Chapter 33
SHELBY
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The next few weeks are crazy.
We sent the Masons on vacation. Henry tried to talk us out of them going as the car company pulled up in front of their house.
According to Luke, his dad never takes vacations.
Chad called Henry the night before and told him he’d still have a job when he returned, saying this was a long overdue vacation with his family and to take this time to bond with his daughter and grandson.
Chad also rented them a suite at one of the park hotels. Henry argued it was too much, but Chad told him it was the least he could do for his years of service.
Once the Masons are off, Mr. Scott returns and goes over everyone in the household.
Nick pushes up his glasses. “So, the only thing we discovered is that your mom is a sneaky bitch. Sorry, Dom.”
“No need to say sorry. She is, but I didn’t understand how deep it went.” Dom lowers his head. “We learned from one of the maids that she’s been talking to someone. According to one of the guards, she’s even been sneaking out. She’s supposed to have a guard when she leaves the house, but she evades them.”
“Do you think Roger got to her?” I ask.
Dom shrugs. “It’s possible from everything we heard.”
“It would make sense. What other reason does she have to be up here on your last day of school while she thought you were out? She claimed to be looking for something. That’s when I met your dad,” I say.
Dom spins my way. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It slipped my mind. A lot happened at graduation,” I remind him.
“Do you think your dad will allow us to question her?” Cin asks.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Mav says.
“This isn’t a good time to bring this up, but your birthday is right around the corner. You said you’d talk about it later.” Luke brings up.
I rub my eyes. “You’re big on celebrating things, but I’m not in the right head space to celebrate this year.”
Cam, who is sitting beside me, takes my hand. “Not even something small with us?”
“Come on, Shelby. It’s your eighteenth birthday.” Mav dances.
“Guys, I appreciate what you’re doing, but I’m not in the mood.” I leave the room.
The next day, we’re in the formal living room on the other side of the house. We’re waiting for Dom and Mav’s parents to show up.
This side of the house is stuffy and museum-like. I’m afraid to touch anything. I’m scared to sit on the cream-colored couch.
Two paintings hang on the wall. One is a tacky portrait of Katherine, and the other is from Monet’s Water Lilies series. Of course, she’d have my favorite painting as a token of how rich she is.
“Why are you demanding I be here?” Katherine storms into the room, halting in front of the couch. “What the hell is going on?!”
“Mrs. Knight, my name is Louis Scott. I’m a hypnotist.” He holds out his hand.
Chad walks into the room. “I’m sorry, a what?”
They ignore Louis’s hand. Chad ushers a prune-faced Katherine to a seat, then sits beside her.
“A hypnotist, Dad. Several months ago, we discovered we were hypnotized to hate Shelby,” Mav explains.
“Is that why you were so angry for those two months after the Black and White Ball?” he asks.
“Yes, Mr. Knight. Frank found Mr. Scott, and he undid the hypnosis, clearing our minds and making it so we could never have hypnosis used against us again,” Luke says.
“This is ridiculous.” Katherine stands. “I’m not going to listen to this shit.”
Chad grabs hold of Katherine’s wrist. “And you think one of us may have been hypnotized?” He looks over his shoulder at Frank, who stands at the entrance to the formal living room.
“Yes, sir. Someone leaked confidential information. We’ve investigated the household staff, and they were cleared. Me included. I even had Mr. Scott do to me what he did for the guys, making it so hypnosis has no power over me,” Frank says.
“Sit down, Katherine.” Dad looks at Mr. Scott. “What are you going to do?”
Eyeing the exits, Katherine sits.
“I’ll try to put you under and ask you questions. I won’t ask you anything about your company, though,” Louis says.
“How can you be all right with this? This guy is going to be in your brain,” Katherine protests.
“Katherine, enough!” Chad bellows. “Frank and the boys are here to monitor the situation.”
I step forward. “The man responsible for shooting Mav and Dom held me captive for a month. He hypnotized me and the guys. His manipulation of us disrupted our lives and impacted those we love.”
“I’m sorry he had you.” Chad sounds upset for me, not at me. “That must have been horrible.”
“You believe this bullshit?” She waves her hand around. “Where is the hard ass I married?”
