“Come on in,” he said, stepping aside. “Boyett will explain everything.”
Being the gentlemen they were, of course, his brothers stood back to let their wives enter first. That gave Dalton a chance to pull Jace and Caden aside. “Why are Wonder Woman and Wine Lady here? What Boyett has to say might be private.”
Jace rolled his eyes. “Privacy is not an issue when it comes to our wives, Dalton. They’re now part of this family, so get over it.”
Dalton drew in a deep breath. He was over it, since being married was what they’d undoubtedly wanted. But he hadn’t gotten used to having additional players in their family business, especially when it concerned their father. Hell, he’d tried sending Jules home, but she had refused to leave. Since she was the one who’d nailed the fact he’d been followed, he had allowed her to stay.
“Jules? You’re here?” he heard Shana ask her sister, surprised.
From the look on his brothers’ faces, they were surprised, as well. Caden leaned in to whisper, “You questioned us about bringing our wives, yet Jules is here? A woman you claim you can’t stand?”
Dalton frowned. “She’s not here by choice, trust me. And I can’t stand her. Nothing has changed.”
“Then why is she here?” Jace asked with a speculative look on his face.
“Not for the reasons you think. All of your questions will be answered soon, so come on and join the club.” He couldn’t wait to see the expressions on his brothers’ faces when they discovered that Carson Boyett was a woman.
Dalton quickly moved to stand in the center of his living room. Deciding not to delay the introductions, he said, “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Roland Summers, Stonewall Courson, Carson Boyett and Bobby Turner. As you know, Carson is Dad’s attorney and has information to share with us.”
His brothers and their wives glanced at the three men expectantly, having assumed that Bobby Turner was the female. Dalton couldn’t help but chuckle when Carson moved forward and presented her hand to Jace. “I’m glad we’re finally meeting. Your father speaks highly of his sons.”
The shock on their faces was priceless. “You’re Carson Boyett?” Jace asked, stunned. “Dad never said you were a woman.”
“That must be true since Dalton had the same reaction,” Carson said, grinning. “You’ll need to mention that to Sheppard next time you see him.”
“He fired his former attorney, Jess Washington,” Caden said, eyeing Carson curiously. “He never said why. Granddad didn’t, either.”
Carson nodded. “Yes, he felt Washington didn’t do a good job representing him at the trial. And now he’s wondering whether it was intentional, since Vidal Duncan was the one who recommended Washington.”
Jace shrugged. “Duncan recommended Shana,” he said, smiling over at his wife. “And she worked out just great for Granger Aeronautics.”
“Yes, but he had an ulterior motive in making sure that I did,” Shana reminded her husband.
Caden glanced over at the other three men. “So who are you three?”
“They’re friends of mine,” Carson said. “They are also friends of your father.”
Dalton frowned. “Since when?”
Roland chuckled. “I’ve known your father since Carson became his attorney. He was going into the slammer just as I was getting out, so our paths never crossed.”
“You served time in jail?” Caden asked, beating Dalton to the punch.
“Yes. We all have.”
“Not me,” Bobby Turner spoke up proudly. “My record’s clean.”
“Yes, Bobby, it is, and we want to make sure it stays that way,” Roland replied.
“You met Dad through Carson, too?” Dalton asked the man called Stonewall. There was something about him that reminded Dalton of several agents he’d worked with while in the USN. Stonewall had very little to say, but Dalton knew not to take his silence lightly. He’d been sizing things up, and in a way, that made Dalton a little uncomfortable. He looked like the type of man you wouldn’t want to cross. Although Roland Summers wasn’t a small man, either; Stonewall stood at least an inch or two over him. And although both were muscular compared to Bobby’s slim frame, Stonewall looked a lot more edgy—dangerous and threatening.
“No, I met Shep when we served time together at Glenworth,” Stonewall said.
“You were at Glenworth?” Jace asked, studying the man.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Dalton asked, as if he had a right to know. He knew Glenworth Penitentiary, the prison where his father had served time for ten years before being sent to Delvers Prison. It wasn’t an Alcatraz but was known to house hardened criminals, those locked up for long periods of time and considered a definite menace to society, like murderers, bank robbers and habitual offenders. Dalton wondered which category Stonewall fell in.
Stonewall crossed his arms over his chest. “Doesn’t matter why I was there. Thanks to Shep, I’m no longer a convict,” he said in a voice that sounded as dangerous as he looked.
“Dad got you out?” Caden asked.
Stonewall’s lips curved at the corners. It was a smile that nobody saw coming. “In a manner of speaking. He kept me out of trouble. Without Shep at Glenworth, there’s no doubt in my mind I would have killed several guards and inmates by now.”
Shit! What sort of men had Dad associated with while at Glenworth? Dalton knew all about his father’s ten years at Glenworth and that Sheppard Granger had been a model prisoner. Hell, he’d even started a number of positive programs for the inmates, such as Toastmasters, Future Leaders of Tomorrow and a GED program. His efforts had been successful and were recognized by the media and even the governor himself. But then, his father had always been a born leader, a man admired and respected. That wouldn’t change just because a fucking jury found him guilty of a crime he hadn’t committed. Five years ago, on the recommendation of the warden at Glenworth, the governor had approved Sheppard’s transfer to Delvers, a prison that housed less-serious offenders.
Dalton knew he wasn’t imagining things. The room had grown silent. It seemed that everyone, especially his brothers and their wives, were speechless after the man’s blatant admission. However, he did notice that Stonewall’s testimonial didn’t seem to faze Carson, Bobby or Roland at all. Moments later, after clearing his throat, Jace turned to Carson. “I’m trying to understand what’s going on. Dalton said he was followed tonight and that you can tell us all why.”
Carson nodded, and a light smile touched her lips. “Yes, and I suggest we all sit down. You are all tall men, and I’ll get a neck ache looking up at you guys.”
Dalton nodded. Although his condo was a nice size, the living room didn’t have seating for ten people. “I’ll grab some additional chairs from the dining room.”
It didn’t take long for everyone to be seated. The Grangers turned expectant eyes to Carson. She was about to speak when Dalton’s doorbell rang. “Who in the hell can that be?” Dalton asked, standing.
“That’s probably my other two men,” Roland offered.
“Former inmates, as well?” Dalton couldn’t help asking, considering what they’d been told so far.
“Yes.”
Dalton frowned as he headed for the door. His gaze met Jules’s, and somehow he could decipher her thoughts, which were identical to his own. Jeez. What was this? The meeting