31
MARI
The amount of bewilderment I felt from hearing Grace’s announcement must’ve been so clearly written on my face that she tightened her grip on my elbow. “I’m so sorry no one told you.”
So was I.
I bobbed my head, feeling as if I’d been hit in the chest with an anvil.
Turning toward Lita, I let her see all the betrayal I felt with my accusatory expression. But why hadn’t she just told me? We’d even been at the courthouse—directly on top of the jail—and she’d said nothing.
She merely folded her arms over her chest, resolute. “I don’t want you around that bellaco anymore. He’s bad news.”
“Bad news?!” Grace exclaimed in outrage. “How can you say that after the way he orchestrated the entire search party for Mari, and then noticed Lula with the knife? Your granddaughter would stil
