and brightly lit, smelling o

er shoes felt like they were

the front de

olled up, exposing his forearms. But it wasn't his ap

oman standin

looked incredibly fragile, wrapped in a man's oversized ca

ister of the man who had ju

ently on her shoulder, his thumb rubbing soothing circles against the fabric of the coat. T

adjacent holding

like a traumatized victim anymore. He l

lice officers and headed direc

tticus's shoulder. "Thanks for handling that.

off the concrete

re f

gut. All the air rushed out of her lungs. Her vision

y a glare so lethal it could cut glass, but he didn'

ody," Atticus hisse

w. Atticus didn't send the lawyer to save her. He sent the lawyer to pay off Co

her cheek until she tasted the

er chin, and walked directly toward them. The sharp click-clack

e footsteps. He

genuine panic crossed his dark eyes, quickly b

em. She didn't scream. She didn't cry. He

xplain thi

ing slightly to the side. "It's a misunderstanding. Fl

rame. She shrank back, her eyes wide and fearfu

ng violently. "My brother is just protective of me. He didn't mean t

e in Charlotte's throat. It was a flaw

ond, the heavy glass doors

d off by someone inside the s

hine guns. The blinding white

was arrested for assault?" a reporter

, Atticus? Is the wedding

bodies. A heavy camera lens bumped hard against

es from the blinding flashes. She looked toward Atticus, ex

the final, killing blow

h for her. He didn'

er hard against his chest. He wrapped both of his arms around her, turning his broad back to