Chad turns toward his wife. “Long gone, thank God, and why would they lie? It seems like you are protesting a little too much.” Chad narrows his eyes. “What do you have to hide, Katherine?”
She fidgets. “Nothing.”
Chad clamps his hand around his wife’s wrist, preventing her from leaving, before turning to Mr. Scott. “Do it.”
Louis puts them under.
“Can we make Katherine moo like a cow? Please?” Mav chuckles, rubbing his hands together. “Then we can post it on social media.”
“Mav.” Dom gives him a look, even though his lips twitch as he tries not to smile.
Mr. Scott asks them the exact questions he asked the rest of the staff.
Their dad answers them. But, when it comes to Katherine, you can tell she’s fighting it.
“Do you want Dom and Mav dead, Mr. Knight?” Louis asks.
Chad’s face scrunches. “No, they’re my sons.”
“Okay. And you, Mrs. Knight. Do you want Dom and Mav dead?” Louis asks.
Katherine’s face pinches as if she’s straining not to answer.
Louis pushes harder. “Answer the questions, Mrs. Knight. Do you want Dom and Mav dead?”
“Yes,” Katherine spits out, her face red from the effort to resist.
Dom growls, and Mav shakes his head.
“Mr. Knight, Mrs. Knight. Answer this question in the order I say your name. Mr. Knight, have you been hypnotized by someone else?” Mr. Scott asks.
“No,” Mr. Knight replies, and some of the tension eases from Mav’s shoulders.
“Mrs. Knight, have you been hypnotized by someone other than me?” Mr. Scott asks.
“No,” Mrs. Knight replies as the guys glance at each other.
If not her, then who?
Louis looks up at Frank, who nods his head toward Katherine.
“Mrs. Knight, did you hire someone to kill Dom and Mav?” he asks.
Once again, Katherine fights to not answer.
“Answer the question!” Louis says with enough force that Katherine shrinks back into her seat.
“Yes!” she gasps out.
My mouth falls open. Holy shit, did she just confess that she paid someone to kill Dom and Mav?
“Why?” Mr. Scott asks.
“With them out of the way, I inherit everything,” she says as if she’s commenting on the color of the sky and not admitting to arranging her son’s and stepson’s death.
The guys swear, and Nick whistles.
I can’t believe someone could be so cold.
“I’m going to count back from five. You’re going to wake up and remember what you said.” He looks at Katherine like she’s a bad smell before looking at Dom and Mav.
They nod.
He walks up to her before he bends over and whispers something in her ear.
“Mr. Knight, for the safety of you and your sons, hypnosis will never again work on you. Five, four, three, two, one.” Louis claps his hands.
“What did you do, Katherine?” Chad growls, reminding me of Dom when he’s angry.
“What I had to. You have an iron-clad prenup on me.”
“And now you’ll receive nothing,” Dom states.
“Everything was working as planned, then you showed up!” She points to me.
I point to myself. “What did I do?”
“You brought them together again. Chad was so busy running his business that he didn’t know the shit his kids were up to. Then, you show up, and they start talking again, so I had to do something different.” She sneers.
“How did he contact you, Katherine?” Frank asks, no longer giving her the respect of calling her Mrs. Knight.
She leans back and crosses her legs.
“It would be better for you if you talked.” Dom stands over the woman who was supposed to love him as his mother.
“I’m not afraid of you, boy,” she sneers out.
“You should be,” he growls. “Now, answer the question of how you met Roger.”
Her lips roll back, and she snarls. “Fuck you.”
He peers over to Mr. Scott and nods.
Mr. Scott says three words, and Katherine collapses back on the couch.
“What did you do to her?” Chad tilts his head at Katherine.
“He put her back under, but deeper this time,” Dom states. “We should be able to ask her questions, too, correct?”
“Yes, unlike you three, she isn’t hypnotized by someone else, so we don’t have to worry about someone else’s voice breaking her out of this.” Louis nods to where Katherine slumps.
“Katherine, can you hear me?” Mr. Scott asks.
“Yes,” she says in a monotone voice.
He clasps his hands behind his back. “How did you meet Roger?”
