A Lover's Vow

Ben paused a moment to gather his thoughts, knowing that his daughter, the ex-cop, was latching on to his every word. “I was able to pick up on those things about him immediately, the minute I walked into the prison. He’s highly respected by more than just the warden. He’s earned the respect of the guards and his fellow inmates. They know he’s getting special favors, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. In fact, it’s as if they know any favors given to him will eventually benefit them. They know that he will look out for them.”

Jules nodded then asked the question Ben had been waiting for. The one he had known she would get around to asking. “Do you think he’s someone who could have killed his wife?”

Ben didn’t say anything for a minute. “I only met him that one time, Jules, and the meeting lasted a little more than an hour. But it’s my belief that the only way he could have done such a thing is if he’d been pushed, and I mean pushed really hard. I never knew his wife, so I can’t say what he was dealing with. But, according to what Jace and Shana shared with me on the ride to Delvers, the brothers have proof that it was their mother, not their father, who was having an affair.”

Jules already knew that. The way the story went was that one night, while working late at Granger Aeronautics, Shana and Jace had discovered a secret compartment inside a sofa in Sheppard Granger’s office. The secret compartment held a file containing proof of the affair.

What Jules had found just as fascinating was why her sister and now-brother-in-law were in his father’s empty office in the first place. Both Jace and Shana had sealed their lips on that part, but Jules figured they must have been giving that sofa one hell of a workout.

“Throwing that into the mix,” Ben interrupted her thoughts to say, “a jealous husband might do just about anything. He might have snapped.”

Jules rolled her eyes. “Maybe right then, but not a few months later.”

Ben shrugged his wide shoulders. “Maybe not. But maybe he wanted a divorce, and she refused to give him one.”

Jules drained the last of her lemonade. “What if Sheppard Granger’s suspicions are true and whoever sent that email meant business? That means Shana could be in as much danger as Jace. It also means there might be more behind Sylvia Granger’s death than her affair. That may have just been a cover-up for something bigger.”

Ben didn’t want to hear that, although the same thought had crossed his mind earlier. Before he could formulate a response to his daughter’s comments, his phone rang. He stood up, grateful for the reprieve. “Excuse me for a minute. That might be Mona.” He quickly left the room to answer his mobile phone, which he’d left in the living room.

When he reached it, he frowned, not recognizing the phone number. “Hello?”

“Ben, this is Sheppard Granger. Is there any way you can pay me a visit? Today, if possible? I might need your help.”

Eight

Dalton walked into McQueen’s and glanced around. It was happy hour, and the place was certainly lively. He walked over to the bar and slid into a seat, thinking that just a few months ago, he and his brothers would have been enjoying a drink together after a long day at work. Now Jace and Caden were biting at the bit to get home to their wives.

“What are you having, Granger 3?” Myron, the bartender and owner of McQueen’s, asked. Myron was a fun-loving guy who managed a nice place. The drinks were good and the food exceptional. Myron had started differentiating between Dalton and his brothers by referring to Jace as Granger 1, Caden as Granger 2 and Dalton as Granger 3.

“The usual.”

Myron grinned. “Your usual is coming right up. Where are Grangers 1 and 2?”

Dalton shrugged. “Home with their wives, I suppose. Probably ran red lights to get there.”

“Marriage has a way of doing that to you,” Myron said, placing a glass of scotch in front of Dalton. “So don’t hate them.”

Dalton frowned. “I don’t. I just didn’t expect the changes so soon. Jace, Caden and I were apart for years, living our lives in separate places, but now we’re back in Charlottesville, what do they do the first chance they get? Get married. If that’s not bullshit, I don’t know what is.”

Myron shook his head, grinning. “Doesn’t sound like bullshit to me but good common sense. Remember, I’m also married—and happily. I played your game for years, different woman every day of the week, a flavor of the month. But at some point that crap gets old. I wouldn’t trade being married.”

Dalton figured he didn’t want to hear anything else Myron had to say. He wasn’t in the mood. Taking his drink, he said, “I’m grabbing a table. Talk to you later.”

