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Knox has been tied to his father like a dog on a leash, a very short one. And Dee… Dee has been missing. Three days. Landon and I assumed she had left. I finally relaxed knowing that the one thing Knox had asked me to do was finally complete. Part of me wants to move on, the other still wanting Dee more than I want air.
Then we found her bag.
Her belongings were poured out in a heap on his office floor, each item unfolded or messily tossed around. Underwear, makeup, shoes, books, and the other few belongings Dee kept here. What would Mr. Reyes want with Dee’s bag?
“Boys, eat,” Mr. Reyes says. He waves his clean, manicured hands over the food in offering. A bored yet playful smile on his blank face.
I chew on my lip, grabbing my plate and lifting it up to spoon large helpings on it. Each movement is slow, my eyes darting up to Landon then Knox. I wonder if they can feel how thick with tension the air is now.
It sinks into my muscles and makes simple movements feel rigid.
Mr. Reyes’ smile can be a dangerous thing. Something is about to happen. I can feel it like a current of electricity in the atmosphere around us. I can see it in his wicked demeanor.
With my plate full, I set it down carefully without a sound. Landon is already quietly cutting at his chicken. Sweat beads on his forehead. His nerves mirror my own. His knife squeaks across his plate, the noise shrill and painful for my teeth somehow.
Knox stares vacantly at the shining table top. His plate remains empty and he makes no move to add food to it. Leaning back in the high seat, not moving a muscle, he looks like stone.
It’s hard to savor such a fine meal when something dreadful looms over dinner.
“Oh, good. You finally got yourself cleaned up.” Mr. Reyes’ beams up toward the doorway.
I feel her presence before I see her. I sense something.
Something wrong.
Everything in me wants to whip around in my seat to look at her. To take her in my arms and check over her entirety to make sure she’s okay. But I can’t. Not in front of Knox’s dad.
Landon turns blatantly though. The oh my god he whispers under his breath only makes anxiety pound harder through my heart. I take my time to look over.
Her blonde hair hangs down over her shoulders water dripping over the green blouse she has tucked into skinny jeans. Dark brown boots cover her calves, the heels loud against the floor as she steps closer and closer.
Then stops.
Dee’s face is sunken in, dark circles under her bright eyes. Emotionless eyes.
What the fuck happened to her?
I stand slowly but when I realize the gesture, I slowly sit back down.
“Violet, please, come take a seat next to your brother,” Mr. Reyes continues.
Landon and I turn at the same time, our attention fixing on Knox.
Brother?
Knox closes his eyes, his lips tensing into a nearly invisible line. Dee pulls the chair out next to Knox, hesitating.
“I said, SIT.” Two large fists meet the table top, our plates bouncing from the movement. Mr. Reyes, sits back watching Dee stumble over her feet until she reaches the empty seat by Knox and slides into it without a word. He straightens his red silk tie and gives me and Landon a crawling smile.
“Don’t you just love that green color? I had a stylist pick her out some new clothes. Didn’t want her wearing anymore of that poor quality garbage from the mall. Plus, that green just makes her eyes really stand out. Reyes’ eyes my mother used to call them.”
His tone alone is a cutting, calculating sound.
Never have I felt my confidence waiver in such a way. An odd feeling of uncertainty. I don’t know what to do or say. My limbs feel heavy as they lay on the tabletop. Numb. My normally sure hands are shaky, fiddling around with my fork. I feel like a fucking infant learning basic coordination all over again.
Knox doesn’t move. I’m starting to think he’s pulling into himself in an attempt to meditate. Some dumb trick a counselor once taught him to control his anger.
I’ve never once seen him do it though. Until now.
