Ella rubbed her hand over her breastbone to ease the painful thud of her heart. ‘My father was one of them, is that what you’re saying?’
She wanted to shout that it wasn’t true. That he wouldn’t stoop to that. But she couldn’t. Everything she knew of her father pointed to the fact he’d use anyone. He had no conscience when it came to making the money he craved. Her stomach writhed.
Donato nodded. ‘I’m sorry.’ There was regret in his deep voice, as if he read her horror and shame.
Ella breathed hard, fighting dizziness. She felt light-headed.
‘Ella, sit down.’
He moved towards her and she shook her head. ‘No. I’m all right. Tell me the rest.’ She had to know it all.
‘There’s not much more to tell.’ Yet the starkness imprinted on his features belied that. ‘She was kept there for years, like many others, too scared to try going to the authorities, too ashamed to even dream about returning home.’ He paused. When he spoke again his voice grated. ‘I don’t even know where she came from.’ His gaze captured hers and the raw anguish in his eyes cut through her. ‘Not even what country. She couldn’t bring herself to talk of the past because she hated what she’d become. She couldn’t face the thought of confronting her family with that.’
‘Donato.’ Ella reached out to him, but he didn’t even notice. Her hand fell to her side.
What could she say? She could barely comprehend what his mother had gone through. Ella shuddered at the thought of being forced like that. No wonder Donato’s mother had grabbed the chance for a ‘normal’ life with a man who had promised to take her away. No wonder the young Donato had been so desperate to do the right thing in their new home so they wouldn’t be turned out.
Ella huddled down into the loose gown, seeking warmth yet knowing nothing could counter the chill in her bones.
‘I made it my mission to find those responsible for the trafficking ring.’ Once more Donato’s voice was matter-of-fact, his tone clipped. ‘It took years but eventually I narrowed it to two men. One had been under police investigation but died before he could be arrested. The other, your father, covered his tracks better. He was lucky too because several of the people who could testify against him died.’
‘You’re not saying—?’
‘That he killed them? I doubt he gave them a thought. He’d moved on to build his prestigious business empire long ago.’ Donato shook his head. ‘No, life expectancy in that milieu isn’t good. The final witness against him is an ex-prostitute, addicted to heroin. She’d be discredited in minutes in court. I’ve seen it before.’
Ella remembered that the case against the man who’d killed his mother had collapsed because of an unreliable witness.
‘But you’re sure?’ Even as she asked, Ella knew it was fruitless. Donato wasn’t the sort to leave anything to chance.
‘I’m sorry, Ella.’
His gaze was steady, hiding nothing. She read sympathy and pain, and wondered if it was for her or himself.
What did it matter? This damaged them both. She wanted to go upstairs and scrub herself clean. Her father’s actions tainted her.
‘I can show you the evidence, if you like. It’s been collected over years.’
‘No. Thank you.’ Ella didn’t want to read the statements. She knew, deep inside, that it was true. She could ask her father, of course. He might not even deny it, might try to brazen it out.
She’d understood for years that Reg Sanderson wasn’t a father to be proud of. What she knew of his business dealings didn’t impress her, and then there was Rob’s sudden decision not to work for him, and his absolute refusal to explain why. Ella knew he’d discovered something in their father’s schemes he couldn’t countenance.
‘Ella, are you okay?’
It hurt to breathe. It hurt to think. It hurt, when she looked at Donato, to see that, despite his concern, he still stood aloof, keeping distance between them.
The truth lay between them. It was dark and abhorrent and it explained everything. Why he’d approached her. A distraction for her father.
An instrument of revenge.
Ella’s breath seized as pain pierced her chest.
‘Ella!’ Donato moved towards her but she put her palm up.
‘Don’t,’ she croaked. ‘I’m fine.’
She was anything but. She doubted she’d be okay ever again. But she couldn’t bear for him to touch her.