“Grief is horrible, isn’t it?”
He nodded.
“We’re never the same after we lose someone. They leave a mark. It’s like a fingerprint burned into our skin. And even though no one sees it, we still feel the imprint. We feel the burn.”
He let out a cry. “She was my baby sister. I was supposed to protect her.”
Dana wiped her eyes. “Shannon loved you with all her heart, and I have no doubt you always made her feel protected. But Gordon, what you’re doing here…she wouldn’t want this for you. She would want you to get help.”
“I don’t know.”
The sirens grew louder, closer. Dana wasn’t sure, but she thought she spied parked cars up ahead.
Police officers?
“You can’t bring Shannon back, but you can do one last thing for her. Pull over, Gordon.”
His speed dropped.
Several police cruisers veered up behind them, keeping a distance. Sure enough, another set were parked up front. Officers stood outside the cars, aiming their weapons.
“Think of your parents. They’ve suffered enough, and so have you. If you surrender, they’ll go easier on you.”
“No one’s going easy on me.” He laughed. “We both know that.”
“Please.” She didn’t like the look in his eyes.
With a sigh, he pulled over. Reaching across her, he opened her door. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and smiled. “I’m sorry, Dana. Go.”
“But—”
The tendons in his neck strained as he hissed, “Just go.”
Dana scrambled out of the SUV, her hands in the air. Despite the tremors in her legs, she ran toward the police cars in back. “He has a gun!”
When she heard the single shot, she dropped and covered her head.
But the shot hadn’t been intended for her. Gordon had turned his weapon on himself.
Somewhere in front of her, feet scuffled. The gravel kicked up as a couple of officers helped her to her feet and brought her to a waiting ambulance.
Sirens.
So many sirens.
And yet she couldn’t shake the sound of that single gunshot. It reverberated in her head, over and over.
Alex emerged from one of the cars, his face drained of all color. He flew to her and she collapsed in his arms. Together, they fell to their knees.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so, so sorry, my angel.”
Comforted in his arms, Dana wept.
Epilogue
One year later
Dana had never walked a red carpet before.
