My gaze fell to his bare feet. The guy had been through some shit. “What happened to your sister?”

“My uncle wasn’t the only one who knew something was up. Old man sold her after I went to prison. He suspected I was gonna turn state’s evidence.” Jax chewed on his lip. “He’s dangled her location over my head ever since. Everything I’ve done…fuck man. It was you or my sister, and the only way he’d let me back into the underground was if I helped bring you in.”

“Damn,” I said, shaking my head. “What kind of bastard sells his own daughter? And why the fuck would you want back in?”

“I needed to find her. He keeps records of every girl he’s sold. I had to believe he’d done the same with Tawny.” A scowl darkened his face. “Cleft was her handler. He actually liked Tawny, protected her against the clients and their filthy wandering hands, but when it comes down to orders from the boss, they all scuttle.”

“That why you killed him?”

“He had it coming.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Did you find what you needed down there?” If he had, at least all of this wouldn’t have been for nothing.

“No. I’m guessing he’s keeping the info somewhere in the mansion. Her file wasn’t in the office with the others. That was my next step—finding a window of opportunity to search the estate—but after Nikki…” He dropped his head into his hands. “I couldn’t do it anymore.”

I wasn’t about to tell him he was off the hook for Nikki’s death. Some part of me still blamed him, would probably always blame him, but I could understand the spot he’d been in.

He lifted his head. “There’s more, Rafe.” He paused long enough to rub his palms down his face. “Nikki has…had a son.”

“I know.”

His eyes widened.

“After what happened in that room, it came back to me. I don’t remember details, just that she had a son and he’s mine. You don’t think he’d hurt an innocent kid?” Even as the words left my mouth, I realized how ridiculous they sounded. Perrone had ruined his son and sold his daughter into sexual slavery. The man was the devil.

“He doesn’t know he’s yours,” he said. “I checked on Will after Nikki—”

“Will?” I asked, my heart pounding an erratic rhythm in my chest.

“The kid’s name.”

“My middle name.”

He nodded. “He’s with Nikki’s parents.”