Page 73 of Every Breath

Terror seized her heart. Rodney was just the right amount of crazy to do something like that. “You…you wouldn’t dare.”

He shrugged one shoulder a pure mania gleamed in his dark eyes. “I wouldn’t mind having my own Venus di Milo although I would prefer you with all your limbs intact.”

Brandi’s eyes filled with the tears that had not come earlier. “What about my babies? They need their mother. Don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to them.”

“Let your family take care of them. You belong to me. Tomorrow, we’ll get on a flight to Mexico, and we’ll start our new life together.”

“I won’t leave them, and you can’t make me!” She renewed her struggles.

“You’re making me angry again. Do I have to cut that cute little pinky finger off to show you that I mean business? Make this easy on yourself and just let me love you.”

“I’ll see you in hell first,” she hissed venomously.

His eyes tightened with rage. “You want to do this the hard way? So be it.”

Brandi screamed as Rodney raised the knife.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“This is the place?” Mason asked as they came to an abandoned brownstone.

“Yes, let’s go,” Paul answered.

Mason broke through the barrier covering the door and rushed up the stairs as he heard Brandi scream. “He’s hurting her!” He raced toward the sound and crashed through the door of the room.

Mason’s heart nearly exploded with fright at the sight that greeted him. Rodney straddled Brandi, holding a knife over her.

“No!” He charged at Rodney, knocking him off Brandi.

Rodney had been so intent on his victim that he’d obviously hadn’t heard Mason’s explosive entry. Mason barely felt the pain coursing through his body. All he could think about was saving Brandi.

“Mason!” Thank the Lord she seemed unharmed.

“Get out of here, Brandi,” he said, then lunged at Rodney, who was getting up. Brandi scrambled out of the way, but didn’t leave the room.

“I won’t leave you!”

Mason would have argued but he had to keep his concentration on Rodney. He slammed Rodney into the wall.

“You bastard! You were going to kill her!” he raged as he slammed his opponent against the wall again.

Rodney brought up his knee, but Mason had anticipated the move and twisted aside. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quick enough to completely escape the blow to his groin. He fell back, gasping for air.

“Why aren’t you dead, motherfucker? You’re still trying to take Brandi from me, but it won’t happen. She’s mine!” Rodney’s fist connected with Mason’s jaw.

Mason’s head snapped back, causing him to lose his footing.

Rodney searched the floor. Mason knew he was looking for the knife. Mason jumped to his feet and tackled Rodney at the knees, sending them both crashing to the floor.

Brandi looked on. “Kick his ass, Mason!” He never would have thought she’d be so bloodthirsty.

Mason punched Rodney directly in the face, smashing into one of his eyes.

Rodney howled, grabbing the injured area. He fell backwards and grabbed a candlestick holder.

“You’re not going to get a chance to kill me again.” Mason was about to hit him in the face again when Brandi called out, “Watch out, Mason!”

Rodney blindsided him in the head with the candlestick.

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