Page 133 of You Are Mine

Mary shook her head. ‘No.’

‘Put me out of my misery,’ he said.

Mary put her foot on his left thigh. ‘Put you out of your misery?’ she said. ‘Your misery is just beginning.’

She pressed down on his leg and he gasped in pain.

‘No,’ he said. ‘Please, no. That hurts.’

She picked up her foot. Ryan smiled at her.

‘Thank you,’ he said.

She paused. Was she really going to do this? Was this the person she was?

Maybe it was.

She stamped down. His scream echoed off the surrounding trees. She stamped again, this time keeping her foot on his thigh.

She turned to her kids, one at a time. ‘Sorry about that, but it had to be done. Remember the first rule of parenting. Do as I say, not as I do.’

Sally grinned. ‘Mom,’ she said. ‘Don’t be sorry. That was badass.’

The EMT and her partner loaded Ryan into the back of the ambulance.

‘He’s in a bad way, but he’ll survive,’ she said. ‘Although I suspect the future doesn’t hold much for him. Physically, at least. We’ll get him to the hospital.’

Two police officers, who had arrived moments after the EMTs, looked around, taking in the shotgun, the Porsche on the lawn, and the fresh pool of blood where Ryan had lain.

‘That’s your husband?’ the older of the two said.

‘It was,’ Mary said. ‘Good riddance.’

He scratched his head. ‘What happened here?’ he said.

‘It’s a long story.’ Mary said. ‘Can we go home now?’

The officer shook his head. ‘Not yet. I’m sorry. Is there anyone else here?’