47

Lucian rushes into Sloane’s house after hearing gunshots and finds Sloane bloodied and furious. She reveals Wylie lured her, shot Judge Atkins to stage a frame-up, and intended to kill her using two guns. With sirens nearing, Lucian forces Sloane to escape out the window so he can confront Wylie without risking her.

Wylie breaks into the bedroom, and Lucian ambushes him, knocking away one gun. As they struggle, Lucian taunts Wylie about the past corruption and Sloane’s injuries. Wylie draws the second gun and fires, grazing Lucian, but Lucian closes the distance and knocks Wylie out with a punch.

Nash arrives with officers, declares the suspect down, and takes control. Lucian informs Nash that Wylie, not Dilton, put Nash’s name on the list. Wylie is cuffed and led out to waiting patrol cars as the neighborhood watches, symbolically closing the circle.

EMTs treat Sloane’s facial gash and Lucian’s clean through-and-through wound. Sloane worries about the damage to her dress and the broken cherry tree branch; Lucian promises to fix what can be fixed. Their friends gather at the barricade, and Nolan arrives nauseated but relieved, adding levity to the aftermath.

On the porch swing, Sloane thanks Lucian for not killing Wylie, and Lucian thanks her for trusting him and warning about the second gun. With law enforcement handling the scene and the wedding rehearsal ahead, they reaffirm their commitment and look forward to their future beyond the violence.