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

“When you stuck your finger up there, he sprang to attention.”


I said, “If the finger of someone I barely know does that, what do you think Charles’ erection does to me?”


They pronounced me clean and turned the water off. I stepped back out onto the tile floor, and they thoroughly toweled me dry. Once I was dry, I went back to the bedroom, found my clothes, and started pulling them on. It was a tedious process without help, and the guys came out of the bathroom just in time to help me button my shirt.


I pointed to the desk and said, “All of the instructions about therapy are over there on the desk.”


Joe went to take a look at the printouts and studied them for a while before saying, “This won’t be a problem. I know how to do all of this stuff.”


Chapter 52