Page 38 of Dangerous Secrets
He made a beeline for the triocrowding the mouth of the walkway.“Delaney, Walker, good to seeyou.”He nodded at the older man.“Grafton.”
Grafton’s gaze traveled over Sawyer.“Guess anyone can make lieutenant these days.”
Sawyer ignored the comment.“Anytrouble here?”
Grafton spat on the sidewalk andsneered.“Nothing you need to stick your nose in.You two were acouple of punk kids back in the day, and now the Boy Scout thinkshe’s in charge.I have a message for all of you: mind your ownbusiness if you don’t want to get hurt.None of you has a cluewhat’s going on in this town.”
“You making a threat,Neil?”
“Show some respect,”Grafton snarled the words.“I was sheriff and your commandingofficer.You call me sir.”
Walker barked out a humorless laugh.“You’re delusional, man.”
“You’ve lost whateverrespect you think you had a long time ago.”Sawyer’s voice wascontrolled, but Delaney felt an undercurrent of anger vibratingwith the words.“You were in charge when my brother was arrestedfor a sexual assault he didn’t commit.You railroaded him and youknow it.It’s never been confirmed how the supposedmix-uphappened to put Walker’s name onthe positive DNA match.You want to explain that?”
“Fuck off.”Grafton spatagain on the sidewalk again, barely missing Sawyer’s shoes.“Inever would’ve allowed you in my department if I’d known you were aspineless shit.”
Walker’s steel-corded muscles coiledeven tighter under Delaney’s fingers.Before Walker had beenholding her back, now she made sure she had a firm grip on hisarm.
Ranging himself beside them, Sawyer’sjaw was set, his hand resting on his service weapon.His expressionclearly read “don’t fuck with me.”
Grafton must’ve felt the threat fromboth men because even as he blustered, he was backingaway.
Delaney thought his actions showed atleast some sense of self-preservation.Nobody in their right mindwould tangle with the McGrath brothers.
Grafton scuttled like a crab andreached the end of the walkway.He raised both hands to give themthe double bird before disappearing around the corner.
“I wouldn’t put it pastthat bastard to have put my name on the DNA match.”
Walker’s anger was justifiable.If hewas right, then Grafton was responsible for him spending more thantwo years of his life behind bars.
Delaney released her grip on his armwhen she realized Walker was still holding her firmly against him,his chest warm against her back.She tried to ease away but his armwouldn’t budge.“Walker, you can let me go now.”
“Right.”
Slowly, he dropped his arm and shestepped away, but not before catching the glint of amusement inSawyer’s steady gray eyes.“I don’t know.You two looked adorablecuddled up like that.”
“Fuck you,” Walker saidmildly.
Delaney was doing her best to focus onanything other than the sensations still zinging through her body.Her brain was still scrambled from how warm and protected she’dfelt when Walker had pulled her back against him.
Andsinful.
His hard body at her back, his sinewyarm holding her against him, then his voice behind her all deep andrumbly.The warmth of his breath against her ear had made hershiver.It’d taken every ounce of resolve to move away from allthat hotness, and at the moment she was having a hard time shuttingdown the need curling through her body.
“Is that any way to talkto your brother who kept you from beating up an old man?”Sawyerheld up a hand to forestall what would no doubt be another pithyresponse from Walker.“But about Grafton, I’m with you.If itwasn’t him who put your name on that DNA sample, at minimum, heknows who did.He was sheriff, and it happened on his watch.Healso pressured the DA to go for maximum charges againstyou.”
“I plan to prove Grafton’sinvolvement.”
Sawyer assessed his brother with quieteyes.The resolute determination on Walker’s face sent a differentkind of shiver down Delaney’s spine.She wouldn’t like being on thereceiving end of all that bottled rage when he figured out who hadset him up.
Sawyer nodded.“I’m with you on that,brother.”Sawyer nodded at Delaney, the corner of his mouth turningup in a half grin.“Did you recognize Grafton?”
She shook her head.“I thought helooked familiar but couldn’t place him.Not that I’d ever met himin person.He looks like he’s been in the sun too long.”
“He’s living in a cabin upby Bridger Lake.Comes to town every couple weeks, but until today,he’s been keeping a low profile.”
“I read in the paper whenhe was forced to resign, but I never heard anything about him afterthat.That had to be four or five years ago.”
