Two weeks after Philip d'Autremont is acquitted of his wife's murder, it's time for him and his partner and lawyer, Charles Barnett, to start building their life together. But it turns out that not everyone in Atlanta is as ready to leave the trial in the past as Charles and Philip, and a surprise attack leaves Charles in the hospital and Philip's arm in a sling.<br><br>With thoughts of their own mortality fresh in their minds, Charles and Philip make a decision that will change their lives forever. Future plans and home renovations take their minds off the attacks, but the danger isn't over yet: the people behind the attacks are still at large, and they weren't acting alone.

Tribulation

“I didn’t tell you earlier, but there’s been another attack.” Then he told Andrew and me about his experience in the car earlier.


“You seem remarkably calm, in light of events,” Andrew said.


“I think perhaps the adrenaline is still flowing,” Philip said. “Also, I’m very good at compartmentalizing things, so I shoved the incident into a tiny compartment in my mind and closed the lid on it while I focused on making arrangements to get this guy home. I haven’t allowed myself to dwell on what happened earlier today.”


“You two will have to take extra precautions from now on,” Andrew said.


“Richard is arranging for beefed-up security at Gran’s,” I said, “and we’ll continue to watch our backs.”


“I’ve been doing that every time I leave the hospital,” Philip added. “That’s how I noticed the van following me.”


Chapter 43