Page 34 of Hidden Resolution (Stonebrooke #2)

S honda’s mind immediately rejected her mother’s involvement. Until she heard or saw any evidence directly, she may never believe it. Mason’s theory couldn’t be ignored outright, though, and it did need to be expanded upon. Still, a lot of things made sense now.

“This is insane,” she muttered again, jumping up to pace off her rising anxiety.

If her mother had raised them separately, it meant she’d planned to separate them when they were still in the womb.

Was Shonda meant to go to her father? Was her mother trying to be fair by offering up one of the children?

Perhaps after he’d stated he had no time to raise a baby—a constant complaint of Eva’s—her mother was forced to keep her and her sister apart.

How could a twin be explained after the fact?

How could Eva risk a visit between them?

As a child, Shonda wouldn’t have been able to help herself, and she’d have blabbed about spending time with her sister.

But the truth was coming clear. As the years passed, her mother had become more distant, taking off for longer periods of time. By middle school, if Shonda saw her for one week a year, it was a lot. She’d essentially been raised by a slew of nannies.

Her father had continually thrown money at the situation, not seeing it as a problem. His business was his love, and he’d poured his heart and soul into building a multi-million-dollar enterprise with the name Luigi’s in big bold letters.

Allison Grant must be the missing link.

Had she been in on the scheme from the beginning, too? Her involvement was the only explanation for Billy’s attempt on Shonda’s life and the reason the sisters-in-law were “estranged” from before Shonda’s birth.

“They’d planned for me to disappear in St. Thomas and for my sister to take my place,” she concluded woodenly.

The truth was difficult to bear. Not only was she unloved, but she was an inconvenience.

“They were looking for something in my room, Mason. My passport.”

Sapped of all energy, she feared her legs would no longer hold her upright. She collapsed on the recliner.

“What are you saying, love?”

“It wasn’t about the money. My mother could’ve gotten it from my father at any time.

He loves her,” she said, warming to her theory.

When Mason’s brows dipped, indicating his confusion, she said, “They intend for my twin to take my place. If I disappear, she could easily step in. It would give her access to my father’s millions, and she’d no longer live in the shadows. ”

Mason was silent as he processed her theory.

“That’s diabolical,” he breathed.

“Yes, but brilliant. Since Papa tends to be self-absorbed, and we rarely see each other, they must believe he wouldn’t know the difference,” she reasoned. “With my passport, they intended to make me disappear and for my sister to transform into the new, improved Shonda Grant.”

“But they never found it that night,” Mason concluded. “You had it when we returned from St. Thomas.”

“Correct. I’d put it in the safe within minutes of checking in.”

“And Billy was never looking for a hard drive. He was searching for anything that might have your passport number. At the very least, they could’ve claimed it was lost or stolen.”

They shared an oh-my-god moment, both realizing their chance meeting had saved her.

“They never counted on you,” she whispered around the lump in her throat. “You foiled them at every turn.”

“Damn straight,” he said, holding out his hand.

She joined him, craving his touch. The connection with at least one person who gave a shit about her made a difference. “Thank you for saving my life, Mason.”

“I can’t say it’s been my pleasure because of the bullet to the abdomen.” He grinned. “But I’d do it again if it keeps you breathing.”

Leaning in, she kissed him. “You may come across as a grumpy ass, but I suspect you have a teddy-bear heart.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

Their tender moment helped in healing Shonda’s past hurts. Therapy would take care of the rest.

“I should let you rest,” she said, noticing his focus drift.

“Not yet.” He tightened his grip. “So, was the GenCon espionage fake?”

Shonda considered it from all angles.

“No, I don’t think so. If I had to guess, they wanted to set me up and discredit me.

” She nodded as their ploy became clearer.

“With the combination of the attacks, my resignation, and Eva’s burned-down house, leaving me nowhere to find a safe haven, they’d predicted I would leave.

Why not when nothing was holding me in Stonebrooke?

What better way to assume someone’s life?

Other than Verity, who hasn’t seen me in a few years, no one knows me in Thornton. The transition would be simple.”

“Christ, Shonda. When I think about how close they came…” Mason looked as ill as she felt.

“Yeah, if you hadn’t picked today to plead your case…”

Anger blazed in his eyes. “How do we prove it?”

“Billy.” Shonda smiled.

“I don’t understand.”

“He was the light in Allison’s sky. That was never in question,” she explained. “She’ll take his death hard, and with luck, turn against my mother.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“She will, if there’s no money left to inherit from my father.”

“So we get Luigi to change his will to exclude Eva and any other offspring?”

She nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll change mine. When Allison sees it’s all tied up and out of reach, her reaction won’t be pretty. Especially after losing her son.”

“Then we can manipulate her, get her to confess, and turn on your mother and sister,” he said, admiration lighting him from within. “You’re a helluva brilliant strategist.”

“Why do you think Erica comes to me to help plot her stories?” she said with a playfulness she didn’t quite feel. Later, when she was alone, she could unpack the fact everyone in her family wanted her dead with the exception of Luigi.

Mason shifted and groaned. “In the meantime, while I’m trapped in a fucking bed, you don’t go anywhere alone. I want Dane with you at all times.”

His concern thawed the remaining pieces of her frozen heart. But she needed assurances. “You trust me alone with your brother? Aren’t you worried I’ll seduce him?”

His smile, when it flashed, promised ruin when he was recovered. “No, love. I’m certain jealousy will never be a concern for me again. Now come here, because I’ve waited too long to hold you.”

Careful not to jostle him, she climbed on the bed and nestled into his warmth. She inhaled deeply, breathing him in. How was it possible for one man to always smell divine? Shouldn’t he reek of hospital and antiseptic? His unique pheromone blend signaled her body, making it hum in recognition.

“Did you just sniff me?” he asked, teasing smile in place.

“Can I help it if?—”

He trapped her words with a kiss. Poignant, it expressed everything he’d been unable to put into words.

“I love you, Shonda.”

She could hold out for pride’s sake, or she could give in to what she’d always longed for. “I love you, too.”

“How determined are you to stay here in Colorado?” he asked sleepily, fatigue weighing his lids.

“Not very,” she replied with a light kiss on his jaw. “I miss Stonebrooke.”

His mouth settled into a pleased smile. “Good. I have a house on the lake you’ll love.”

“Are you actually going to invite me to your place?” she mocked, drawing back in shock.

“I’m actually asking you to move in with me,” he returned.

“I don’t know,” she teasingly hedged as she cuddled against him. “You’re a moody bastard.”

“Somehow, I don’t see you having a problem with my moods.”

Four weeks later…

“The verdict is in,” Shonda said, after hanging up with her father.

Mason paused in the act of sipping his coffee. “For Allison?”

“Yes. Conspiracy to commit murder and fraud. But her testimony is critical, and they’ve agreed to two years in a low-security prison, with the option for parole in six months for good behavior.”

“How do you feel about it?” he asked, worried about her internalizing the trauma.

“I’m not sure. I’m grateful Allison cooperated, but she was party to a murder plot against me.” Shonda shrugged matter-of-factly.

Later, when they had downtime, he’d ensure she unpacked her feelings and dealt with them.

“Eva and Shalya were arrested, according to my father,” she added. “And get this! Eva requested to see me.”

Mason scoffed. He’d lay odds her mother was figuring all the ways she could get Shonda on her side. Guilt seemed the likely manipulation tool.

“Will you go when we return to Stonebrooke?” he asked, supervising the loading of the last moving boxes.

“I’ve toyed with the idea for the sake of closure. But no. I’m done with her.”

Good. Now, if he could only mitigate her hurt and self-loathing for being fooled by people she should be able to trust.

“What about your sister? Are you curious about her or her motives?” He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. Together, they watched as the movers closed up the truck and the taillights disappeared over the crest of the hill.

“We know what her motives were, don’t we? Money and my mother’s approval,” Shonda said cynically. “No, I don’t need to see her either. Erica’s my true sister. She’s the one I choose.”

Hand in hand, they wandered back up the driveway and into the now-empty house. Mason stopped at the spot in the kitchen where they’d both almost lost their lives. He hadn’t realized his hand had tightened on hers until she protested.

“Sorry, love. I…” He inhaled a shaky breath, shaking his head. “Six inches to the right…”

He didn’t have to elaborate; they’d both discussed it in the weeks since his release from the hospital.

Had Shonda not stepped back when she did or had the bullet been right of Billy’s mark, she’d be the one in the morgue.

Mason would have lost her forever, a love truer than Melanie’s ever was, and he wouldn’t have recovered.

“I think we need to make a better memory for this kitchen,” she suggested, tugging at his hand.

Shaken from his moody musings, he met her smiling moss-green eyes.

“You don’t say,” he murmured against her lips.

“It’s important to exorcise the ghosts, so to speak. I mean, according to the doctor, you’re fit to resume normal activities in moderation.”

“When has making love been moderate between us?” he asked with a laugh.

“Valid.” She drew her hoodie over her head. “But there’s a first time for everything.”

“Have I ever told you how much I adore your can-do attitude?”

He grinned, and her panties were no more.