I ran away today, ran from the noise, ran away (Ran away)

Don't wanna go back to that place, but don't have no choice, no way

It ain't easy growing up in World War III

Never knowing what love could be

Well I've seen

I don't want love to destroy me like it did my family

"Family portrait": Pink

Zane sent his colleague Jack the photo to confirm my father's identity.

None of us could believe that the man involved in human trafficking was my father.

I was still in denial. How is that even possible? How could he be such a monster?

"Baby, you haven't said anything for the past two hours. Talk to me" Zane's worried face came into vision.

"I don't know what to say ZeZe. I never thought my own father would do such horrible things."

"If you are not comfortable, you don't have to say anything." Zane gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

I remained silent for a few more minutes and then I told him what I knew. That man might be my father but a lot of innocent women and little girls are suffering because of him.

"My parents divorced when I was 13, that's about 11 years ago. My father got into alcohol and drugs after he lost his job. I didn't know anything about him for a while until four years ago he got in contact with me again. I don't really recall very well our conversation but I do remember that he apologized. He's still my father and was once my rock, my refuge, so I gave him a second chance. Especially because he told me he was in rehab and doing better. We casually spoke for a while until a few months after we talked again, he asked me if I could lend him money to pay for rehab. Soon that turned into a monthly allowance."

Tears were falling down my cheeks now.

"Then a few weeks ago, he told me he was getting discharged and I wanted to surprise him but when I got to the place he told me, I was informed that he was never there. I called him and a woman answered. It turned out to be his new love and he used the money I gave him on her. I do not know anything else about him or how he's living his life."

Zane placed me on his lap and gave the top of my head kisses. I hugged his waist in return.

"I'm sorry to say that but your father is trash. A fucking piece of shit who didn't know to value and treasure his family."

"It's partially my fault too. I should have been more skeptical at his sudden interest in me and more specifically when he always avoided many of my questions. I guess I preferred not to see the truth because I wanted things to go back the way they were when I was a kid."

"Do you know the woman he's with?" Zane asked me.

"No, never seen her. I do have the number I've been calling and the bank account number I've been wiring money to. I'm not sure that is of any help but maybe you can find something with that."

I gave Zane all the information I knew and he sent it to his boss.

"Angel?" Zane called with a face full of sadness which made me worry.

"Sarah, your sister, she's been in contact with your father. Actually, she is the one who took me to him. She didn't call him father, only used his name but I thought you wanted to know. I don't want to hide the truth from you. I promised to be honest."

That piece of information felt like a dagger directed to my heart.

I feel like I've been living in my own bubble this whole time and everyone around me was just lying and taking advantage of me.

"Thank you for telling me," I managed to say.

After that, we went silent. I don't think I could have said anything else. The things I knew turned out to be a lie and I've been living in the dark for so many years.

Zane held me tightly without saying anything. He would casually kiss the top of my head or the back of my hands. Casual contact to let me know that he was there for me and I was more than grateful.

I would probably fall apart if he wasn't there with me.

That night when I went to bed, I promised Zane that I was alright and that I would sleep well.

As soon as I was alone in my room, I had a breakdown.

I cried for a long time. An ugly cry. One of those where you can barely breathe because of how much you're crying.

I asked myself why. What did I do to deserve all of this? Wondering if it's my fault that things ended like this.

But it's foolish to think that. It was their own choices that led to this outcome.

Then I felt ashamed and somehow guilty. My father is a human trafficker. Someone who made many families suffer. He traumatized many women and little kids for life.

How do I live with this from now on? It's not my fault but it feels like it is.

As if he could sense that I lied, Zane came to my room and held me tightly. My body was pressed against him the whole night.

"It's not your fault Angel, you cannot blame yourself for their choices." He whispered then placed a kiss on my neck.

I gave his hand a squeeze to let him know I appreciate his help.

.....

It took me a few days to recover, at least accept the facts.

Zane didn't press and was very understanding the whole time which I appreciated a lot. It also helped me see how good he was for my life. I really needed him in my life and I didn't plan to give him away any time soon.

"I kept thinking about it and you are right. Now with all that we found out it's even more dangerous for you to be around me. Going to your cousin is the best."

None of us wanted to get separated. This mission could take months but our lives were more important.

"I'll talk to my cousin today and then tomorrow I'll leave. The longer we stay together the more they'll suspect." Zane nodded. He knew I was right.

"Zane? Did your image of me change because of who my father is?" I asked ashamed.

He immediately came next to me and cupped my cheeks.

"No, nothing has changed. I still like you the same or more. Your father's stupid choices have nothing to do with you."

After saying that he kissed me. This kiss was slow. It felt like he was trying to transmit all his emotions to me. And it felt good. I felt loved and for the first time in my life I could say that I felt happy.

"You make me happy ZeZe" I told him once he broke the kiss.

"Fuck baby, don't say stuff like this. You'll make my ego reach the roof"

I laughed for the first time in days.

"Now that's a sound that I like," He said giving me a Zane smile and I realized then that he didn't smile much these past days either.

"We're gonna be okay and once this is over I plan to have you all for myself and spoil you to the max," Zane promised.

"You better keep your promise Mr. Wilder" I joked and he kissed me in response.

...

The next day as we talked I was ready to leave. Well, my luggage was ready but my body wasn't.

Zane held me the whole night as if he was afraid that if he let me go he'll never see me again.

The farewell was hard. Zane's sad and concerned face made me want to cry and I didn't want to cry. That would only make things harder.

"I want you to take this with you. It's a tracking device. If you ever find yourself in any kind of danger, press this button on the side and I'll come to you." Zane explained when he gave me a device that looked like a watch.

We kissed afterward. A kiss that held a promise of a future encounter.

This was not a forever goodbye but a see you later one.

"Wait for me Angel," Zane said with his forehead pressed against mine.

"I will, that's a promise" I reassured him.

We parted ways soon after.

It was harder than I thought. We barely began to go out and we're already separated from each other.

But I wanted to hold onto the promise we made. That we'll be together again once the danger is gone.

I believe better days will come...