He took a step backward, horror washing over his face.

“It was supposed to be a simple trade. I would tell him what I knew, and then he would find them. It was in his best interest to find them. Once he did, he’d get my money back for me, and the deal would be done. But Skeeter’s a smart man.” I shook my head in a slow swing. “He wanted to know how I got my information. So when he threatened me, Bruce Wayne told him about my visions.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, and then opened them as he gasped for breath. “Bruce Wayne?”

“I convinced him to set up the meeting. He’s regretted it ever since. But Skeeter found out about my visions. And he figured he could use my ability to his advantage. He forced me to have a vision in his office, and I saw his death at the auction.”

Realization flooded Mason’s face, and he shook his head. “No.”

I forced myself to continue. “I didn’t want to do it, but he intimidated me into agreeing. My job was simple. Keep him alive so the vision didn’t come true. If I did as he asked, I’d get my money back and everything would be fine.”

“No.”

“But then he called me a few weeks later, knowing exactly what carrot to dangle. He’d caught word that your life was in danger.”

“How altruistic of him,” he spat in disgust.

“He was worried you’d be murdered and it would be pinned on him. My job was to figure out who was behind it. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

Mason looked totally shell-shocked, but I continued. “I found his turncoats. Skeeter was sure they were the same ones after you—” I took a breath, “—but obviously he was wrong.”

Mason just watched me in horrified silence.

“After that, I told him I was done. He couldn’t make me do it anymore. But you were in Gems.” I started to cry. “Skeeter was behind the building, and he found Rich Lowry dragging me out back. Lowry figured it out because of how pissed off Skeeter looked. He was about to break my neck to goad him, but Skeeter shot him instead. You were still inside, so I begged him to go back in and save you. He refused to do it, and he made sure I couldn’t run in there myself. So I made a bargain. Six months of service for your life.”

His eyes filled with tears, and I could feel tears coursing down my own cheeks. “Rose.”

“I didn’t want to do it, Mason, but I’m damned good at it. Last week I met with Scott Humphrey. I had a vision of him meeting Mick Gentry. They talked about their list. They were waiting for the order to off Skeeter and then they were gonna move on to the next name on the list. I was sure it was you.”

He stared at me, emotionless.

“I needed to know who was behind that list. Before I had the vision, I told Humphrey I wanted to meet Mick Gentry. I said I had Skeeter’s permission to negotiate a truce. But in the vision Gentry said he wouldn’t meet with me until Skeeter was out of the way. So after I got out of jail and found out that Skeeter was missing, I told Jed to set up a meeting. I knew it was dangerous, but your leads weren’t panning out quickly enough. I couldn’t sit back and let you be killed when I knew I had at least a small chance of saving both of us. After the vision I had of you dead, I knew time was running out. And I know J.R. Simmons is the mastermind. The only way I could think to stop him was to meet with him as his equal and take him down with his own arrogance.”

His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he looked dangerously close to breaking down.

“So tomorrow night at ten o’clock, I’m meeting with Mick Gentry’s backer. I need your help to figure out if we can use what he says against him legally. I need you to help me figure out what questions to ask. How to bait him and get him to confess.”

His mouth dropped open in shock.

“I know you probably hate me right now, and I understand. I do. But just know that in almost every single instance, I did this to save your life. And I’d do it again in an instant.” A fierceness radiated through me. “Because it was the only way to save you.”

His face softened. “Rose.”

I choked on a sob. “I hoped to God you’d never find out. I hated lying to you. I hated the secrets. I hated that I was jeopardizing your job. But the bottom line was that I was saving your life. You told me you’d do anything to save me, and this is proof that I’d do anything to save you.”

When he didn’t say anything, I started crying harder.

“But the sad truth is Rose Anne Gardner couldn’t do it, no matter how much she wanted to help. There was only one person who could save you. And you know who it is. I think part of you has known for weeks. You just didn’t want to believe it.”

I lifted my chin. “Mason, I am the Lady in Black.”

Chapter 26

He blinked as if he’d just awakened from a nightmare. He cleared his throat. “This started the week of Thanksgiving?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“And you met Mick Gentry last night while I was in Little Rock?”

“Yes.”

“You’re meeting Gentry’s backer tomorrow night? What solid evidence do you have that it’s J.R. Simmons?”

“Only my instincts and a lot of circumstantial hints.”

“So Malcolm’s making you do this? He’s got you tucked away here until you do his dirty work?”

I shook my head, tears still streaming down my cheeks. “No, I told you. This part was my idea. I decided to use my role to save all of us.”