Page 109 of The Art of Dying

Mason lowered his weapon a bit, and with his free hand, curled his fingers toward him a few times. “It’s okay. Walk to me, love.”

I shook my head. “What are youdoing?Do you not see how completely insane this is?”

“You’ve been brainwashed so long… I don’t blame you, Mack. This isn’t your fault. Once you get away from him, it’ll all come back to you.”

There wasn’t an ounce of sarcasm in his voice.

“The second you get over there, he’s going to shoot me,” Kitsch said.

I glanced back over my shoulder.

“Don’t look at him,” Mason said. “Look at me. Walk to me, Mack. You’re all I want. He can take his demon spawn and walk out of here.” He leaned over to make eye contact with Kitsch. “And if you try to follow, those kids won’t see their next birthday. You won’t be able to hide them twice.” He returned his focus to me. “Do you know what that did to me? Thinking you were dead? I almost ended my life more times than I can count.”

“Damn, Mason, wish you weren’t such a fuckin’ failure,” Kitsch said.

He was bleeding, Gina was gone, and Mason had another gun to empty into the car my kids were strapped into. My brain searched endlessly for a plan, but every scenario ended with someone I loved unalive.

I stopped. “You don’t want me,” I said, shaking my head.

“I don’t?” Mason said. He blinked several times, caught off-guard.

“You don’t remember what it was like, but I do. You were angry all the time. I drove you crazy. Your mother hated me. You weren’t happy. You told me you weren’t.”

His expression softened. “Is that what you’re worried about? I was a different man then. You don’t know this side of me, Mack. When I get you home, it’ll be different.” He glanced down and laughed. “This isn’t even me. I’ve just learned to do what I must to get what I want. At home, I’ll be soft. Attentive. I have more money than we can spend in a lifetime. I’ll give you anything you want. I’ll worship you every day for the rest of your life.”

“Even though you know I don’t love you?”

He grinned. “You do. And even if you don’t, you will.”

“Ineverloved you, Mason,” I said.

“Now it’s you who’s forgotten.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head quickly. “I didn’t know what love was until I met Kitsch. I’ve never loved anyone until him. And I’m not the same woman you loved. You think you’ll be happy, but you won’t. You can walk out of here, Mason. You can start over with someone new.”

His grin faded. “There is no one else but you.” He raised his rifle, pointing it toward the Cadillac. “Wow. He really has gotten deep inside your head. You’re saying that no matter what I do, you’ll never love me?”

I held up my hands, desperate. “Mason… Mason, don’t.”

A pop echoed throughout the warehouse. My shoulders shot up to my ears and then I opened my eyes, seeing the rifle landing on the concrete at Mason’s feet, his hand mangled and bloody. Kitsch rushed to my side, his weapon still drawn.

“It wasn’t me,” Kitsch said, gesturing behind us.

Gina was standing but weaving, still aiming her gun at Mason. She shrugged one shoulder. “Told you I’m good at playing dead.”

Mason shot at her, but she dove out of the way. From the darkness, Apollo lunged at Mason’s good hand, shaking his head violently. Kitsch pushed me to the ground and ran full speed, tackling Mason to the ground. I scrambled to my feet, watching them grapple. Apollo backed off but was still barking. A gun went off with a loud pop. Both men were still.

I covered my mouth, waiting. But it was Mason who stirred and then stood, breathing hard.

“Apollo,run!” Gina yelled.

Mason got off one shot, but the dog flashed from sight, hiding in the darkness.

Mason pointed his gun in Apollo’s general direction and then at Gina before aiming it again toward the darkness, both hands dripping with crimson.

“Point it at me, asshole. You’re not killing my husband and my dog in the same day,” Gina said from the floor.

Mason frowned. “I’m not telling you again, Mack. Come with me or no one is leaving this warehouse alive.”

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