Crossing the room, he saw several women checking him out, some brazenly, not even trying to hide their interest. Surprisingly, he wasn’t in the mood for them, either—women throwing themselves at him, probably needing a good fuck as much as he did. So why was he having a pity party when he could probably go somewhere and have an orgy? He felt the answer soak deep into his skin, and he could taste it on his lips. Because he only wanted a certain woman. One who was more edgy than soft, sharp than dull, one who invaded his dreams every night like she had a damned right to be there.

He slid into a booth and took a sip of his scotch, loving the taste. He needed it tonight. His brain was on overload. Last night had been a jolt to his system, and something was still kicking inside him. Anger. Frustration. Horniness. All three. He hadn’t liked giving in to Jace’s suggestion that they give their father time to decide how he would deal with them. Shit, they weren’t children but grown-ass men. What was there to deal with?

“Mind if I join you?”

He glanced up and stared into Stonewall’s face. He took another sip of scotch. “Does it matter if I mind?” he asked flatly.

“Not really,” Stonewall answered, sliding into the seat across from him. “Now that you know what my job entails, there’s no longer a reason for me to be discreet or keep a low profile.”

Dalton wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad. The fact that he’d been followed around for a little over a month without his knowledge still didn’t sit well with him. The USN had taught him how to be on his guard, expect the unexpected and be ready. But over time, once he’d put the agency behind him, he had stopped looking over his shoulder. Now it seemed he would have to start doing so again for an entirely different reason.

Stonewall summoned a waitress to take his drink order, giving Dalton a chance to study the man more closely. He figured Stonewall was in his midthirties and worked out a lot, probably hitting the gym every day. Dalton could tell that even while talking to the waitress, Stonewall was scoping out his surroundings and had taken stock of every single person in McQueen’s, somehow making a mental note while not missing a beat. And he was doing so with evident ease and efficiency, which led Dalton to believe he was well-practiced at it.

As soon as the waitress left, that assumption led him to ask, “How long have you been doing this?”

Stonewall’s gaze shifted from the backside of the waitress walking away to Dalton. His eyes were filled with male appreciation, and Dalton knew that the smile touching the man’s lips had nothing to do with the question but with the woman he’d just ogled.

“Why do you want to know?”

Dalton shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m curious.”

At that moment, the waitress came back and smiled at them both before placing Stonewall’s drink before him. This time, they both watched when she walked off. Knowing they were looking, she put a deliberate sway in her hips for their benefit.

Dalton grinned. “I love coming to this place.”

Stonewall nodded. “After my first night of tailing you, it became obvious that you do.”

Dalton took a sip of his drink and watched as Stonewall did the same. Just to make sure the question he’d asked earlier wasn’t lost in the shuffle, he leaned forward in his seat. “So how long have you been working for Summers?”

Stonewall took another sip of his drink. “Off and on for about ten years, while working on my degree.”

“Degree in what?” Dalton asked with a raised brow.

“Education.”

Now he’d heard everything. “You ever use it?”

“I sub sometimes.”

Dalton shook his head. Interesting. The man was full of surprises. He couldn’t imagine him being a substitute teacher in any classroom. “One last question.”

Stonewall’s gaze was keen. “And make sure it’s your last.”

Dalton stared across the table at him. “When are you going to stop following me around?”

Stonewall held his stare. “Not until Shep gives the word, so whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

* * *

Gesturing her sister over to the sofa, Shana eased down in the wingback chair across from it and gave Jules a bright smile. “So you’re here to tell me why you were staked outside Dalton’s place last night?”

Jules rolled her eyes. “No, I’m here to see how you’re feeling. Dad said you texted him to say that you wouldn’t be going into the office today.”

Shana chuckled softly. “I’m fine, but since I had a late night I decided to stay home and take it easy. In fact, it was really Jace’s idea.”

Jules laughed. “I guess sleeping with the boss has it perks.”

