Inevitable Detour (Inevitability Book 1)(42)

“I wish it were that simple,” Farren says, scrubbing his hand down his face. “The criminal organization that engages in those practices does have mob ties. But it’s also part of a larger conglomerate, a conglomerate with many legitimate businesses, businesses it can hide behind.”

“So,” I ask, “it’s just the one arm of the conglomerate that’s bad?”

“Yes,” Farren confirms. “That’s why Mr. Barnes’s daughter was taken. He refused to sell one of his companies to a very powerful man within the corrupt part of the organization, a man known simply as Dawson.”

“Dawson,” I whisper. The name alone turns my stomach.

“He stays behind the scenes, this Dawson. I’ve met with him a few times, and on first glance he gives the impression that he’s just another older, conservative-looking businessman. But, really, he’s a very sick and twisted man.” Farren’s voice grows grim. “He delights in the humiliation and pain of others.”

I cringe, and Farren hurriedly finishes up with, “Bottom line, Dawson lost a lot of money when Barnes wouldn’t play ball. Taking Mr. Barnes’s daughter was retribution.”

“But to take his daughter.” I’m aghast. “Good Lord, what was her name? And how old was she?”

Farren looks stricken when he says, “Her name was Annemarie.” He composes himself almost instantly, though, and adds, “She was sixteen.”

I feel sick. “Poor Annemarie,” I utter.

Sixteen and captured by a sick, twisted man, a man who has the power to make people disappear with no questions asked. I lower the window an inch for some fresh air.

“Are you okay?” Farren asks.

“I think so.” I wave my hand. “Yeah, I’m fine. Go on.”

Farren breathes in deeply, like he’s calming himself. “Anyway, Mr. Barnes presented a compelling case when he spoke to me. He said I could bring on whomever I needed to make things happen. And then he made me an offer…a very lucrative offer.”

“An offer to do what exactly?” I inquire.

“Infiltrate the organization. Bring it down, for good.”

“Bring down the entire conglomerate of businesses?” I exclaim, flabbergasted that such an endeavor could even be possible.

“Not the entire conglomerate,” Farren confirms. “But he wants the human trafficking stopped. He wants the sex-slave trade incapacitated. That means the criminal organization must be brought to its knees, including Dawson.”

“And you and Rick have made progress in that direction?”

“Yes, but it’s not always the two of us working together. We sometimes work alone, and we sometimes work with teams we’ve assembled, men we’ve worked with before, men who can be trusted.”

“Special Forces guys?” I venture.

“Often, yes,” Farren replies.

Softly, I inquire, “Is that why Haven was targeted?”

Farren nods, running his hand through raven hair that’s gotten longer since we first set out on this trip. “Rick and I have caused some major damage, as have our teams. We’ve disrupted their operation.”

“This was why you were spending time in Thailand and then in South America?” No wonder Farren said the places he’d traveled to were far from pretty. God, the things he must have seen.

“Yes,” he replies. “Most of the human trafficking passes through places where corruption runs rampant. It’s easier that way to pay people off, to get away with things. Last month I was in Venezuela. I was alone down there. The operation was too sensitive for more than one man.” He takes a deep breath. “Even so, I was able to save eight women. It was pretty rough for a while, though. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get them out, especially since I had no backup. But knowing I was helping those girls get away from that life kept me focused, and I was ultimately successful.”

“That’s amazing, Farren,” I say in a low voice. “What you’ve done, how you’ve put yourself on the line.”

I want to add that I’m in awe right now, but I don’t.

Farren glances over at me, and then back to the road. “Anyway, in Venezuela, I infiltrated the drug cartel that was holding the girls captive, and that’s where I met Eric and Vincent. They thought I was on their side. Naturally, their opinions changed once I escaped with the women. Kidnapping Haven is retaliation, a warning to stop.” He pauses and then says quietly, “So now you know, Essa.”

“Now I know,” I echo.

We’re both quiet for several minutes, and then I reach over and touch his arm. “I knew all along you were one of the good guys.”

Farren gives me a sad smile. “That’s debatable. I’ve had to do some bad things along the way, things that have been less than honorable.”

“I’m sure,” I murmur.

Drug cartels, human trafficking, duping a corrupt organization into thinking you’re on their side…

I hasten to add, “I don’t think I want to know any specific details.”

Farren replies dryly, “No, Essalin. I assure you that you don’t want more detail.”

Silence descends. But, after a while, there’s comfort in the quiet. All this honesty has torn down any remaining barriers between us. There are no secrets anymore, none that matter, and I am left with the knowledge that despite things he’s had to do, Farren Shaw is ultimately a good man.