Page 117 of To All the Men I’ve Killed Before

I’m not sure how long it takes her to cut through the cable tie. It might be ten minutes, it might be an hour. Time becomes something of an abstract concept when you’re lying on your side, cable-tied on a cold, stone floor with your sister blindly stabbing near your butt with a knife. But she eventually gives a cry of triumph and I feel the tension in my wrists slacken.

I’m free.

‘Now do me,’ Antoinette says and I’m only tempted to leave her bound for a split second.

Once our hands are liberated, we cut our ankles free too.

‘That feels so good,’ Antoinette says as she stretches her arms high above her head, wiggling her fingers.

‘How often does he come and check on you?’ I ask.

‘A couple of times a day usually. To give me some water and crackers. The refreshments here are extremely mid.’

‘Okay, we need to think smart and be prepared. Here’s what we’re going to do.’

And I tell Antoinette my plan.

Because she’s right. I do always have one.

Eventually.

62

The root cellar, Cort’s abandoned cabin, Wonder Valley, California

When the door of the cellar opens after an indeterminate amount of time, we are ready. Antoinette and I have positioned ourselves like we’re still tied up.

The plan – if it can even be called that – is actually very simple.

Ambush.

I’m pretty sure the pair of us can take him down. Especially when one of us has a knife and we also have the element of surprise.

The footsteps sound heavy.

‘Cort,’ I mouth to my sister.

She nods.

And then Cort slides into view. He’s wearing a pair of track pants, a white T-shirt and his bun looks like it’s been freshly styled.

It takes all my self-control not to launch myself at him right away.

‘Ladies,’ he says. ‘I hope you’re enjoying your stay?’ I notice that he’s carrying two pale green Stanley cups, one in each hand. ‘I’ve brought you some refreshments.’

‘We didn’t order anything,’ Antoinette snarls.

Cort shoots me a look. ‘I hope you’re going to be a better guest than your sister. She’s been nothing but a giant pain in the ass.’

I give him a sweet smile.

‘You drink some first,’ Antoinette says to him.

Cort rolls his eyes. ‘Do we have to go through this every time I bring you water? I told you already. Why would I bother drugging you when you’re already tied up in the cellar?’ He gives Antoinette a little smile and takes a sip out of each of the cups. ‘Happy now?’

‘Just delighted,’ she says.

Cort gives me a look like he’s saying what is she like? Then he squats down to place the drinks in front of us. And that’s when we strike. Antoinette leaps up and claws at his face while I use my new signature move and bring my foot up to his crotch. He yowls and falls to the floor, not knowing whether to clutch his face or scrotum. I immediately straddle him, holding the knife to his throat.