Page 110 of The Masks She Wore

?I slammed the knife into her shoulder, ripping another scream from her lungs. I grabbed the top of the chain and jerked up, lifting her from the chair, cutting off her air. “You’ve got it wrong, sweetheart. I’m the psychopath. You’re the victim.” I released the chain and straightened, turning away from her. “Someone in a white mask poisoned my girl that night, and as far as I can tell, you’re one of a very few that wore one. So,” I went on, turning back to her, “tell me why you did it.”

?Tears were pouring down her face as she shook her head. “Please,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Please just kill me. They’ll kill me anyway if you let me live, so please. I’ll tell you what you want if you just kill me.”

?Change of tune. “I don’t do bargains.” I was planning on killing her anyway, but she made me angry.

?She sucked in her lips, her blood staining her shirt, her pants. “Okay,” she nodded, sniffing. “I loved Marla, beautiful soul, her daughter was kind, good—”

?“But,” I interjected.

?She released a shuddering breath. “There are powers in this city, in this country, far greater than you could ever possibly understand,” she bit. “I don’t know what the Bennett’s did to make them angry, but I promise you, you are fighting a losing battle.”

?I chuckled. “There is no power greater than mine. You poisoned her.”

?“No,” she rushed. “No, I promise. I was told to wear a white mask and avoid her, that’s all. Just wear a white mask and avoid her all night.”

?My chin lifted. “Who told you this?”

?“I received a letter signed ‘Gage’. That’s all it said. Avoid Ms. Bennett, wear a white mask.”

?Fuck, back to square one. “Do you know names of the others in the white masks?”

?She thought about it. “Uh…um…” she shook her head. “It’s…Carrie James, uh…Benji Kerse, and…and…” she struggled against her restraints again. “Oh,” she said, finding my eyes. “Donald Nobal.”

?I straightened at that. “Donna,” I corrected.

?She shook her head. “Donald. Donald Nobal. Now please, please kill me.”

?Donald. Not Donna,Donald.

?I ripped the knife out of her shoulder and spun on my heel. “Don’t worry, Nora, you’ll have a playmate soon enough.”

23

Jack

November 21st, 2019

When I got back, it was to shouting.

?I pushed through the door to find Zo shaking Rae violently.

?It was late, almost 2am, and she was shouting at Rae, shaking her awake. I decided to pick up Max and take him to the cathedral just to get it over with. I expected Rae to still be asleep when I got back, what I hadn’t expected in a million years was for my partner to be violently shaking her.

?I pulled out my gun and slowly walked over, my eyes locked on Zo. “I’m on edge, Zo, so you’d better have a good explanation as to why you’re shaking her awakeright now.”

?Zo straightened, her eyes wide with rage. She released Rae aggressively and stepped back, but Rae continued to thrash. “You’re broken ass fuck toy won’t stop screaming. What else am I supposed to do, Jack? She’s going to wake the entire building. Jesus fuck. You picked a defective one.”

?I shot a glare at Zo on my way to Rae, studying her as she kicked and screamed, digging her nails into her skin, dragging them up. She was covered in scratches, all of them bleeding. There was a mark on her face in the shape of a handprint.

?My head whipped around on Zo. “What thefuck?”

?“She’s tearing herself a part, J, don’t fucking give me that look. You would have slapped her too!”

?“Me!” I snarled, setting my gun down. “Iwould have slapped her. Don’t fucking touch her again.” I grabbed Rae’s hands, wrapping them in one of mine before I slapped the shit out of her.

?She jerked awake, her eyes flashing open, such fear in them, it made me want to kill someone. Anyone. Whoever I needed to kill to rip that fear right out of her.

?“I’m sorry,” she whispered, shaking her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again, I swear. I swear. I won’t do it again, I promise.”

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