“Ava’s missing,” Magnus informed her. “That’s why the police were here this mornin’. Harrison told them I had somethin’ to do with it.”
That seemed to snap Gia out of her stupor. Her eyebrows lowered, and her brown eyes sparked with banked fury. “He’s an asshole.”
“You know him?” Trey asked.
“Everyone knows him,” she answered, then looked back at Magnus. “All that glitz you see on TV … his smug smile … it’s all horseshit.” Her attention swung back to Magnus. “She’s missing?”
“Yes,” he said somberly. “The police, as well as Trey’s team, are currently looking into it. Which is what I intend to do as soon as I can check on a few things.”
Gia shook her head. “You don’t worry about a thing here. We’ve got it covered. I’ve already called Randy in to help out. And I’ll stay as long as I’m needed.”
He knew better than to argue. Gia was fierce when she set her mind to something. And since finding Ava was more important to him than anything else, he wanted to give the search his full attention so he would take all the help he could get.
“I’m gonna run in the house and change,” he told them, motioning toward the door.
He wasn’t sure why Trey was there, what he needed, or how long he intended to stick around. Nor did he care to ask. The man was making things awkward because he clearly didn’t want to be here, yet he refused to leave.
Magnus didn’t wait to see if Trey would follow when he headed for the house. He didn’t care whether he did or not.
Sparing a glance at the waffles still inside the toaster, he headed down the hall to his bedroom. He grabbed his phone from where it was charging, tapped the screen. No messages and no calls. He swallowed the disappointment, set the phone down, and headed for the bathroom. After giving his reflection a quick once-over while he washed his hands, he decided on a quick shower but opted to forgo shaving. He was in and out in two minutes, then dressed and pulling on his boots when he heard the back screen door slam shut. He wandered back down the hall, grabbing his cell phone from the charger on the way.
Stepping into the kitchen, he dialed Ava’s number, although he knew it would go unanswered. When he got her voicemail after several rings, he opted to text.
“Her phone’s still on,” he said, glancing over at Trey. “You think JJ could see if she can locate it?”
“It’s worth a shot. What’s the number?”
Magnus knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but it was something. He rattled off the number, praying Ava was hiding out, refusing to go home. He knew that wouldn’t be the case because she would’ve come to his house if she didn’t go home. Ava knew he would keep her safe, protect her from Harrison at all costs. She damn sure wouldn’t have to go it alone.
He began typing a text to Ava, wanting to send it just in case.
“She’s been tellin’ me she’s gonna leave,” he told Trey, not looking at him. “Ava. For years she’s claimed she would leave that house to get away from Harrison. She ends up goin’ back to take care of her mother every time.”
“Why not take her mother with her?”
“She can’t afford it.” Magnus had offered to help, but Ava had refused. She was too proud to accept handouts, or so she’d told him.
“You said Harrison abuses her. How long’s this been goin’ on?”
Magnus hit send on the text and turned his attention to Trey. “He … uh…” Unable to force the words past the bile rising in his throat, he peered over at the coffeepot, opted to make some.
“Magnus. Talk to me. It’s the only way we’re gonna find her.”
He nodded, understanding, but still couldn’t get the words out.
“Magnus.” Trey’s voice was lower this time, and he’d moved closer. “Talk to me.”
Slowly turning, he leaned against the kitchen counter, crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, he beats her,” he said, his voice rough with the anger that began flooding his system. “Started up shortly after they were married.”
“He’s the one who gave her the split lip?”
Magnus remembered the night Trey had shown up shortly after Ava had. She’d been so upset because Harrison had threatened to kill her. “He’s the one,” he confirmed.
Trey’s eyes flashed with something that looked a lot like the anger Magnus felt. While he appreciated the guy’s fury on Ava’s behalf, Magnus knew there was one emotion the man couldn’t take on: guilt. Magnus couldn’t shake the guilt that consumed him knowing if he’d only done something sooner, perhaps Ava would be safe and not—
He cut off the thought. He couldn’t think along those lines. She wasn’t dead. She couldn’t be.
“She used to deny it,” he told Trey. “I knew she was lyin’. I finally got her to admit it, but now she tells me it’s no big deal. Probably because I told her I’d kill him if I ever saw him.” He sighed. “I’ve offered to let her and her mother stay here, but she refuses.”
