Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Every muscle in Vivi's body recoiled as the sound of the gun going off exploded right next to her ears. Had Harrison not been holding her, she probably would have hit the floor. Mason’s eyes looked positively murderous as he rushed forward, and Harrison’s grip loosened as he focused on Mason.
Vivi threw herself to the ground just as Mason came in low and fast, wrapping his arms around Harrison’s waist and driving him backwards into the wall with one smooth movement.
Vivi landed hard on her hands and knees, the abrupt movement stunning her as her teeth gnashed together.
A second gunshot went off, followed almost immediately by the shattering of glass as the window along the western wall exploded.
She cringed at the sound, then threw a look over her shoulder at Harrison and Mason where they grappled for control.
Muffled grunts filled the air, and it took her nearly a full second to comprehend what was happening.
Vivi watched on with a weird sense of detachment, disbelief warring with fear and worry.
Harrison was surprisingly strong for his age, and he had no intention of relinquishing the firearm.
Mason landed a solid blow to Harrison’s ribs, but Harrison’s fist shot upward and the pistol glanced off of Mason’s cheekbone.
Vivi sucked in a breath as red droplets of blood streamed from the cut, dripping onto Harrison where he lay prone below him.
The men ducked and weaved, bumping into furniture and overturning boxes as they evaded each other’s punches.
With amazing speed, Mason took Harrison down, and they landed hard in a tangle of limbs.
The sound of shattering glass filled the air as a lamp hit the ground right next to them.
But the men were so focused on one another they didn’t even notice.
Mason grabbed Harrison’s wrist—the one that held the gun—and forced it over his head.
Harrison’s free hand came up in an arc, and his fist smashed into Mason’s face.
Vivi let out a little cry as Mason jerked backward.
But he never relinquished his hold. He slammed Harrison’s hand to the ground once…
twice. Finally, Harrison’s fingers relaxed, and the gun went clattering across the floor, sliding toward the bed somewhere just out of sight.
Vivi had to get that gun. She darted forward to try to find it, but the men rolled, knocking her off balance and sweeping her feet out from under her.
She went sprawling to the floor, landing with a jolt as her chin smashed against the ground.
Stars danced before her eyes for a second before she forced herself to move.
Climbing to her hands and knees, Vivi glanced around the room.
Where was the gun? She dodged out of the way as Mason and Harrison slid on the hardwood, each trying to control the other’s movements.
The gun had slid away somewhere... Where?
She scanned the floor, and a sense of frustration welled up.
She needed to stop Harrison—but how? Her gaze landed on a heavy crystal vase that sat on the dresser, and hope zinged through her.
She knew it was one of Ellen’s favorites, but she couldn’t bring herself to care at the moment.
All that mattered was it was heavy, and it would at least incapacitate him.
Vivi clambered to her feet and threw herself forward, intent on getting that vase.
If she couldn’t get the gun, it was the next best thing.
In her peripheral vision, she watched as Harrison brought his knee up fast between Mason’s legs.
Mason let out a grunt of pain, and the maneuver was enough to momentarily stun him, because all of a sudden, Harrison shimmied out of his hold.
Instead of standing, he scooted backward several feet, his hand sweeping the floor like he was looking for something.
The gun. Oh, God. Vivi's eyes followed his questing hands, and she saw his fingers close around the gun just as she grabbed up the vase. Mason was rising to his feet, getting ready to come for Harrison again, when the older man swung the pistol in front of him.
“No!”
A scream ripped from Vivi's throat, drowned out by the report of the pistol as it went off. Mason jerked backward, and half a second later dark red bloomed across his chest right over his heart.
Without thinking, Vivi rushed forward. She lifted the vase over her head, then brought it down as hard as she could. The vase shattered as it connected with his skull. Harrison collapsed to his back, but Vivi wasn’t leaving it to chance.
Driven by anger and fear and a hundred other emotions, she hit him again. Tears streamed down her face, obscuring her vision as she hit him over and over, pummeling his face with her hands.
“Vivi!”
The sound of Mason’s voice ripped her from her tirade, and she jerked upward. Her feet slid on the shards of glass as she launched herself toward Mason. Blood coated his shirt and pooled on the floor around him. His face looked gray, and he winced as she pressed her hands to the wound.
“Oh, God.” Her stomach dropped to the floor as blood seeped through her fingers. “You’re—”
Suddenly a flurry of movement appeared in the doorway, and several officers entered the room, weapons drawn. Vivi had never been happier to see them in all her life.
“Get help!” she screamed. “Hurry!”
She spared them barely another glance before turning her attention back to Mason. “Don’t you die on me!” Tears dripped down her nose and landed on her hands with a small splatter. “I swear I’ll kill you.”
Mason let out a raspy sound that was supposed to be a laugh. “I knew you were the one for me that night at the hotel.”
“It’s not funny.” The tears came faster, slipping down her cheeks without restraint. “I can’t lose you.”
Mason covered her hands with one of his own, right over his heart. “Love you, Vivi.”
“Mason!” A sob escaped her throat as his eyes closed. “Don’t leave me!”
His fingers tightened around hers for a brief second, then went slack.