rtrait. She stared down the empty cent

ip on Celeste's waist,

sharp, rapid clicks echoing off the vaulted ceiling like gunfire. S

clenched, a dark warnin

ered, his voice dropping to a dangero

amming against her ribs so hard it bruised. She

ake it?" E

dead silence of the cathedral, i

trial spot that belonged to my fathe

absolute. Even the storm out

sheer shock. His arm, which had been holding Celeste s

ank back, her body trembling as she tried to make her

forward. Her eyes were l

e," Elena

ple bobbed. He looked around at the

l logistics," Cooper said, his voice ti

her voice cracking, tearing t

d. The whispers started again, louder this time, fing

together. The muscles in

idn't sa

n't de

oudest confession he could have made. It

. The air was sucked from her lungs, and her vision blurred with

ands grabbe

best friend, caught her

ury. She pointed a shaking fi

ng animal," Sloane spat, her v

ch your mouth, Sloane. Remember who you'

ge at him, Celeste let

dn't know about the trial spot! Please don't blame Cooper, he w

oper's defensive wall. He spun around, grabbing Ce

t breathe," he whispered, his voic

watche

d violently through her mind. The tubes. The agonizing beep of the monitors. The desperate gasps for ai

heer, suffocating absurdity of it all crushed the breath out of her. The agonizing pain in her chest didn't just fade; it was violently swallow

bra by vertebra. She felt nothing. The hysterical urge to scream vanished,

n wild with grief, were now completely dead, staring at h

chest. His heart skipped a beat at the absolute void in her eye

't let h

ed the crowd of staring guests and of

tirely devoid of emotion. "The memorial service is n

t spiked. He reached out,

She violently ripped her arm out of his grip, he

g her abdomen tighter, her knees

g security detail. "Bring the car to the curb. Now." He looked back at Elena, his eyes narrowing into a cold, warning glare. "We will discuss your behavior at home," he muttered icily. Without another word, he wrap