Page 27 of Invisible Scars
“That isn’t important,” I say dryly, but my entire body is tense as Jonah keeps glaring at the photo.
“You never talk about your family, especially your brother.” He shifts his gaze to me. “What’s his name?”
“Abraham. Abe.” I turn back to my canvas, pretending to be immersed in my painting.
“He looks just like you,” Jonah observes, and I nod. “He’s also the exact size of all the men’s clothes you have in your closet.”
“Are you calling me a liar, Joe?”I am. A big, stupid liar.
Those big brown eyes seem to see right through me. “I’m just wondering who you’re protecting by not telling me the truth—yourself or Abe.”
“He gambles,” I say with a shrug. “Sometimes, he needs a place to lie low. You’d do the same for any of your brothers.”
“Has he ever put you in harm’s way?” There’s something dark simmering under the supposed calm tone.
“I think you mean to ask if he’s the reason I became such a damn good fixer.”
“That’s a fancy way of saying yes.” Jonah places the photo back in the box with great care before scratching Calgary between the ears. “Calgary, bed,” he orders, and the dog just gets up and trots away to his nook as if he’s completely accepted Jonah as alpha of the house.
“It hasn’t happened since I left New York.”
“But it might?”
“It’s a possibility.” I shrug, placing my brush in the water jar.
Jonah comes to sit behind me, wraps his arms around my middle and buries his nose in my nape. “Was he the one on the phone?”
“I can handle it.”
“I know you can. I just don’t want you to,” he says against my skin, planting a soft kiss at the base of my skull. “Not alone.”
“My family, my problem.” Jonah’s arms tighten around me, his lips moving to my ear.
“You’re an honorary Peak, Effie, which makes youmyfamily and hence—myproblem.” He pauses, searching my face. “Promise me you’ll tell me if Abe tries to bring trouble to your door.”
“Joe…” I sigh. I don’t want to lie to him again.
“It’s either that or I move in.”
“Brat.” I circle his neck and bring his face closer to mine. “The sex would be a nice perk, though.”
“Are you trying to distract me?” He tries to act affronted, but his palm is already gliding up my thigh.
“Not trying, succeeding.”
Jonah grins and leans in. Our mouths barely flutter against each other when a shriek pierces the otherwise silent room, causing me to jump with a squeal.
“Shit!” Joe clamors for his phone.
“What is that?” I yell over the horrid sound mingling with Calgary’s howls.
“One of our clients got breached,” he grits, all the playfulness replaced with the hard exterior of a warrior, power and authority rolling off him as he rushes to grab his clothes and keys from around my house.
“Which one?” I ask as I grab my phone and run to comfort Calgary, who’s overwhelmed by the siren. I find several messages I didn’t hear over Jonah’s banshee alert. “Bethlehem Bank?”
Staring at my phone in horror, I absentmindedly pet Calgary’s fur while hoping someone would be stupid enough to take an interest in a small bank in Columbus, Ohio, praying it’s just a run-of-the-mill digital robbery by someone who thinks Bethlehem will have less security.
“Yeah.” Jonah pulls on his shoes, then turns his piercing gaze to me. “Effie…”
