Page 104 of Silver Fox Daddies

Just more of Jax’s unholy cackling.

“Look at you, coming to the rescue. Is my daughter really that good of a fuck?”

I feel sick to my stomach, ready to throw up the beer I drank earlier.

“I see you’ve discovered my monitor. You know, I used to set up my victims here because it was easier. You would think out in the desert, with nobody around, it’s easier to dispose of bodies. But it turns out people in Vegas are oblivious, only concerned with themselves.”

He smiles to himself, turning to Melissa. “I carried a body bag right out of this house. Both you and your mother were home. I carried it out onto the street and nobody batted an eyelid.” He laughs in memory. “I had to relocate, unfortunately. You won’t remember, Melissa, because you were only an infant, but your mother used to complain of strange smells. She thought it was the meat in the refrigerator going off. Ignorance is bliss.” He pauses. “But only for so long…”

I look at the man. How does he think locking his own daughter in the basement is okay? The more I look, the less of a man I see. Of course, I’ve run into Jax a handful of times over the years, always knowing that he was ruthless, but this is different. Only psychopaths take pleasure in torturing their victims, delaying death until the very last second.

I didn’t think there was anybody out there as terrible as me, but all of this has proven me wrong. For selling high doses of fentanyl to my father, he should be lucky that his two hundred men met a quick death, only choking for a few minutes.

Hanging victims from the ceiling is another kind of cruel.

And I bet I’ll be the first to find out how it feels…

I start cutting even faster, Stanley knife sawing away at the zip ties until they snap free. Diesel is working on the third. Just one more left.

I look up at Melissa and put on my best face, despite being unsure about the outcome of all this. Jax is being too quiet, standing behind us and simply watching.

My stomach lurches again for Cash, but I force myself to stay calm for Melissa. She’s already searching my face, trying to figure out where he is.

Snap!

The final zip tie breaks free.

Diesel immediately scoops up a hyperventilating Melissa, launching her over his shoulder as we make a start back toward the stairs.

A sour feeling taints my gut.

Why is Jax just standing there, letting us past?

He speaks. “You will surrender and give up Venom Vultures, allowing me full control over the club, or you will see Melissa die.”

My stomach drops, heart in my throat. Diesel and I share a grave look, knowing that we can’t let a torturer lead our club. Venom Vultures are nothing like Reaper Sons. When killing needs to be done, it’s quick. Necessary. I’ve made some mistakes in the past, but it’s nothing compared to torture.

Venom Vultures is my whole identity, and Melissa is a girl I’ve only known for a month…but she has quickly become the most important thing in my life.

I turn to Diesel to see him give a subtle shake of his head.

Jax continues, turning to Melissa. “But it’s not just you anymore, is it, sweetness? Somebody else will die too.”

She shakes her head, telling him no with her eyes.

If this is another one of his games, I want no part in it. I whip around. Now would be a good time to shoot him straight through the head, right when he’s his most smug.

But he knows something.

I take out my gun anyway, pointing it at him.

Another laugh. “You’re not gonna do that.”

I tense my jaw. “Try me.”

“You’re forgetting that I’m a father. Your supposed girlfriend’s father.”

I turn to Melissa, fright consuming her eyes. As tense as this situation is, he’s right. Do I really wanna kill the father of the woman I love? As painful as this is, the man still brought her into the world. I know there’s a part of Melissa still wishing for her father to come back. I see it in her tearful eyes. I can almostfeel it in her heart, the pieces starting to break. This isn’t just any man. This is a person Melissa once knew and loved.

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