Chapter 40
Hudson
“This is a little out of your jurisdiction, don’t you think?” Greg sneers as he stops outside the door to the room my sister summoned him to. I’m not sure what she said to get him here, but he’s obviously not happy to see me.
I just smirk as I hold the door open for him.
Upon entering, we spot my sister standing next to one of the long tables in the courthouse conference room.
I expect to feel her angry energy permeating the air, but I feel nothing. It’s like there’s a shield around her hiding all of her emotions and she’s wearing a blank mask to match.
“Let’s make this little meeting quick, shall we? Some of us actually have work to do,” Gregor snaps.
“The faster the better,” my sister agrees as she holds up one of the sheets of paper laid out in front of her. “This is an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights. You’re going to sign it giving up your custodial rights to Serafina.”
Monica holds out a pen as Gregor folds his arms.
“And why the fuck would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to inform the court of how you conveniently forgot to mention that your client is also your financial advisor.
Trial started at eight o’clock yesterday and there was no disclosure of a conflict of interest. Personally, I think your client should sue since this is going to delay his trial…
again. And if I were your partners, I’d have you fired just like Driscoll.
What a rookie mistake to lose a trial over.
Not to mention, I don’t think the firm will appreciate it when the news gets a hold of this story.
Two blunders on the same trial from the same law firm? Yikes.”
Someone needs to give my sister a damn award. Her flippant tone even has me on edge. She’s so sure this is enough to make him sign.
Gregor wavers, his jaw clenching and his nostrils flaring as he steps forward into my personal space.
“You’re going to fucking regret messing with me,” he snarls, still not signing.
“No,” Monica deadpans. “I don’t think we are.”
“Kid’s spiteful just like her mother anyway,” Greg murmurs to himself although it’s loud enough for us to hear, as he turns to the paper.
“Funny, Serafina likes me just fine,” I quip. Monica flashes me a warning glare and Gregor pins his black eyes on me.
“I’m going to ruin you, you know that, right?” Gregor says calmly.
“I’m not so sure you will, actually,” Monica chimes in, making me release my hold on Gregor.
“You see, apparently, you’re also unfamiliar with a term we call duty to withdraw.
So, allow me to spell it out for you. It’s a legal concept where an attorney has an ethical obligation to cease representation of a client if they believe the client is guilty and intends to plead not guilty.
You saw the original breathalyzer. You saw the photos of my husband’s mangled body.
You read the police reports and still you defended Jason Reed even though you knew he was guilty.
You got him off on a bullshit technicality and now my kids will never know their father. It’s only fair yours won’t, either.”
Gregor throws a scathing glare at Monica. “Well played.”
But he still doesn’t sign, dammit.
Greg sneers, squaring up to my sister and I feel helpless, standing on the sidelines, watching them verbally duke it out.
“Since we’re throwing terms around, have you ever heard of coercion?
I’ll sign that form under duress and the threat of not seeing my daughter. That will never hold up in court.”
Monica gets in his face. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, Hartley. One phone call and there’s going to be an investigator looking into all of your cases.
And my guess is they’ll find more than what we’ve discussed here today which means you can kiss that partnership goodbye and any other job as an attorney as well, considering tampering with evidence is a felony. ”
Monica moves on to multiple sheets of paper this time. First the police report from Will’s crash, then the photo of the real breathalyzer. Then the fake one.
It’s satisfying as all fuck watching the color drain from Gregor’s face.
“So, here are your choices. You sign this paper, giving up all rights to Serafina, drop the lawsuit against my brother and stay the hell away from Shannon, Hudson, and the rest of our family and friends, and I’ll only report the failure to disclose on the Ellington case.
But if you so much as breathe in any of our directions again, I’ll take every piece of evidence I can get my hands on straight to the police and the bar association. ”
Greg seethes as he snatches the pen from the table and furiously scribbles his signature on the form, freeing Serafina of his clutches.
Looking at the bottom of the form, I see that it’s already been notarized.
“There,” he snaps. “Now you two stay the fuck out of my business.” He moves past us and makes it to the door before Monica calls out.
“Oh, Gregor? I want written proof of the dismissal of the alienation of affection suit on my desk by tomorrow morning or I’m hitting send on the formal complaint against you sitting in my drafts folder.”
Gregor responds by slamming the conference room door so hard it rattles in its hinges.
“Again, I say…you are one scary woman, Monica,” I tell my sister. “But are you sure letting him continue to practice is a good idea? Even with this threat hanging over his head, I don’t trust him.”
“Of course not,” she scoffs. “I turned his ass in to the bar association this morning, filed an official lawsuit for the state of North Carolina against Gregor Hartley, and have already ensured an investigator has been assigned to the case you opened yesterday. I imagine they’ll be coming to collect him for questioning soon, and that subpoena will be placed in Jake’s hands by Friday. ”
“Why the theatrics with the custody form then?” I ask, genuinely curious if my sister just enjoys destroying souls for funzies these days.
“Do you know how long it’s going to take the system to sort his shit out? This way, you, Shannon, and Serafina can start over immediately without having to wait for the courts to decide what legal rights he has where that sweet girl is concerned.”
Monica’s mask begins to break as she finishes her thought and I know what she’s thinking.
Pulling her into a hug with my arms wrapped around her shoulders, I whisper into her hair.
