“I gave him that wound,” Mark boasted. “Had to match up after Ben’s jerkoff self told the cops he’d stabbed his attacker.” A rough laugh. “He tried to stab me, but I was wearing my Kevlar vest. All he did was bruise me, but I hid that with a new tat.” The gun finally left her as he jerked open the coat he was wearing to reveal a bulky, black vest covering his torso. “Put it on when I got back here this morning. Bought the damn thing at the department store—a freaking work vest made with Kevlar. Ninety bucks. Had no idea it would be a game changer for me.”

The gun still wasn’t pointing at her because he was gesturing to his vest and—

Eric grabbed her. He shoved Piper behind him and stepped forward. Mark yelled and brought up his gun, screaming, but Eric was already attacking. Eric had yanked out a knife—he’d definitely been packing a weapon—and he threw it toward Mark. The blade hurtled end over end and lodged into Mark’s neck.

The bullet went wild. She heard it thud into the wall.

Eric leapt forward and so did Piper. She kicked the gun out of Mark’s grasp even as he sank to his knees. His eyes were open and terrified, and he immediately grabbed for the knife.

“Don’t pull it out!” Eric yelled.

Too late. Mark yanked the knife out, and blood poured from the wound.

Mark fell back. His fingers were soaked with blood. His legs were twitching and jerking. His hands flopped to his sides. The knife clattered to the floor.

“Shit!” Eric shoved his hands over Mark’s throat.

They needed an ambulance or the guy was going to die. Piper knew it. And maybe—dammit, maybe it would be better if he died. After what he’d done to Grady and Jessica. To his own sister…

But…God, could she watch a man die? Piper grabbed the gun and whirled to find a phone. There. She saw one on a nearby counter. She dialed frantically and demanded the ambulance. When she whirled back around, her gaze locked on the nightmare scene.

Eric was trying to save Mark. And Mark—he’d just picked up the knife. His blood-covered fingers curled around the handle. He was about to drive it into Eric’s side even as Eric fought to keep the bastard alive.

“Eric, get back!” Piper screamed.

Without hesitation, he lunged back.

“Drop it, Mark!” Piper aimed the gun at him. No one was going to hurt Eric. No one.

Mark smiled. Surged up at her—

She fired. One bullet. One fast thunder. One hit right in the middle of his head.

One hit.

One terrible, horrifying hit. Oh, God. The blood.

Silence.