Griffin Chapter 20

Ansel Dewitt arrived, and he and Travis greeted each other with laughs and hugs as Porter showed him into the family room. When they were done, Dewitt hugged Hadley and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“How’re you doing, sweetheart? I know this has to have been as hard on you as it has been on Trav. I’m so damn glad it’s over with. I was scared to death for both of you.”

“I’m doing great, Ansel. We’re relieved, too. I believe you remember Griffin Voss from the Dark Patriots.”

“I do. Hello. I admit, I’m surprised to see you’re still here, Mr. Voss. With the threat neutralized and in jail, I would’ve thought you and your men would be back home. You’re from Hampton, Virginia, right? I believe that’s where Travis told me your company is.”

“It is in Hampton. We’re just being absolutely sure that we didn’t miss anything. Plus, we’re doing a bit more training with the guards.”

As we sat down to dinner, Ansel was surprised when Ben and Justin entered and joined us. He quickly arranged his face into a bland expression and politely shook hands with them when Travis introduced them and informed him the three of us would be joining the three of them for dinner.

The conversation was relaxed and flowing. They chatted about people and things we didn’t know, but Hadley and Travis were good at explaining who they were. Hadley, in particular, made sure to tell me more than once I’d meet this one or that one.

“Excuse me, but I seem to be lost. Why would he meet any of them? He’ll soon be going home,” Ansel eventually asked.

I was kind of surprised Travis hadn’t told him about me and Hadley, but maybe he was waiting for us to become more than just together. I bet the ring I wanted to get her would do it. I’d asked Sloan, Cassidy, and Gemma to help me find one. They were eagerly sending me pictures of ones they thought might fit the bill. So far, there had been a few I liked, but none had struck me as the one.

“With everything going on, we haven’t had time to tell anyone. In fact, I was hoping we could have a dinner party so we could introduce Griffin to everyone. You’re the first to know it, but Hadley and Griffin are together. As awful as this whole affair was, it did have a bright side,” Travis told him with a smile on his face.

“What do you mean, they’re together?” Dewitt asked slowly. I could tell he was shocked to find out I was more than a security consultant to her.

“Exactly what it sounds like, Ansel. Griffin and I are in a relationship,” she told him as she squeezed my hand.

“You mean you’re dating. Honey, I don’t mean to sound unsupportive, because I’m not, but don’t you think you should wait to introduce him to our friends until you know this is more than just you being in danger and forming a connection that will fade once you go back to your real lives? I suggest you hold off until you know you’re serious and this is headed toward an engagement.”

“We don’t need to wait. We already know it’s serious, and we’re going to get engaged and then get married. Of course, we’ll have to plan the party when it’s convenient for us all to come back from Hampton. That might not be for a while. There’s so much to do, and we don’t want to tire out Dad.”

“You can’t get engaged! You barely know him. Travis, surely you can talk some sense into her. She knows nothing about him. She’s an heiress. There’s so much to consider. And what does she mean about coming back from Hampton? Why’re you two going to Hampton, and what do you need to do?” I could hear the censor in his tone. He didn’t like this at all.

I knew we’d face the naysayers who would say we couldn’t love each other this fast, and there was no way I wasn’t after her wealth. As much as it pissed me off, I knew time would show any doubters they were wrong.

“Ansel, that’s enough. As much as you might not believe it, they’re in love. They’re like me and Hailey. You know we fell in love at first sight. I can assure you that Griffin has no designs on her money. As for Hampton, we’re going there so she can see where he lives and decide if they want to live in his current house or get a new one. We have to decide on how to oversee Gerard’s with her not living here and when I’m gone. I’ll be going with them.”

“You can’t be serious! Think of your company. How can it be overseen that far away? Even if they were in love, there are a ton of legal things to go through, a prenup for one. You need to sit down with the board and discuss this. There’s too much at stake,” Ansel argued.

