Page 38 of Enter if you Dare: Part Three

We all remain silent, even Noa.

“The second part is that Evan Malcolm signed the paperwork. Without his signature, the discharge would have been contested. The facility’s legal team filed the extension request, and even with Vincent’s case, there was a window where they could have pushed further. Evan didn’t have to do that. While the decision was within his discretion, he was not obligated to move quickly.”

“Nixie,” I say. “Who is Evan to you?”

I know there is more to this story. Nixie holds my gaze, and though I once promised I would never ask, now I am.

“He was someone I cared about a long time ago. Before Cave, before the island became what it is.” She pauses. “I left. It’s what I did back then—what I always do when something requires more of me than I want to give. Evan was not the first person I did that to, nor was he the last. I was afraid of what it would mean if he were the physician on the case, as he was a student when Cave was there the first time.”

“Was that why the extension was filed, because of you?” I ask.

“Partially. His brother is part of the facility’s legal team and knows our history.”

I feel bad for her, but then again, this is a situation she created, and I have no way to change it. “Does seeing him again change anything between you and him?”

She looks at me and shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s complicated and there are more than just the two of us involved.” Nixie stands. “That is everything I wanted you to know,” she says and looks at Cave. “I had to make a deal, which means some more sessions with Seth, but he will come here.”

Cave nods, and I raise a brow. Who is this and where is my angry Scarecrow?

“I’m glad you’re home. You are worth fighting for—you were always worth fighting for,” Nixie tells him. “I’m sorry it took a legal battle, and that we sent you to the hospital in the first place when the burns were not as bad as we thought.”

Cave stands, gently moves me to the side, then crosses the office and puts his hand on Nixie’s shoulder. Just for a second, her eyes go a bit glassy as Cave turns and walks for the door. We all follow him, and I nod at Nixie on the way out, who half smiles in return. I think her past has come back to bite her in the ass and she needs to face it head-on.

Once outside, Noa speaks. “I have so many theories about Nixie.”

“I’m sure you do,” I say.

“But I’m containing them, and it hurts.”

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.”