Page 134

I laugh. “You’re doing very well.”

We walk back through the island, past the cornfield where the Christmas trees stand in their rows. We offered to have them removed, but Cave said no and smiled.

After a full day with the families, we retire back to our new house. We are officially spending our first night here, and though it feels weird not being at the shed, Cipher is excited to have his workspace back.

Watching Noa build flat-pack furniture has been the highlight of my afternoon, while Cipher has grown increasingly frustrated, and Cave has thrown a half-built bookshelf out the door. They have all gone out for a breather before they kill each other.

My phone buzzes from the table, and I see Vincent’s name flash up on the screen.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Valli,” he says. “I wanted to call you directly with this. I have been monitoring Rowan since Nixie asked me to as a favor while Cave’s case was ongoing. Rowan attempted to access the island two days ago, but he was stopped by security.”

“What happened?” I ask.

“He was detained. You were not aware of this because I dealt with it without bothering you at the time, given everything you were going through. I’d filed a restraining order on your behalf, and he is legally prohibited from coming within five hundred meters of you, anyone on the island, and Leni. He was in violation of that order and is currently in custody.”

I bite my lip, knowing I should feel bad for him, but I don’t. I wiped my hands of him when I took him from the island, and I meant every word I said to him that night.

“While I should have told you about the restraining order, I made a judgment call. But if you feel I overstepped, I will understand.”

“No,” I say. “It wasn’t overstepping. Is he going to be charged?”

“Yes. If it’s okay with you, I will make sure he’ll be charged.”

“Do what you need to do. I don’t want him anywhere near me, the island, or Leni.”

“Good, he has an outstanding warrant as well, so it will be a straightforward case.”

“Thank you, Vincent.”

“Of course,” he says. “How is Cave?”

“Better, he’s happy to be home.”

“Good. I’ll be in touch if anything further develops with Rowan’s case.”

I thank him again and he hangs up, then I sit on the floor of our bedroom for a bit, relieved that Rowan is out of my life and glad he couldn’t get on to the island.

I go in search of Cave and find him at the edge of the cornfield.

“Vincent called,” I tell him. “Rowan tried to come back, but he is being charged.”

“Good.” After a moment, his hand comes out to take mine, and he squeezes.

We stand there together and look out at where the corn used to be.

After a while, Noa appears with a coffee, and I tell him about the call. He says at least we know where he is and that me and Leni are safe—not that my men would let anything happen to us, and I’ve never doubted they would. They have all shown me they will protect me with their lives.

Noa drinks his coffee and turns to us. “Right, someone needs to feed us. I’ll get dinner if you two grab Cipher, or he will still be in the shed at midnight reorganizing his tools.”

Noa heads off toward Ares’s Bar while Cave and I head to the shed. Cave holds my hand the entire way, and I fill him in on the latest in the Leni and Khodi situation. He listens, and it’s nice to be able to do something so simple and domestic.

When we get to the shed, Cipher is at his workbench organizing his tools. He looks over at us as we enter, but then quickly turns his attention back to his tools.

“I’ll come home in a bit,” he says. “I just want to finish⁠—”

He doesn’t finish his sentence before Cave has crossed the shed and thrown Cipher over his shoulder.