“I’ve thought of my company, and I know there’s no one I’d be as comfortable leaving my daughter with. Griffin will be a great support to her. He has a business mind along with his security expertise. The Dark Patriots run a highly successful company. I don’t see why the board has anything to discuss. Once we’ve decided what is to happen, we’ll meet with everyone to tell them what the plan is.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this! You’ve spent your whole life building Gerard’s into the company it is. You’re the number one defense contractor to the US military. People would kill to be you. This company has to be protected even if you don’t think your daughter does. You can’t have a nobody come in and marry your daughter and be in a position to influence the company’s direction. Even with the prenup, he can still influence her.”

“That’s enough! You keep talking like we’re not even here. Let me be clear about a few things, Ansel. I will be going with Griffin, and I plan to live somewhere other than here. We may end up living somewhere between here and Hampton, or maybe we’ll live there. A lot more of my work can be done remotely than his. Secondly, Griffin isn’t a nobody. You’re being offensive, and I won’t allow that. Thirdly, I will always do what’s right for Gerard, but that doesn’t include automatically ignoring my husband’s thoughts. And there will be no prenup in this marriage. That’s final,” she snapped at him.

“Why don’t we all calm down and talk about this?” I tried to be diplomatic even though all I wanted to do was punch the arrogant, condescending prick. He thought since he was rich, he was better than me. How could he be Travis’s friend yet be the complete opposite of him?

“There’s no way the board will allow you to marry this man, especially without an ironclad prenup in place!” he snarled as he came to his feet. He threw his linen napkin on the table as he glared across it at me. I kept my hand on Hadley’s shoulder to keep her in her seat as I rose. I wanted to be ready if he got physical. Travis was closer to him than we were. I saw Ben and Justin were alert and prepared to move if they had to.

“Ansel, sit down! You’re making an absolute ass out of yourself. What’s wrong with you? That is my future son-in-law you’re disparaging. I don’t know what your problem is, but let me make this clear. The board has no say in who she marries. And before you say you do, do I have to remind you that the CEO of the company cannot be ousted by the board? I made sure of that when I went public and formed the board. It’s advisory only, and its members can be changed at any time. You owe them an apology,” Travis said gruffly. He’d gotten to his feet as well.

Dewitt’s mouth was hanging open, and he stared at Travis in disbelief. He scanned the table before shaking his head and finally saying something: “I think it’s time I leave. I’ll talk to you later, Travis. It’s obvious you’re not thinking clearly. I didn’t know the MDS had progressed to affect your mind.”

As he began to walk toward the dining room door, Travis hit him with another verbal shot. “Don’t run out of here and go tattling to the board to say I’m incompetent and need to be removed as CEO. The only way that would happen is if I was really mentally incompetent and I had no heir. However, Hadley is my heir, and as of yesterday, all the paperwork has been finalized. She is now the CEO and owner of Gerard Industries. I can assure you, she’s perfectly competent.”

I watched as Dewitt stumbled. He swung around to face us. The look of rage on his face had turned him a dark red, and his eyes were bulging. “No! You can’t do this to me. I won’t allow it,” he shouted.

“You don’t have a choice!” Travis shouted back.

Travis shook with anger and looked pale, making me worry about his health. That’s when I fucked up. I took my attention off Dewitt as Hadley rushed to her dad to calm him. Ben and Justin were turned toward her dad with concerned looks on their faces.

If I lived to be a hundred, I’d never forget looking back at Dewitt to tell him to leave and finding him standing there with a gun in his hand. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I dove for Hadley and Travis, screaming, “Gun, get down.” As I went for them, I pulled my weapon. Vaguely, I noted Ben was headed for them, too, while Justin was trying to get to Dewitt.

The sound of a shot was loud in the room. Hadley cried out. I tackled them to the ground. There was another shot, then shouted profanities and a long cry of pain. Ben had dropped to the floor next to us. He had out his gun and was covering them, too.

“Go, I’ve got them,” he hissed. The long dining table was between us and Dewitt.

As I went to ease up and peek, I heard Justin say, “All clear.”

The tightness in my chest eased a tad as I stood. I hurried to the other end of the table because I couldn’t see either of them. I found Justin crouched over Dewitt with his gun on him. The board member was flat on his back, holding his shoulder. There was blood on his shirt, and he was swearing.

