“It’s a surprise,” Felix says. “Just give it a few minutes.”
So, I sit back in silence, watching through the window for whatever this surprise is. It isn’t until a few minutes later, just like Felix said, that I realize what we’re doing.
The first billboard rises over the highway like a tower, the image on it damn near translucent with all the lights on it.
“Is that?—”
“Yep,” Felix nods. “Now the entire city will see what a conman he is. Every tech company is aware of the billboards.”
“How many are there?” I ask, glancing over at him.
“A dozen or so,” he replies, shrugging. “In the most important parts of the city. I’ve also made sure to put them up in other cities where tech companies are prominent. There are also emails that have gone out to all CEOs.”
The photo on the billboard is big, but it’s not grainy at all. Which is crazy because I took the photo on an outdated phone years ago. It’s not one of the most flattering pictures of Ric. Honestly, it’s not the worst photo I’ve seen of his either. But it makes me laugh that it’s the photo I’d taken of him right before he puked after drinking too many wine coolers, face yellow and all. The words, “Beware this fraud” are large beside him in yellow font. It’s hard to miss.
“We used different photos for each one,” Felix explains. “Every major tech company has one outside their doors explaining exactly how he’s defrauded their company. There isn’t a company who would accept him now.”
I chuckle. “I bet he hates this.”
We stop on the side of the road, and hop out so I can get a really good view of the billboard, my cheeks hurting with my smile. Wylan hops out beside me and stares up at the billboard with me. Somehow, he’d gotten some chips and starts to crunch on them as we look at it. He offers one to me and I shake my head. My chest squeezes and for the first time in a long time, things feel lighter as I look up.
“This is it,” I breath. “This is what we needed. He’ll leave us alone now.”
Wyland’s eyes flick to Dagen at my words, his expression saying something he doesn’t speak out loud. I can see the unspoken words, but I don’t know what they are. I don’t know what that look means, and it makes me uneasy.
“What?” I ask, looking between them. “What is it?”
Wylan crosses his arms. “Go on, Foxxie. Tell her.”
“Tell me what?” I look between all three of them, nervous. No one answers. “Well?”
Wylan growls under his breath. “Fine, I’ll do it.” He meets my eyes. “He won’t stop, crumpet.”
“What do you mean? We’ve taken him down. The FBI will move any day now, and he knows not to come after us again. Hell, his hair is even falling out thanks to the Nair you put in his shampoo. I don’t?—”
“Men like him don’t stop just because of a few threats,” Wylan argues. “He’ll never stop because you’re his property. He thinks he’s entitled to you, that you belong to him and no one else. All this is nice and I’m sure it gives you some sense of revenge, but it’ll only make him more violent in the end.”
“No,” I shake my head. “You’re wrong. He’ll leave us alone.”
“I’m not,” he growls. “Dagen.”
Dagen sighs and I whip my head toward him. “Wylan is right. The longer we wait to act only puts you and Elsie in more danger. We should take care of the problem before it escalates.”
“The problem?” I repeat, not quite understanding.
Not until Wylan grins and says, “I’ve been waiting for this. It’s my time to shine.”
My eyes widen. “I’m not a murderer,” I remind them, shaking my head. “We can’t do that. It’s illegal.”
“You may not be a murderer, but he will be if left to his own devices,” Felix adds. “He has nothing to lose. He’s going to come after you with all he has.”
“I don’t think he’d murder me?—”
“Stop it!” Felix growls, and it’s so aggressive, so different from anything I’ve ever seen from him, I snap my mouth shut. “I saw your medical files, Ava,” he snarls. “I saw every single injury he caused you while you covered for him. And that was when he had everything he’s ever wanted. What do you think will happen now? You want Elsie to suffer the same injuries you did? Because that’s where we’re headed if we don’t make the right moves. We either act first, or we’re at a disadvantage.”
“You’re wrong,” I cry, taking a step back, but he grabs me and lifts my shirt to reveal my stomach. His fingers aggressively poke at my scars, touching them, reminding me of when they happened, every painful punishment.
“What about these then? Huh?” Felix snarls. “You want him to add to your collection? You want Elsie to have them?”
