Phantom studies me for a long moment, and I wonder if he can see the guilt written on my face.
Finally, he speaks. "Heard something yesterday. About a vehicle following Grace. Dark truck, out of state plates. You know anything about that?"
Relief and tension war in my chest. He's asking about the threat. Not about me and Grace.
Yet.
"Yeah," I say. "I've been looking into it."
Phantom's eyes narrow. "How long you known about this?"
"Couple days. Saw the truck watching her clinic. Had Rogue run the plates."
"And?"
I meet his eyes. "Copperhead Kings MC. Houston chapter."
Phantom goes very, very still. "I'll be damned."
He stands, starts pacing behind his desk.
I can see the wheels turning, the pieces clicking into place. "Bronco's family club," he says quietly.
"Yes."
Phantom's hands clench into fists. "What else?"
"There have been notes. Two so far." I pull out my phone, show him photos of both. "Paid for but never delivered. Time to collect.' Second one gave a deadline. Three days to return what was stolen or they take what they're owed."
Phantom stares at the photos, his jaw working.
"They want Grace," I say, keeping my voice level. "They paid four million for her years ago. Bronco died before the wedding. I think they believe she still owes them. That the deal didn't die with him."
Phantom slams his hand on the desk.
The sound cracks through the office like a gunshot.
"Four million isn't enough," he says, his voice rough with fury. "Four million isn't enough for what that bastard did to my little girl."
I go still.
Phantom looks at me, his eyes haunted. "You know what he did to her?"
I nod slowly. "Yeah, I found out years ago. Asked me to keep the secret."
Phantom's jaw ticks. "And you did. Kept it even from me."
"Wasn't my secret to tell, Prez."
He sinks back into his chair, suddenly looking older. Tired. "I didn't find out until years later. Grace finally told me. Took her that long to say it out loud."
My chest tightens.
I knew Grace had told her father eventually, but hearing the weight in his voice—the guilt, the pain—makes it real in a way it wasn't before.
"I arranged that marriage," Phantom continues, his voice cracking slightly. "Handed her to that monster for ranch security and four million dollars. And I didn't even know what I'd done until years later."
"You didn't know what kind of man Bronco was," I say quietly.
