I lean back against his chest. "Thank you for letting me help."
"Always, darlin'." His voice is low, intimate. "You and me, we're a team."
A team.
The word settles into my bones like a promise.
We drive the side-by-side back to the main house as the sun sets, Charlie happy between us.
The crew is already gathered on the porch, beers in hand, laughing about the day's work.
My father's waiting.
He's on the porch, arms crossed, expression unreadable as he watches us pull up.
My stomach drops.
"Grace. Shadow." His voice is calm. Too calm. "Need to talk to you both."
We follow him inside to his office, and I'm acutely aware of how dirty we are, how we probably smell like sweat and dirt, how we look like we've been working together all day.
Because we have.
Phantom closes the door behind us. "The meet with Copperhead Kings is tonight. Eight o'clock at the clubhouse."
I nod, my throat tight.
"I want you at your cabin," he continues, looking at me. "Not here. Not anywhere near the clubhouse."
"Dad—"
"This isn't negotiable." His voice is firm. "These are dangerous men. I need you safe."
Shadow's silent beside me, but I can feel the tension radiating off him.
"Shadow would normally be with you," Phantom says, turning to him. "But I need you at the meet."
Shadow nods. "Understood."
"You have a good read on people. I need you there to see everything. Watch their body language. Tell me if they're lying." Phantom's expression is serious. "Banshee will stay with Grace at her cabin during the meet."
"I don't need a babysitter," I protest.
Phantom's eyes soften slightly. "You do. Until we know what these men want, you don't go anywhere unprotected. As a matter of fact, Dakota will be with you. I don’t want her unsupervised either."
I want to argue.
Want to demand to be part of the conversation about my own life.
But I see the worry in my father's eyes, and the words die in my throat.
"Okay," I finally say. "I'll stay at my cabin with Banshee and Dakota."
Phantom looks at Shadow. "Get her home. Make sure she's settled. Then meet me at the clubhouse by seven-thirty."
"Yes, Prez."
Phantom's eyes linger on us for a moment, and I wonder if he sees it.
