Page 93 of Silver Fox Daddies

“What are you doing?”

“Finding information.”

“Hand me the phone,” I hear Diesel say to Bishop.

The line crackles as the device switches hands.

“Hello? Melissa?”

“Yeah?”

“I need you out of there right this instant.”

All I can do is laugh. “Seriously? One minute you’re looking at me like I’m the enemy. The next you’re telling me I need to get out of my own father’s office? Who do you?—?”

“This isn’t funny.”

“It is a little.”

“No, Melissa.” Diesel’s voice is stern. “If, like you said before, you only just found out that your father is the leader, the last thing you want to do is poke your nose into all of this. There’s a reason he never told you. He won’t be happy if he finds out. I fear what he’ll do to you as a consequence.”

While this is all true, I am still my father’s daughter.

Then, I stiffen. Mom was still his wife, and look how that ended.

I clutch the phone, suddenly aware of my surroundings. I’ve been so engrossed in the conversation with Bishop that I’m not taking note of my surroundings. I take off from the chair, pacing back and forth in the office. “I might be able to help you.”

“Help yourself. Stay out of this.”

“No,” I snap. “You’re in danger.”

“This is not a game, Melissa. I warn you now. Keep out.”

The phone dies.

I throw it down on the desk, sighing. That should be my sign to stop looking, but I refuse. They need my help, whether they like it or not. Daddy is gonna kill every last one of them for what Bishop did.

Besides, I’m too invested in all of this now.

I shut the folder, my breathing starting to thin again. My back against the wall, I hear a metal clang followed by a gurgling nose, freezing me on the spot. Rigidly, I spin around, afraid that I’m gonna be met with Daddy’s cold gaze.

Relief relaxes all of the tension. The doorway is empty.

Clearly, I’m more panicked about this situation than I thought. What I heard was the air conditioner resetting itself. It was nothing.

I sit back down at the desk and open one of the drawers to see if there’s anything useful in there that could be of aid to Venom Vultures. I don’t really know if the bikers and I are on good terms yet, but the thought of Daddy’s men shooting them dead still pains my heart. My love for them seemed to spring out of nowhere and without warning, but I hold a special place for each of them inside of my heart. If I lose them, I lose part of myself.

To get over breakups, love gurus say that if you lived before them, you’re fully capable of living after them, but I’m starting to believe that’s not true. Before Bishop, Diesel, and Cash, I was a girl who didn’t know any better. I didn’t believe in an emotion as strong as love. I didn’t even believe in orgasms.

They have shown me color.

You can’t go back to living in gray scale when you’ve seen a rainbow.

Nothing in here but junk and stationary. I shut the drawer with frustration and pull out the next. This one is padlocked—lucky for me, the lock has already been clicked open. I unhook it from the lock and set it carefully on the desk, mindful of not making too much noise. Calling the bikers has made me realize just how serious this situation is. As much as I want to believe that Daddy won’t hurt me, evidence all points the other way.

What if I’m just a pawn for him to use when the time is right?

I dig into the drawer, my finger catching something sharp and metallic.