Page 44 of Enter if you Dare: Part One

“I can’t fucking tell you, he’ll kill me.”

“So you would rather he kill your sister? You don’t fucking deserve to have a sister like her. She shouldn’t have to pick up the pieces because you’re a scumbag. And FYI, Steedy is the least of your worries right now.”

As I listen to Cipher sticking up for me, my heart bursts. Then panic washes over me as I approach the middle of the cornfield, though it’s not for my brother.

His own actions landed him here, but I can’t let Cave do this—not for me, it’s not right.

Rowan is my brother, and I will not let these men get tangled in this mess any more than they already have been.

Through the last row of stalks, I spot Cave standing tall, his corn sword held high, and dread washes over me.

“Stop!” I scream as I run into the clearing. “Please, everyone just stop!”

Cipher

Since it’s barbecue night at Ares’s bar, it smells like grilled meat and bourbon—not my favorite, but it is what it is. Valli needs a decent meal now that she’s feeling better, and something other than soup. I’ve already sent in our order, making sure to get the grilled chicken, and my personal favorites: vegetables and fresh bread. Rue makes the best bread I have ever eaten.

Kayla smiles as we walk in. “How’s she feeling?”

“Better, though I’m sure she can do without Cave lingering, so I brought him with me.”

Kayla laughs. “When she’s feeling better, I would love to come down and see her. She seems like someone I could be friends with. No offense to Vesper, but her company is a little depressing, and Vero follows me everywhere. You can imagine how that ends.”

Cave grumbles, and I pat his arm. “Vero’s not that bad, and you can stay in your cornfield when they visit.”

That makes Kayla laugh. “You secretly love him, Cave, otherwise you would have killed him by now.”

“No,” he replies, and I smile. He will only talk in single words, besides riddles, to people he likes.

Clay’s radio crackles as he walks behind the bar and leans down to kiss Kayla on the side of her head.

“We have a situation at the gate. There is a guy here asking for Valli, says his name is Rowan.”

Cave grabs my arm, and he growls. It doesn’t sound human and is an expression of pure rage. My heart is hammering in my chest. There have been few times I have heard him like this.

“We’ll deal with it,” I say to Clay calmly. “He is pissed that Valli refuses to pay his debts anymore.”

Clay nods. “Just don’t let Cave kill anyone at the front gate where there are witnesses. We can’t afford to clean up another mess so soon after the cops were sniffing around already.”

I nod, but I say nothing because Cave is unpredictable and I can’t promise that won’t happen.

Cave follows me out of the bar, and we walk together toward the gate. I can see from Cave’s posture that he is going to do something. I don’t know what exactly, but I have a feeling it’ll be bad.

“We can’t make this worse,” I warn him. “We see what he wants, and that’s it.”

Cave doesn’t acknowledge me; he just keeps walking. When he has his mind made up, there is no room for negotiation or compromise. He will do whatever he wants and live with the consequences.

We reach the gate, where Khodi stands guard, and I guess the other man is Rowan.

“Where is she?” he demands, glaring between us. His gaze lands on Cave, and fear briefly flickers in his eyes. “I need to see Valli now.”

Cave nods and tilts his head back toward the path.

“Yeah, okay,” Rowan says and pushes past Khodi. “I don’t know what kind of sick operation you’re running here, but Valli is naïve. She doesn’t know what she has gotten herself into. You’ve brainwashed her, and I’m taking her home. I’m getting her away from you freaks.”

We walk forward in silence, and I don’t protest what I know is about to happen. If Rowan is stupid enough to follow a man dressed as a scarecrow, then this is on him. For saying Valli is naïve, he deserves what’s coming.

The cornfield looms ahead, the stalks gently swaying in the wind.