Page 72 of Unspoken Obsession

I knew he wasn't a good man. His egotistical, self-centered mannerisms were always obvious, but I never could have imagined just how deeply the evil ran through his veins.

Human trafficking is the most heinous crime; murder is a lesser evil. Then to find out your blood is involved in it. I want to throw up.

I lived there, in that house with him, while his business associates and he planned and plotted and stole lives. Not only the women they took - and sold - but the families they stole them from. There were parties with pretty girls, who were 'paid'… now I wonder if they were? Or were they slaves, stolen and sold off to disgusting rich men? Men like my father.

I gag, bile rising up my throat. They were there, in my house — I could have helped them.

I push the untouched breakfast bowl away. I can't stomach anything right now.

I want to find the truth, not only for Dante and his sister but for me as well. I need to redeem myself and remove the connection to his name. My father has tainted it, and I want no part of it.

"Mommy. Finish foods." Damion says, climbing onto the chair to peek into my bowl of oats.

"Mommy isn't very hungry right now my angel."

"No, Mommy must eat."

I smile at him. His soft heart and caring attitude are a blessing. I will never let that man near his grandson again. Not now, after I know the truth.

It's one thing to want to protect your son from an overbearing narcissist - but a man who would sell another person - I can't let him near my son.

I don't even want to call him my father anymore.

Damion pushes my oats back towards me and hands me the spoon from inside the bowl. I sigh -- take the spoon from him and stir my oats again.

"If I have three more spoons - will that be enough?" I ask him, entering the same negotiations I do with him when he is being a fussy eater.

"Mm." He says, thinking hard. "Ok. Three."

I take a spoon of oats and swallow it down.

Damion watches me.

"Two more," I say. Taking another spoonful.

He nods, not letting me get away with this.

I grin, picking up the last spoonful. "Last one," I say. Then I eat it, nodding while Damion claps for me.

"Good." He says, satisfied, climbing off the chair and going back to his games.

I push the bowl away from myself again. Eating that bit seemed to settle my stomach. But I am still rampant with anxiety about this whole situation.

What can I do to help Dante?

Out of everyone I am the most likely person to get close to him - or - maybe I can get into his home office and dig around in there.

He used to threaten me with unimaginable pain if I ever went into his office. He must be hiding something in there.

I pick up my phone and message Dante.

Me: What if I can get into my father's office in his house?

Dante: I don't see how that will be safe for you. I don't like the idea of you putting yourself in a risky position like that.

Me: But whatever I find out will be important, won't it? It will help.

Dante: No, let's find another way.

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