The tension radiating from Roane was incredible, and I squeezed Caro’s shoulder as she shifted uneasily.

We followed Patrick’s car down the driveway. He turned left toward Alnwick, and we turned right toward the village. It was only then that Roane spoke, nodding his head toward the folder on Caro’s lap. “It holds your bank details. The investment portfolio, everything. Patrick warned her if she changed those passwords, he’d be back to arrest her for theft and fraud, but the first thing you do is log on to those accounts and change the passwords. Then contact the financial adviser and see what the bloody hell has been happening to your money. If she’s diverting any of it, we need to know immediately.”

I understood Roane was concerned that Helena was swindling Caro out of her inheritance, but his hard, demanding tone wasn’t exactly what his cousin needed right now. I knew what was eating at him, and I hated it, but we had to talk. Caro didn’t need this attitude right now.

Viola was waiting for us in the living area of the apartment and stood up to greet us, only to be stopped by the abrupt thump of Caro’s suitcase hitting the floor.

Roane had dumped it. “Do what I said. I’ll be back in a bit. Shadow, come.”

With that, he strode past us without another word, his dog following at his heels.

“Uh . . . what did I miss?” Viola wrinkled her nose in confusion.

Caro appeared to be seconds from bursting into tears.

“Viola, can you help Caro get settled? I’m going to speak to Roane.”

Then I was out the door before either girl could protest, hurrying down the stairs and through the front of the shop. His SUV was still parked out front, and Roane was nowhere in sight toward the harbor or the road up to the main village. Although he had long legs, he couldn’t have disappeared that quickly, which meant he’d turned left toward the cliffs.

I hurried around the corner of the building and saw his figure marching up the path that cut along the grassy cliff top behind the bookstore.

“Roane!” I shouted, my voice thrown backward by the sea breeze.

Shadow, however, heard me and hurried to me, causing Roane to halt and look back. His shoulders tensed at my approach. “You should be with Caro,” he said.

I reached out for his hand as soon as I drew to a stop. “You should be with Caro.”

He tugged on his hand but I refused to let go. He scowled. “Evie, just let me be.”

“So you can brood and beat yourself up with guilt and self-condemnation?”

Roane’s dark eyes flashed with surprise.