Chicago PD Detective Michael Branham reluctantly calls in the federal marshals when he gets wind of a dangerous fugitive. Ken “Sully” Sullivan flies in as the Agent-in-Charge. After a futile car chase during a blizzard and a resulting car accident, the two men take shelter in an unused stable. Wounded and cold, Sully and Michael lower their defenses and admit their attraction to each other. Sully's comfortable with his bisexuality, whereas Michael has some self-admitted attraction to men but has never done anything about it. Months later, Michael has a family funeral in the DC area and arranges to meet Sully again. The heat still smolders between them. Then disaster hits Michael -- the kind only another cop can understand. Sully rearranges his life to support Michael, who is still uncertain about their new relationship. Can two men with high stress jobs from different cities find a way to meet each other in the middle?

Trust in the Fast Lane

“Here, let me help.” Sullivan reached out and began to pull the knot in the scarf loose. “There’s a lot of blood.” He sounded concerned.


“We’ve been moving nearly nonstop since the wreck. I’m sure that hasn’t helped.”


By the time he got the scarf loose and gave me a hand getting the coat off, I revised my opinion. The scarf was soaked. Was that all my blood or was some of it wetness due to the snow? I was already feeling a little on the lightheaded side.


“Sit down next to the heater. Let’s get your shirt off, too and see how bad it really is.”


“The lighting in here sucks. I saw a light switch in the hallway. Is there any power?” I sat down, inches from the heater. Even the beginning warmth felt blissful.


“I flipped it. Nothing. My best guess is the storm’s taken out the power.” He flailed out of his sodden coat and tossed mine and his over the half door to the stall.


I began to shake. Why now? We’d finally gotten to shelter.


Chapter 6