Desmond leaned over and peered through the darkness.

Her heart and breath paused as his eyes moved to hers. “You bitch.”

Next thing she knew, Desmond was shifting the gun in his hands, and she grabbed the first thing her hand came in contact with.

She threw the wine and the glass at him. Her other hand met the empty wine bottle, and she brought it up with as much force as she could, making contact with his chin.

Blood went everywhere.

The element of surprise would only last for a minute and then she’d be dead. Erin had one thought, and one thought only. Get the gun.

Lights outside blasted the inside all at once, blinding them both.

Erin shook the daze from her head and rushed.

Desmond’s grip was loose.

Surprise, shock . . . she didn’t know.

Erin grabbed the barrel and twisted.

Desmond grasped the air as she pulled it away.

Her legs came out from under her and she fell to the floor.

Someone outside was yelling into a bullhorn, but all she heard was Desmond calling her a bitch over and over.

Erin rolled over with the gun in her hands and the end pointing at him. Two loud clicks filled the room as she cocked the gun.

“You bitch.”

He lunged.

And Erin squeezed the trigger.

“Shots fired! Shots fired!”

Matt’s entire world came to a screaming halt with the sound of a shotgun blast. “Erin!” he yelled as he started to run.

Someone grabbed him and held him back.

Matt took a swing, made it three steps, and two men tackled him.

Men were yelling. Guns were level with the house.

Cops were swarming, covering, and moving closer to the door.

“Erin!”

A boot hit the door and flung it open.

No one charged out.

Three cops charged in.

Seconds ticked by and Matt’s gut started to coil. “No, no . . .”

“We’re clear. Someone get a medic.”

The two men holding him back let go, and Matt ran.

Blood was everywhere.

Erin was curled up on the floor, her hands covering her face.

He dropped to his knees and touched her.

When her eyes came into focus, she reached for him.

“I thought I lost you. God, Erin. I thought I lost you.”

Sobs racked her body until she pulled away. “I’m going to be sick.”

EPILOGUE

Two days in the ICU, having your stomach pumped, and drinking activated charcoal was not Erin’s definition of a good time.

There were hangovers that cured you from ever drinking tequila again, and then there was this. When it was all said and done, the doctors didn’t think she’d have any significant organ damage from the overdose.

Matt had taken up residency in a pathetic attempt at an overnight family chair that lay flat beside her while a never-ending stream of visitors flowed through the room.

Renee made it in on the same flight as her father. Helen and her family showed up less than eight hours later. The entire Hudson family camped out in the waiting room, and Parker, Austin, and Mallory played host. Not that they could house any guests, since apparently the police weren’t allowing anyone back in.

In truth, Erin couldn’t really tell you what happened the first two days. She saw people coming and going, but she just couldn’t deal.

On the third day, the fog cleared.

One of the nurses asked Parker, Matt, and Colin, the three guests allotted at a time, to leave the room so she could shower. Helen popped in to lend a hand. Considering what activated charcoal did to her GI tract, she was never so happy to take a proper shower. She emerged feeling like a new woman . . . albeit one dressed in a blue and white, open in the back, hospital gown. She opted for the chair and not the bed when someone offered her real food for the first time in days.

Only a few bites in and she was getting full.

“That’s not enough,” Helen chided.

Erin loved her sister’s nagging. “It tastes like asphalt.”

Helen stood. “Then I’ll go grab some of the food in the waiting room. Your new firehouse family really knows how to cook.”

“My what?” Erin didn’t recall anyone from the fire station coming in.

“The wives from Matt’s crew. Tamara, Kim, and Christina have been feeding everyone out there since you got here.”

“I didn’t realize. That’s so kind of them. They barely know me.”

“Yeah, well . . . they’re a solid group. Loyal.”

“Did they come into the room when I was out of it?”

Helen shook her head. “No. Kim said they’d leave off until you were out of the ICU. They wanted to make sure everyone else closest to you was taken care of.”

The sentiment had Erin blinking back tears. “Thank them for me.”

Helen leaned over, kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back.”

Voices drifted in from outside the door before a woman walked in the room wearing a skirt, blouse, and holding a notepad.

“Mrs. Brandt? Or do you prefer Fleming?”

Erin shook her head. “Fleming.”

The woman pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. “I’m Dr. Reynolds. Your primary doctor asked for a psychiatric consultation.”

Erin lost her appetite altogether.

“It’s more protocol than anything. Overdoses call for my specialty.”

That made her feel slightly better. “Oh.”

“I read your file. You’ve been through quite the ordeal.”

She didn’t know what to say, how to act, or what to do. “I have.”

“It wouldn’t be uncommon for you to have some lingering effects after this week. How are you feeling?”

“Numb, I guess. But better today.”

Dr. Reynolds nodded several times. “Good. You have an extensive support system out there.”

Erin caught a smile sneaking through. “They’re helping.”

“I’m sure they are. Are you sleeping?”

“With nurses walking in every hour, no. But that isn’t what you’re really asking, is it?”

She shook her head. “No. I want to know how you’re coping with the death of your husband.”

Erin closed her eyes and saw everything in living color. When she opened them she saw Matt standing in the doorway.

“My boyfriend’s father is a retired police officer, Dr. Reynolds. The first thing he said to me when he showed up at the hospital was that all trained officers were forced to talk to the ‘head doctors’ after any shooting. And that I wasn’t any different. Probably needed it more considering I had been married to the man. And since I want to recover from this, mind, body, and soul, I should probably get your number and make an appointment once they send me home.”

Dr. Reynolds slowly started to smile. “I think that’s a brilliant idea.” The doctor stood and handed Erin her card. She hesitated next to Matt before leaving. “You must be the boyfriend.”

“I am.”

Dr. Reynolds reached out a hand. “Thank your father for me.”

Matt walked in and took the chair the doctor had vacated. “That the shrink?”

“Yup.”

“Good. Maybe my dad will shut up about that now.”