“Her killer got away.” His voice rose even more. “I couldn’t let it happen again. It couldn’t happen again. Tell Piper, tell her—” But he broke off because uniformed cops were shoving him toward the stairs.

He looked back and saw that the detective had dropped to her knees next to Dante.

“I’ve got a knife here!” Detective Lopez called out. “Bag it and tag it!”

As he strained to peer over his shoulder, Mark saw her put her fingers to Dante’s neck.

How many bullets had he fired into the guy? It had all passed in a blur. A terrible, thundering blur.

Dante was gone. Dead. And Mark had done it. At least the guy wouldn’t hurt Piper again. Or anyone. He was—

“Pulse!” Detective Lopez yelled. “Get an EMT in here, now!” She pointed at Mark. “Keep him secure!”

He struggled against the guards who held him. “He can’t hurt her! He can’t hurt her again!”

Sympathy flashed in the detective’s pretty eyes. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t. Don’t fight them, okay? We have procedures to follow.” Then, voice roughening, she ordered, “Get him outside!” It looked like she was applying pressure to Dante’s wounds. Blood was covering her fingers…

The uniforms hauled Mark downstairs. Cops were everywhere, and he saw that some of Eric’s security people were there, too. Two men and a woman—all in suits. The cops were keeping them back. Blue lights flashed in a sickening blur as Mark was led toward a patrol car.

“Am I being arrested?” His question was dazed.

“You have the right to remain silent…” One of the uniforms began.

Another car roared to the scene. A fancy Benz. He knew it was Eric even before the guy braked and jumped out of the car. And Piper was there, too. She tried to rush to Mark, but Eric caught her arms and pulled her against him.

The cops guided Mark toward a patrol car. “I shot him!” Mark yelled out.

Was he supposed to stay silent? The cops had said…

Eric and Piper came closer. Eric kept a tight hold on Piper.

Mark tried to smile at Piper, but he was honestly scared as shit. Was he being arrested? He’d just… “He came at me with a knife. I had to defend myself.”

But it wasn’t just about defending himself. He’d known, even before he went inside the gallery, that he was going to kill Dante.

Piper’s face was too pale. Eric looked pissed. Probably mad because he hadn’t been the one to save the day.

This time…this time…I saved the day.

The cops pushed him into the back seat of the patrol car. And he probably should have smiled at Piper, but Mark felt his shoulders hunch as the door slammed shut.

Is he dead?