“He had it coming! He was a fucking whore! I’ve got the investigator’s report to prove it. You should see what he got done in just two weeks’ time. It was truly revolting.”

“That doesn’t mean he deserved to die,” Graham said. “Natalie didn’t deserve what you did to her, either.”

Thomas moved so quickly, Sam and Nick couldn’t react in time to stop him from pistol-whipping his grandfather.

Graham went down hard, blood spurting from a wound on his forehead.

“Get up!” Thomas shrieked. “Get up and take what’s coming to you like a man!”

“You talk about being a man!” Graham screamed back at him. “But what kind of man rapes and murders women?”

Sam held Nick back, giving him the one-minute sign.

“I made them pay for what they did to my mother. They got exactly what they deserved.”

“You’re a monster,” Graham whispered, the blood loss weakening him.

Thomas aimed the gun at his grandfather’s chest.

Sam gave Nick the thumb’s up.

They rushed Thomas from behind, each of them pushing a gun into the young man’s temples.

“Freeze,” they said in unison.

Sam glowered at Nick. “I’ll take it from here.” She had Thomas disarmed, cuffed and immobilized less than a second later. With her free hand, she tugged her radio off her hip and called for back up.

“What the fuck?” Thomas screamed, fighting the restraints. “You’re a fucking cop?”

“Surprise,” Nick said, unable to resist a smile as adrenaline zipped though his system. Watching her work never failed to fire him up. “Meet my ‘girlfriend,’ Detective Sergeant Sam Holland, Metro Police Department. You really ought to read a newspaper once in a while.”

“Son of a fucking bitch.”

“You said it, buddy.” Sam tightened her hold on Thomas. “You’re under the arrest for the murders of John O’Connor, Tara Davenport, Natalie Jordan and Noel Jordan. You have the right to remain silent.”

Nick stayed with Graham while Sam dragged Thomas out of the suite to turn him over to Gonzo for transport to HQ. Nick pressed a handkerchief to the wound on Graham’s head.

Tears spilled down the older man’s cheeks. “This is all my fault. I caused this. I forced John to lead a double life.”

“You did what you thought was right at the time. That’s all any of us can ever do.”

“Will you find Laine for me? I need to see her.”

“As soon as the paramedics get here, I’ll get her to the hospital.”

“Call Lucien,” Graham said. “Have him send someone over to represent Thomas.”

Nick stared at the older man. “You can’t be serious.”

“He’s my grandson. What I did to him and his mother drove him to this.” Graham closed his eyes and took a deep, rattling breath. “Make the call.”