Shana joined in, laughing with her. “Yes, it does, trust me. More than one,” she said, leaning back against the chair and lifting her legs to rest on the ottoman. “Although, technically, Jace isn’t my boss. I was hired to do a job for his company, and one thing led to another.”

It most certainly did, Jules thought, studying her sister. Was she imagining things, or was Shana finally getting a little pudgy in the stomach? It was about time. She was pregnant, so she might as well look it. “When will you find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl?”

Shana shrugged. “Not sure if we want to know. I think we just want to be surprised.”

It was their choice, but if she were the one having a baby, she would want to know. “Did Dad ever tell you that our maternal grandmother was a triplet?”

Shana frowned. “No, and he didn’t tell you that, either, so don’t play with me like that, Juliet. And speaking of Dad, I understand you spent the night over at his place.”

“Yes, and did he mention he wasn’t home when I got there?”

“No, he didn’t mention that. It had to be after two when we left Dalton’s place.”

“Exactly. He didn’t come home all night, and I have a feeling it wasn’t the first time.” When Shana didn’t say anything, just sat and smiled, Jules’s eyes widened. “You knew?”

“Yes, and I wondered how long it would take for you to figure things out. I believe he began spending nights at Mona’s place after they took that New York trip together. So I guess it’s now really serious.”

Jules waved off Shana’s words. “Men sleep with women all the time, and there’s not a doggone serious thing about it.”

“True. But we’re talking about our dad, Benjamin Bradford, the man who has never introduced a girlfriend to us before Mona. Trust me, it’s serious.”

“Maybe he’ll get over it.”

Shana glared at her sister. “I hope you’re not counting on that happening, and why should you? Dad’s happy. I’m happy for him, and you should be, too.”

“I am, but...”

“But what?”

Jules didn’t say anything for a minute. “But we never had to share him with anyone after Mom died.”

Shana nodded her understanding. “I know, but don’t you think it’s time? We both have our lives, and now it’s time for him to have his. It would be selfish of us not to want that for him.”

Jules knew Shana was right and would admit she liked Mona. But still...

“Just think of the bright side,” Shana said, interrupting her thoughts.

“Which is?”

“He’s found someone special. Someone we can both admire. She’s a very strong woman, the kind of woman he raised his daughters to be. Mona hasn’t let her blindness stop her from living a fulfilling life. I think that’s one of the reasons Dad fell in love with her.”

“You’re probably right. Good thing we had finished lunch before he got her call. You should have seen the way he rushed out the door.”

“Yes, our dad is truly smitten,” Shana said with a pleased smirk on her lips. “So tell me. Why were you parked outside Dalton’s place last night waiting for him to come home?”

Jules inhaled deeply. She knew how her sister’s mind worked and could see the wheels turning in her head. “It wasn’t for that, Shana. No matter what that guy Bobby thought, I was not making a booty call. The only reason I was parked outside Dalton’s house that time of night was because of you.”

Shana’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Me?”

“Yes, you. While talking to you yesterday, I could tell how disappointed you were by Dalton’s refusal to attend your dinner party this Saturday night because of me. I figured that he and I could talk things out like two sensible and mature adults and learn how to tolerate each other. Needless to say, we never had that conversation.”

“But the two of you did kiss?”

Jules frowned. She knew Shana wasn’t really asking the question, since Bobby had made a big announcement about the incident the previous night. “He took advantage of the situation. When I noticed he was being followed, I realized that I would have to be creative to find out who it was. I rang his bell and when he answered I told him to pretend that we were kissing, and then he took full advantage.”

Shana laughed. “Yes, that sounds like Dalton. He’s a ‘take advantage’ kind of guy, definitely an opportunist. Now you see what you’re dealing with.”

Jules shook her head as she stood. “I’m not dealing with anything. I can see that discussing anything with him would not have worked. The man is impossible.”

“But is he a good kisser?”

Jules shrugged before heading toward the door. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Shana smiled. “For you, a lot. I’ve known you to drop guys after the first date if they didn’t kiss worth a damn. So how did he do?”