“He’d be so fucking proud of you, Mon.” Her sobs echo in the room as my sister clings to me and her tears soak my shirt.
“I hate that we can’t go after Jason Reed again, but at least Gregor will pay for the injustice of it all. ”
She nods, but is having trouble pulling herself together, so I keep talking.
“I heard his voice, you know. At the beach. I went into the water lost, angry…” I trail off hoping she doesn’t misunderstand the next word. “…lonely. And when I dipped below the surface, he was there.”
Finally, she pulls back to look up at me. “What did he say?” she asks, wiping her eyes.
I chuckle. “You know Will. He basically told me to get my shit together and take this fucker down. I’m a little embarrassed to have to tell him that you did it for me. I suspect he’ll give me shit for that.”
She lets out a short chuckle of her own.
“That won’t surprise Will. Besides, we did it together.
” She flashes a quick look at her watch.
“Shit, I’ve gotta go. Wish me luck, the rest of this afternoon ought to be interesting.
I’m assuming Greg will finish the day out so I’m about to sit through the most awkward four hours of my life. ”
“But you’ll sit through them as the victor,” I remind her.
She smiles one more time. “That, I will.”
“Congratulations!” Phoenix yells, waving a bottle of Dylan and I’s favorite tequila in the air as he dances—literally dances—toward my front door.
I’m still not sure this is a congratulations kind of moment, considering the heaviness of everything that’s happened, but when I look at Shannon and see her wide, carefree smile, I think maybe it is that kind of moment.
“Thanks, Phoe.”
Behind Phoenix, Knox is carrying a casserole dish and a wearing a look that says make fun of me for this and I’ll break your teeth.
I hold my hands up in peace. “I’m not saying shit. I’m going to eat it, like it, and just be glad you made it.”
He nods as he passes by me into the house.
With their arrival, everyone is here. My house is filled to the brim and even Shannon’s parents made it for Thanksgiving dinner.
It’s the most excited I’ve been about this holiday in a long time.
There are dishes everywhere. We eat, and laugh, and entertain the kids.
At one point, Phoenix offers to pour shots from the bottle of tequila he brought.
“Show of hands, who wants one?” Everyone raises their hands except Shannon’s dad and Knox.
“I’m driving though, so I’m only having one,” Jake announces.
“I’m not driving so go ahead pour me two, sugar,” Shannon’s mom says to Phoenix.
Shannon pinches the bridge of her nose. “No, Phoenix, do not pour her two.”
Phoenix flashes a wink at Shannon’s mom. “I’ve got you, Barb. Two shots of tequila coming right up.”
Shannon’s dad looks at us across the table. “I hope you know she’s staying with you tonight.”
Barbara smacks him lightly on the shoulder. “Oh, you hush. I’m not driving and I’m not responsible for any kids right now. Besides, how many opportunities do I have for a bartender that looks like that to pour me a drink?”
Here we go, I laugh to myself.
“Barb, you could be the guy’s grandmother,” Hank says.
Several snorts are made around the table, but Barbara is unfazed…
mostly because it’s so far from the truth.
Barb is fifty-seven, meaning she could only be Phoenix’s grandmother if she had a child at fourteen who also had a child at fourteen because Phoenix is twenty-eight
She just shrugs a shoulder and fires back, “Age is just a number.” Then she turns her attention back to Phoenix. “I’ll give you fifty bucks to let me do this shot off your abs.”
“MOTHER!” Shannon cries. “Jesus, did you pre-game before you came over here?”
Phoenix loves the attention and plays along like a good sport. “Now, Barb, how do you even know I have abs? I’m wearing a sweater.”
“Oh honey, you get to be my age and you learn to read the signs. I can tell that not only do you have at least a six-pack, but you got those hip-dip things all the ladies love, and I’d be willing to bet you’re packing at least eight in—”
“OKAY! Dad, I think it’s time for you to get Mom home. And maybe into a cold shower,” Shannon announces loudly while Monica, Knox, Jake, and Dylan are all busting a gut and Phoenix looks smug as hell.
“That’s right boys, you heard her. Who has the little peepee now, huh? Not me.”
“Phoe, having a big dick and having big dick energy are two different things,” Knox says. It’s nice to hear him make a joke. With everything going on, I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to him besides that once at the fire station, and I need to make sure I change that.
“Not that you’d know what either one is like,” Phoe throws back along with his shot.
It’s like having Thanksgiving with a bunch of middle schoolers, and honestly, it’s perfect.
About an hour later, everyone says their goodbyes and heads for the door. Monica lingers before going upstairs to bed. When she hugs me, I feel her deep inhale and exhale.
“We still have a long road ahead of us, but at least this is progress,” she says against my chest.
I nod, having hit my limit for emotional responses to the whole situation. When Monica turns to Shannon, she doesn’t even hesitate before wrapping her arms around my girlfriend. “I’m glad you didn’t let fear stop you from loving my brother.”
Monica doesn’t allow herself to be vulnerable in front of many people so this is actually a pretty big moment for her.
Shannon hugs her back tightly.
“I’m just grateful he didn’t let fear stop him from loving me,” Shannon says.
With nothing more needing to be said, we all crack the door to the kids’ room to check on them before Monica heads upstairs and I lead Shannon to our room, hand in hand.