Page 45 of Invisible Scars
“At home with your wife and newborn?”
“Phoebe understands,” he says. “We’re both worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ve got enough people doing that. I want you to worry about Olivia. About diapers and burping.” I stop short of exiting my office. “Once we get there, you go home to your wife and daughter, and you stay there.”
“You aren’t moving fast enough as far as I’m concerned.” There’s a hint of his usual upbeat nature in there, but I know him well enough to hear the lingering worry.
“On my way.”
I go to the executive wing and straight to Micah’s office.
He looks up when I enter, his eyes tired.
“Joe just walked in,” he says, and it takes me a second to realize he’s on the phone. “See you at home, Zotz. Love you.” He presses his earpiece and pulls it out. “Hey, how’re you doing?”
“About which part of this shit night?” I ask, and Micah blurts out a bitter laugh. “Effie’s house got broken into while we were here dealing with the explosion.”
“Fuck,” Micah groans, rubbing a palm over his face.
“We need to go tell her.”
“By we, you mean me?” he asks with a pointed look.
“Whoever did it hurt Calgary pretty bad. I don’t know if I’m the right person to break the news.”
“I have faith in you,” Micah says, clapping my back. “I’m going to see if the guys finished checking your car.”
I let out a long breath and stride to the neighboring office, finding Effie in her chair, working.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask, and she shrugs.
“Drowning myself in work.”
I nod, walk over to her and drag a chair to sit facing her.
“Eff, someone broke into your house.” She freezes, staring at me like I spoke a foreign language. “Andrew went to check after the explosion.”
“Is Calgary okay?” she asks quietly, her knees pressing together and her arms circling her waist.
“He’s hurt, on his way to the veterinarian hospital.”
“Stupid dog.” She wipes the tears from her cheeks, curling deeper into herself. “He’s just like you. Overprotective idiot.”
I take Effie’s hands in mine. “We need to go through your house, then I’ll take you to see him, okay?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Effie collects her things, and we leave, finding Micah standing next to my Jeep with Evert, one of Elijah’s guys.
“All clear, boss,” Evert tells her.
“Thank you.” Effie squeezes his arm.
“No need for thanks.” He opens the door for her. “Fin and I will be right behind you.”
We drive to the Grove in silence. Effie sits in the back, legs curled to her chest, and everything inside my chest hurts seeing her fear-filled eyes.
When we get to her house, Elijah and Isaiah are already there.