“You son of a bitch, you shot me!”

“That’s what happens when you pull a gun and shoot first, asshole. Is everyone alright down there?” Justin asked as he jerked his chin toward where Hadley and Travis were.

“They’re fine, no thanks to him. Did he get you?” I asked as I ran my gaze up and down Justin’s body, trying to see if there was any blood. I didn’t see any, but I had to be sure. Adrenaline was still pumping through me, and I was in battle mode.

“Nope. He wasn’t aiming for me. He was aiming for Hadley. Thankfully, I threw the butter knife at his hand, and it knocked his aim off. I figured it was better to shoot him so he couldn’t take another shot than to risk it.”

I was about to make a remark about butter knife safety when I caught sight of Hadley storming toward us. Knowing Justin had his gun still out, and he was covering Dewitt, I tucked mine in my pants and grabbed her so she couldn’t pass me and get close to him.

“You motherfucker! How dare you draw a gun on me and my dad! What the hell has gotten into you? Have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind?” she shrieked at him. She was struggling in my hold to get to him.

“Babe, calm down. Let me find out what the fuck he was thinking?”

“Ohh, I need a hospital. Someone, call an ambulance. I’m dying. You’re going to prison,” Ansel snarled at Justin.

“You drew your weapon and were about to shoot our client. We have video proof. Do you think this room isn’t monitored?” I snapped.

The door slammed open, and in ran Ellis, Sanders, and Fletcher. They all had their guns out. They quickly took in the situation. Ellis and Fletcher went to Travis, who was sitting in his chair with his head hanging down. Sanders joined us.

“What the hell happened?” Sanders asked.

“This idiot thought it was a good idea to try and shoot Hadley. Justin took exception to it, and instead, he shot him,” I explained. They all looked stunned.

“How stupid could he be and with the three of you in the room?” Sanders muttered as he shook his head.

“Why? Why would you do that, Ansel?” Travis asked as he came to stand beside us. He looked wrecked and ready to drop. I pulled out a chair and gently pushed him down in it.

“Because it was supposed to be mine! I’ve waited for years, and now I find out you’re letting this usurper get his grubby hands on it. As if letting her have it wasn’t bad enough, why did you have to ruin everything?”

“Ruin what? This was never your company, and it was never going to be,” Travis reminded him.

“I should’ve made sure Hadley was with her mother when she was killed,” he muttered barely above his breath.

It was like an electrical shock went through the room. We all snapped to attention, but none as much as Travis and Hadley.

“What the hell did you say?” she snarled.

He didn’t answer her, but we all knew what we heard. It sounded like he was saying he was involved in the murder of her mother. This changed things. If he’d just done tonight in the heat of the moment, I was prepared to call the cops and an ambulance. However, if he was someone involved in the threats against Hadley and her mom’s murder, and he’d never been caught, that changed things. There was no way he’d walk away from this. I knew what Travis had done to the men he thought were responsible. I think we were looking at the mastermind behind it. Whether he got his hands dirty or not, didn’t make a difference.

“Get him up and secure him to a chair. Ben, slap a bandage on that wound. I want my men to secure the room. The rest of you, thank you for your assistance, but we’ll take it from here,” I barked.

“We know you’re not planning to call the cops. If he tried to kill Travis or Hadley, and especially if he was part of what happened to Mrs. Gerard, then he doesn’t deserve even a bandage,” Ellis snapped. The other two nodded their heads in agreement.

There was no way I could kill him with witnesses. I tried to play it off. “We’re not killing him. We’ll call the cops and an ambulance. We just need him secure while we wait. You guys can make sure the perimeter is secure while we do that. I doubt he has anyone with him, but just in case.”

Ellis snorted. “I know what happened to the others involved all those years ago. We all know. If we were planning to tell anyone, don’t you think we would’ve done so? There are some people who don’t deserve to spend their lives in prison. I know what was done to that poor woman. This motherfucking monster deserves nothing but pain before he dies. Sitting in a cell on death row for the next thirty or more years isn’t justice. It’s a crime,” he argued.

