He makes it easier to elaborate. To be myself.
“You saved me back there, in the farmhouse. You also kidnapped me.”
His pulse quickens. His neck tendons pull taut.
“We…we’ve hardly had a chance to have an actual conversation,” I whisper, not accusing, not shouting. I’m trying too, for both of us. “And after everything that’s happened, here I am. In your arms. Willingly. Trusting you. Liking it, being at your mercy. Which is reckless.”
That gives him pause. His chest expands, and a line forms between his eyebrows.
Knox, once again, is figuring out how to talk to me. To communicate with me.
In his silence, Knox is screaming.
I care. I love you.
My eyes, they water. Goosebumps prickle across my naked skin. It’s a wildfire of sensations, of feelings too deep to name.
We stare into each other’s eyes for what feels like hours.
He doesn’t flinch or stop thinking, thinking, thinking.
When he opens his mouth, I hold my breath.
“I told you I don’t want to kill my family unless I have to.” Each word is weighted. “That we’re different. But I didn’t explain. Didn’t say anything other than they weren’t like Bronwyn. I’m finally ready to really open up. For you.”
“Are you serious?” I expected honesty, but not this fast. Not so easily. My pulse punches hard against the inside of my throat. Hope tastes sweet on my tongue. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Despite the three layers of blankets Knox stacked as a makeshift bed, the cement floor is still hard beneath us. Knox’s gaze is as soft as it’ll ever be. I think. “I was always going to tell you anyway. But since you need it, I’m going to do it sooner rather than later.”
“Well, I already know they’re bastards.” The rude outburst slips unannounced. I slap a hand over my mouth.
Knox pries it off. Gently.
“That’s okay, Skylar. They could’ve been better, I know. But I don’t hate them. They’re my family.”
“Could’ve been better is an understatement.” My brow furrows. “They’re mean to you. I hate that.”
“They’re notbad. Only Jett.” He huffs, and my heart twitches. Being bullied by your sibling hits way too close to home. “And I can’t take him out. He’s the one who’ll be taking care of the family after I’m gone. They don’t have anyone else as capable as he is. It’ll be years before Reese can take my place.”
Minutes pass as he considers how to continue his story. Meanwhile, Easton’s skin sheds hair, protein, and other substances in the liming barrel.
“Colbert, the town, the business, there’s nothing nice about it.” He looks over his shoulder at the barrels. When he’s back to staring at me, I flush at his attention. “That’s all we’ve got. We’re born into this, we grow into this, we die surrounded by this. Things have changed over the years, but our bloodline remains pretty much the same. Death and leather.”
The photos from the exhibit flash before my eyes. Horror clutches at my throat. My lungs.
“Shh.” As if sensing my distress, he rubs my temple in a circular motion with his thumb while he uses his leg to pull me into him.
“Where are the rest of the townsfolk?” I whisper, even though I already know.
“Purses. Jackets. Belts.” His hand drifts down, lower, wrapping gently around my throat. His grip is both possessive and comforting. “Shoes, I guess.”
Facing another layer of the cold truth hurts more than I thought it would.
Then again, this town doesn’t define him. Violence might be in Knox’s DNA, but he’s already evolved past it. He’s getting out of here because he’s done.
“The cows and goats were first to go when Grandpa’s parents died,” he continues.
“Oh God.” My stomach churns. The memory of the older man tricking me sends a chill up my spine.
