Suddenly, I’m not feeling very brave; I feel stupid and scaredfor my life. Knox sees my face pale and gives me a calm, warm smile.
“No need to spiral, Candy. He won’t be a problem for much longer.” He presses his hand in the crevice of Jason’s shoulder, and his body falls limp in his arms.
SIX
CANDACE
The buzzfrom the fluorescent lights flicker above us in the cool, dark basement. It’s damp, and I can hear droplets of water leaking from the corner of the room. Knox drops Jason’s body with a hard thump. He tugs on large cable chains hanging from the ceiling and attaches them to each of Jason’s wrists, securing the locks in place.
I should feel a type of way about there being chains in here that look like they have been used on more than one occasion to string up a body. But if anything, it puts me at ease. I feel safe around Knox, which is a feeling so foreign to me, because I don’t feel safe aroundanyone.
Jason’s body sways, limp in his unconscious state. Leaning against the back wall, I watch Knox work, setting up a table with various tools and instruments. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I saunter across the room to check it out.
“What’s all of this for?” I pick up a pair of pliers and peer up at Knox.
His expression is serious as he works, not slowing for a moment as he answers. “If I told you, it would ruin all the fun we’re about to have.”
“Ar-are you going to hurt him?” My voice is soft spoken, my timidness shining through the darkness of this dimly lit basement. Knox stills and turns to face me. In two short strides, he closes the distance between us and lifts my chin so that our eyes meet.
“Sweetness, you’re going to hurt him. I’m going to kill him.” I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat, and my lips part slightly at the feel of his hand against my skin.
The intensity of this man is magnetic. I crave to be close to him, although we’ve only just met. What does that say about me? He traces his fingers up the side of my cheek and gently tucks a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.
“He will never hurt you again, you understand?” My eyes shift to the ground, embarrassed by the things he can see written on my face. He cups my chin once again and tilts it high. “That’s what we're not going to do, baby girl. You keep this chin up.” I nod and wipe away the single tear that travels down my cheek.
We both turn to Jason, watching his body slumped over, unmoving. Knox picks up a bucket of water from the table and dumps it over Jason’s head. He audibly gasps and begins to thrash around like a rabid animal.
“What the fu–WHERE THE FUCK AM I? Candace, what the fuck did you do?” His questions fire out one after the other, his panic increasing rapidly, and I’m ashamed to admit, I quite like seeing him in such disarray.
“She didn’t do anything to you, bud. I did, and that’s a fate worse than death for you, I’m afraid.” Knox pulls on the chains, tightening them so that Jason's feet are barely touching the ground. The intense strain on his arms causes him to cry out, and the sound is like music to my ears.
Jason’s eyes zero in on Knox; the snarl that overtakes his lips is ferocious and threatening. Slowly, he drags his eyes in my direction, and the hatred between us is like an electric current buzzing through the room.
“Is this some sick fucking game to you? Let me out of these chains or I’ll fucking kill you.”
His nostrils flare, and on a normal day, his words and hot temper would intimidate me into doing what he asks. But with Knox by my side, I feel brave–bold even, and ready to face the fucker head on. I take two strides into the light so he can see my face when I ask him,
“Is that what you did to Ivy?”
His eyes darken, a shade of black I didn’t know was humanly possible. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” his voice is deep and gruff; the words leaving his lips sound rehearsed and full of lies. I can feel the anger and disgust emanating from his body. “You’re nothing but an easy lay and a quick fuck. That’s the only reason why this fucker is taking any interest in you. She may look appealing on the outside, but let me tell you, she’s nothing,” he spits. “Are you gonna cry? What the fuck are you crying for? You’re pathetic.” His laugh is manic, and it shakes me to my core.
I blink back the tears that threaten to escape my eyelids, replacing them with my hatred.
“You know, for a guy strung up in a grimey basement, you sure don’t know when to shut your fucking mouth,” Knox smirks. He’s enjoying this.
“Let me out of these chains. I don’t know what fantasy you’re trying to play out here, Candace, but I can promise you it won’t end well for you.”
I swallow back more tears and turn on my heel, slamming my fist into the door, and it flies wide open. I need to get out of here. The second he’s out of those chains, he’s going to kill me. I need to leave and put as much distance between us as I can.
I stand outside the basement doors, trying to stop myself from having a panic attack before it begins. I’m so tiredof being afraid. Living your life in fear of what might happen is not really living at all.
Knox walks through the door and sees the tears cascading down my cheeks. He pulls my body into his, comforting me in a warm embrace.
“Hey, hey, stop. You don’t believe the shit that guy is saying, do you?”
I peer up at him, biting back more tears. “Jason might be wrong about a lot of things, but he’s not wrong about one. I’m nothing.” I let my eyes drift towards the main hall, where I can hear the music and laughter from some of the girls nearby.
Knox brings my eyes back to his. The warmth within them sends flecks of fire through my veins when he roams them up and down my body.
