Page 176 of Let Me Show You

“Yep. He’s planning to fly here the week before Thanksgiving.”

I nudge Everleigh. “Oh, you better get your place ready.”

She bats her eyelashes. “I’ve been ready.”

Gemma shakes her head. “Tyler isn’t happy about the arrangement, but between you and me, I’m glad he’s staying with you. Just be aware Tyler’s been preparing his threatening speech about behaving around you.”

Everleigh groans and rolls her eyes. “I’m a grown-ass woman and will do what and who I want when I want.”

I snicker. “This is very true.”

“Of course it is,” Gemma says, then leans across the table. “And I know how you like those bad boys.”

“Damn straight,” she admits. “And honestly, Tyler can act like I’m his innocent little sister all he wants. He has no idea how dirty I can be.”

“No, he doesn’t,” I say, and my eyes widen when Tyler walks up behind Gemma and Everleigh.

“He’s behind me, isn’t he?” Everleigh asks, and I nod.

“Maybe I should be giving you the speech then,” Tyler says as Gemma turns around and wraps her arms around his waist. He bends down and kisses her forehead. “Are we early?”

“No, you’re right on time. It officially ended about fifteen minutes ago,” I confirm.

Noah enters with Smith, Jerry, Elliot, and my dad. “The cleanup crew has arrived,” I say with a grin as they start folding chairs and tables, sweeping, and taking out the trash. Noah and my parents load the gifts in their SUV because they won’t all fit in my car.

After everything is spotless in the event center, Noah comes over to me and gives me a sweet kiss. “Did you have fun?”

“Actually, it wasn’t so bad. I had a great time. It was a beautiful party, and everyone was overly generous,” I admit.

He kisses me on my forehead. “Glad to hear that, baby.”

On the way out, I see Tyler and Gemma standing by their car with Everleigh, who looks distraught. My brows furrow as we walk toward them.

“What’s going on?”

Tyler sucks in a deep breath before releasing it. “Eric’s been murdered.”

A knot forms in my throat, and I’m not sure I heard him correctly even though he didn’t stutter.

Noah rests his hand on my shoulder as Tyler continues. “His body was found and an acquaintance called to let me know since I was one of the last people in contact with him.”

“It was probably his wife. She was livid. I just…” Everleigh’s voice cracks, and she doesn’t continue.

Tyler frowns. “I didn’t even know he got married after everything that happened with Amara. He never told me.”

“You don’t think…” Gemma swallows hard, then clears her throat. “I don’t even wanna say it out loud.”

“What?”

“You don’t think his wife would come after Everleigh next?”

Everleigh lifts her head. “She better not.”

“No one knows who’s responsible yet, so we can’t jump to conclusions. Eric had his hand in a lot of shit. Some of it I know about, most of it I don’t. It could’ve literally been anyone.”

Somehow, Tyler’s words relieve my anxiety over the whole situation, but I can’t help but feel a surge of guilt stream through me, knowing what he risked to help us. “This makes me really sad.”

“Me too,” Noah confirms. “I’m sorry to hear this.”