Kicked out of his home at eighteen, Cole ends up at The Haven, a drop-in spot for homeless teens, run by Adam Franks. Unable to spend the nights there, he ends up sleeping rough, is attacked by a pair of punks -- and rescued by a Bullmastiff he names Bull.<br><br>Cole and Bull become inseparable. Cole also meets, and is attracted to, Ky, a friend of Adam's, who twice saves Cole from more attackers. After the second attack, things suddenly change in Cole's life when he finds out why someone seems to be after him.<br><br>Will Ky be able to convince Cole he's told him is the truth, while dealing with his own attraction to Cole? And can Ky and his friends keep Cole safe from a man who claims to be Cole's real father?

Cole and His Dog

“You can’t panhandle here,” a security guard said roughly.


“I wasn’t planning on it,” Cole replied tightly.


“Looks like it from here. And get a leash for that monster before he attacks someone.”


“Fuck you, too,” Cole muttered, getting to his feet again. Slinging his pack over one shoulder, he marched angrily out of the shopping center. When he got to the street, he decided to call it a day. “I’m not giving up,” he told Bull. “I’m just…Yeah, I’ve had it with being rejected by stupid people who aren’t willing to give a guy a chance. Let’s head back.”


Apparently Bull had other ideas. He started walking in the opposite direction, glancing back over his shoulder to see if Cole was following. With a shrug, Cole did. Bull led the way to a row of stores behind a low stone wall, and sat in front of it. For a moment, Cole wondered what the dog was doing. Then he got the idea. Sitting on the wall, he retrieved the cup he’d used the previous night, putting it down by his feet.


Chapter 9