Page 82 of Blood Ties

Knox turns to face me, too, but there’s no shock on his face. Just a bitter sort of amusement.

“What do you plan on doing with that, kiddo?” he asks, staring me down.

I point the tip at him. “Get out of the way, Knox.”

He plants his feet, tilts his head. “Or?”

I rush at him. He steps sideways, cursing as the knife catches his shoulder and slashes a red line through his shirt. Then he twists, grabbing my arm, and we grapple with the weapon. Riley screams my name, pressed back against the wall, but I’m focused on my brother.

“Put that thing down before you hurt yourself,” he says, still grinning like this is all a joke.

I spit in his face. He swears, elbows me in the stomach, and we both go crashing to the basement floor in a tangle of limbs. I’m still gripping the knife, but Knox holds my wrist, preventing me from doing anything with it. He straddles my torso, pinning me down.

“Calm the fuck down,” he says.

I jerk upward and sink my teeth into his arm. He lets out a startled yelp, recoiling, and I slam my forehead into his nose.

Then I’m the one on top, holding him down. Knife held at his throat.

I have the key in my pocket. I guess I’m doing this now, but I have to be fast, finish Knox before my dad and uncle get here.

He breathes hard, blood trickling from one nostril. Finally not smirking at me anymore. “Kai...”

I raise the knife.

Hesitate.

Lower it.

“Fuck.” I can’t do it.

Then comes a deafening bang. I jerk, tightening my grip on the knife again.

Uncle Frank disarms me with a twist of my wrist and holds me back as I struggle. Knox slowly gets to his feet, breathing hard, blood streaming from his nose. And we all turn to see Dad coming down the steps with his shotgun in his hands and his eyes full of fire.

?Chapter Forty-One