“I’ve never met him. He called me and asked if I wanted to eliminate the twins. He promised me they would be dead,” she admits.
He looks at her, head tilted to the side. “Have you been giving him information?”
“Yes,” she says.
“How have you collected what you’re feeding him?” he asks.
“I placed a tape recorder in both rooms,” she says.
Mr. Scott sits across from her on the coffee table. “Where?”
“The one in Dominick’s room is taped under the top of his nightstand drawer, and the one in Maverick’s room is taped to the leg of his bed.” Katherine relaxes her position, her eyes glazed over.
“Son of a bitch!” Nick paces behind the couch. “We went over those rooms!”
“The RF wouldn’t pick up a tape recorder,” Frank states. “We’ll need to do another RF and manual sweep of the houses.”
“What were you doing in my room the day you ran into Shelby?” Mav asks.
“I tried to add another recorder, but your whore was lounging around in the living room,” she says.
“She’s not a whore,” Luke reprimands.
Mr. Scott holds up his hand for quiet.
“Why would you do this to me?” Chad’s whole body slumps.
“Do you understand what it’s like being married to you? I hate it, and I hate you. You never want to leave this place and go anywhere.” Katherine sounds like she’s whining, even in a monotone voice.
“My responsibility isn’t only for you and the boys, but also for my employees. A lot of people count on me,” he snaps back. “You knew this when you married me.”
“You love your work more than me. It’s why I’ve been cheating on you for years,” she says.
“Bring her back out,” Chad demands.
“One more question.” Dom places his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “Where is Roger hiding?”
“He didn’t tell me,” Katherine states.
“Okay. Mr. Scott, bring her out.” Dom nods.
When she comes out, she turns and looks at Chad.
“Leave my house. You have ten minutes to collect your shit before I send Frank after you.” Chad points to the door.
“Good luck trying to prove anything.” She lifts her chin. “What I say under hypnosis won’t be admissible in court.”
“You’re wrong, Mrs. Knight. I’ve been to court many times, just not in a situation like this,” Mr. Scott says.
“Plus, we taped it as a backup.” Mav waves his phone.
“Your time is counting down, Katherine,” Chad states. “And don’t think about taking any jewelry. It’s mine per the prenup.”
She screams as she storms out of the room.
“I better go make sure she listens.” Frank follows behind her.
“I’m sorry, boys. I can’t believe I didn’t see what a vindictive bitch she was.” He runs his hand through his hair.
“It’s all right, Dad. We turned out fine.” Mav throws his arm around Dom, who shrugs at his dad.
“We’ll see Mr. Scott out,” Nick mentions.
Chad stands up and shakes his hand, thanking him before he sits beside Mav and Dom on the couch, talking quietly.
Luke, Cam, and I walk over to join the others.
“How did it go?” Cin asks from the couch where she waited during the questioning.
Nick comes back in from walking Mr. Scott out. He holds up his hand for a second, pulling his phone out before dialing someone. We remain quiet as we wait.
“We good?” Nick asks before he nods and hangs up. “I wanted to make sure Frank had a few of his guys sweep the rooms again.”
“Yeah, they left about five minutes ago,” Cin says.
Luke, Cam, and I fall onto the couch, filling her in on what happened with Katherine.
Her jaw drops before snapping it shut. “That bitch.”
I nod my agreement.
Nick kisses Cin before he goes to where Beau and Aaron are set up to find Roger. He’s been spending most of his time with them.
The boys are out by the pool, and I’m heading to them. We have a water volleyball game to finish.
I walk out to the patio.
“Happy birthday, Shelby!” people shout.
I jump. I had hoped they’d forgotten my birthday. I told them I didn’t want to celebrate, but I should have known they wouldn’t listen.
A table stacked with gifts sits off to the side of the patio.
“You said you didn’t want to celebrate, but we couldn’t let your eighteenth birthday go past without a little party,” Luke says.
Ricky, Amber, Mark, and Billy lounge by the pool. Chad’s inspecting the grill. Sam and Paige are talking to Cin and Nick.
“You all right, gorgeous?” Cam questions.
I run my hand over my forehead. “I’m just not in the mood to party with everything happening.”
