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 ...

His phone pinged, and a message came through from Lotte. Smiling, he muted the music and then called her.


“Hey, of course I can watch Joie,” he said immediately.


Lotte exhaled with relief. “Thank fucking God. If you feel up for it, there might be more of that this summer. There’s a chance I’ll get extra hours at the diner if I’m free.”


“We’ll see. You know I love Joie. I can’t make long-term promises, there are still bad mornings and all that, but I think my mom would love to have a kid around the house if I couldn’t watch them.” Before Lotte could object, Emil hastened to add, “Like if we’ve made a deal for a day and I feel bad when the day comes, that’s what I meant. Honestly, I have nothing else to do, as I’m taking the summer off studying.”


“Okay, we’ll figure it out. But starting on Wednesday afternoon?”


“Yeah, I’ll be there at… midday?” He flopped on his bed and stared at the ceiling.


“Sounds great. Do you need a ride?”


Chapter 11