Page 46 of Invisible Scars
Elijah hurries to wrap Effie in a big bear hug before exchanging a meaningful glance with me.
“Andrew went home?” I ask, and Isaiah nods. “Good. Walk us through it, Eli. Quickly. I want to get Effie to Calgary.”
Elijah gives us a rundown of the damage, including slurs carved into the walls by the perpetrator. It isn’t hard to guess who would break into Effie’s house and take his time to cut the word ‘whore’ over her bed.
“Do you have any idea who this could be?” Isaiah asks, and Effie shrugs.
“Either you tell them, or I do,” I say. Effie stares at me, remaining stubbornly silent. “It was her brother.”
“You can’t know that for sure,” she whispers. “He doesn’t know where I live.”
“I caught him hiding in the bushes yesterday after I dropped you off.” Effie’s eyes go wide, her lip trembling. “I was going to tell you before…” I close my eyes, forcing the wave of nausea from the explosion down. “Before the parking lot.”
“I thought my mother genuinely regretted the way she treated me in the past,” Effie says through small hiccups.
“She does.” I step forward and lift her face to mine. “No one was supposed to know she came to see you. Abe followed her and then probably followed us when I drove you home.” The thought that I could have spared Effie the heartache of tonight swirls inside me, mixing with rage toward Abe. “I should have just killed him on the spot.”
“Jonah,” Isaiah snaps, anger flaring in his eyes, and he grabs my shoulder, pulling me away from Effie and into the house. “I don’t give a flying fuck about whatever’s up your ass, but Effie’s having a hard enough time as it is, so you calm downright now. Do you understand?”
I glare at Isaiah, my breaths coming out in short pants. He usually takes the high road, maintaining his composure even in the most heated situations, so for him to respond this aggressively means I crossed a massive line.
“Understood.” Isaiah stares at me for a while longer before nodding and signaling for Micah and Elijah to bring in Effie. I approach her, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry about before.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “A small part of me wishes you would have killed him, too.”
I trace the outline of her jaw, wishing I could take her away from this mess, give her some peace.
“Okay, so we knowwhoit was,” Elijah says, looking around at the torn-up furniture and overturned kitchen. “The question is, why would your brother do this?”
“He has a gambling problem, and he’s used to me bailing him out.” Effie fixes her gaze on her shoes and wraps her arms around her middle. “I assume he’s angry that I said no this time.”
Elijah places a reassuring hand on Effie’s shoulder. “Anything else we need to know?”
“He probably took the cash; he knows where I hide it.” Effie rubs a hand up and down her arm. “Heisthe one who taught me all the best stash locations.”
“Would he also know your alarm code?” Elijah asks, his voice wary. “There were no signs of forced entry.”
Effie bites her lip and looks away from us.
“Oh, Effie,” Micah sighs and rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
“I get it,” I say, and everyone’s gaze shifts to me. “He’s your brother, and even though you know better, you’ve spent a lifetime being told he’s your responsibility.” I walk over to her and tilt her face up to mine again. “Old habits die hard, but they dietoday, Effie. Am I clear?”
She holds my gaze, and after a few moments, she nods, the motion causing her bottom lip to graze against my thumb.
“Good.” I drop my hand, though all I want is to press into her soft lips, feel her damp breath against my skin. “You can’t stay home today.”
“You can stay in my spare room until we get your place secure,” Elijah offers. I want to tell him to fuck off, that Effie’s coming home with me, but I know that’s the worst thing I can do to her now.
“Thank you, Eli,” Effie says, glancing my way, and I nod.
Effie will be safe with Eli, and it’s as close as she’ll be to me without being with me. In the meantime, I’ve got some hunting to do.
12
JONAH
My ears ring,the smoke choking me. Everything tastes like blood and smells like burnt flesh. My screams echo in my ears as I struggle against the powerful arms that pull me away from the place I know I must be in, the place that reeks of death.
