Page 64 of Blood Ties

?Chapter Thirty-Two

Kai

“Hey... uh...” I glancethrough the doorway in the direction Knox went, and then back at the strangers. They’re both looking at me, smiling slightly. Both pretty, a little older than Riley. They’re stopping in town for a cross-country road trip; exactly the type of target my family prefers. They met Knox at the bar and he brought them here.

I’ve seen this before. I’ve never stepped in. But I think of Riley and bolster my courage.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, lowering my voice.

Their smiles turn puzzled.

“What?” the blonde asks. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you should leave,” I say. “Now.”

The brunette woman laughs awkwardly, like she thinks I’ve made a bad joke. But the blonde’s gaze stays on me, searching.

“Shut up,” she tells her friend. “He’s being serious.”

I nod. I can’t seem to find the right words, they’re all jumbled in my head, but she’s listening. “My brother,” I say. Then I pause, fumbling for something to say. Something that will make them leave, quickly and quietly, butnotpush them into calling the police.

If the police come, we’re all fucked. Me, Dad, Knox, Frank, we’ll all end up behind bars. Momma will be left all alone.

I’ll never see Riley again.

“Knox is... he’s not...”

Both women lean forward, listening intently. And Iknowif I can just figure out the right thing to say, this will all be fine.

My mouth hangs open as I think. The silence is thick, complete enough that I hear the creak of Knox opening the bathroom door, heading back this way.

And then the silence is broken by a scream.

It’s muffled by the floor between us, but— not muffled enough. It’s obviously a scream. A woman’s scream.Riley’sscream.

My heart stutters.No.

“The TV—” I scramble to say. But I’m too slow, and the women too on edge after my half-assed warning.

They panic.