I stepped back. “Come in.”
He scurried into the foyer, sandwiched between Roman and me.
I closed the door and folded my arms over my chest. I had no patience right now. “What are you doing here, Jake?”
His hands were still stuffed deep in his pockets as his gaze darted to Roman before settling back on me. “I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
His jaw worked, teeth clenching. “I’m sorry, Graham. I’m really,reallysorry.”
My stomach plummeted at the genuine regret in his tone, the edge of panic.
Roman and I shared an alarmed look.
“What are you sorry for?” I barked. “What happened?”
He winced, as if I’d slapped him. “Look, I didn’t—I was angry, okay? When Quinn first came to town, I was having a hard time and I—”
I took a step closer, alarm bells going off in my head. “Where is she? What did you do to her?”
Jake flinched. “Nothing! I swear, I didn’t do anything to her…recently.”
I blinked at him. “What are you talking about?”
He snatched both hands out of his pockets and pushed them through his hair until the ends stood up. His dark-brown eyes were wide, the shape of them so reminiscent of his sister, Emersyn. I wondered whether my sister-in-law knew what he had done—whatever it was.
Jake huffed out a nervous breath. “A couple of weeks ago, I was the one who scared Quinn outside of the library that one night.”
His whole body shook now, his face white.
It did nothing to dispel or decrease the rising rage inside me. I stepped closer to him, throwing my shoulders back to my full height. Jake wasn’t a short guy, but I was taller and I wanted him to feel every inch of his inferiority.
“You…what?” I growled.
Jake retreated a step, raising his hands in either surrender or defense, I didn’t know which.
“I’m sorry!” he cried.
I bared my teeth. “You attacked her, Jake. You didn’t simply scare her.” The image of her bruised and bleeding flashed through my mind. She’d been so scared and vulnerable.
I wanted to strangle him. I wanted to split his lip open, and see how he liked it.
My hands clenched into quaking fists, and I think Roman sensed how close I was to laying hands on Jake because he subtly stepped between the two of us.
Jake looked like he was going to throw up.
Good.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her, I swear.” Jake shook his head. “I was trying to scare her. I wanted her to leave town. I wanted her to leave us alone.”
I might kill him. I honestly might kill him dead.
I stepped toward him again, but Roman’s hand caught me, pressing against my chest.
He looked at Jake. “If I were you, I’d hurry up and tell us why the hell you came here in the first place. If it’s just to confess your damn crimes, I’d suggest you get out of here and go down to the police station before my brother sends you to the hospital.”
Jake stumbled back, paling even more. “I get it, I deserve it. I do. But—my sister called me and asked if I knew where Quinn was. She said that you were looking for her and couldn’t find her and she’s been on my ass since—since I did what I did. I think she knew it might’ve been me, but she couldn’t prove it.”