Jules paused before she reached Shana’s front door. “Truthfully?”

“Yes, truthfully.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, knowing Shana was the only person she would admit this to. “On a scale of one to ten, with ten being at the top, I would give him high twenties or above.”

Shana’s eyes widened. “He was that good?”

“Better than good,” Jules said with an expression that indicated the very thought infuriated her. “Although Dalton Granger has many faults, being a lousy kisser is decidedly not one of them.”

Nine

“Thanks for coming, Ben.”

Ben nodded as he dropped into the chair across the table from Sheppard Granger. Ben had been a cop long enough to see how unusual Sheppard’s accommodations were. First of all, most inmates don’t get to use a private conference room to meet with anyone, and they definitely aren’t offered one as spacious as this one. Ben recalled this room from his previous visit with Sheppard.

He’d noted that the room was adjacent to the prison library. It was a huge, windowless room that Ben figured was some sort of conference room used by the warden and the parole board to determine the fate of inmates.

And the guard, the same one who had been there the last time, and who was the only other person in the room, was only there for show. He hadn’t called Sheppard out on any violations, like when they had shaken hands. Under normal circumstances, there would be a no-touching policy.

From what Jace had shared with Ben, he knew that a few years ago the warden had given permission for Sheppard Granger to be alone for any meetings with his attorney or close family members. That privilege wasn’t given to all prisoners, just those considered trustworthy. Evidently, Sheppard Granger had found favor with both the warden and the governor, who would have to approve such rights and honors before they were extended to Granger.

Ben got comfortable in his chair while studying the man sitting across from him. He and Granger were the same height, although he figured Granger was probably a few pounds heavier. However, it was obvious he used the gym regularly and seemed fit and healthy. And then there was that same air that had surrounded him the last time. This was a man who had not only accepted his fate fifteen years ago, but had worked hard to deal with it in a positive way, too. Ben doubted most men could have pulled something like that off and seriously doubted that he could have.

“Over the phone, you said something about needing my help,” Ben said, breaking the silence in the room.

“Yes. But first I want to say something, and it’s something you need to hear straight from me.”

“Which is?”

“I didn’t kill my wife.”

Ben wasn’t sure why Sheppard wanted to see him, but with that opening, he knew there was no time for formalities. And there was no time for cat-and-mouse games. “I honestly didn’t think that you did,” Ben replied.

He saw relief etched on Granger’s face when he said, “Thank you.”

Ben shook his head. “You’ve been locked up for fifteen years for a crime you didn’t commit, yet you’re thanking me?”

“Yes, because you believed me when a jury didn’t.”

“But to be fair to the jury, you didn’t allow your attorney to introduce evidence that could have swayed them.” At the lifting of Sheppard’s brow, Ben could only smile and say, “Your son was marrying my daughter, so I couldn’t help but be curious. You can chalk it up to the ex-cop and the ex-detective in me.”

Sheppard didn’t say anything for a moment as he stared at Ben. “Had I done that, it would have dirtied my wife’s name. She was the mother of my sons, and I couldn’t do that to them.”

“But you could do this to yourself?” Ben asked. “Take a rap you didn’t deserve?”

“Yes, if it meant keeping them safe.”

“Or sheltered?” Ben countered.

“Or sheltered.” Sheppard Granger paused a moment before saying, “The reason I called you here is about keeping them safe. I understand there was a meeting last night.”

“So I heard, since I wasn’t invited. I spoke to Shana briefly this morning, but it was my younger daughter, Jules, who filled me in on most of it.”

“Your younger daughter was there?”

“Yes. In fact, she’s the one who spotted that guy following Dalton. She was parked across the street, waiting for him to come home last night.”

“Oh.”

Ben chuckled softly. “Trust me. It’s not what you think.”

“It’s not?” Sheppard asked with eyes that didn’t hide his interest.

