Kai and pressed my palm against his chest, noting that his heart was racing at my touch. “I’ll be fine. Be right back.” It was better to just go along with whatever Lex wanted so we could hurry up and leave. Besides, I was feeling slightly brave. I wanted to know more about Violet’s role here. It was obvious she wasn’t liked, but why?
I slowly got up, and Kai’s hands lingered on my hips until I stepped away. “Five minutes,” Kai growled.
“Whatever, asshole. No use being possessive for some pussy,” Lex replied with a laugh while leading me toward the house, and the second we were back inside, a creeping sense of claustrophobia made me wince. “You like apple pie, Breeze?”
“Yep,” I replied with a swallow.
“Me too. I like to top mine with some ice cream. Kai and I used to make homemade ice cream with our Ma. She was the best.”
Curiosity got the best of me. “Was?”
“She died when I was ten. Kai was only seven. Dad was an angry man, ya know?” Lex winked, as if talking about his mother’s death was some sort of inside joke. I didn’t understand it. “Death makes you reckless. You see, I was real mad at my old man when Ma died.” Lex sifted through the kitchen as I listened. My heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I wanted revenge for her death. So I waited until my dad was good and drunk.” Lex pulled a large knife out of a drawer that was hanging open and showed it to me. I took a step backward, making him smile. “But Dad had a knife on him. Never left home without his switchblade.”
Lex stalked closer to me, flipping the knife in his hand haphazardly. I pressed my back against the wall of the trailer, swallowing a scream when a roach climbed down the wall to my left. Lex continued to move closer and closer. “I tried to attack him, but he was too fast. Too quick with his blade. You know what I learned that night, Breeze?”
“What?” I choked out. I wanted to get away from him. Where was Kai?
“Let the dead be. Nothing good comes from revenge, Breeze. My own father sliced his blade across my cheek. And then two years later, he drowned. Such a sad accident.”
I stared at the ugly scar on his face with part pity, part fear. It didn’t take a genius to understand his threat. Lex didn’t want me searching for answers. I locked my knees as Lex positioned himself just inches from me. He used the tip of the blade and dragged it across my cheek, mimicking the exact spot where he was cut. The light but sharp touch made me hold my breath. I squeezed my eyes shut as he continued to speak. “You understand, Breeze? You have such a pretty face. I used to have a pretty face, too.”
Lex pulled away and focused his attention back on the pies. He took one out of the box and started slicing it with unnecessary force. “I like mine warmed up. Whadya think, Breeze, want yours warm too?” he asked casually, like he hadn’t just threatened me.
“Yep,” I managed to squeak out. I didn’t want pie, and I didn’t want to be in this kitchen for another second, but my survival instincts rooted me to the floor. I didn’t want to do anything that Lex might think is disrespectful.
“So, you and Violet weren’t all that close after all? I could have sworn you said she was your best friend,” Lex asked, sussing me out. “Did she ever talk about us? She used to love coming here,” Lex sneered. He put the pie in the microwave and turned to face me, waiting for my answer.
I hesitated and then went with my gut and lied, “No, we were best friends when we were little. But not so much anymore. She never mentioned coming out here.”
Lex looked me over from head to toe, making no effort to hide his gaze lingering at the skin where my shorts stopped. His eyes on my body made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t look away. Didn’t give him any kind of reaction. The microwave dinged, and I hoped my face didn’t betray me by revealing my relief.
“Kai upgraded, if you ask me.” Lex smirked. “Violet was too much work. Well, if you’re sure she never said anything about us, then I guess we don’t have anything left