"My condition makes me more determined to see justice done properly," I counter.
Dom remains perfectly still, his eyes never leaving mine. I wish I knew if I saw trust or resignation in them. I can’t take the time to decipher it now.
"The team can secure the scene while I process Vitale myself," I continue. "I've been building this case for years. I deserve to be the one who brings him in."
Blackwood takes a step closer, and I feel rather than see his posture shift. "You've always been thorough, Ricci," hesays finally. "But I think we can handle this ourselves. Less paperwork that way."
My stomach tightens. It's confirmation of what Dom just said. He has no intention of letting either of us leave alive.
"Of course," I say, my mind racing ahead. I shift my weight slightly. My free hand moves casually toward my back pocket where my phone sits. If I can just activate the recording...
Blackwood's smile stretches thin across his face. "That's clever, Olivia. Really. But I think we both know there's a simpler solution."
He turns his gun toward me in one fluid motion.
“No. Mother fucker no.” Dom starts to move toward him, but Blackwood points his gun toward my head.
"You know, I always thought you'd go far. Smart, determined, moral to a fault. That last part was your downfall."
My throat constricts as I stare down the barrel of his weapon. My own gun remains pointed at Dom, my arm locked in position by training.
"Victor," I say, fighting to keep my voice steady, "think about what you're doing. Three bodies instead of one? How will you explain that?"
"I won't have to." He shrugs. "Vitale killed our undercover agent. You walked in on it. There was a shootout. Tragic, really. You'll get a nice funeral with full honors."
My baby. Our baby. This isn't just my life at stake.
"You won't get away with this," I say, but I know he will. After all, he has for years.
"I've gotten away with far worse for far longer," Blackwood replies.
Time seems to stretch and contract. I see Dom's muscles tensing, ready to move. I see Blackwood's finger tightening on the trigger.
I see the future I might have had, a child, a life beyond the FBI, perhaps even love, slipping away.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears. One beat. Another. Each one possibly my last.
The warehouse erupts with the deafening crack of a gunshot.
DOM
I lunge toward Olivia wanting to block the bullet.
The world slows down, every millisecond stretching into eternity.
My body jerks sideways, and suddenly I'm falling, my legs giving out beneath me.
The concrete floor slams against my shoulder, knocking the wind from my lungs.
Did he hit me? I can't feel anything except the thundering of my heart and sharp pain in my shoulder.
I blink hard, trying to clear my vision. With my wrists still cuffed behind me, I feel like a dead fish on the floor.
What the fuck happened? Was I shot? Was Olivia?
I drag myself up to my knees, scanning frantically for Olivia. I scan my surroundings and land on Blackwood's body lying several feet away.
His eyes stare upward, wide with shock, a dark stain spreading across his chest.
