Chapter 17
Valli
In the three days since I’ve been brought here, I have learned a few things about myself.
Mostly, I’m a terrible patient. I have three men trying to take care of me, and yet I believe I have to look after myself.
It’s something I’m used to, and I can’t switch it off, no matter how hard I try.
Cave physically dragged me back to Cipher’s shed when I went for a walk, and it has been hard enough to sneak out since Noa has been like a mother hen.
Cipher still struggles to look at me, but he brings me soup and medicine like clockwork.
“Valli,” Noa says, and I almost jump out of my skin. “Why are you not resting?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about—I was going to shower,” I say, pausing at the door and turning to face him.
“You have your scheming face on. Now get back into bed.”
“Noa, I can’t stay in bed forever. I need to look for a new job because I have bills and a sister who relies on me. I also hate lying to Leni, and she’s asking too many questions.”
“We’re working on it, I promise. And tell her you are here—it’s fine if she knows.”
“I guess I could. But everyone keeps telling me they’re working on it, and I don’t even know what that involves.”
Noa’s grin falters for a second. “Come and drink this tea. Cipher made it for you.”
I walk over and grab the mug, since I figured out early that arguing with Noa is like running in circles—you get nowhere.
Cipher comes in, holding a fresh washcloth. “Why are you out of bed?”
I huff and storm over to the makeshift bed he has set up in the main room, so I can watch him work, because I have been bored out of my brain. Cipher comes to sit beside me and places the washcloth on my forehead.
“Better?” he asks.
“A little, though I think there’d be a bigger improvement if something cold was on my face.”
“I read that fevers respond better to gradual temperature regulation.”
I chuckle. “Did you also read that patients are supposed to be allowed to do literally anything for themselves, or was that chapter optional?”
“Valli, your bitch is showing,” Noa calls out, and I laugh. “I can always get Cave here to give you a sponge bath again.”
“Don’t you dare!” I warn him.
That was a mortifying experience. Cave lugged in a bucket and cloths, then started cleaning me yesterday morning. I had not showered since the day before because everything hurt.
“I will do it, I swear on my life.”
I laugh, which turns into a cough, which has Cipher hovering with a glass of water.
With no more energy to fight them anymore, when they are only trying to help, I decide to give in.
“I’m just used to being the one who does this for myself,” I tell them once the coughing settles. “Not the other way around.”
“Well, get used to it. At the very least, you’re our friend now,” Cipher says.
Noa huffs. “I think we are a little more than friends.”
“Thank you, it means a lot,” I say as I close my eyes and let the cool cloth do its job.
My phone buzzes on the crate beside the bed, and I am slow to reach for it. Cipher gets there first, glancing at the screen before handing it to me.
“Rowan,” he says, and I answer, because if I don’t, he will spam me and then Leni. It’s why he knows I will always answer her calls.
“What?” I snap.
“Valli, thank god.” Rowan’s voice sounds panicked. “Where are you? I went by the house, and the door was busted in.”
“I’m fine and safe.”
“Safe where?” he asks. It feels like something’s up; he never gives a shit if I’m safe.
“Steedy’s guys are coming for me, so I ran. I’m with people who actually care about me,” I tell him.
At my response, Rowan changes his tune and starts shouting, as if this is my fault.
Noa quickly appears at my side and takes the phone from my hand. “Rowan, hi. We’ve not met, but I already know a lot about you. And unfortunately, it’s not that good.”
There is a pause where Rowan must be saying something, and Noa’s mouth curls into a grimace.
“No, you listen. Your sister is sick and exhausted. She is here with us because we are the type of men who deal with problems, not palm them off on women. Valli didn’t ask for your shit, none of it, yet she keeps bailing you out.
This is not you calling to make sure she is okay—you’re scared and want someone else to take the fall. ”
Another pause, and Noa’s jaw tightens.
“I don’t fucking care what Steedy wants from you.
