Noah's Adventure - 22. The Reveal

Little B sat rigid in the chair, his eyes squeezed shut while the entire room watched him in heavy silence.

“Let me,” I said, pushing past Grandma, Uncle Matt, and Great-Uncle Tristan.

I crouched until I was eye level with him.
“Hey, bud,” I said gently. “Are you okay?”

He nodded but didn’t open his eyes. He looked like he wished he could disappear — and for once, he couldn’t.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

He shook his head no.

“Little B,” I said quietly, placing a hand on his knee, “open your eyes.”

They cracked open just a little.

“It’s okay,” I added. “We’re not mad at you.”

A few scoffs sounded behind me. I turned and shot daggers until the room shut up.

“We know Great-Grandpa Tristan was involved,” I said carefully.

Little B’s eyes opened fully — and the way he looked at me wasn’t normal. It felt like he was seeing through me.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he whispered. “They were bad people.”

“I know,” I said softly. “But killing them wasn’t the answer.”

“It had to happen, Noah,” he said. “There wasn’t a choice.”

“There is always a choice,” Grandma said, her voice tight.

“There wasn’t,” Tristan said, appearing behind Little B.

“Explain,” Grandma snapped.

“Hopkins was dirty,” Tristan said flatly.

“That’s impossible,” Grace said immediately. “He was respected. A fierce judge.”

“You sure you’re not wrong?” Grayson asked.

“I took what I found to Jackson,” Tristan said. “We both tried to stop him.”

“Stop him how?” Grace demanded, irritation bleeding through.

“We investigated. Dug into his finances. His connections. Tried to give him an out.” Tristan shook his head. “He wouldn’t listen.”

“So you blew up a courthouse,” Grandma said, venom in every word.

“Yes,” Tristan replied, unapologetic. “Because Hopkins was going to hand everything to them. The estate. And then approve a second suit for damages. They were coming for all of it — including yours.”

Grandma slowly sat down, staring into nothing.

“Mom?” Uncle Matt asked, panic creeping in.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I knew the Bakers were greedy. I knew Paul owed people. But this…” She exhaled. “This is insanity.”

“They wanted the family to suffer,” Tristan said. “All of you.”

“They do realize the family wealth isn’t accessible through civil suits,” Grayson said dryly.

“I don’t think they cared,” Tristan replied. “They just wanted money.”

Grayson sighed. “I love you, Tristan, but you’re incredibly short-sighted. There are more lawyers in this family than doctors. Any one of them could’ve told you they couldn’t touch a single protected asset.”

Grace leaned forward. “How did you get the judge to stay home?”

Tristan froze.

“He thinks it’s Saturday,” Little B said suddenly, giggling.

Every head snapped toward him.

“We changed everything,” Little B continued proudly. “The clocks. His phone. His alarms. His house thought it was Saturday. It took a lot of work.”

Silence.

“The real question,” Grace said slowly, “is who was controlling the judge.”

Before Tristan could speak, Shiloh muttered, “The Senator.”

Tristan nodded. “He’s right. The Senator is pulling the strings.”

“Why?” I asked. “Why does he hate me?”

Tristan looked nervous. He glanced at his brother.

“He’s related to someone,” Tristan said carefully.

“Daddy won’t be happy,” Little B added.

Uncle Matt shifted uncomfortably.

“He doesn’t go by the name anyone here would recognize,” Tristan said.

My stomach dropped.

“He’s known publicly as Senator William Keller,” Tristan continued. “But his mother’s maiden name was Hastings.”

Grandma went pale.

So did Uncle Matt.

“Who’s Hastings?” I asked.