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Because of his father.

He just needed more time to make himself forget that it was there.

* * *

Ruel wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he finally opened his laptop. He had files for every rescue, and he was meticulous when it came to updating them. It was all part of protocol, and the routine helped keep him sane.

Individual: #86

Sex: F

Status: Safe

He found himself looking at that word for a long, long time.

This was the eighty-sixth person connected to his father. The eighty-sixth individual who was now marked safe, their life changed. If he dug deep enough, he knew this girl wouldn’t be the last. And normally, before Case #86 was over, he would have information for Cases #87-89 already lined up.

But this time…

This time, it was different.

This time, the urge for atonement had faded.

This time, he was ready to start anew.

With her.

His wife.

Karyna.

The memory of her came to him like a scent he remembered from childhood. She reminded him of cotton candy.

Sweet. Innocent. Forbidden.

Eighteen months ago, he was at the hotel lobby when she walked in. That was the first time he had seen her, and that first time was enough.

Dark-haired. Petite. Curvy.

He remembered thinking how expressive her face was, and when he realized who she was with, he remembered wincing because he could tell right away⁠—

She was obviously bad.

Really, really bad at seeing evil, even when it was standing right in front of her under the guise of a "stepfather" who'd lost his way.

But because he was not exactly a good man either…

Ruel had done nothing to make her see what was real.

When she had come to him for help, panicky and terrified as she told him about being forced into marrying Konrad⁠—

He could have told her he believed her.

He could have let her know then and there that he knew who Konrad was. In fact, Konrad, with his link to Case #74, was the reason Ruel was there.

He could have gotten her out and on a flight back to America with a snap of his fingers.

But instead he ended up lying to Karyna…and himself.