A terrible, evil man who would have killed me if given the chance, but the courts rarely see it from that perspective when it’s a woman doing the killing. I had exactly three seconds to panic about that thought before I realized what would happen, before I understood that I no longer fit into the normal societal mold.
Dagen Fox is by my side. And Dagen Fox is too rich and powerful to suffer any real sort of consequence.
Money comes sweeping into that warehouse and puts everything back in order as quickly as it devolved. Bodies disappear. Blood is mopped up. Bullet casings are collected. Fingerprints are scrubbed. Until there’s no evidence left that we were ever here.
Dagen and Felix sweep me into the back of a black car where Elsie waits for me with her new puppy and what appears to be her third ice cream cone. Together, we share the fourth. I’m numb, a little bit in shock, but I keep it together for her.
The image of his head snapping back, blood splattering from the exit point behind him, his body slumping to the dirty concrete floor will stick with me forever. It should bring a sense of horror. Instead, all it brings is relief.
We’re free.
We’re free.
The news airs a story a week later about someone hearing gunshots in the warehouse district, but no one is brought in on charges and the case runs cold. They attribute it to gang violence and that ends it. No one ever comes to speak with us. No cops show up at our door. All of Ric’s assets were seized, and when that happened, they did come speak to me since I’m still legally his wife. At my admission that we were separated and with proof of abuse, they left me alone, though I’m sure it had more to do with Dagen stepping in than it had to do with my proof of separation.
There was nothing left to me after the seizure. No house, no money, nothing. I didn’t expect there to be, and I would never have been able to live in the house we fled from, so it didn’t bother me. I didn’t want to be married to Ric. I didn’t want anything from that marriage. I have everything I need right here.
I smile at the living room where four little girls are dressed up in princess dresses and crowns. A few of them sport fairy wings. Glitter will be all over the living room after this, but I don’t care. It’s worth it to see the bright smile on Elsie’s face as she pours tea for her new friends, Tonya, and Wylan. Wylan, who would never miss Elsie’s birthday party. Wylan who wears a princess dress and tiara just like the others. He even let Elsie do his makeup, and somehow, he still looks gorgeous despite the hot pink eyeshadow smeared all around his eyes.
Felix sits on the couch, a cup of tea between his fingers, his pinky out like a proper gentleman. He doesn’t wear a dress, but a tiara sits on his head and fairy wings are strapped to his back. He meets my eyes where I stand in the kitchen and smiles, completely at ease despite the tea party antics.
Strong arms wrap around me from behind and I tip my head back onto Dagen’s shoulder.
“What are you looking at, little bird?” he asks softly before pressing a kiss against my cheek. His eyes follow mine and he chuckles. “I suppose I should put on my tiara before I go out there.”
“You should,” I nod. “Elsie demands we’re all princesses for the day.”
“Whatever the birthday girl wants,” he agrees, holding me tighter.
I sink into his touch. We haven’t discussed anything. None of us have. Every day, I expect them to disappear. Wylan especially. Every day he shows back up in my house and I breathe a sigh of relief, but each night, I worry he won’t come back. He has a life outside of this. He has a dangerous job that takes him all over the world. There’s no reason for him to continue staying here to play house.
And Felix. The famous Otto_Bot must have business to attend to, but like Wylan, he shows up every day. He comes through the front door at least, completely confident in his anonymity. He still carries his computer everywhere and almost always seems to be on it when he’s not paying attention to me or Elsie, but he hasn’t once brought up leaving.
Dagen has openly been affectionate, as if he intends to stick around. The others touch me without care, though they’re respectful of doing anything in front of Elsie. I haven’t asked what we all are, what we’re doing, because I’m terrified of the answer.
The project Goliath is preparing for Fox Industries is almost finished, and despite everything that has happened, it looks like our team has pulled it off. I’ve already put in my notice for when it’s complete. Fox Industries has made me an offer I can’t refuse and with a promise to take care of my team and keep using them, I accepted.
Which makes the man currently holding me my soon to be boss.
A conflict of interest, sure, but we’re well past that now, I think.
“It feels like a dream,” I murmur, holding onto Dagen’s arms tightly. “Like it’ll all disappear at a moment’s notice.”
Dagen hums. “Happiness can feel like that.”
I draw in a breath. “But is it permanent?” I look at him over my shoulder. “Are the three of you permanent?”
His eyes crinkle. “It took you longer to ask that than I assumed it would.”
“I’ve been building up the courage all week,” I answer honestly. “I was worried about the answer.”
He spins me to face him. “Is the answer not obvious?”
“You were insistent this was just business for the last few months,” I point out. “Wylan told me he’s not the root-growing type. Felix hasn’t really said anything like that, but he did wait a while before we met in person.”
“I hadn’t even met him in person until you,” Dagen shrugs. “I’d think that was evidence enough of his intent.”
“But what about yours? And Wylan’s?” I ask again.
