Page 87 of Hidden Resolution

Having reached a plan on how to move forward, Shonda nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll assume you need a shower. Do you want your coffee first, or do you prefer me to wait and reheat it?”

“First, please.”

He left and returned with a mug and pain reliever.

“When you’re done here, we need to address a problem,” he said. His regretful tone suggested he’d spare her if he could.

Giving him a single nod, she allowed him to pull her to her feet. Catching her reflection, she winced.

“I was right. Crack whore,” she mumbled.

Mason was delightfully confused as she ushered him out. The fact he hadn’t made a suggestive remark or offer to scrub her back confirmed her dreadful appearance.

Twenty minutes later, feeling a step removed from the walking dead, she ambled into the kitchen. Mason, spatula in hand and apron tied around his lean hips, stood over her range, scrambling eggs.

“I wasn’t sure what you could tolerate, but sometimes greasy food helps.”

She dry heaved and slapped her palm over her mouth.

Turning off the burner, he picked up a plate and offered option two. “Dry toast?”

She accepted a slice and parked her butt at the counter. A muffled sound from the other room startled her. Inching back, she peeked around the wall and gasped.

Tied to a chair, with a gag in his mouth, was a very bruised and bloody Billy. His moss-green eyes, so like hers, pleaded for help.

Shonda straightened up, catching sight of Mason’s grim face.

“That’s what we need to discuss,” he stated gravely.

Laughter exploded from her.

Sure, she probably seemed like a lunatic, but who cared? Her life couldn’t be any more insane, and she should just go withthe flow. With any luck, she’d be committed and given the good drugs.

“Let me guess. You suspect Billy has been trying to off me?” she said when she’d regained a semblance of sanity.

The shock on Mason’s face almost set her off again. She used her mug to hide her smile.

“Well, yes. But it’s a helluva lot more serious, love.”

“Of course, it is.” She sighed. “Because my life isn’t shitty enough.”

All trace of humor vanished, and she ate her dry toast in silence, chasing it with coffee.

As Mason explained their encounter, he also admitted to roughing Billy up as a warning against future attempts to harm her and helping him rethink the error of his ways when he was eventually released from prison. And sonofabitch if she didn’t fall in love with him all over. Not that any good would come from falling deeper into feelings.

Her new lawyer, John, had spoken to another attorney, and together, they devised a solution for Shonda’s legal woes. Luckily, there was documentation for the island incidents and the car explosion. John told them the outcome was fairly straightforward and had his paralegal type up a statement for her to turn in to the department heads as well as the human resources department.

Shonda spent the morning placing calls and hosting video chats.

Unbeknownst to Billy, Mason had caught his smug confession on his phone’s recorder. The audio file helped when Shonda played it back, but not much.

“You’re to report Billy’s involvement to the police for his nefarious behavior and turn him over. We also expect your resignation by the end of the day, Ms. Grant.”

“Understood. Thank you, Mr. Bascombe.” She owed no loyalty to her pissant cousin for what he’d done to her. “And again, I’m grateful for your lenience.”

“We’re sorry to lose you.”