“I was going to leave this place for good,” Talia said. “With Terry here or even with Terry gone, I knew Chris was never going to come back to me. And I couldn’t bear to watch him suffer over her.” She started crying. “I really, really love him.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“You don’t know how painful it is to see him love another woman with that intensity. Him looking at me like … like I’m just cardboard.” She wiped her eyes. “I’d rather be dead than exist like that.” Decker nodded. She regarded the gun in his hand. “You won’t need that. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Forgive my cynicism,” Decker said, “but holding this fully loaded Glock and being a crack shot, I know you’re not going anywhere.”

CHAPTER 32

WITH THE HEAT going full blast and Rina rubbing her feet, Terry began to rouse. Her eyes drifted upward to Donatti’s face. She moved her mouth.

“Don’t talk, angel.” Donatti cradled his wife, rubbing her cold arms. She was still icy to the touch. “You’ll be fine, baby.”

“Sanj …”

“Sanjay’s fine. So is Juleen. They’re with Decker’s daughter. She’s a cop, so they’re safe.” Donatti was still sweating. He was breathing hard. “I forgot her name.”

“Cindy.” Rina opened a bottle of water she found in the limo and put a capful to Terry’s lips. When she didn’t drink, Rina moistened her cracked lips.

“Gabe?” Terry asked.

Donatti said, “He’s out of town. He doesn’t know a thing. I don’t think I’ll tell him until you’re better.”

Terry whispered, “Tell … I love them.”

“I don’t need to tell them,” Donatti said. “You can tell them yourself.”

A puddle gushed from Terry’s body, covering Donatti’s pants and dripping to the floor. He looked down and put his fingers to the wetness. They came back sticky and red. He said, “Were you shot?” He started examining her body.

Rina said, “I think it’s her period.”

“Oh.” Donatti was gasping. “Okay. That makes sense.”

But deep inside, Rina knew that it wasn’t her period. She knew it because she had been there. She took off her seat belt and leaned over to the driver. She whispered, “Can you go faster?”

“We’re about five minutes away, ma’am.”

Rina nodded and slapped her seat belt back on.

“What is it?” Donatti asked.

“Just wondering how much longer.”

The answer satisfied him. He turned his eyes back to his wife.

A few moments later, Terry looked at Chris and said, “Thank …”

“No thanks necessary. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I love you so much, baby.”

Another gush of blood.