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

“There’s a saying in Las Vegas that goes like this: ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’. I expect that someone came up with that saying as a cover-up for their indiscretions. In any case, from this day forward we’ll call this area our ‘Las Vegas’, and it will be a rule that whatever you see or hear in here stays here. Okay?”


Charles said, “You know what? I think we need to invite the gang over here for pizza by the pool tonight. Steve might enjoy meeting them.”


“Four friends of ours,” I said. “Two couples, actually. John and Joe are in their early twenties, Richard is our age, and his partner Bruce is in his late twenties. They’re a great group, and we get together often. They were here last night, but I think they can be persuaded to come back tonight.”


Chapter 101