Page 4 of Big Bad Daddy

Sybil’s eyes widen, perhaps fearing she’s insulted a man who holds her life in his hands. Is she too naïve to understand I could make her disappear? She swallows hard, and her plumpbottom lip quivers as she sucks in a shaky breath. “You’re right. I don’t know if your son is involved but I know Scarlett was forced to end her friendship with Vasily. Her father worried their relationship would ruin his upcoming election. He sent her to her grandmother’s house in Rye, but her car was found empty on the side of the road, and no one has seen her or the men escorting her since. Her parents don’t seem overly concerned, and that’s incredibly uncharacteristic of them. They don’t want me going to the police, which makes me suspicious that a criminal organization is involved.” She wrings her delicate hands where they sit on her lap.

“I see,” I murmur, wondering how to reply, and too fascinated by the small emerald on her right ring finger, oddly relieved it’s not gracing her left hand. Who gave it to her? Does she have a man in her life? Would it matter if she did?

“Does your friend have feelings for my son? Would she go with him willingly?” I ask, attempting to buy myself more time before she wises up and runs for the hills. My son may be a thorn in my side, but he’s handsome. Women seem to love him enough to overlook his lunacy, although I can honestly say I’ve never seen him so unhinged over a woman as he appears to be over Scarlett Rossi. Poor girl. Maybe there is a legitimate reason for concern.

Sybil drops her chin and fixes her gaze on a tiny loose thread on her skirt, winding it around her finger as she seemingly tries to decide how much she should share. The more time I spend in her company, the more my interest in her grows. She shows discretion, and someone like me needs a woman who can be discreet. The last woman I had a relationship with, Vivi’s mother, would have sung like a canary if the Feds ever offered her the opportunity.

“Scarlett hasn’t shared very much with me on the matter. She’s been unusually tight-lipped. Maybe she believes I wouldjudge her or worry about the consequences of falling for someone with a dangerous life. But I can tell you that ever since she met your son, she’s walked around with stars in her eyes.” Sybil straightens her shoulders as she takes a deep breath. Her chest presses against the confines of her cashmere cardigan, drawing my attention to the ample curves of her breasts.

I shake my head, hoping against hope to dismiss the pornographic images forming in my sexually deprived mind. Sybil isn’t much older than my Vivi. I know because I spent the better half of last night stalking her online. She and Vivi are both twenty-three years old, only months apart. As much as I’d love to get to know her better, I’m not a man who frequents the nursery.

She might be legal but that doesn’t make it appropriate.

This is wrong. I know it isn’t right. But I’m not exactly a man who’s chosen the correct path in life. Why should this be any different?

Because I’d look like a fool chasing a woman young enough to be my daughter.

“If you truly don’t know anything about Scarlett’s whereabouts, I shouldn’t waste more of your time. I’m sure you’re a busy man, and I need to get back to Manhattan,” she mutters, looking from side to side as if she’s expecting an ambush.

I lean closer, sniffing her hair while I gather my thoughts, hoping to say something to make her stay a bit longer.

“I’ll be honest with you, Miss Sheridan—”

“Sybil, please,” she corrects me, with a tentative smile that makes a low rumble vibrate in my chest. She’s a lovely breath of fresh air in my violent world, and making me like her. And that’s a problem. Sybil may look harmless, but she could be the most dangerous woman I’ve ever met. I’ll do stupid things to make her mine.

“Sybil,” I pronounce her name, letting both syllables flow from my tongue like I’m practicing repeating it for the rest of my life. “I honestly don’t know my son’s current location. He’s been no-contact since he disappeared the morning your friend vanished. You’re not wrong to assume they’re together, but I don’t think Vasily would do anything to harm her. He claims to be in love with Scarlett.”

I’m only now realizing Vasily’s infatuation with Scarlett Rossi might have been as serious as he implied. There’s no way he’d risk my wrath if she wasn't worth it.

“But they’ve only just met. I don’t think people can fall so fast,” she muses, staring into space as she considers the possibility.

I drop my gaze, examining every inch of her face to commit every line and freckle to memory. When her wide hazel eyes catch a glint of moonlight, she almost steals my breath from my lungs.

Aware that I’m staring and unsure if this is a path I want to take, I save my opinion for another day. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” I ask, feeling a sudden urge to extricate myself from her side before I do something I’ll regret.

Sybil clutches her purse to her lap and shifts her gaze to Gaspar, standing by the entrance to the house. He angles his head with curiosity, probably wondering if I’ve given him directions he couldn’t hear.

“Does anyone else know more? Has anyone gotten word that they’re safe? Could a rival family have hurt your son and Scarlett in the process?” Her questions come one after another, but I have nothing to say. I stand, the volume of her voice rising as she follows me to her feet.

“Nothing?” Her disappointment makes my heart ache.

I’m not accustomed to comforting people but my arms itch to bring her into my embrace and soothe her fears. She’s a beautifulgirl who has captured my interest and ignited my imagination, but I don’t know her well enough to divulge information about my son’s possible criminal activity.

“My men are loyal. They don’t keep secrets from me. If Gaspar or any of my soldiers knew where Vasily was hiding, they would tell me immediately. And as much as I’d like to help you, I’m not a man who grants favors to strangers. You understand. Don’t you?”

Sybil stares, confused, her long, dark lashes fluttering as she tries to decipher my words. “I don’t. What do you mean?”

We walk past Gaspar who offers Sybil his arm, believing I want him to escort her to a waiting car. Without thinking, I snarl with rage and glare at his hand like I want to rip it clean off his body. He immediately backs off, lifting his palms in mock surrender before backing away. He’s trustworthy and already has his heart set on someone else, but I’d prefer to see Sybil out myself. Our conversation feels unfinished.

“I’m not only a businessman, Miss Sheridan. I’m a leader in charge of over a hundred men who rely on me to care for their families. You probably only see me as a criminal, but I have responsibilities you couldn’t fathom. You have nothing to offer me, not even your friendship. We come from different worlds and after tonight, I doubt I will ever see you again. You can’t expect me to jeopardize my son’s freedom.” I take her hand in mine but refrain from looking into her sad eyes. I’m transfixed by her innocence and captivated by her beauty. I’ve never had such a hard time turning anyone away.

“I promise I wouldn’t place your son in danger. No one else needs to know. Scarlett is like a sister to me, and I only want to ensure she’s all right.” Sybil sniffles as we step through the main door and walk across the cobblestone pathway towards my car.

My driver will ensure she gets home safely. It should be me driving her back to Manhattan, wiping her tears and comfortingher with the truth. But I don’t have the strength to spend an hour in a car alone with her. It would take almost nothing for her to break my resolve.

“I’m sorry. You come from a family of lawyers with a long relationship with law enforcement, and I’d be a fool to trust someone I hardly know.” I lift her delicate hand to my lips, gaze into those gorgeous amber eyes, and then help her into the car. “I’m no fool, Sybil.”

She stiffens as she slides into the backseat, lifting her gaze as she reclines into her seat. Her shy expression momentarily transforms into a mischievous smile before it quickly disappears. “I never said you were. You said I have nothing to offer, but that isn’t true. I know you don’t need my money, but perhaps you’ll discover there is something else you need from me.”

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