I sniffle and clean my face as I get my emotions under control, making sure I’m somewhat presentable. I shove my emotions down, trying to swallow them so they don’t slap me in the face again before I turn around and take my seat. My mug warms my hands and keeps me grounded.
“Okay, Otto_Bot,” I say, smiling. “Let’s do this.”
Something about me using his handle makes his mask shake and he has to clear his throat to launch into some of his plans. Those plans include everything from gathering enough evidence to report him to the FBI for embezzlement to throwing a billboard with his photo and a list of all the people he’s stolen from. Otto has covered all the bases, and he’s come up with a ton of ideas.
“Also, in a few weeks, we’re going to an event,” Otto adds.
“What event?”
“The New York Tech Summit. Aria Tech is due to give a speech and is a major contributor. Dagen will, of course, be there representing Fox Industries, and you’ll be his date for the evening.” Otto watches my face as he relays the information.
“And you and Wylan?”
“Will also be in attendance,” he answers. “Though we’ll be incognito. Or at least I will. I’m not sure Wylan can resist poking fun at a bunch of rich assholes.”
“You’ll be there in person?” I clarify. “Or with the robot? The robot may be a bit inconspicuous.”
“I’m still undecided if the risk is worth it or not to see Ric’s face when we do whatever we figure out we’re doing,” he admits. “I’ll let you know.”
I sigh. “It would be nice to know who I’m actually speaking to.”
“I’m not so important,” he says. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’ll tell you what,” I answer, tapping the table. “We meet in person and I’ll make you that coffee.”
“I’ll do you one better,” he says. “We meet in person, and I’ll take you to a coffee shop that has good hot chocolate. Less work. More time to talk.”
I huff out a laugh and run a hand through my hair. Despite the silly teasing and the possibility of meeting him, I realize that I don’t have long before I’ll be forced to face Ric fully. “I don’t know if I’m ready to face him in a professional setting.”
“You won’t be alone,” Otto points out. “Dagen won’t leave your side and I’ll be right there as well in some aspect. Not to mention Wylan.”
I reach over and touch the robot. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me and Elsie, Otto. I can’t ever express enough gratitude. I know you’re doing this for the money, but. . . still. Thank you.”
“It’s not just the money,” he says, the robot screen moving back and forth. He doesn’t pull away though. “Assholes like Ricardo McCoy deserve their comeuppance more often. I’m doing the world a service.” His mask tilts. “And maybe, I like you. So doing it for you isn’t such a challenging thing to do.”
His gaze flicks along the scars on my arms and somehow, I know both of us know they aren’t the worst of them. I’m peppered with them, but not on my face. Never the face.
“Otto_Bot, doing good things,” I muse. “You know, a lot of people consider you like Batman.”
“They shouldn’t,” he says.
“Why not?” I ask. “Vigilante justice isn’t so bad.”
The screen looks down. “Batman was a good guy.” I hear him start tapping on the keyboard again. “I’m not.”
And he offers no explanation as to why.
Something in my chest squeezes tight, but I’m not afraid. Not in the slightest. Not when a text comes through with a smiley face and a link to a video about coffee. Apparently, he meant what he said.
I really hope I get to meet him in person one day. I really hope I’ll get to put a face to the voice. A meme comes through at the same time about a dancing cat and I giggle.
I only realize after the robot screen leaves that I never gave him my phone number.
Twenty-One
Ava
Sunday is usually our calm day. We wake up late, eat lunch, and spend the day relaxing. Elsie and I have done it since we’d escaped Ric, mostly because Sundays before were spent afraid. I was never more thankful for weekdays when Elsie could escape to school and Ric would go to work. Now, home is a haven rather than a prison, so we spend Sundays enjoying that. It took a while for us to find calm in the emotions after we left, but once we got there, it’s my favorite day of the week.
