“Love you, Mouse.” I squeeze her fingers then let her go.

When we reach the front door, Nico opens it, then waits for me to step outside before he shuts it behind himself.

“They got Matthew.”

My shoulders jerk back in surprise at this news coming from him and not Miles or Tucker. “A hunter came across his body this morning and the coroner just confirmed it was him.”

“He’s dead?”

“His body was found near Percy Priest Lake. He suffered a single gunshot wound to the side of his head, and after going over the scene, they believe the wound was self-inflicted.”

“So, they think it was a murder-suicide?” I surmise.

He nods.

Looking at the door, I don’t even want to think about what Willow will think or feel when she finds out this news. “I’m not sharing this with her now, not with all these people around.”

His jaw clenches.

“What?”

“I looked into you. I know some of your story. Know who Dayton, Miles, and Tucker are to you and about your sister. What I need is for you to tell me that what you’ve been through, and the shit you’re doing now, isn’t going to blow back on you and, in turn, my girl.”

“I love your daughter and I’d never let anything touch her.”

“You can’t always prevent shit like that from spreading through your life and contaminating everything.”

“I can. And my family knows where I am with Willow and that my priorities have shifted.”

His eyes stay locked on mine. “I don’t want to like you.”

“You don’t need to,” I tell him as the door starts to open.

“You haven’t been around long enough to know that’s not true,” he says, focusing on Sophie when she pokes her head outside.

“Is everything okay out here?” She scans me then Nico before locking her eyes on his.

“All good, baby, just filling Clay in on some news I got,” he tells her, ushering her back into the house and following her inside.

With a deep breath, I step back in behind them, not sure what the fuck to think about whatever the fuck that was.

“You’re not bleeding so I guess whatever Dad wanted to talk to you about wasn’t bad,” Willow says as soon as she sees me.

I take her into my arms.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll explain when we’re alone,” I tell her softly and her eyes search mine.

“Is it about Carly?”

I nod and she drags in a breath then takes my hand and just keeps hold of it like a lifeline until people start to leave.

With Leah and Sophie helping to clean up the plates and cups that were left around by guests, the place is straightened fast. I turn when the front door is opened and watch Miles step inside carrying a small wooden chest.

“Where’s Willow?” he asks me.

I motion across the room where she’s sitting with her dad.

“What’s that?”