I reached out and touched her hand. “It’s okay. Dad isn’t even mad at you.”
“But you are,” she said, sitting on the bed. “You’ve been mad at me since you were a child.”
“I’m not mad at you, Mom.” I smiled. “Okay, sometimes I am, but that’s because you know how to drive me crazy.”
She laughed short and sniffled. “I’m your mom and I only want the best for you. That’s why I made you try so many different things as a child.” She stroked my cheek. “I just wanted to make sure you had the opportunities I had.”
Her words repeated in my head. Sure Mom had pushed me while I was growing up, but in return, I felt like it had made me that much stronger as an adult.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted about Tyler,” she continued. “You deserve better. Can you forgive me, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” I wrapped my arms around her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.” Easing away, Mom kissed my forehead, then stood and headed for the door. “Try to get some sleep,” she said before stepping outside.
I leaned over and turned off the lamp next to my bed, then slid down under the covers. Tightly hugging Mr. Baggins—my scruffy brown childhood teddy bear—I laid in the dark for a while thinking about all that Mom had said, and the fact that she was planning on putting the house on the market.
Oddly, I wasn’t too upset about her selling my childhood home, probably because she didn’t seem distraught. Mom had deeper roots in this house, and if she was okay with letting it go, then I’d have to do the same.
Vibrations startled me. I turned over on my side, my eyes cloudy from sleep, and slid my phone out from under the pillow. Mason was calling me.
I sprang up, heart racing as I answered. “Hey,” my voice croaked. I cleared my throat. “What’s up?”
“Morning,” Mason replied, his tone unreadable.
I looked around the room, which was dimly lit by the sun, indicating that a new day had started.
“So,” Mason began, “I’ve found six guys with the name Vincent. Two in Newport, one in Jamestown, and three in Providence. I’ll check them all out. Just wanted to let you know.”
His voice was so even and to the point. I wished he knew how much my heart ached for him.
“Thank you,” I said. “Hopefully, one of them is this asshole.”
“Me too, for your sake and for Marley’s.”
Trepidation swelled in me. Tears fought to spill. “I’m so sorry about Marley,” I whispered, picking at lint on my blue floral sheets.
“Bristol, it’s not your fault,” he said. Those words were all I needed to hear. “I’m so sorry I made you feel like it was. It’s just that…Marley meant a lot to me. I was angry and I…” he drifted. “I’m sorry.” Mason paused to catch his breath. “Friday night was amazing.” He sounded more relaxed and sincere.
Wiping my eyes, I managed a smile he couldn’t see. I didn’t say anything, I was too choked up.
“Once this is over, maybe we could—”
“Sweetheart,” Mom called as she pushed open my door.
“Hold on a sec,” I told Mason and then asked her, “What’s wrong?”
Mom held her phone to her chest. “It’s Tyler’s mother. She wants to know if you’ve spoken to him recently.”
“Not since Sunday,” I replied. Then I remembered he’d said he was going to stop by Dad’s condo on Monday night. I’d forgotten about that. “Maybe Dad’s seen him. I’ll ask him.”
Mom put the phone back to her ear. “Penelope? Bristol said not since Sunday.” She listened for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I see.” Her features were distorted by worry.
I quickly told Mason I’d call him back and waited for Mom to get off the phone.
“What’s going on?” I asked her.
She frowned. “Well, Tyler’s parents haven’t spoken to him since Monday night when he said he was going to see you, and his friends haven’t seen him either.”
“Oh no…” I gulped. “You don’t think anything’s happened to him, do you?”
Mom squeezed my arm, comforting me. “I’m sure he’s all right, honey. Tyler probably went away with his friends since Fourth of July is this weekend.”
“No. Tyler wouldn’t leave without telling his parents or—” I was about to say “me” but caught myself. “They should call the police and report it.”
She twisted her mouth as she gazed around the room.
“Something’s wrong, I know it,” I whispered, and then I called his phone. He didn’t answer. I tried calling him again. Still no answer.