Ben was waiting to go get the bandage to hear what the outcome was. I caught his gaze and jerked my head. He didn’t look happy, but he left. As he did, I saw Porter standing in the doorway, wringing his hands. Great. Another witness we couldn’t afford. I didn’t know how we were going to do this and not end up in jail if we didn’t let the police have him.

A loud clap of hands got our attention. It was Travis. He looked devastated from what happened and now hearing what Dewitt had said. I couldn’t imagine how horribly it hurt to know someone you considered a lifelong friend had not only tried to shoot you and your daughter but had your wife murdered. I’d want him to die painfully.

“Everyone, we need to let the Dark Patriots do the job they were hired to do, which is to protect us. I hate to say it, but I don’t trust him not to have help or for the police to bring enough men to take him into custody and get him to the station. As much as I hate the idea of patching him up, do it, and then you and a few of your men will escort him to the station. The rest of us will stay here just in case.”

“Dad, you can’t mean—” Hadley protested, but he cut her off.

“I mean exactly that. We’re not killing him in the middle of our dining room. Please don’t argue,” he said sternly.

I didn’t want to do it, but it was his call. Slowly, his men and Porter vacated the room just as Ben came back with the first aid supplies. Hadley was complaining about it. Travis interjected.

“There’s more than one way to make sure he gets what he deserves. Ones that don’t involve you guys killing him with witnesses who could testify you did it. Please do as I say. It’ll be fine,” he informed us.

We finished the rough patch job, so the bastard wouldn’t bleed out. He whined the whole time, but he also tried to backtrack and make us believe he hadn’t meant what he said.

“Travis, I was in pain and not thinking clearly. You know I didn’t mean it. I would’ve never hurt Hailey. You were both my best friends. I’m sorry I got upset. I don’t know what overcame me to make me draw a gun.”

“Ansel, let me ask you this. Why the hell did you even have a gun? In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never carried one. In fact, you were the one who often told me not to,” Travis asked him forcefully.

“I know I haven’t, and I didn’t until after what happened with the threats to you and Hadley. I got scared and wondered if whoever it was might come after others, such as the board members. I just started carrying it,” he babbled.

I could tell by his face he was lying out his ass if I had any doubts, which I didn’t. “Bullshit, you lying bastard! You killed my mom. You’re not going to get away with this. I promise you that,” Hadley hissed.

I knew, despite my personal feelings on the matter, we had to get him out of there before she killed him. I wouldn’t allow her to risk going to prison for years. It took some discussion, but in the end, it was decided that Ben and I would take him in and answer any of the questions the police would have. It was shaping up to be a long night.

???

I was right. It did end up being a super long night. In fact, Ben and I didn’t get back to the house until mid-morning the next day. The cops held us for questioning even though we brought Dewitt in. They wanted to know why we didn’t call them to do it. They weren’t happy when we explained we weren’t sure they could handle it if he had reinforcements. Up until then there was no indication anyone other than Rockwell had been the one threatening them. Now, we had to face the likelihood they were two separate threats that just happened to occur at the same time.

Even with Travis, Justin, and Hadley coming down to tell the cops what happened, we weren’t allowed to leave until their ace lawyer, Jacob, made an appearance and demanded they either charge us or let us go. I had been about to call our lawyer, but it wasn’t necessary. Hadley was fuming mad. We were back at the house, and she was still ranting about it.

“I can’t believe those cops! I mean, sure, ask you guys what happened, but for God’s sake, you’re professionals, and we corroborated your story. They should’ve never held you there that long. They questioned you more than they did that fucker. You know why, don’t you?”

“Why, babe?” I asked, knowing she needed to vent.

“It was because you did their job for them, and they feel threatened by you.”

“Possibly. Or they just hate anyone outside of actual law enforcement doing things like this since they don’t see it as our job. Either way, we did what we had to, and based on all the eyewitness accounts, they’re not going to charge us for shooting him. Stop stressing. You’re safe.”

