That wasn’t Bell. She wasn’t selfish. She wouldn’t have left without a word because she knew it would terrify the people she loved. But I’d take any excuse to get out of here. To do something. Anything. “Okay, we’ll check out my house and a few other places.”

The officer nodded. “Just keep your phone on you and stick together, just in case.”

“Will do.” I pulled out my phone and hit Hunter’s contact. It rang and rang before finally clicking over to voicemail.

“Are you calling your parents?” Kenna asked.

I shook my head. “She wouldn’t have gone there. It’s too late. And I don’t want to worry them. I was trying Hunt.”

Crosby’s brow furrowed. “He didn’t pick up?”

“No.” I scowled down at my phone. I’d seen him flirting pretty hard with a blonde. He probably took off to get laid.

“Let’s go to my place, make sure Bell isn’t there. Then we’ll make a plan.” I turned to Darlene. “I need you and Hank to hold down the fort here. Be my eyes and ears. Call me if anyone saw anything suspicious.”

Darlene opened her mouth to argue but then thought better of it. “Of course we will.”

“Thank you.” The rest of us headed for the parking lot. This island, this bar, they were supposed to be safe. But nowhere truly was. It was something I’d learned long ago, but it seemed the Universe was just dying to give me another lesson.

43

BELL

I let out a low moan. My head was killing me. It seemed to be throbbing in time with the beat of my heart. I moaned again, rolling onto my back. I hit something. The back of a couch? Had I had too much to drink with the girls and passed out on Kenna’s ridiculously uncomfortable sofa?

My eyes blinked open. It was dark, but there was a low light shining through a window. A car window. I was in a car? No, an SUV. I blinked more rapidly, trying to clear the slightly wobbly tinge to my vision. The side of the vehicle was smashed in.

My breaths came faster, each tripping over the last, and none of them seeming to take hold. Had I been in an accident? My gaze darted around the vehicle. It was familiar. Too familiar. Nausea swept through me as I took in the splatters of blood that dotted the door. I’d been stuck in this SUV for moments that had seemed like hours, holding on to my dead sister’s hand, waiting for the EMTs and fire department to arrive.

I scrambled, trying to sit, but something stopped me. Bonds. Ropes on my hands and feet. A scream gathered in the back of my throat, but I swallowed it down. Whoever had done this might be close. I couldn’t let them know I was awake.