HAPTER004TortureDevices CHAPTER004 : Torture Devices SothisistheinfamousKnox.
Iveheardstories.Finntalksabouthimthewayyoudtalkaboutastraywolfthatoccasionallyshowsuptoyourcampfire,stealsyourfood,anddisappearsbackintothewoods.Wild.Unpredictable.Maybeevenalittleunhinged NowthatIthinkaboutit,hedoesresembleFinnsamesharpbonestructure,sameannoyinglyperfectmouth.ButwhereFinnissunshineandcharm,Knoxlookslikehecrawledoutofalifestylemagazineersophisticatedgangsters.
HowdoIknowyourenotakidnapper?Iask,tiltingmychinup.Youllhavetoprovideproofthatyourewhoyousayyou are.
LikeanIDcard? Thatwouldwork.
Idonthaveany.
See?Kidnappervibes,Isay.
WhydontyoucallFinnandconfirm? Icrossmyarms.Hesnotanswering.WhydoyouthinkIvebeen standinghereforanhourlikeanabandoneddog?glanceatthecar.Andyoushowingupinanaggressivelookingmusclecarthatscreamsmafiabossisntexactlyhelpingyourcase.
Areyougettinginornot?Ihaveplacestobe,young lady, Younglady?Didyoureallyjustbelittleme? Knoxsighs,alongsufferingsound thatsuggestsImtestingwhatlittlepatiencehehas.Getin,Sloane.
Istareathim,deadpan.ThenIsigh,becauseclearly,Ihavezero selfpreservationinstincts.IvealreadyagreedtohelpFinncrashhisexswedding.GettingintoacarwithhispotentiallymurderousbrotherisnteventheworstdecisionIvemadethismonth.
Openyourtrunk,Isay.
Knoxpopsthetrunkfrominside,andItossmybagin,mutteringtomyselfabouthowthisishowwomenendupontruecrimepodcasts.
WhenIslideintothepassengerseat,Knoxdoesntmove.

Whyarentyoudriving?Iask,glancingsidewaysathim.
Yourseatbelt.
Oh.
Asafetyconsciouspotentialkidnapper.Thats…unexpected.
Isnapitinplacewithaclick,andhegunstheengine,pullingoutoftheairportpickupzoneandontothehighwaywithasmoothaccelerationthatpushesmebackintomyseat.
Themomentwehittheopenroad,hespeedsup,theShelbyMustangroaringbeneathuslikeabeastunleashed.
Whoa,slow down!Myhandsinstinctivelygripthe edgeofmyseat.
Wannagetout?heasks.
No.Butyouremovingtoofast.Icantevenseethecity .
Asheville?Theresnothingtosee.
Easyforyoutosay.Youveprobablylivedhereallyourlifeandtraveledtheworld.IhardlyleaveNewYork.WhenIdo,Iliketo…fillmyeyes.
ItsoundspoeticwhenIsay itoutloud,almostembarrassing.Butitstrue.Icollectmoments,images,sensations.Storethemawayforthelonelynightswhenmyapartmentfeelstooemptyandmythoughtstooloud.
YouthinkIliveinAsheville?heasks.

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Iturntohim.Youdont? Nope.NewYork.
Waitadamnminute.
YouvebeeninNewYorkallthistime,Isay.
Yousoundshocked.
Itsjust…Finnsnevermentionedthat.Ever.Howdoyoubothliveinthe samecityandnevercrosspaths? CHAPTER004TortureDevices FinnandIhavea…complexrelationship.
Thewayhesaysitmakesmedropthesubject Wedriveintensesilenceforawhile,untilKnoxsuddenlyswervesoffthemainroadwithnowarning,thecartakingasharpturnthathasmeclutchingthedoorhandle.
Heparksinfrontofadimlylitbuildingwithneonredlettersthatread: SENSUALDELIGHTS.
Umm…Isthisyourparentshouse?Iask,knowingfullwellitisnt.
Knoxsmirks.SensualDelights?Really?Doesitlooklikeahousetoyou? Theplaceisexactlywhatyoudexpectanadultstoretolooklike.Darkwindows.Shadyalleyway.
Asex shop?Iask.
Bingo.
Mybrainshortcircuits.Why areweatasexshop? Needtograbaweddingpresent.
Forwho? Myfriendandhisbride.

Ihesitate,swallowinghardasthepiecesclickintoplaceinmymind.Wait…yourfriendisHunter?Thegroom? Yep.
Delilahsfiancé? Knoxgrinswickedly.Yep.
Oh,forGodssake.
FinnsbrotherisafriendtoDelilahs fiancé? WhyhasFinnnevermentionedanyofthis?ItslikeIknownothingaboutmyownbestfriend.
Thisisjustatimebombwaitingtogooff.
Wouldyouliketowaithereorcomeinside?Knoxasks.
Iglanceatthebuilding,thenbackat hisface.
Screwit.
Iunbucklemyseatbeltandstepoutofthecar,awkwardlyadjustingmy glassesandsmoothingimaginarywrinklesoutofmytop.
LetsgobuysometorturedevicesinDelilahsname,Isay,nottheleastbitjoking.
Knoxchuckles.Alright,maam.ButImustwarnyou,somegirlsdoenjoybeingtortured.
Wellseeaboutthat.ImgoingtogetsomethingwithenoughvoltagetozapDelilahsfake,cheatingassrightoffthefaceofthisEarthsoshedoesntgettoruinFinnanymore.
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