“Tyler’s fine,” Mom said. I glanced up at her. “Why don’t you come down for breakfast? You barely had anything to eat yesterday.”
“Be down in a sec.”
The moment she stepped out of my room, I collapsed back on the bed and tried Tyler’s phone again; it went straight to voicemail.
No matter how our relationship had ended, I still cared about him and hoped that he was okay.
It was Friday, and Fourth of July weekend. The trip to Block Island was off. I’d told Julian and Amber to go without me but they’d refused. Instead, they stopped by Mom’s to spend the day with me.
“Has he sent you anything since the restaurant?” Julian asked, making herself comfortable in the armchair.
“No.” I rested my head on the couch and placed a cushion on my lap. “Nothing at the condo either.”
I looked over at Amber standing by the French doors that opened out to Mom’s garden. She was on her phone, whispering and giggling with whomever she was talking to.
“She’s really into this guy,” Julian said in a low voice, drawing back my attention. “He wants her to spend the weekend with him.”
Stunned, my eyes peered open. “Seriously? She hasn’t mentioned a thing to me.”
Julian sighed. “She didn’t want to worry you.”
“I don’t like it. We don’t even know this guy.”
“Which is why she didn’t tell you,” Julian retorted. “I mean, it is too soon, but you know Amber, she lives for spontaneity.”
I tittered a bit and picked at the cushion. “Yeah, she does.”
Amber sashayed back over to us. “You two aren’t talking about me, are you?” She sat beside me on the couch.
“As a matter of fact,” Julian perked up. “We were.”
She passed a look between us. “If this is about me going away with Roman for the weekend, don’t worry. I’ve told him no.” Rubbing my arm, she added, “My best friend needs me.”
I felt guilty. “You know what, Amber, it’s okay. If you really want to you should go. I feel bad that you’re staying because of my problems. Don’t let that bastard ruin both our lives.”
“Bristol, I’m not leaving you alone while I run around on a beach and possibly have wild sex with a very hot man.”
Julian and I couldn’t help but giggle.
Amber jerked my arm. “Seriously, I couldn’t have fun knowing you’re here suffering.”
I looked at them, thankful. “You two are the greatest friends anyone could ask for.”
“We love you too,” Julian replied, her voice gloomier. She spun away. I noticed that she wiped her cheek.
“Jules, are you okay?” Amber asked.
She drifted back to us, glossy-eyed. “Yeah,” she sobbed. “It’s just that…I’m so afraid for you, Bristol. This guy, he…” she sniffled.
Amber went over to the chair, bending down beside Julian. She held her hand. “What happened, Jules?” she asked her.
Julian cleared her throat before she answered, “He left a note at Mackenzie’s. It upset her so much.”
“What did the note say?” I asked, looking down at my trembling hands.
“That Gavin should have killed me on the cliffs last summer.”
My head shot up. “Oh, Jules, I’m so sorry.”
She gave a dismissive shrug. Amber rubbed her arm gently, consoling her.
This
was what I’d feared, that my friends would be dragged into this mess. Vincent was willing to hurt everyone around me in any way he could, just to make me push them away.
The cop outside Mom’s house said he had to return to the precinct and that Mason would stop by for the night.
When I walked into the kitchen to tell Mom, she smiled mischievously like she already knew. “Did you ask Mason to come over?” I asked her, sitting down at the island.
She took three plates out of the cabinet, then turned and handed them to me. “Set the table, won’t you love?”
“You invited Mason to dinner?” I asked, taking the plates from her.
“Yes.” She went back to preparing the salad. “I saw the way you looked at each other at the hospital. It’s obvious that you both like each other.”
Hiding my flushed cheeks, I strode into the dining room and set the plates on the table. Then I went back to the kitchen. “Mom, I can’t be with anyone right now. Not with Vincent still lurking around.”
