Page 76 of Every Breath

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Rodney hissed, smacking his head back to the ground.

No, God, no. Not again. He failed Brandi, and now she was dead. His head swam and he could barely think. It felt as though his body was shutting down as the hands tightened around his neck.

“Rodney!”

Mason opened his eyes in surprise.

Rodney loosened his grip.

Brandi stood over them with the gun. She looked weak. “I won’t let you hurt him,” she yelled at Rodney.

“This is all for you! Haven’t I proved my devotion to you? You still don’t get it, do you? No one loves you like I do.” Rodney’s eyes filled with tears.

Brandi lifted the gun higher. “Let him go.”

A savage expression crossed Rodney’s face and he squeezed Mason’s throat even harder.

“No! I’ll kill him and you’ll be mine again. He doesn’t love you like I do—no one does!”

“Thank God for that,” she whispered and pulled the trigger.

The recoil thrust her backward. Rodney looked stunned before his body fell on top of Mason.

Mason could barely move, his head was swimming, he ached, and he was losing the battle to the darkness.

Just as he passed out, he saw Brandi slump to the floor.

Mason found himself standing in the dark, a bright light stood off to the side and he knew he was standing in the gateway. Was it all over? Should he have left well enough alone? If he had, would Brandi still be alive?

Paul appeared behind him. “She’s not dead.”

“Thank the Lord. Will she make it?”

“Yes. The bullet didn’t hit any vital organs. As long as she gets to the hospital on time, she’ll be fine.”

“And Rodney….”

“Is finally gone. He won’t be bothering her again. Brandi and the children are safe.”

“How will she be found? No one knew where she was.”

“A passerby heard the commotion and called the police. Your bodies will be found.”

Mason was almost afraid to ask, but he had to know. “What about me, Paul? I failed, didn’t I?”

“Peter isn’t happy. You weren’t supposed to tell her who you were.”

“I know and I didn’t. I told Rodney.”

“You’re splitting hairs again.”

Mason sighed. “Purgatory?”

Paul was silent and Mason feared the worse. Did he foul things up so badly that he had to go to the other place? The thought sent chills coursing through him.

“You’re one lucky son of a gun, because they’re going to let you stay.”

“What? Are you serious? That’s fantastic!”

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