“It’s friends hanging out. Everyone here loves and cares about you. Dad’s going to grill some burgers for us. Pray that they don’t come out burned.” Mav glances over to where his dad is.
“I heard that, Mav,” Chad says.
“You do whatever you feel like, and if you want to sit and watch us, then we’re okay with that,” Mav states.
I smile at him. “Thank you.”
I walk over to Ricky and the gang.
“Happy birthday.” Ricky pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry about your mom.”
Amber hugs me next. “My condolences.”
“Thank you. I always knew she’d die before me because of the drugs she took, but things were changing for us.” I shake my head and plaster on my best smile. “Congratulations are in order. Show me the ring.”
Amber beams and holds out her hand. I don’t know the size of the diamond. It’s nothing like the one on Katherine’s finger, but it’s what Ricky can afford.
I hug her. “I’m so happy for you.”
“All right, it’s my turn.” Mark pushes his way to me.
I chuckle. “Hi, Mark.”
“Hi, sweety. Happy birthday.”
I look at Billy. “Hey, it’s good to see you.”
“You, too. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks.”
I stay and talk with them for a while.
They ask if I’ve considered racing this year.
I thought I missed some races, but it turns out that Gary caught the flu and ended up in the hospital for a week. The season will start in two weeks.
I said I’d have to talk to everyone, but I’m ready.
I tell them to enjoy themselves and head over to Sam and Paige.
Paige throws her arms around my neck. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I can only imagine what you’re going through.”
“Paige, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t have time. I found her when I came home from finishing my GED. I rode with her to the hospital thinking she’d overdosed like the other times. Then, the doctor told me she died, and before I could even deal with that, my case worker showed up and dragged me away.”
Sam wraps his arm around Paige. “How did your caseworker find out so quickly?”
“That’s what I asked, and she told me she received a call hours before my mom actually died. It had to be Roger.”
“He killed your mom. Oh, Shelby. I’m so sorry.”
I grip her shoulders. “Peter made the funeral plans for the family. Things were moving so fast I didn’t have time to think.”
“He had this planned out.” Paige cringes.
“Yes, he did. I need you two to be careful. He warned me he’d come after the ones I love if I didn’t back away from the guys.” I stare at the grass. “I wouldn’t survive if something happened to either of you. We sent everyone on a vacation. Can I offer you one?”
“As much as we would like that, I want to be here for the guys,” Sam says. “Luke has been taking me to the range and teaching me to shoot. He says I’m a natural. I might become a security guard for their company after college.”
“That’s awesome, Sam.” I hug him.
“Who wants to lose playing volleyball?” Mav twirls the ball on his finger.
Sam heads over to the court, and Paige and I sit by the pool to watch.
Peter arrives half an hour later, and he helps Chad with the grill. Thank God Peter showed up, because Chad has never cooked.
“Dinner’s ready!” Chad yells.
“I’m starving.” Cam pushes out his stomach and rubs it.
“You might not feel the same once you eat Dad’s food.” Mav counters, laughing.
Other than a few burnt burgers, the food is good. Ava made several sides. The guys made me sit in the middle of the picnic benches. Everyone around me is laughing and having a good time.
This is my family. I miss my mom, but I’m glad the guys threw me this party.
Once everyone eats, they tell me to stay seated while they clean the table. Then, they bring over the presents.
I eye the table filled with gifts. “Guys, this is way too many.”
“This is nothing. You should have seen what Dom got for his tenth birthday one year,” Mav says.
“This is making up for those years when you couldn’t or didn’t celebrate,” Cin says.
Nick brings over a tablet and sets it up. “Hannah wants to be here for this.”
The screen comes to life with Hannah’s face smiling back at us. “Hey, happy birthday.”
“Thanks. How’s Iowa?”
“Good.” She looks to the side, and the tablet pans left. It shows a blond-haired, blue-eyed guy, then it pans back to her. “Real good.”
I smile. “Looks like it.”
“Nick, give her my gifts,” she says.
Nick sets an envelope and a large box in front of me.
“You didn’t have to give me anything.”
“Of course, I did. You’re part of my family. Ask Nick how I go crazy with gifts.”
When I look at Nick, he rolls his eyes.
