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 ...

“So, there’s another reason than just hanging out with you two bringing me here,” Kalle started and scratched Spike under his little orange chin. Makai realized whatever it was, the man was a bit nervous to talk about it. “The investigation is going fine, there shouldn’t be any repercussions for you at all,” he said at first in a tone that implied that he’d known that would be the first thing Makai’s mind would go to.


“Okay,” Makai said and swallowed hard.


“Your phone number is unlisted, so I’ve been handling some calls that were meant for you because I was the obvious person to call, being the sheriff and all.” Kalle looked at him and Emil and frowned. “There are some journalists that want to write about what happened.”


“What?” Emil sounded disbelieving. “How does that—wait.” He held out a hand. “Is this because what happened to me and Makai’s own past stuff? And now they’re interested in talking about him again?”


Chapter 82