Page 84 of Daddies Dark Desires (Forbidden Fantasies)

His grief is palpable. I catch a few wayward breaths, but I just hold onto him.

I know he’s got to feel guilty. Fuck, he’s full of it. It’s not a side he shows often. Grant isn’t the kind of man to hold onto remorse for an action he chooses, but he does beat himself up over his inability to keep people safe.

And this whole thing has triggered his grief over Dad.

His guilt over doing something that made Dad not trust him fully. Although, I know he understands it intellectually. I’ve watched those three turn themselves inside out trying to figureout which of the men they trusted to go into business with is the one that’s caused all of this.

Because they are here. Sunny’s disappearance is more than proof of that.

Fuck. Sunny.

I sink into my own despair. I can’t believe I got her into this.

Damn it, nothing bad better happen to her before we get her back. I will never forgive myself. Especially since Sunny is one of my only friends. One of my only true ones. One that’s so willing to put herself in danger to help me figure out what happened to my dad.

But that’s stupid, isn’t it? How could I put someone I care about in danger to find out what happened to someone I love but is already gone?

Dad would not approve.

I’ve let this obsession go too far. I’ve gotten too carried away.

Sunny cannot die in this pursuit. She just can’t.

My intake of breath is sharp but wobbly, and Grant’s hand finds the back of my neck, rubbing gently at the base of my skull as I try to press us together more tightly. It’s impossible, but he doesn’t seem to mind my trying.

Somehow, as big as Grant is, as powerful as I know he can be, he’s always so soft with me. I mean, other than when he’s landing swats on my ass—all of which have been sorely deserved. But like now, his touch is gentle, supportive, soothing.

I feel special for getting this side of him. More than his calm voice and the quiet way he tackles everything, how he brokers no arguments.

Silence usually unsettles me, but this…this is perfectly what I need.

I hope I’m able to give him what he needs, too. I’m not completely selfish. Or at least, I like to think I’m not.

Grant’s office door swings open, and I turn my head to see Oliver storming in. The emotion on his face is just a flicker. Even his walls are cracking.

He pauses when he sees us entwined, and Grant tightens his hold on me, his nose in my hair to breathe me in again.

His grumble is loud against my ear. “What did you find?”

“A trail. Email chains between the investor and the cartel. And a phone snippet from Ryan.”

Grant trembles, or is that me? My hand curls in the front of his shirt, my eyes closing as I let that sink in.

More of my dad’s voice, his words, new to me even after all this time. It’s going to hurt to hear them.

“What’s in the email chains?” God, this man reads me too well.

The silent pause has me turning toward Oliver. His face is dark, but the way he looks at me, I know he’s not upset about me. He’s upset for me.

I sit up straight, still in Grant’s grasp. He doesn’t force me to stay, but he does try to coax me back. Sighing hard, I tip my forehead against his shoulder.

“Just say it.”

“Confirmation that they knew Ryan was onto them. Further confirmation that they know you’re getting too close. Threats to take you out. To use Sunny to do so.” His voice is flat, but Oliver is not robotic, he just sounds that way. Especially when he’s being serious.

Which is most of the time.

That’s it. They’re going to get rid of Sunny to teach me a lesson. This is all my fault.