Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“You’re going to die tonight, asshole.”
Mason jerked away from the slash of Rodney’s knife. “Like I already said, you won’t find it easy to kill me again.”
“I haven’t killed you yet, but I will. Are you that eager to die?” Rodney swung the knife at him.
This time Mason wasn’t quick enough to completely dodge the knife as it sliced into his side. Brandi grabbed Rodney by the ankle and pulled him off balance, tripping him to the floor. This gave Mason the opportunity to recover.
Mason kicked Rodney in the side, but Rodney still held onto the knife. Rodney’s sleeve was drenched in blood from his wound.
“Oh, you killed me, all right. Didn’t you get my letters? Don’t you recognize me?” Mason’s eyes glared at him before he kicked Rodney in the stomach.
“What…the…hell…are you talking about?” the fallen man asked between breaths, as he tried to raise his knife.
Mason stepped on his hand and Rodney dropped the weapon.
“Take a good look at me. Who do you see? Do I remind you of anyone, friend?”
“Damon?” Rodney’s tone was disbelieving. “How…but…you’re not him.”
“No? Let’s just say I have powerful connections, and I’m here to make sure you don’t get your hands on Brandi or the children. I’m not going to give you another chance to take away my life.”
“You’re crazy. You’re not Damon!” Rodney attempted to get to his feet, but Mason kicked him in the chest and made him crash back to the floor.
Mason stole a quick glance at Brandi, who was staring at him with eyes full of unshed tears. “Damon?” she whispered.
“Get the knife.” Mason didn’t answer her question.
Rodney tried to reach for it, but Mason brought the heel of his foot down on Rodney’s fingers, crushing them. Rodney howled again.
“Don’t even think about it,” Mason hissed. “You took away a part of me I will never get back. You were my partner and my best friend. I trusted you around my wife and children, but you took my life and for what? Brandi never loved you.”
Rodney glared up at him. “You’re making this up!”
“How else would I know what you did? That you shot that man, took his gun, and shot me; how you plotted and drugged Brandi the night of your supposed engagement; what you did to little Tina Reed. It’s time to pay the piper, and I’ve come to collect.” Mason let his rage take over and kicked Rodney in the face.
Rodney went out like a light.
Mason tried to kick him again, but once again something was holding him back.
“He’s out,” Paul said in his ear.
Brandi ran over to Mason and fell into his arms, bursting into loud sobs. He held her tightly, petting her. “Shh. It’s over.”
She cried long and hard, her body shaking. He rocked and soothed her, kissing the top of her head. “Shh.”
She looked up at him with a tear-streaked face. “Damon?”
“Yes, it’s me, but I’m Mason now. It’s part of the conditions for coming back.”
“I knew there was a reason why you always seemed so familiar to me. Oh, my God, why didn’t you tell me who you were? I missed you so much.”
“I couldn’t tell you. Would you have believed me?”
“I…I guess not, but it was always there in your eyes. You always seemed to know how to touch me, and what I liked. I’ve no more doubts about who you are. Why did you wait two years?”
“Well, actually, it doesn’t usually work this way. Once you’re gone, you’re gone, but I cut a deal with Peter. I mean St. Peter.”
“You know him?” She sounded impressed.
“Yes. I couldn’t let you go through with your engagement. I didn’t know how crazy Rodney was until the night he shot me.”
“I began to suspect that things weren’t exactly right with him around the time we got engaged, or rather around the time he tricked me.” She shuddered. “I didn’t actually realize he was insane until I saw this room.”
“It took this to make you realize it?”
“You have to remember how long he was in our lives. He had you fooled, too. Now that I think about it, I know he probably trashed our house. Oh Dam—I mean Mason. Why me? Why did he have to pick me?”
“Who knows what runs through the mind of a psycho.”
“I love you so much. Wait until I tell the kids.”
Mason shook his head. “No. You can never tell them.”
“Why?”
“I’m Mason now. For all intents and purposes, the Damon you knew no longer exists.” His heart broke at her crestfallen expression. “Baby, we’ll talk about this when we get out of here. Let’s go.”
“Yes, and the sooner we call the police the better.”
He was about to usher her out of the room when Brandi screamed. “Mason, look out!”
Rodney was upright again, but this time he was holding a gun aimed at the both of them.