Page 170 of Fierce-Colson

Her eyebrows pulled together. “From who?”

“A patrol officer.”

“Why would they call you?”

Because life never stopped throwing shit at them.

Because his father’s mistakes were still rippling through their lives.

Because Holly Morgan couldn’t stay out of trouble long enough to even survive.

Or she had shitty timing and couldn’t have done this before she walked back into her daughter’s life.

“They found Holly.” He cleared his throat. “Your mom.”

Bella blinked. Like she knew without the words and maybe that was the worst thing of all.

That a thirteen-year-old would know what this conversation was about before he ever said the words.

“Where?”

“In an alley.”

“Is she in trouble again? Like doing drugs?”

God. He wished that was all it was.

“No,” he said.

Marly sat beside Bella on the couch, close enough that Bella could lean into her if she needed to.

He forced the words out.

“Bella. Your mom died. She overdosed.” Because there was no reason to sugarcoat this. Bella would ask him anyway.

“Oh.”

He felt something twist in his chest.

Just oh.

Bella picked at the blanket in her lap.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I know it’s a shock.”

“I guess. But knowing what I did about her, maybe it’s not. It’s just... sad. I mean, it’s always sad when someone dies.”

Her voice sounded uncertain, like she wasn’t even sure if the sentence belonged to her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Typical teenage shrug. “I don’t know.” She looked back up at him. “I mean… I think I’m supposed to be sad, right?”

Marly’s hand moved to Bella’s back, rubbing gently.

“It’s okay to feel numb.”

Bella continued slowly. “I think that is it. But I didn’t really know her. Never. She didn’t want to know me before and even coming back, she didn’t either. Did she? I got hurt and she never responded to it. Unless she was dead before?”