You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 905

He never wanted his daughter to be locked away in a life that revolved around nothing but family. He didn’t want her to lose herself, sacrificing everything until there was nothing left. But if she got mixed up with Hector, who knew how things would turn out.

Atticus picked up a pack of cigarettes from the desk and offered it to Hector. “Want one?” He sounded casual, like they were just two men talking business, not two men with Chelsea hanging in the air between them.

“No, thank you.”

Atticus leaned back against his desk, steadying himself with one hand while holding his cigarette in the other. He narrowed his eyes at Hector. “I thought you smoked, Mr. McKee.”

“I do. Just… today isn’t the right time.”

That answer made Atticus chuckle, a low sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Even after decades in the military, even now when he was supposed to be the approachable mayor, there was still something hard and unyielding about him. No matter how much he smiled, you could still see the tough guy underneath.

“So, what makes today so different?”

“Nicotine wakes you up, but it’s easy to get hooked on the feeling.”

Atticus pressed, “So, is that a good thing or a bad thing, Mr. McKee?”

Hector shrugged. “Everything has two sides. Who can say for sure?”

Atticus nodded like he agreed. “Fair enough.”

The two of them danced around the topic for a moment, neither giving much away. Atticus lit another cigarette, then moved on.

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