Chapter 8 - The Verdict of the Heart
Outside the courthouse, the Louisiana sky opened up in a torrential downpour, washing the humid streets in sheets of silver rain.
Mara stepped out beneath the stone portico of the courthouse, clutching the strap of her handbag. For a second, her knees felt weak. The crushing weight that had suffocated her chest for two years—the constant, grinding fear that she would lose her little girl—evaporated into the rain.
Lily was safe. Her home was secure. Her future was her own.
“Mara!”
She turned to see Damon walking out of the double doors, flanked by his private security detail carrying large black umbrellas. He stepped into the rain beside her, shielding her from the downpour.
“It’s over?” Damon asked, though the slight, knowing smile on his lips suggested he already knew the answer.
“It’s over,” Mara breathed, a sudden, bright laugh escaping her lips as tears finally spilled down her cheeks. “He’s done. We won.”
Before she could process what she was doing, Mara threw her arms around Damon’s neck, burying her face against his chest.
May you like
For a fraction of a second, Damon froze in absolute shock. Then, slowly, strong arms wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her close against him, shielding her from the rest of the world.
“I told you,” Damon murmured, his voice low and warm against her hair. “You never lose when you’re fighting for what matters.”
