Running From The Big Bad Wolf

35.

"I feel really weird doing this with that man here." I whispered to Eli in his ear as I looked over to the man. Eli let me go and sighed before sitting down.

"Caity." Eli called to me and I looked at him, patiently waiting. "After my fake death-"

"Wait. How did you do that?"

"A bullet to the back, a thin blood bag under my shirt but on top of the bullet proof vest. It hurt like a bitch, but it played the part." Eli laughed as he explained.

I stayed silent, breathing loudly, nodding as I took the information in. Rhydian was running around the room, this room, the bedroom, jumping on the beds.

"After that, I took up the name Harrison. It is our birth name."

I knitted my brows together. "Our birth name? No, Tremaine is."

Eli shook his head. "No, that was mums maiden name."

I looked at Eli to this other man by the hotel door. "But, isn't his name Harrison?"

"Caity, yes. He is Harrison as well. Caity," Eli paused and I saw he was having trouble forming the words. "He is our father."

I frowned even deeper, shaking my head. "What?"

"He is our father."

"I heard you the first time, Eli." I breathed out as I looked up at the man. No wonder he looks like an older version of Eli.

The man, my apparent father stepped forward then, his face full of worry.

"Caity,"

"Don't call me that." I cut in immediately.

"Caitlyn. I am your father, Elias." He told me as he sat at the spare seat at the table. "Look, I know you don't have to believe me or trust me and that's fine. I've been absent for over fifteen years now. But it was all to protect you and Eli."

I put back up my walls, distancing myself.

"Eli took the same path as me. I fell in to the wrong crowd, mixed with the wrong people. I had no choice but to leave you behind and hide, keep myself away to keep you all safe. I didn't want my wife and children murdered, I didn't want them to know of this path. That one, I failed."

"Because you weren't there." I hissed at him.

"I know you're angry and I get that. Be angry. You've been through so much for such a young age." Elias stated, shifting the chair to face me more. "The task force found me. Helped me. Ever since then, I've been helping other people, other families."

"But what about your family?" I yelled at him, my face red with anger. "We grew up without you, mum had to work two jobs, Eli dropped out of school to help her and me. Eli raised me. Mum died still heartbroken."

That one struck Elias. "I know. I actually visited when I could, while Eli was at work and you at school. I was at the funeral. I helped Eli get his jobs, get him away from the gang wars. I watched you graduate. I was always watching over you guys, always."

"I'm sorry that I never came forward. I really am. But every spare minute I had, I was there for you. I watched Eli become a brave young man, you become a beautiful young woman, someone that is nearly a spitting image to her own mother." Elias rubbed an eye and took a deep breathe.

"When I wasn't there, I was helping other victims. Human sex and slave trafficking, drug trafficking."

I took shaky breathes, wanting but also not wanting to listen.

"I'm so proud of you both, the obstacles life has thrown at you both."

My tears had fallen as I stared at this man. This man that is my father.

"I understand if you don't want to see me again, Caity, but at least let me make sure you leave safely."

I looked over at Eli and he gave me a small nod, letting me know it is okay, Elias is telling the truth.

I got up from my chair and embraced my father. "I forgive you." I whispered to him as he hugged me tightly.

"Tv, mummy!" Rhydian said as he ran into the room. I gave him a nod, wiping my face.

I let Elias go and turned the television on. It was the morning news as I read and listened to the headline.

"Big time drug lord and gang leader, Axel Wolf missing," The news presenter said as a photo of Axel appeared on the screen.

Missing? I froze. I thought...

"He is in a secured cell, Caity." Eli said softly, his hand on my shoulder, making me relax again.

"...his pregnant wife, Caitlyn Wolf and their three year old son, Rhyan Wolf, were found dead at the scene."

"So, that's it? We died?" I turned to my father and brother and they nodded their heads.

"Axel will be brought to a court in a couple weeks, pinned with your murders. The tapes we have will serve as evidence towards kidnapping, coercion, rape, deprivation of freedom." My father told me and I burst in to tears.

"So it's over?" I asked them through my cries. "I'm free?"

Eli smiled. "Are you ready to start anew, leave our old life behind?"

I grinned widely, nodding my head enthusiastically.

Elias came forward and handed us three plane tickets. I took them and read them.

Auckland, New Zealand.