He released his hold on me. “Okay, Bell.”

With a jerky nod, I headed out the back door, trying to escape walls that felt as if they were closing in all around.

33

FORD

I pushed open the side door to The Catch. Striding down the hallway, I slowly became aware of how quiet it was. I could hear every lyric to the seventies rock song drifting through the speakers. A flicker of dread trailed down my spine, and I picked up my pace.

The main room was about half-full, but all the conversations were happening in muted whispers. I scanned the crowd. Darlene was behind the bar filling a pitcher of beer. Caelyn was weaving in and out of tables. I didn’t see Bell anywhere. My rib cage seemed to tighten, making it just a little harder to breathe.

My gaze caught on Ethan and Pete at a table. I hurried over. “Where’s my brother?”

Ethan gestured to the back doors, and I saw Hunter standing there, staring out at the beach. “Hunt,” I called as I headed his way. He glanced briefly over his shoulder and then returned his stare to the ocean. My annoyance ratcheted up a few notches. “Where’s Bell?”

Hunter inclined his head to the beach. There was a figure sitting on a worn piece of driftwood, staring out at the water. “Why the hell is she out there alone?” I growled. “I asked you guys to do one thing. To not leave Bell alone. The cops have no idea who’s behind all this and we have no idea if they want to harm Bell, too.”

Hunter didn’t even give me the courtesy of his attention, just kept his eyes firmly fixed on Bell. “Her parents showed.”

The space between my shoulder blades tightened. “What happened?”

“What do you think happened? They made a scene. That mother of hers is a real bitch.”

Dread, thick and insidious, crept through my gut. Nothing and no one got in Bell’s head like her mom. It had always been the case. Why a mother couldn’t see her daughter for the incredible, beautiful, unique being that she was, I’d never understand. Part of me had hoped that losing Violet would wake Heather Kipton up to what was right in front of her. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. “What’d she say?”

A muscle in Hunter’s jaw flexed. “She was pissed the sheriff came to talk to her. Berated Bell. Accused you of killing Violet. Told Bell she was spitting on her sister’s grave.” That dread intensified, adding itself to a healthy dose of guilt. Guilt for leaving Bell alone, now and eleven years ago.

“Don’t you dare take that shit on.” My brother spat the words in my direction.

“Take what on?”

“Vi’s death. It was an accident.”