What I want is for you to fix this—hand yourself in for all I care.
Right now, you have a pissed-off scarecrow who has your sister’s back, and he will stop at nothing to ensure she’s safe.
I promise you, Steedy will be the least of your problems if anything happens to her.
You are a pathetic excuse for a brother, let alone a man.
Fuck, I have known Valli for a few weeks and I care more about her safety than you do. ”
He hangs up before Rowan can respond and tosses the phone gently onto the foot of the bed.
“Sorry,” he says, glancing up at me. “I know that was not my place, but I couldn’t listen to him guilt you like that.”
“Don’t apologize. Nobody has ever stood up for me like that before.”
Noa perches on the edge of the bed, careful of my legs.
He sits with me as I cry, and though I hate to feel vulnerable, I need to let it out.
I have tried to protect my siblings for so long, but something has to give—I can’t keep risking my life for the shit show my brother created. He needs to face this alone.
I must fall asleep, because when I open my eyes, Cave is staring down at me. It’s the weirdest feeling to have him watching over me, and I blink slowly, letting my brain wake up. He reaches down and presses his palm against my forehead. His hand is warm and rough.
“I’m okay,” I whisper. “I feel a lot better.”
He nods once and pulls it away.
“You’re awake,” Noa says. “I was so bored and Cipher said I wasn’t allowed to wake you.”
“We should get dinner,” Cipher says. “We haven’t fed you in hours.”
“I’m not hungry,” I reply, but my stomach chooses that moment to growl.
Noa smirks. “Liar.”
“Fine, I’m starving, but I feel bad making you get me food.”
“You’re not. They can go, while I stay here and entertain you.”
Cipher stands up and scowls at Noa. “Keep her in bed.”
Cave actually laughs.
“Even if she tries to fight me, I will keep her in the bed,” Noa declares, getting into the bed with me and rolling onto his side.
“If you actually force me to lie here the entire time, I will bite you,” I warn, chomping my teeth as Cipher and Cave leave the shed.
“Oh, kinky. I like the sound of that. And I was going to see if you wanted to talk about your call with Rowan earlier. I know it must be hard.”
I’ve never had anyone offer to talk about my problems before. I’m sure Leni would, but I hide everything from her, and I don’t have friends—I don’t have time for them. “Is he going to die because of me, because I wasn’t at home?” I whisper.
“If he dies, it’s because of his choices. They led him to that. You are not responsible for your brother’s failures,” Noa’s firm voice reassures me.
As much as it sucks, I know he is right. Deep down, I held on to Rowan because he is my brother, one of the last pieces of my father left besides Leni.
He cradles me in his arms, and I must drift off to sleep again because Noa’s phone buzzing startles me awake.
“We are dying of starvation over here,” he says with a laugh that dies off suddenly.
“Cipher,” he says, sitting up. “Rowan is here? On the island?”
My blood goes cold.
“Jesus Christ, get him out of there. He’s Valli’s brother. What do you mean Cave has taken Rowan to the cornfield?!” Noa shouts.
Oh god. Rowan is an idiot; he has no idea what he has walked into. I jump out of bed, still in one of Noa’s oversized shirts, and race toward the door.
“Valli!” Noa calls out.
“We have to go, he can’t . . .” I don’t finish that sentence because I don’t know what Cave will do.
I haven’t seen the side to him that everyone talks about, but I’m not willing to unleash him on my brother.
If Steedy gets him, I have to live with that.
But all I know is that I can’t let my brother die, even if I hate him.
Noa doesn’t hesitate. He runs toward me and grabs my hand, then we both run toward the cornfield. I don’t know what Rowan is doing here, or how he even knew where I was.
My lungs burn as I run, cursing my stupid, desperate brother who’s going to get himself killed.
“We’re almost there, just stay close!” Noa shouts.
We burst through to the path, and as we get near the perimeter of the cornfield, Noa slows down while I charge ahead.
“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!”