“I know it, but I hate the fact he’ll get to spend the rest of his life in prison. My mom wasn’t granted that.” The hurt and anger was clear in her voice. I took her in my arms and hugged her.

“I’m sorry, babe. It would’ve been different if so many outsiders hadn’t known what happened last night. You don’t need to worry. We have ways to ensure he doesn’t just sit there.”

“What does that mean?”

“Later. We’re all exhausted. We need sleep. Come to bed with me. I need to hold you.”

Travis had already gone to lie down. He was so pale and tired he scared me when I saw him. She reluctantly went with me up to her room. I only paused long enough to tell my guys to get some rest, too. Crawling into bed after a quick shower for both of us, I groaned as she snuggled into me. She felt so good and so right in my arms.

“Hadley, baby, this might not be the best time for this, but I have something I’ve gotta say.”

She moved away a bit so she could see my face. I saw worry. “What?” she asked hesitantly.

“It’s nothing bad. I know it’s really quick, but I need you to know that I love you.”

A smile spread across her face. “That’s good because I love you too, Griffin. We’re just crazy quick together.”

I gave her a passionate kiss before bringing her flush against me again. It didn’t take long for us to be asleep and dreaming of the future, or at least I was. I hoped she was too.

???

I hung up the phone. I was kind of in shock. I wasn’t expecting that when the phone rang. I sat at the desk I was using at Hadley and Travis’s house to do work. We were sorting out things to go to Hampton next week after we got the cops squared away—or that was the plan. Now, I wasn’t sure what this new development meant. First, I had to bring in my guys, her and her dad, and tell them the news. I sent off a text for Ben and Justin to join me in the office. I then went to find my woman and her dad. I lucked out and found them chatting in his office. I knocked on the open door.

“Come in, come in. No need to stand on ceremony around here. How’s your work going?” Travis asked happily. It was the best I’d seen him in days.

“It’s been going well. Hey, can you two come to my office? I need to talk to you and the guys about the call I just got.”

“Sure, we can do that. Let’s go, honey,” he said to her. She was puzzled, but she didn’t object. I took her hand as we went to my office. When we got there, the guys were waiting for us. The rest of us got comfortable.

“Okay, hit us. What the hell has happened now?” Ben asked.

“I just got a call from the precinct about Dewitt.”

“What do they want now? Christ, haven’t they asked us enough questions? I wish they’d ask him more,” Justin grumbled. Dewitt had been held there without bail for days.

“They can’t,” I told them.

“Did he lawyer up? Or had he already done that? I can’t remember anymore,” Ben muttered darkly.

“He’s not saying anything, and he won’t ever again. I don’t know any other way to say this other than just to say it. I’m sorry, but the police called me to inform me that he’s dead. I asked them to let me tell you. You were the next call. Not sure why they called me first.” I informed Travis.

I saw shock on three of the four faces in front of me. Travis didn’t so much as frown. In fact, he had what I’d call a satisfied expression that he was trying not to show. I was kind of surprised he wasn’t more affected by his longtime friend’s death. I knew what Dewitt did, but it still had to be a shock. I guess those feelings had been totally destroyed by his betrayal.

“W-what? He’s dead? How? When?” Hadley finally asked disbelievingly.

“He was found in his cell this morning. It appears that he had a heart attack. Everyone in the surrounding cells claims they never heard him crying out or asking for help, so they think it was an immediate thing. I’m sorry. I know you wanted him to suffer for what he did to your mom. At least you know he won’t get off on some bogus technicality or some other bullshit. He can never hurt either of you again.”

I knew this wasn’t enough, but we didn’t have a choice. I’d been making arrangements to take him out after he went to prison, and if he avoided it, then on the outside, although I hadn’t shared that with them. “I was working on making sure he paid regardless of if he went inside or not.”

“You were? How?” she asked.

“Let’s just say we have connections, but they’re not all outside. We have the capability to right things like this, although it’s been rarely used. There was no way he was getting away with what he did,” I confessed.

“He didn’t get away with it,” Travis said quietly.

