Page 8 of My Masked Savior
“Marco Delacruz.” Ethan pulls up a mugshot on the left monitor. “Her boyfriend for nearly three years. The pattern starts about six months in. Classic escalation timeline.”
I step closer to the screen, studying the face of the man who hurt Morgan. Broad shoulders, chiseled jaw, dark eyes with the dead look I’ve seen in so many predators. The kindof conventionally handsome that probably helped him charm his way out of consequences.
“What’s his record look like?” I ask, my voice unnaturally calm even as heat spreads through my chest.
Ethan clicks through several windows. “Impressive rap sheet. Domestic disturbance calls at three different addresses before Morgan. Charges filed by Jessica Winters in 2015, dropped a week later. Restraining order filed by Alyssa Chen in 2016, expired and never renewed.”
My jaw tightens. “Where is he now? Did he do time for what he did to Morgan?”
“Nope. All charges dropped.” Ethan glances up at me.
“What’s he doing now?”
“He’s still in Madison, as far as I can tell. Works construction.” Ethan’s expression darkens. “Here’s where it gets interesting. His last girlfriend, Tanya Loman, died about a year ago. The official cause was complications from a miscarriage, but...”
“But what?”
“Hospital records show she came in multiple times before that with injuries consistent with abuse. The doctors suspected the miscarriage itself might have been caused by physical trauma.”
My hands curl into fists. “Let me guess—no charges filed.”
“Not one.” Ethan clicks through more files. “Since then, he hasn’t seemed to latch onto another target. But here’s the really concerning part?—”
He pulls up a series of search records. “I dug into his digital footprint. The guy regularly searches for Morgan online. Every couple of weeks, like clockwork. He looks at her social media profiles even though she’s got everything locked down. He’s keeping tabs on her from afar.”
Deadly certainty settles in my bones. “So, he’s not truly let go.”
“Seems that way. And with her heading back to Madison...” Ethan trails off, letting the implication hang in the air.
I stare at the screen, thoughts forming. “When did you say Morgan’s bus leaves for New Haven?”
“The 23rd. Returns the 26th.” Ethan narrows his eyes at me. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m off for four days over Christmas. I was going to spend it with Killian and Emily, but...” I trail off, mind already mapping routes to Connecticut.
“Oh no. Damien, don’t even think about it.”
I straighten up. “I need everything on him. Address, workplace, hangouts, routine. Everything.”
Ethan raises an eyebrow. “Whoa there, Avenger. You’re really worked up about this one.”
“When am I not worked up about a mark?”
“Don’t even try, man.” He cracks open another energy drink. “I’ve been your personal cyber-stalker for what, three years now? Never seen you this intense about one of your targets.”
I pace across his cluttered living room. “She had a severe panic attack at a fucking Christmas party.”
“Right.” Ethan nods slowly, exaggerating the motion. “And you’re definitely not requesting this intel because you’ve been obsessing over her since that Christmas party. Your texts were descriptive.”
Heat rushes to my face. “I just asked for a background check.”
“At two in the morning. With three follow-up messages about how she lookedvulnerable but resilient.” He mimicsmy voice. “Just admit it—you’ve got a thing for this damsel in distress.”
“She’s not some fragile damsel—she’s rebuilding. Every self-defense class, every glance over her shoulder, is proof.”
Ethan holds up his hands. “Fine, fine. Not a damsel. Just a hot chick you want to bang who happens to have an abusive ex you can conveniently eliminate. Two birds, one stone, right?”
My hands clench into fists. “That’s not what this is.”
