Chapter Thirty-Eight
TYLER
The past three days at work have been absolute torture. Every time I look at Gemma, I want to pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her. But I can’t, and I know she wouldn’t let me anyway. The woman I love is six feet away, and I can’t do a damn thing.
As I refill my coffee for the third time today, I think back to Saturday and the phone call that changed everything.
At least I’ll be able to get it off my mind for a bit with Eric coming to visit.
Everleigh and I are picking him up from the airport after work, and it’ll be a nice distraction.
Plus, with him close, I’ll be able to keep my eye on him to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.
No one seems to know where Victoria is, which can only mean bad news. I’m waiting for her to pop up unexpectedly, and knowing how she is, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. I’m not na?ve enough to think she’s given up because the O’Learys don’t work that way.
After my shift is over, I grab my shit and leave. Gemma doesn’t look my way, and I keep my eyes off her. The invisible wall between us is too high to scale, and I’m not convinced that Robert doesn’t have someone watching the garage.
The walk to the boutique gives me time to think about everything I want to say to Gemma and can’t, so I tuck it inside.
It disgusts me to know she’s going back to his house every night when she should be sleeping in my bed.
When I walk inside the boutique, the animated ghosts swoop down and nearly smack me in the face.
“This is a hazard,” I say, trying to hold back a smile. If anyone can make me laugh with the mood I’m in, it’s Everleigh.
“Lock the door behind you,” she says, but I don’t see her. Moments later, she comes into view with a pile of red and green Christmas sweaters in her arms.
“Already?” I ask, looking around, noticing half the store has already been transformed.
“Halloween will be over in a few days, and then it’ll be time for hot cocoa, chestnuts, and Santa!”
I groan and shake my head. “I forgot how much you love the holidays.”
“Well, get ready for it because I’ll be this crazy about decorating until Easter, then it starts all over with summer!” she squeals. I glance at the clock, and before I can say anything, she speaks up. “I’m almost done here. Get the broom and help a sister out.”
With a huff, I do it because we need to be at the airport within the next hour. It doesn’t take very long for Everleigh to start turning off the lights. She keeps the purple and orange twinkle strands on, and then we leave. On the way to her car, she’s all smiles.
“I love this season,” she says, nearly twirling before she unlocks the door. I offer to drive, and she happily lets me. Once we’re buckled, I turn on the radio, not wanting to talk, but she’s not having it.
Everleigh turns down the music.
“So, you gonna explain what’s going on between you and Gemma?”
I glance at her. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“She doesn’t want to either. I’m just confused.
I’d already planned your wedding, the kids’ names, and started buying baby clothes.
Then out of the blue, it’s over, and she’s marrying that asshole because of his stupid threats.
You were supposed to live happily ever after. This is messed up!” Her face contorts.
“It is,” I offer, not wanting to say too much more about this. Gemma has been very quiet and has given everyone the same answer—she’s marrying Robert. I grab the steering wheel tighter, hoping she’s taking care of herself while with him.
“I tried to talk her out of it. Katie did too. So did her dad. But she’s moving forward regardless of the fact she’ll be miserable for the rest of her life. I can’t watch my friend do this, Tyler. I can’t.”
“You’re gonna have to, sis. It’s her choice. She doesn’t love him, but she does love her dad and everyone else in her life who Robert threatened to destroy. It will all work out in the end. I promise.”
“I don’t see how it can with the wedding happening,” she mumbles, and I tense. Everleigh notices the mood change and thankfully talks about something else. “Next week, you wanna help me decorate the trees at the shop?”
A small smile touches my lips. “Trees?”
She nods. “Yes, trees. You can’t have just one. Come on.”
This makes me chuckle. “Maybe, but isn’t it tradition for it to be put up after Thanksgiving?”
“Not when you’re in the business of slinging candy cane leggings like they’re drugs.” She laughs at her own joke.
“Okay, okay. I’ll help.” I agree just to appease her.
Everleigh’s satisfied with my answer and turns up the volume.
We eventually make it to the airport, and soon, we see Eric exiting with a duffel bag swung over his shoulder. I honk, and he waves, then gets inside.
“Thanks, man. Appreciate you letting me stay with you for a little while.”
I look over my shoulder, and he doesn’t look any better than the last time I saw him. “No problem. This is my sister, Everleigh.”
