Page 45

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.

Cave slows as we reach the edge, and Rowan keeps mouthing off—something about Valli being an idiot and calling the cops. How being around us has messed her up, and that she doesn’t even recognize that she has been manipulated. I ball my fists, as I rarely get angry. I hate confrontation, but sometimes my emotions boil over, and this may just end up being one of those times.

As we take one step into the cornfield, Cave stops and turns to face Rowan, who clearly has no idea how much danger he is facing.

“What comes in silent, and leaves with echoes?” Cave’s voice intones.

I answer when Rowan simply stares at him. “Death. Death comes in silent and leaves with echoes.”

Cave pulls out his corn sword, the one I made him, and I’m awfully proud of its workmanship. It’s brutal yet beautiful and sharpened on both sides.

Rowan’s face drains of color.

“I suggest you run,” I say, and Rowan scrambles. Then I pull out my phone, because we may need Noa to clean up.

“What the fuck . . .” Rowan stutters as he runs.

I walk slowly behind because I know where Cave is leading him.

“We have a situation,” I whisper. “Rowan showed up at the gate.”

“Cipher,” he says, and I can hear the sheets rustling. “Rowan is here? On the island?”