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“Mornin’, Noah,” Gemma sing-songs when I walk through the front door. Her smile immediately drops when she spots Eric behind me. “Whoa, is that Eric?”
“Hey, Gemma. Nice to see you again.”
Gemma rounds the front desk and gives him a side hug. “You too…I think?” She places a hand over her belly, then looks at me. “What’s goin’ on? He didn’t fly all the way down here just for a quick visit.”
“Hey, guys.” Tyler waltzes in from the back office.
“You care to explain some things to me?” she asks Tyler with her hands on her hips. “The last time Eric was here, shit hit the fan.”
“I’m hurt,” Eric says, resting a palm on his chest over his heart. “I came here just to see you, of course.”
Gemma rolls her eyes. “Nice try. I know my husband and brother well enough to know that’s a bunch of bullshit. You’re here because of Brittany, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Gemma releases a long, agitated breath.
“Thanks fornottelling me.” Gemma grits her teeth as she stares at Tyler, then at me.
“I didn’t want you to stress, especially since your blood pressure is already high,” Tyler explains. “The baby needs you to relax.”
“The baby needs its mother to be in the loop so she doesn’t stress out!” Gemma argues.
“I’m, uh…gonna walk around and check out the area,” Eric offers, stepping back. “I’ll be out of the way, though, so go about your day like normal.”
Tyler flashes him an apologetic look before Eric goes outside.
“Alright, Smith has the list of tasks that need to be done today so we stay on track for the grand opening in three weeks,” Tyler tells me.
“I’m on it, boss,” I say, then give Gemma a hug. “Don’t be mad, sis.”
“Don’t give me a reason to be then,” she snaps.
Tyler mouths, “Hormones,” while shaking his head, and I snicker before walking away.
The workday goes smoothly, and Eric’s right, I barely noticed him. He walked around, making a note of the emergency exits, then he checked the alley and the other stores on the block. Since the gym is near downtown, several taller buildings would give a hit man a perfect bird’s-eye view of the area. Eric came prepared, though, and won’t hesitate to shoot this guy if the time comes.
“Ready?” I ask Eric once I say goodbye to everyone.
“Yep. Secured the perimeter and the whole damn block. Now I just need this guy to show up so I can—”
“Arm wrestle him,” Tyler quickly interjects.
Gemma scowls. “I’m not an idiot. I know exactly what Eric’s planning.”
“G’night, sis.” I give her a side hug.
“Be careful. I mean it,” she orders, squeezing me in return.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep him out of trouble.” Eric winks.
Once we’re at the house, I take a shower and get dressed.
“I’m gonna have dinner at Katie’s tonight. You’re more than welcome to come eat with us, or you can grab something on your own if you’d rather.”
“Nah, I ate only a couple of hours ago while I was at the deli. I’ll drive you there and stake out from the car just in case there’s any suspicious activity. Forgot to mention earlier that I’m running a background check on Brittany and Loretta. I also have a friend in Vegas who’s digging into their financials and cell phone history.”
I raise a brow, shocked he’s able to do all that. Instead of asking questions and getting answers I don’t want to know, I change the subject. “Alright, well, text me if you get hungry. I can bring you some leftovers.”
