I knew if he pulled that trigger, the nightmare would never end for this family.

The police would come, the estate would be a crime scene, and Leo would be left without a father.

“Lorenzo,” I said softly, putting my hand on his sleeve.

He didn’t look at me, but I felt the muscle in his arm twitch.

“He isn’t worth it,” I said. “Leo needs you. He doesn’t need a father in prison.”

Lorenzo stood frozen for a long moment, the gun pointed at the weeping doctor.

The headlights from the car outside the gate suddenly brightened, high beams bathing us all in blinding white light.

The car door of the sedan creaked open.

A figure stepped out into the cold, the silhouette tall and thin against the glare.

The phone in Lorenzo’s pocket began to vibrate again, its blue light leaking through the fabric of his coat.

Lorenzo kept his eyes on Halloran as he reached into his pocket.

He pulled out the phone and pressed it to his ear.

“Speak,” Lorenzo said.

His voice was lower than the wind.