Chapter 97: Jonah’s Secret
The silence after Brent’s confession wasn’t empty — it was thick, charged, like the cabin itself was holding its breath. Emery kept her hand over Brent’s, grounding him, steadying him. Jonah sat rigid in his chair, staring at the table like he was trying to swallow something too big to speak.
Brent noticed first.
“Jonah,” he said quietly. “What is it.”
Jonah didn’t look up. His fingers dug into the wood grain, knuckles white. “I… I didn’t want to say anything.”
Emery leaned forward. “Jonah, whatever it is—”
“It’s bad,” he whispered.
Brent’s voice stayed calm. “Tell us.”
Jonah’s breath trembled. “The man Hale sent… the one who marked the house… I know him.”
Emery’s stomach dropped. Brent’s jaw tightened.
Jonah finally lifted his eyes — and the fear in th