Everleigh turns to him with a grin. “Nice to meet you.”
On the way home, we stop and eat at a diner because we’re starving. He doesn’t bring up Victoria, which I’m grateful for because Everleigh would ask too many questions.
Once we walk inside the condo, Everleigh showers and packs a bag.
“Leavin’ already?” I grab a beer from the fridge and hand one over to Eric.
“Yeah, Ruby and I have a date with The Challenge on MTV, and it starts at eight, so I don’t wanna be late. Be back on Saturday or maybe I’ll see you when I come see Sassy after work each day,” she explains, giving me a quick squeeze, then leaves.
Eric and I sit on the couch, and I flick on the TV for background noise.
“Glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, me too. Sorry to bring this up, but I’m just gonna come out and ask. Have you run into Victoria lately?”
“No, is she still here?”
“Yes. I hired a few trackers in Nevada, but no one’s seen her since Sunday.
She returned a few days ago. My source told me her private jet is sitting in a hangar in Birmingham, which means she’s close.
I dunno what she’s planning, but I guarantee nothing good will come out of it. So, I’m doubly glad I’m here.”
He gives me a serious look, and I take a swig of my beer, processing the information he shared. She might be in town, but she better keep her ass far away from Gemma and me.
“It’s not surprising. She’s already meddled with people who are in my life. I figured she was still scheming, working out her next move to take me down. I wonder where she’s staying.” I trail off, allowing my thoughts to get the best of me. “Do you know why the case was thrown out?”
Eric huffs. “They told me it was because of a technicality, but my lawyer got with me off the record and said her alibi was sealed airtight, and no weapon was found. It’s essentially my word against hers.
Victoria claimed I blamed her as revenge for firing me.
I couldn’t believe how she was able to twist the fucking truth and how people took her word as the Holy Grail.
She’s a goddamn murderer who’s freely walking the streets because she’s rich. ”
“Money makes people turn a blind eye on unethical things, even those who are supposed to protect and honor the law. All of it is bullshit, and I’m sorry you have to go through this,” I say, putting myself in his shoes and thinking about what he’s lost. Though I spent time in prison, the woman I love is still alive, even if she’s not with me right now.
“It does. And that’s exactly why I need to end this. Because if I don’t, she’ll continue this destructive path of ruining other people’s lives. I can’t allow her to get away with what she did, Tyler. I won’t.” He’s tense as hell as he tightly holds his beer bottle.
I suck in a deep breath and nod. “I know there’s nothing I can say that will stop you from going down this road. I’ll help you however I can, Eric, but I can’t get locked up again because of her. I’ve lost too much already.”
“This is my fight. You already did what you could, and allowing me to stay with you is enough. I appreciate you, man. Glad to have someone who’s sane in my corner for once and happy to help you and return the favor.”
A chuckle escapes me. “So what’s your plan?”
He shakes his head. “The less you know, the better. I just need to find her first, and then I’ll figure out the rest.”
His words cause a chill to run up my spine. I hate that he’s going to these lengths, but there’s no changing his mind. If Victoria would’ve done to Gemma what she did to Amara, I’d hunt her like the animal she is, consequences be damned.
Eric finishes his drink and stands. “I think I’m gonna get some sleep. Gotta get the rental car early in the morning.”
“Sure thing,” I tell him, showing him around the house just in case he needs anything. Everleigh offered to stay at Ruby’s for a few days so I could have her room and Eric could have mine. “Sheets are clean.”
“Thanks again,” he tells me. I grab some clothes from my drawers before I walk away and give him his space.
Sassy jumps off Everleigh’s bed when I pass to go into the living room, and I decide to take her for a walk.
It gives me a little time to blow off some steam, but now that I have confirmation that Victoria is in town, I watch out for anything out of the ordinary.
Sassy stops every ten seconds, but I don’t rush her, especially with how nice it feels out.
Once we’re back inside, I feed her some treats, then she runs back to my room and hops on the bed.
“You’re so lazy.”
I didn’t take a shower after work, so I go to the bathroom to take one.
When I step under the hot stream, I can’t stop thinking about the last time Gemma was in here with me.
The pain of her going through with the wedding nearly destroys me.
She’ll stand in front of a room full of people, and they’ll witness her exchanging vows with that asshole.
The whole thing makes me so goddamn sick to my stomach, and it’s suffocating.