Page 38 of Enter if you Dare: Part One

“Steedy called last night.”

“And?”

“He is not happy, Valli. There’s someone sniffing around, asking questions about him and his guys. He thinks it has something to do with you, and he told me that if they don’t back off, I’m as good as dead. You need to fix this.”

“Fix what, exactly?” I cross my arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ro.”

“Whatever you did or whoever you talked to . . .” He steps closer. “This is on you.”

“It’s not on me,” I spit out, my anger rising faster than normal. “I didn’t send anyone. I don’t even know who Steedy is beyond what you’ve told me. This is your mess, so fucking fix it.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?” I push him, though I know I should stop. But this has gone too far. “I’m not fixing your problems anymore. I spent years protecting Leni from you, from this, but she’s out of the house now and I am done cleaning up your shit.”

He crosses the space between us, and before I can step backward, he grabs my arm hard enough to bruise. “You think you’re better than me now?” His eyes drag over my neck. “Yeah, looks like someone is taking real good care of you.”

“Let me go.” I shove at him, and it takes both of us by surprise. I’ve never pushed back before.

For a second, something flickers across his face, and I can see the brother I used to know. The one before the drugs and the debts. Then it’s gone, and he slaps me.

My head snaps sideways with a sharp sting, and the taste of copper floods my mouth.

I stand shocked, my hand held to my cheek.

“Fix it,” he says again. “Or we both pay the price.”

He turns and walks off down the street without looking back, while I stand in the driveway with tears in my eyes. My pulse roars in my ears until I can no longer see him.

Finally, I go inside and get ready for work because what other choice do I have? And when I get there, George sneers at me in disgust but doesn’t say anything. I do my job as the day drags on. When I’m restocking the pastry cabinet, the bell over the door rings, and I look up to find Cipher walking in. He looks around and the few customers stare at him; it makes me want to yell, to ask them what the fuck they are looking at, but when he smiles at me, everything else fades away.

His jacket jingles as he walks toward the counter. “Hey,” I say, surprised, wiping my hands on my apron. “What are you doing here?”

“I have information about Steedy and your brother.” He steps closer to the counter, and his eyes move over my face. “Who touched you?”

“It’s fine,” I reply, glancing down. “Rowan and I got into a fight. It’s nothing.”

He looks at my split lip and his jaw tenses. “It’s not okay.”

“It doesn’t matter right now. What did you find out?”

He lets it go, but I can tell he doesn’t want to. “Steedy is into something bigger than just your brother owing him money.”

“Did you have someone look into them?”

Cipher shakes his head. “The PI sniffing around is connected to a federal case that has nothing to do with Rowan. Steedy doesn’t seem to know that yet.”

“So I’m a sitting duck?” I close my eyes. Shit, could this get any worse?

“I’m working on it with the help of Clay and Ares.”

I want to ask how exactly he plans on fixing it.

“Valli!” George bellows, and I sigh. “I don’t pay you to stand around and talk all day.”

“I’m working and talking. It’s been two minutes.”

George scoffs. “Two minutes that I’m paying you for.” His eyes flick to Cipher’s jacket and the trinkets. “It’s bad enough you come in here looking like trash without you bringing your weirdo friends in here to scare off paying customers.”