a fighting chance.

And my moment of hesitation has presented a better opportunity. Knox’s heavy boots stomp away from the kitchen. Across the house. A door shuts. He’s going to the bathroom, maybe. Or grabbing a weapon.

Either way, it’s now or never.

I take a deep breath, and scream at the top of my lungs.