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I fell to my knees, my body trembling as I reached up to open the bedroom door, knowing what I’d find inside, and I was right. Dominic was on the ground, blood pooling around him. He’d shot himself in the head, and from the looks of it, the single shot had done what he’d intended. I reached my shaky hand toward his neck, feeling for a pulse, knowing there wasn’t one.

A minute earlier, he was sitting next to me, talking.

Now, he was dead, and I was forced to make a call I didn’t want to make.

I made it anyway.

As every fiber of my being shot spasms throughout my body, I crawled over to the wall, leaning my head against it. It felt like I was there for hours ... then, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a familiar voice, calling out to me through the fog encapsulating my brain.

“Georgiana, it’s me,” Whitlock said. “Everything’s going to be okay. I’m here. Foley’s here. And I want you to know I’ve called Giovanni and told him what happened. He’s on his way. Should be here soon.”

“I ... thank you.”

I wanted to say more, but in this moment, they were the only three words I managed to get out.

“What can I do for you?” he asked. “Would you like some water or ...?”

“You can get me out of here, out of this room.”

His arms circled around me, pulling my ragdoll body to a standing position. He guided me to the door and then down the hall to the sofa. He lowered me down, and I pushed myself into a sitting position, pulling my knees up and wrapping my arms around them as I buried my head, hiding my tears.

“Foley’s waving me over,” Whitlock said. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Yeah, sure, okay.”

He left my side, and I heard whispers from across the room—Whitlock and Foley talking. I thought Foley would come over, console me, ask questions ... something , but he didn’t. Perhaps he thought it best to give me the time I needed to process what had happened first.

I heard the front door open, and I wiped my eyes, glancing up to see who’d just come in. Silas entered the living room and looked around, making a beeline for me as soon as we made eye contact.

“Hey, Gigi,” he said.

“Hey.”

“How you holding up?”

“I’m not.”

“I heard what happened, and I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, me too.”

He sat beside me, draping an arm around my shoulders. “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but you’re going to be okay. You’re the strongest woman I know.”

I let out a frustrated grunt, pounding a fist into the sofa. “I know I will be all right, but it shouldn’t have happened, not on my watch. I should have known he was about to take his life. The longer Dominic and I had talked, the more I could tell something was off. There were clues, signs I picked up on, but not enough to put it all together. If I had, I could have saved him.”

“Even if what you’re saying is true, you couldn’t have been here for him day and night. If he’d decided to end his life, it would have happened one way or another.”

“He has a daughter. I know he felt lost without his wife, but how could he do what he did—rob her of a father so soon after she lost her mother?”

“I don’t know.”

I took a deep breath in. “I’m so angry ... at myself, at him.”

“You have a right to feel that way.”

“We had a good talk, before he ... you know, killed himself. I can’t help but wonder if something I said drove him over the edge.”

“Come on, Gigi. You’re beating yourself up over a decision he made ... not you, him .”

“Maybe you’re right. I just ... I haven’t had something like this happen in a long time.”

“We never know what we’re going to face in the line of work we’re in.”

He was right.

Our jobs came with risks, and today, I’d been reminded of just how harsh those risks could be.

“Dominic shot himself in his room,” I said. “I’m guessing it’s where everyone is right now.”

“I can stay with you for a few more minutes.”

“Best to look at him as soon as you can.”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“I appreciate it. You’re a good friend, but you have a job to do. We can talk again later.”

Silas turned, and I saw Giovanni standing over him. He placed a hand on Silas’ shoulder and said, “Go and do what you came here to do. I’ve got her.”

Silas nodded, offering me a smile as he headed down the hall.

Giovanni took one look at me, extended his hand, and said, “Let’s get you out of here, love.”

“I don’t want to leave,” I said. “I need to stay. I need to tell everyone about my visit with Dominic. They need to know what happened.”

“There will be plenty of time for all that later. I’ll speak to Whitlock and Foley and let them know they’re welcome to come by the house when they’re done here, if you’re up to talking to them.”

The thought of leaving didn’t feel good.

It felt awful, almost like a betrayal, though I didn’t know why.

I didn’t pull the trigger, I didn’t end his life, so why did I feel like I did?