“I think that’s a great plan.” I glance up at the clock and toward the window. “It’s gonna get dark soon, and not that I want you to leave, but you should get going.”
Noah stands up and pulls me with him, then places a soft kiss on my lips. “Love you, sweetheart. So much.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, and he squeezes my waist. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that,” I admit.
A car door slams, and I peek outside to see Owen and my mother. Owen’s talking her head off as they walk down the sidewalk toward the front door. Seconds later, I open it, and as soon as my mother sees Noah, she lights up.
“Hi, Noah,” she says, and he greets her in return.
“Hello, Mrs. Walker. You look nice today.”
I think I see my mother blush, and I shake my head at him when he passes her. “I’ll text you when I get home,” Noah tells me with a smile and a wink before saying goodbye to Owen.
“Bath,” I tell Owen, and he listens.
“You two look good together,” Mom tells me, and I feel like a shy twelve-year-old girl again.
“Thanks, Mama,” I say as she turns. “Be careful out there.”
“You too, honey.” She gives me a smile, then leaves.
After his bath, Owen does his homework, and I text Everleigh. I fill her in on the plan involving Eric.
Everleigh: Eric? Oh, I remember him! How could a girl forget?
She always has a way of making me laugh, even when I don’t need it. Almost immediately, she sends another text.
Everleigh: All jokes aside, Eric’s a good guy. He’ll keep y’all protected. I trusted him with my brother’s life.
Katie: Thank you! That’s exactly what I needed to hear.
Everleigh: You’re welcome. Also, I miss hanging out with you!
I smile because I know she’s being genuine.
Katie: We need to get together and plan Gemma’s baby shower!
Everleigh: Yes, we do. The sooner, the better.
Katie: I’ll shoot some dates over to you tomorrow.
Another text comes through, and I see it’s Noah letting me know he made it home. I release a sigh of relief and tell him good night. An hour passes, and I start yawning. I get up and tuck Owen in before going to bed. I fall asleep instantly with hope in my heart that everything will work out for the best.
Chapter Eight
NOAH
A few days after talking to Tyler and devising a plan to get Eric to Alabama, I decide it’s time to tell my dad and Belinda. Since I won’t be staying here, they’d know something was up, and I don’t want them to worry.
I didn’t hold back and told him about everything I knew. I even admitted to overhearing their conversation about what Belinda heard at the deli between Loretta and Brittany. Then I mentioned our theory on Brittany being Gabe’s mistress and having his son. Though I’ve had days to process this, it still feels unreal.
“You sure about this?” Dad asks once I finish. “Having a bodyguard?”
“Yeah, he’s trained and can help keep us safe until whoever the man they’re working with is caught.”
“Trained in what exactly?” Belinda furrows her brows.
“He protected people in the mafia in Vegas,” I say truthfully. “Last year, he helped Tyler and Gemma too. If they trust him, then I do too.”
“The freakin’ mafia?” Belinda gasps. “Are you sure that’s necessary? I don’t even know where Brittany is, so she may not be a threat anymore.”
“What do you mean? She’s not workin’ at the deli?”
“Actually, no. I fired her a few days ago. She got an attitude with a regular and accidentally spilled a large Coke on him. Plus, she showed up late. It was like she didn’t care anymore. Though I’d had a bad feeling about her for a few weeks, I needed the help. However, that was my last straw. I haven’t seen her since, and from what his teacher said when she came in this afternoon, Anthony hasn’t been in class either.”
“So you think she ran?”
She shrugs. “Or she’s hiding.”
“You think she’s working with Loretta?” Dad asks.
“We think Loretta funded a hit man, and Brittany hired him. From what I remember overhearing at the hospital, Brittany paid him twenty grand, the exact amount Katie said Loretta withdrew the day of the accident.”
“Son of a…” he mutters, his face turning red with rage.
“I know. Which is why Eric is coming tomorrow, and we’ll stay at Katie’s farmhouse. There’s no room for him here, and I don’t want you two to feel uncomfortable. Hopefully, it’s only temporary, and this will be resolved sooner than later.”
Dad stands and gives me a hug, then whispers for me to please be safe. “You may be in your thirties, but I’ll worry about you till the day I die.”
“I know, Pops.”
“Has anyone confronted Loretta?” Belinda asks.
“Katie asked her about the money, and Loretta lied about why she withdrew it. She asked Katie to let her see Owen, but she hasn’t because she doesn’t trust Loretta. No one has asked her about the conversation with Brittany at the deli yet.”
“She loves her grandson more than anything. She’s not just gonna accept that she can’t see him,” Belinda says.
I shrug. “Katie won’t back down until she knows the truth and we’re all safe. I know Owen’s probably confused about it, but for now, it’s what has to happen.”
After we finish our conversation, I go upstairs and immediately fall asleep. It’s a relief that all of this is now out in the open, and we’re all on the same page.
I can’t believe it’s already Saturday, and Eric’s flying in from Vegas today. Tyler and I go to the airport to meet him, and while I’m anxious and nervous, I’m also grateful he’s agreed to help. Although he was here last year, it’s nearly impossible to give accurate directions. Most of the country roads don’t have street signs, and GPS will lead you to the middle of nowhere, so it was just easier to have him follow us.
When he approaches us, Tyler does introductions.
“Nice to meet you.” Eric shakes my hand.
“You too. Sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
“Don’t worry about it. I live for this kind of excitement.” He smirks, then looks at Tyler. “You’ve gotten fat.”
Eric chuckles, obviously giving Tyler a hard time.
“It’s the sympathy baby weight,” I chime in. “He’s eating for two so Gemma doesn’t feel bad.”
Tyler rolls his eyes, but a smile hits his lips.
“Just playing with ya, man. You look great. Marriage suits you.” Eric nudges Tyler’s shoulder, then we walk to baggage claim.
Instead of heading back to Lawton Ridge after he gets his rental, we meet at a restaurant to talk and give him the details.
“I swear, something’s uncanny about your small town,” Eric muses as we eat.