Homeless and hiding from his mother's abusive boyfriend, Davie -- along with his friend Grey -- accept an offer to move to a safe haven called the Encampment. Owned by Slade, and overseen by Maddox, and Ran, it's a well-protected site in the mountains for endangered street kids. Among the present residents is the very taciturn loner, Vin. To everyone's surprise, Davie and Vin become friends of a sort.<br><br>Soon after arriving, Davie discovers there is more to the Encampment than it appears at first glance when Ran, with Vin's help, begins training him in various forms of self-defense.<br><br>Davie finds out why when Slade sends him and Vin on an assignment to stop a vicious gang of slavers preying on homeless teens. From there things get interesting, to say the least, as the two young men try to survive while dealing with their growing attraction for each other.

The Encampment

“Anyone else want to walk?” Butch asked, looking pointedly at the teen who had first said he was leaving. When no one replied, Butch ordered them to get back to work. “That means you, too,” Butch said, pulling Ken to his feet.


“Damn, man,” Vin spat out. “He in no condition…” His words were cut short when the driver hit him hard in the ribs with the club.


“Anyone else have anything to say?” Butch asked with a feral grin.


Davie had a lot to say, but kept quiet. He went to Vin instead, helping him straighten up and walk back to where they’d been working before everything had gone down. “Did he break your ribs?” he asked.


Vin shook his head. “Don’t think so. Fractured, maybe. Given what my dad’s punks did to me, this is nothing.”


Chapter 31