She spoke with her back turned. “At least Mason can pull a smile out of you. I haven’t seen it since you left the hospital.”
Mom was right, but I didn’t feel like smiling these days. I was about to leave the kitchen when I remembered something. “Has Tyler contacted his parents?”
Instantly, she stopped what she was doing and spun around. “No. He hasn’t.”
“Dad said he hadn’t been by the condo either. Did they report to the police that he’s missing?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, honey.”
I didn’t utter a word, just turned and went to my room.
Several minutes later, Mason arrived. My heart bubbled when I descended the stairs and saw his handsome face in the foyer.
“Hey,” he muttered, taking me in.
“Hey,” I replied shyly.
Man, I love that uniform.
“Well, Mason, I hope you like meatloaf,” Mom gushed.
He smiled at her. “Yes, ma’am. I do. Thanks for inviting me to dinner. You didn’t have to.”
She dismissed his modesty. “Oh, it’s the least I can do since you’ll be here all night trying to keep Bristol safe.” She glanced at me and winked.
I scoffed and dropped my eyes to the floor.
“This way then.” Mom led Mason to the dining room and I followed behind.
We sat at the table. “Looks good,” Mason praised her. “I haven’t had a meal like this in a while.”
“Trust me, dear. You’ve never tasted meatloaf like this before.”
I giggled at her cocky comment. We waited for Mason to try it first. He closed his eyes and savored the taste. His expression placed joy in my heart.
“Mmm. This is nothing like what I’ve had before,” he said after swallowing.
Pleased, Mom grinned broadly, and then we dug in. She questioned Mason about his life in New Hampshire. I was happy that he hadn’t mentioned Ariel, it would only freak her out.
After dinner, she brought over dessert and we chatted some more over carrot cake. Eventually, Mom faked a yawn and excused herself to go to bed, leaving me and Mason alone in the living room.
An awkward air settled in between us. I couldn’t find the right words to speak.
“Um,” Mason began. “They all checked out.”
Puzzled, I creased my forehead. “Sorry?”
“All the Vincents that I found,” he explained, “None of them fits your stalker. They were either too old or had alibis.”
“I see.” My voice was low. “He’d probably lied about the name.”
Mason considered it. “Or it could be a nickname.”
We went quiet again for a minute, then I started to apologize. “Mason, I’m so sorry you got caught up in this. Marley—”
“It’s not your fault,” he stopped me, saying again, “It’s not.”
My stomach sank when he stood and motioned toward the front door. “I should go back to my car.”
“Okay,” I said, not even trying to hide my displeasure.
He turned and headed for the door. From the way his shoulders hunched, I could tell that he wanted to stay by my side as much as I wanted him to.
“Mason,” I called after him, standing.
He halted in his tracks, turned, and stared at me, waiting. My heart thrashed behind my ribcage. Heat swooshed down my spine. What did I want to say? I just wanted him to look at me again, to see how he craved me.
I shook my head and said, “Never mind.”
Mason didn’t continue to the door. He started back to me. My breathing intensified.
My lips trembled.
Chest rising and falling intensely, he edged closer and looped his arms around me, absorbing me from head to toe. I quivered when his gaze landed on my lips, and I slowly closed my eyes as he leaned in for a kiss.
Our mouth had barely grazed when a loud thud at the door frightened me. My eyes flew open and Mason spun away.
“Wait. Don’t,” I pleaded, afraid for him.
He brushed my cheek. “It’s okay. I’m going to check it out.”
Mason hurried to the door, hand on his gun. I strode behind, keeping a distance.
“What was that?” Mom asked, tiptoeing down the stairs in her nightgown.
“Stay there,” Mason advised and then slowly, he opened the door and peered outside.
Mom inched closer, placing a hand at my back. I watched as Mason stepped outside. He bent down and picked something up.
Coming back inside the house, I saw that he was holding burnt roses and another blue note.
“Gosh…” I turned and buried my face in Mom’s shoulder. She rubbed my back.
“Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart,” she comforted me.
Mason shut the door, and I looked at him. He unfolded the note, read it, then glanced up at me, seemingly disgusted. “What does it say?” I sobbed. “I have to know.”
Hesitant, Mason looked at my mom, then dropped his eyes to the note in his hand. I went over and took it from him.
“Bristol, wait—” Mason tried to stop me.
“Whore,” I read out loud, shivering. “Send him away or I’ll do one more thing you won’t like. X.”
I crumpled the note and hugged myself, suddenly cold. The house phone rang, startling the room. Mom moved to the table by the stairs and answered it.
“Hello.” She waited for a second and then said again, “Hello.”
She hung up and came over to me. The phone rang again. Mom was about to answer it but Mason stopped her. “Wait.” He hurried over and picked up the phone, handing it to me. “Bristol, it’s him.”
I bit my bottom lip, clenched my fist, and then took the phone from Mason. “Vincent,” I said, my voice harsh.
“Did you get my message?” he asked, sounding as smooth as ever.
“Yes,” I replied through clenched teeth.
He yelled, “Then why the hell is he still there?”
Shocked, I looked at Mason and mouthed, “He’s here!”
Mason rushed out the front door to search outside while I tried to keep my stalker on the phone. “How can I make you stop? Tell me what to do to make you leave me alone.”
“Oh, Bristol,” he groaned, irritated. “Why can’t you just accept that I love you and I’m not going anywhere? I want to be like a drug. I want you to need me so bad you feel like you’ll die without me. Why? Because that’s how I feel about you. I am never leaving you alone. Never. I’ll never stop until all your freedom is gone and I’m the only one you need to survive.”
“You’re so full of shit!” I snapped. “I’m not afraid of you, Vincent, and you’ll never take my freedom from me.”
“Is that so?” he countered, “Then why did you leave your apartment?” He laughed, boastful.
I fumed, invisible steam seeping from my ears. “You won’t get away with this. You’ll mess up soon enough and the cops will find you.”
“Sure, because they’re so close.” He was smart, so good at this stalker business. “
Oh, by the way, you should thank me. I took care of your ex for you. He won’t be pressuring you to come back to him anytime soon.”
My throat burned. I tightened my grip on the phone until my knuckles turned white. “What did you do to Tyler?”
“I like the shade of red here. It motivates me.”
Vincent hung up, leaving behind the horror that he’d done something horrible to my ex.
“What did he say?” Mom asked, moving close to me.
Mason came back inside then. “I didn’t see anything.”
I drove my fingers through my hair, exasperated. “He has Tyler. He—” I stopped to consider his words. “Shade of red…” I repeated to myself. Looking at Mason, I yelled, “He’s at Tyler’s apartment!”
The second I figured out that Tyler was in trouble, I wanted to drive to his apartment. Mason insisted that we wait at Mom’s while cops searched his place. He’d called the precinct and reported what Vincent told me.
I paced around the living room, rubbing my hands together and waiting for news that it was a lie. Tyler was all right.
“Bristol,” Mason touched my shoulder and tried to calm me down, but I couldn’t stay calm. This whole thing had gotten so out of hand.
Mason’s phone rang. I winced, nervous about what the cops had found.
“Daniels,” he answered staring at the floor. He released a long sigh and then ended the call.
“Is Tyler okay?” Mom asked, rising from the couch.
Mason moved closer to me and hauled me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Bristol. They found Tyler’s body in his apartment. He’s—”
“No!” I cried, not letting him finish. My legs buckled and I started to fall. Mason held me up, consoling me. I couldn’t believe it. Tyler was…dead. He was dead because of me. This was all because of me.
I spent the next two days in my bedroom engulfed in darkness, feeling numb and at a loss. Mom wanted us to stop by the McKinleys, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t show my face to Tyler’s family when it was my fault he was gone.
Chasing Bristol (The Finding Trilogy Book 2) Page 16