Can two broken men build one life? Ten years. That’s what Makai lost for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s been exonerated, but the abuse he suffered in prison isn’t so easy to leave behind. He heads to the one place he remembers being happy: Acker, Wisconsin, where he spent summers with his grandpa. Unfortunately, not everyone wants Makai there. Ten days. That’s how long Emil, now twenty-one, was held prisoner as a teenager. The mental and physical injuries he suffered at the hands of a drug trafficking ring still haunt him. Nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD challenge the connection forming between Makai and Emil, though together, they might find a way to move beyond their pain and into a future -- and a relationship -- that both had thought impossible. Now they just have to convince Emil’s father, the town sheriff. It won’t be easy with danger closer than they know ...

“Joy, what are you doing running around like that,” she asked the child in a tone that suggested this was an ongoing struggle.


“I wasn’t running!” the child insisted, looking at Makai with wide eyes that begged for him to agree.


“Uh, Joy wasn’t running, I swear!” Makai lifted a hand like he once had in a courtroom.


“It’s J-O-I-E,” the child told him and then tilted their head and added. “It’s a boy day today, so you can call me J-O-E-Y.”


“Okay.” Makai nodded seriously. Then he held out a hand toward the boy. “I’m Makai. M-A-K-A-I. Nice to meet you, Joey.”


They shook hands, and when Makai looked at the mom again, she seemed choked up. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and Makai understood.


He got to his feet and slowly walked the few steps to her and held out his hand. “Hi, nice to meet you too, Joey’s mom.” He smiled at her.


“I’m Lotte, L-O-T-T-E.” She let out a stuttery chuckle.


“Mooooom, can we get Cheerios?” Joie was pointing at the box near his head


Chapter 5