Page 286 of Dark Love

“I sold people, Dahl. I took freedom away from people for money. I am and will always be a human trafficker.”

“You’re lying to yourself, too. You aren’t a human trafficker. As a child you were forced to do things—” My body shudders. “—horrible things. But the man you are, chose to save people. That doesn’t make you a human trafficker. That makes you a hero.”

“I’m hardly a hero. Doing this has made me more money than I could ever imagine. More than most people can comprehend.”

“So?”

He shakes his head at me.

“You make money and save people. I don’t see the problem there.”

“Dahl. All my money comes from human trafficking. It’s dirty.”

“All your money comes from saving people. And if I were a betting woman, I’d say you use that money in order to save more women.”

“It isn’t cheap, nor is the fund to make sure that the women Payne and I manage to save can live a stress-free life. But—”

“No more buts. I was right about the man you are.”

“How can you say that? I’ve killed so many people.”

Skip this. Vex needs a hug. I hurl my body across the space separating us.

My brave, broken man. If he can stand up and fight after all he’s been through, I can tell my mother. I can be brave too.

My therapist would say something about false correlations, but I don’t care. I will be brave!

Prue The Prude

Dahlia

Why didn’t I ask Vex to come with me? Just holding his hand would infuse me with all the strength I would ever need.

But this isn’t his battle, this is mine. When the door opens, everything in my world is going to change… for the better.

The door swings open.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Dahlia.” She wraps me in a big hug. “I’m so glad you came home for the weekend. It’s going to be so much fun.”

The way she says ‘fun’ puts my nerves on edge.

“We got a new neighbor. He moved in this week.”

The last time a house sold here was almost a decade ago. People move in here, and they don’t leave until they retire. “That’s nice.”

“Your father invited him to golf yesterday.”

Dad andgolf… “Please don’t tell me Dad lost.”

“Of course, your father didn’t lose.”

Good. If he lost, I’d head home now and try again next week. Dad’s a good loser when it comes to everything, but golf.

“He said Maverick has potential, but he’s rough around the edges. They have plans to play again at the club next week.”

“It’s nice Dad got another golf buddy.”

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