“No. In fact, I’m convinced she hates Dalton’s guts...probably just as much as he hates hers. Their first meeting some months back left a very negative and lasting impression on both of them. The only reason she was there was to confront him about his refusal to attend Shana’s first dinner party this Saturday night.”

Sheppard frowned. “Why wouldn’t he attend?”

“Because he knew Jules would be there. It’s a long and taxing story. So let’s just say we have two kids who love each other, and then there are two who can’t stand the ground the other walks on.”

Sheppard didn’t say anything for a moment. “I assume you know about the bodyguards I hired to protect my sons.”

“Yes, and I’m sure you know they aren’t thrilled about it.”

“So I gather. My warden gave me a message that they called. By then, I had already spoken to my attorney, and she’d given me the details. They are waiting for me to return their call, but I wanted to talk to you first. Get some advice.”

Ben lifted a brow. “Advice? Shouldn’t you consult your attorney for that?”

“Not for this. I need the advice of an ex-cop, one who was honored as Policeman of the Year four times. And one who would have had a great career as a detective if he hadn’t put his daughters first and resign after a couple of years to go back to being a cop to spend more time at home with them.”

At the widening of Ben’s eyes, Sheppard smiled. “My son was marrying your daughter, so I did some research of my own.”

Ben laughed. “Fair enough. So why am I here?”

At that moment the prison guard Ben remembered from the last visit, Ambrose, crossed the room and handed Sheppard a piece of paper. He took it and glanced at it before handing it to Ben. “This is the reason for the bodyguards. I know I didn’t kill my wife, but someone else did. And that someone doesn’t like the thought of my leaving here anytime soon.”

Ben glanced down at the paper and read it. It was an email that had been sent to Sheppard. He didn’t like the words. He didn’t like the tone and he sure as hell didn’t like the blatant threat.

Granger. You don’t know me, but I know you. If I were you, I would make sure your sons don’t get it into their heads to prove your innocence. Something tragic could happen.

Ben lifted his gaze. “Have you shown this to the prison officials?”

“Yes, Warren Smallwood is aware of it. My attorney was able to trace it to a public computer in the Wesconnett Library.”

Ben nodded. Wesconnett was a community on the outskirts of Charlottesville.

“I never wanted them to find out about that email.”

Ben shrugged. “So now they have, and according to Jules, threat or no threat, they intended to fight to have your case reopened.”

“I can’t let them do that.”

“Not sure you can stop them.”

“I must. They have more than just themselves to think about. Jace and Caden now have wives and we—you and I—have a grandbaby on the way. I don’t know who or what I’m dealing with here, Ben. And I don’t want anything to happen to my family. Which is now our family.”

Ben didn’t say anything for a long moment as he stared at Sheppard, understanding completely what he was saying. “What is it you want me to do, Sheppard?”

“My sons won’t like what I intend to tell them when we meet, but it can’t be helped. Their lives are a lot more important than mine. I can’t allow them to reopen my case. I’m hoping you will get through to them where I might fail.”

Ben lifted a brow. “I don’t know your other two sons that well. Just Jace.”

“And that’s a good start. Jace is levelheaded, and Caden and Dalton respect his leadership. If you can convince Jace of the danger, not just to himself but to Shana and their child, he might see reason.”

“And if I can’t get him to come around?”

Sheppard heaved a deep breath. “I don’t even want to think of that possibility, Ben.”

* * *

The lone figure stood on the opposite side of the street and glanced up at the impressive building, sizing it up as if it were a person. A person who would eventually have to be dealt with.

Granger Aeronautics.

The weather was cold, and evening would be settling in soon and making it even colder. History was about to repeat itself. Sheppard Granger had been warned, but it seemed he couldn’t keep his sons in line. Keep them from sticking those noses where they didn’t belong. If the case were to be reopened all the players would be exposed, and that couldn’t happen.

Cold eyes watched as Granger employees hurriedly left the building. The workday was over, and it was time to go home. A new plan had been implemented, one more sinister than the last. Before it was over, additional lives would be lost.

Fifteen years had passed, and it was time to once again take care of business.