I open the envelope to find a gift certificate to Pure Bliss.
“That’s a day spa. I got you and a guest a full package. It’s not in your wheelhouse, but try it,” Hannah says.
“Thanks, Hannah.”
I open the next box, and it’s a little black dress.
“Every girl needs at least one of these in their closet, and I’ve been through yours. You have no dresses. Shame on you,” she says.
That’s because I’m not a dress kind of girl. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll use it.”
From Billy, Ricky, Amber, and Mark, I receive gloves, chaps, and a leather jacket for riding my bike. Sam and Paige give me an electronic picture frame filled with photos of Hawaii. Cin gives me a throw blanket with old pictures of us on it. She also gives me a headphone kit for my helmet.
Peter gives me a small box and an envelope. In the box are BMW keys and ownership papers. My head shoots up.
“It’s just sitting there, and Hannah agrees,” he says.
“I’m not going to use it so you can have it,” she says.
I’m floored. They said I could borrow it anytime I wanted to, but this is different.
I open the envelope, and it’s a legal document. I glance up at Peter before I read it. It’s adoption paperwork.
“While you’re eighteen and can care for yourself, Nick, Hannah, and I talked, and we would be proud if you become a Tate.”
“You want to adopt me?” I point to myself.
“Of course, I do. You’re a kind, loving, strong, amazing young woman. You are as much of a daughter as Hannah, and I love you.”
Tears run down my face. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, sis,” Hannah says from the screen.
I glance over to Nick, who nods.
I let out a big exhale. “Yes.”
“Yay!” Hannah yells.
Nick hugs me. “Welcome to the family, sis.”
“I don’t know if I want to follow that, but this is from all of us, including Dad,” Mav says.
He sets a semi-big square box in front of me. He’s full of energy, which makes me curious.
Inside is a picture of a house and a key with a key charm that says home.
“You bought me a house?” I gasp as I stare at the guys.
“Sort of. Dad put up half, and we covered the rest. It’s in Westridge, so you can always go racing,” Mav says.
I shake my head. “It’s too much.”
“We figured you say that, but it’s perfect,” Luke says. “It even has an apartment above the garage for Cin and Nick. There are enough bedrooms for everyone.”
“It’s down the road from us,” Ricky adds.
My head shoots up, and I gape at Ricky. “You knew about this?”
“I told them when it went up for sale,” Ricky says.
“Wow.” My mind blanks. A house. “Thank you.”
The guys also give me jewelry and some other items. Peter asks if he can talk to Hannah, me, and Nick. We move off to the side.
“What’s up, Dad?” Hannah asks.
“I’ve been thinking about selling the house, but I want your thoughts.” He adjusts his glasses.
None of us say anything.
Nick and I discussed this, and we figured this would come sooner or later.
He rubs his hands together. “Too many memories of your mom and Patty haunt the house. I can’t live there anymore. I’ll keep it if one of you wants it, though.”
“Dad, do what you feel is right. I don’t know when or if I’ll be coming back.” Hannah glances over her shoulder.
“I figured you’d be doing this at some point,” Nick says. “You spend your time at work, and your downtown apartment is closer. I say go for it.”
“Shelby, what do you think?” he asks.
“Me?” I point to myself.
“Yes. How would you feel if I sold the house?”
“Umm. I’ve only lived there for a few months. It’s the first place that felt like home to me, but my life is now with the guys. I agree with Nick. Your apartment is closer to work, and you don’t want to go back there.” I swallow. “My opinion shouldn’t matter.”
“Why? You’re family, silly,” Hannah says.
For her to call me family after everything we’ve been through breaks me, and tears run down my face.
“Thanks, Hannah, that means a lot.”
“Why? It’s true. We might not see eye to eye all the time, but I hardly ever agree with my twin. We had a rough beginning but are moving in the right direction. So, your voice counts.”
“Wow, okay. Hannah is in Iowa, and Nick and I have a place with the guys. Peter, you have your apartment. You should sell it.”
“Okay, then I’ll sell it. You need to figure out what to do with the items you have in the house.” Peter looks at us again.
“I wouldn’t mind taking some over to the new place,” Nick says.