Page 39 of Enter if you Dare: Part One

Heat climbs up my neck. “There are no customers left.”

“Watch how you speak to me,” George snaps.

I open my mouth to say something that I will probably regret when Cipher moves. His fist connects with George’s mouth, and my boss stumbles backward into the pastry shelf, knocking muffins onto the floor.

“Don’t you dare speak to her like that,” Cipher seethes, his tone causing the hair on my arms to rise.

George straightens, blood coating his lips, and he stares at Cipher before his eyes cut to me. “You’re fired,” he says wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Get out, both of you.”

“George, please.”

“I said get out, or I’m calling the police.”

I don’t argue. I simply untie my apron and drop it onto the counter, then walk over to the mug cabinet and take out the one he uses for special customers and throw it at the wall. With that small sense of accomplishment for something I have wanted to do for so long, I walk outside with Cipher behind me.

“Valli.” He catches up, falling into step with me. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my cool.”

“I needed that job, Cipher.” My voice cracks when I say his name, and I hate how fast my tears fall. “I don’t have anyone who looks out for me. I have to make sure Leni has everything she needs, and it’s a lot. Her dorm fee and textbooks, all the things Mom and Dad would have covered if they were still alive. And now I don’t have a paycheck because you punched my boss in the face.”

I keep walking for a while before I notice he isn’t beside me anymore, and when I turn, I see he has stopped from the realization of what he’s done.

“I didn’t think about your job, only about the way he spoke to you,” Cipher explains. “I’m sorry, I’ll fix it.”

“You can’t just fix this. Some things don’t come apart and go back together the way you want them to.”

He flinches, and I feel terrible. None of this mess is really his fault; it’s Rowan’s, and George’s.

“I really am sorry,” he tells me again.

Pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, I take a deep breath. “I know you were trying to help.”

He hangs his head, and I straighten up and grab him by the jacket, then pull him in closer so I can wrap my arms around him.

I might not have a job, but right now, in his arms, I feel like everything will be okay.

Noa

I push the door open to Cipher’s shed, noting that it’s weird that it’s closed during the day. I’m worried that we haven’t heard from Valli in almost a week after Cipher got her fired. Though it really wasn’t his fault—I would have done a lot worse than punch the asshole in his face. I suggested we go back and teach him a lesson, but Cipher vetoed that idea, saying that we would scare her away. He argued she needs time to cool down.

I stop walking, blinking frantically, while my brain catches up to what I’m seeing.

Cipher’s wrists are bound above his head, the rope looped over one of the ceiling beams. Cave is behind him, his large hands gripping tight to Cipher’s slim waist.

“Oh, come on,” I whine. “Why was I not invited to this party?”

Cave doesn’t stop; he continues to fuck Cipher with brutal force.

“Is it only a group activity when Valli is involved?” I ask. “Is that a rule? Because I want it known that I actually enjoy my butthole being touched. I didn’t think I would, but I have changed my mind after experiencing it.”

Cave growls.

“I’m just saying,” I continue.

Cipher moans, and his head drops forward. Whatever Cave is doing has him gasping, and I’m officially jealous.

“Oh god . . . Shit!” Cipher cries, and then he comes apart. A few seconds later, Cave finishes with a growl that vibrates through the entire shed.

I clap because that was great. “That was beautiful, really. I would give it a nine out of ten. You lose a point for not inviting me.” Cave shoots me a look I can only explain as murderous. “Anyway, Ares and Clay want to talk to us now-ish. And Clay used his serious voice.”