End of an Empire — Terry J. Benton

In bereavement, people spend different lengths of time coping with their losses-"and some express their feelings more intensely than others."
After Russell's death, Mercedes and Thomas descend into darkness-the darkest point of their lives that either of them has ever seen or experienced. At the height of their internal struggles, Mercedes and Thomas realize they still need to honor their best friend's last wish. As the empire Russell built begins to crumble all around them, the Stiletto Mafia comes together for one last job, which will prove to be their most dangerous and challenging yet... and some of them may not survive.
""A person's darkest moment is often the time when they find themselves...""