“I know, but to have a heart attack now, it’s terrible timing,” I said.

“Was it? Maybe it was retribution,” he said mysteriously. A niggling of doubt began to tease me. Surely, I was being paranoid. Or was I? His satisfaction was more evident. I expected him to be more upset about Dewitt escaping justice in such a way. I decided to test my emerging theory.

“How so? He didn’t have to pay more than a handful of days for what he did and only by having his freedom taken away. He was trying to get bail. An instantaneous heart attack was too good for him.”

“It wasn’t instant, nor was it painless,” he said softly as he stared hard at me.

“Dad, what did you do?” she asked suspiciously.

“I did what had to be done. I made sure a monster was removed from our world. Yes, if we could’ve kept him out of jail, I would’ve made sure he was tortured for a long time before he died, but that wasn’t the hand we were dealt. Instead, I had to find justice, and him sitting in a fucking cell for the rest of his life wasn’t it. The bastard had to die, but I didn’t want to have the cops looking at any of you, especially the Patriots with your connections.”

“How did you do that?” I asked.

“You remember I told you after Hailey was murdered, I hired people to find her murderers. Well, I still have those contacts, and they were more than glad to finish the job they thought they already finished. In fact, they wanted to do it for free, but I couldn’t let them do it. I never suspected the snake among us. He was my best friend, and he had my precious wife kidnapped, pieces cut off, and murdered!” he shouted. His calm was giving way to rage.

“Dad, calm down. Don’t get upset,” she pleaded.

“How can I not? He tried to do the same thing to you. He was a greedy bastard who thought my company was his. What if he hadn’t lost it and did what he did? We would’ve eased your security, and he most likely would’ve found a way to kill you. Dying the way he did was way too good for him, but it was better than him continuing to breathe. Even if he went to prison, he could’ve hired others to kill you.”

“How was it done? If they injected him, a good coroner could find the injection site and question it,” I warned him. It was the only way I could think a heart attack was induced by most nefarious means, although for those with the right knowledge, there were other ways to do it without injecting something.

“A man has to eat, and believe me, what he ate won’t show up on any blood or tissue tests they do. He didn’t die instantly, either. It was agonizingly painful. The guard and the other ones in the cells around him were helped to stay asleep, so they heard and saw nothing. The guard won’t admit he was asleep on the job. Ansel confessed everything in the end as he pleaded for his life. It seems he was the one who hired someone to sabotage the project.”

“Why? If he wanted the company for himself, why do that?” I asked.

“He knew that if we didn’t come in on time and ran out of funding, there was no way the government would let us stop it. They’d give us more money. He was banking on that. His death was more than earned,” Travis snarled.

“Dad, you didn’t need to do this. Even if Griffin never outright said he was planning to take care of him, I knew he would.”

“This way, it’s not on either of your hands. It was my responsibility. I can now leave this world knowing I’m leaving you safe. As for our other problem, Rockwell, he won’t be a problem either. It seems he’s been re-evaluated, and this new psychiatrist has found him in need of an extended stay in a mental hospital to ensure he gets over his obsession and delusions about you. By the time he gets out, I doubt he’ll even remember your name,” he said icily.

That’s when I realized, despite him being an honorable man who did everything he could to serve his country, he was a man who would do what he must to ensure the safety of his daughter. He hadn’t known to do it with his wife but he learned. He was ruthless and I guess to accomplish what he had over the years, he had to be even if he had morals about how he conducted business and treated most people.

I wasn’t going to belabor it. What was done was done. I stood and went to him. I held out my hand. He took it. “Thank you, but please know, anything going forward is my job. I will make sure she’s safe no matter what.”

“I know you will, and I’m counting on it. This was my job, and now the torch has passed to become yours. Now, I don’t know about you, but this calls for a toast. I’ll ask Porter to get us some champagne. Oh, and we can head to Hampton sooner than expected. I can’t wait to see where you live, son,” he said with a smile.

That was how we left it. I knew it would likely be a topic we discussed later, or at least Hadley and I would, but for now, we were taking the victory and moving on to the rest of our lives.