Ava
“My real name is Ava McCoy,” I begin, wincing at the name. I’d changed it to put distance between Ric and me and also to help us fly under the radar. “We had to change it to Hutcherson after. . . we left.”
His face darkens. “He hit you?” The way he looks across my face, as if looking for physical evidence makes my stomach flip. He won’t find any on my face. My scars are in places easy to hide them.
“Much of Ric’s abuse was. . . mental and financial. But. . . it did escalate to physical abuse eventually,” I admit. And it didn’t stop once it started. I have an extensive medical history to prove that. Something in me preens at the fury that flickers across Dagen’s face with my words. I’m a stranger, but here he is, angry on my behalf. “My daughter brought home a book from school one day. She’s an advanced reader, reads at a high school level despite being so young, so she struggles to find appropriate books for her. This book, there was a woman who stayed for her children in an abusive relationship.” I meet his eyes. “My eight-year-old, then six, told me it was okay to leave, that we should leave. It was the moment I realized it wasn’t just affecting me. It was affecting her, too.” I sigh. “That was over two years ago. A year later I managed to save enough money to leave, but not before his raised his hand to—” I bite off my words and take a deep breath. “We’ve been running ever since. We’re only just starting to live normal lives again.”
Dagen watches me carefully, his eyes on my face as I speak. “And what does this have to do with me?” he finally asks.
I take another breath, steeling my resolve. “Yesterday, a bouquet of flowers showed up at my work. There was no card, but the flowers that were chosen, white daisies and red roses, could only be from one person. It was always daisies and red roses after he. . . messed up.”
Dagen straightens. “You think he’s found your alias already.”
“I know he has. It’s only a matter of time before he shows up, and while I can take care of myself, my daughter, she doesn’t deserve to be uprooted again. She likes her school, has finally started to make friends, and I don’t want to keep running.”
The slow smile that crawls across his face is unsettling despite it also being incredibly attractive. “And you thought that I would be able to help you in this considering my business connections.”
I grimace. “I know this is unprofessional and you have better things to do?—”
“On the contrary,” Dagen interrupts. “I’m quite intrigued about this plan of yours. I don’t care for laws or professionalism when I can be entertained. I give you free rein to speak your mind right now.”
I hesitate. “I was thinking. . . I could bring him down so thoroughly, he leaves us alone for good. Socially, financially, and physically. I still want to remain firmly moral, but. . . I’d like to make him go away, for him to realize there’s no one left to bully here anymore. You, being someone he not only idolizes, but also detests, are powerful enough to make that happen.”
He shakes his head. “Your plan is too soft,” he counters. “A narcissist doesn’t like when they lose control, and Ricardo is very much a narcissist. He likely considers it a betrayal that you left and looks at you as if he owns you, same as your daughter. You’re extensions of him. While you’ll hurt him with this plan, you’ll only make him desperate, and desperate animals are dangerous.”
“At the point he gets physical, I can file for another restraining order and?—”
“A piece of paper only works for good people, Ava,” he says, watching me carefully.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” I answer honestly.
“You just knew I was the man for the job,” he says with a grin. “I am, in fact, perfect for this.” He picks up the folder I gave him and flips through the papers before he pulls out the sheet on the program I know about. “What do you know about Program Fresno?”
I tip up my chin. “Everything. I was there when Ric stole it from Gerado Mendoza. Last I heard, he was still threatening Mr. Mendoza about it.”
Something dangerous flickers in his eyes. “Does Ricardo know how to utilize it?”
I shake my head. “Mr. Mendoza coded in a password. The program won’t work without a specific line of code written into it. I doubt he’s figured it out yet unless Mr. Mendoza has caved to his threats. He was attempting to bribe him with royalties, but before I’d left, I made sure to let him know that Ric was lying and that there would be no royalties if he caved.”
“Do you have contact with this Mr. Gerardo Mendoza?” he asks.
“I haven’t spoken to him since then, but I imagine his contact information is the same.”
“Perfect,” he purrs, closing the folder. “I’ll cut ties with Aria Tech today.”
I blink. “Just like that? But you don’t even know if I’m telling the truth.”
“I’m good at reading people,” he muses. “Besides, with wealth comes an overwhelming sense of boredom. I haven’t been this entertained in years.”
My face pinches at his words as I’m unable to hide my reaction. “I’m glad my abuse is amusing to you.”
Dagen turns from where he’s flipping through folders, searching for something. “On the contrary, I find it horrible. No person should have to suffer abuse at the hands of someone they care for. But I do have experience with narcissists and relish taking one down. Especially one who got physical.”
“You have experience? With who?”
He tenses and glances away. “My mother.” He flips through more papers. “As for your plans, I might know some people who can help, if you’re willing. I’ll contact them and arrange a meeting. In the meantime, I’ll arrange a car for you and your daughter as well as a security guard.”
“That isn’t necessary?—"
