She trusts me, all right.
Trusts me enough to let me claim her, mark her, take her in ways her father can't even imagine.
"Peterson called me this morning," Phantom says, and my blood runs cold.
Here it comes.
"Said you helped Grace with a bull yesterday. Said you two worked well together." Phantom's watching me carefully. "Also said you looked... close. His words, not mine."
I keep my expression neutral. "She needed help. The bull was aggressive. I assisted."
Phantom stares at me for what feels like an eternity.
"Make sure it stays professional, Shadow. Grace has been through hell. She doesn't need complications. Especially not from someone she trusts."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
"Understood," I say, the lie tasting like ash in my mouth.
Phantom holds my gaze for another moment, then nods. "You're dismissed. Keep me updated on any new developments with the threat."
I stand to leave, but Phantom's voice stops me at the door.
"Shadow."
I turn back.
"I'm trusting you with my daughter. With the person I value most in this world." His eyes are hard. Serious. "Don't make me regret it."
The weight of those words settles on my shoulders like a physical thing.
"You won't, Prez," I say.
I walk out before he can see the guilt written all over my face.
I make it to the hallway before I have to stop, lean against the wall, and just breathe.
I just lied to Phantom's face.
The man who gave me a chance when I had nothing.
Who made me enforcer when I'd proven myself.
Who trusts me with everything—the club's security, sensitive jobs, and now his daughter's safety.
And I'm sleeping with Grace. Claiming her. Planning to keep her no matter what he says.
The rational part of my brain knows I should tell him.
Should walk back in there right now and come clean. Face whatever consequences come.
But the rest of me—the possessive, primal part that's already marked Grace as mine—knows that's not happening.
Not yet.
Not while Phantom's dealing with the Copperhead Kings threat. Adding "your enforcer is fucking your daughter" to the pile would be too much.
He needs to focus on keeping Grace safe, not on killing me for touching her.
