Edwin Masters has spent his entire life lusting after one car -- a 1962 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600. When he finally buys one, it changes the entire shape and meaning of his world. The car comes with a guest, and the restless spirit is awakened by Edwin.<br><br>Cooper James, the young man who died behind the wheel forty-seven years earlier, haunts the Spider and he wants a life. He wants Edwin. So he reaches out, sucking Edwin into a deepening abyss by exploiting demons from a past Edwin can't break from.<br><br>Edwin resists, struggling against the phantom in favor of an attractive, exciting young man who wants to be with him, Carson Heston. Carson holds the key to Edwin's salvation, but every time he gets close, Cooper terrorizes him. Edwin knows he'll be lost forever if he submits to Cooper's dark promise of release and relief, but that might be the only way to save Carson's life.

On a Bruised Road

As soon as Edwin put the car into gear, a small smile returned to his face. His half-over weekend had been the very definition of insane, but he still had his car. His beautiful, perfect, straightforward, simple car. He gripped the wheel and felt a modicum of peace returning. Nothing else was making sense, but he understood the Alfa Romeo Spider. It was real and solid and right.


His peace was shattered when somebody behind him laughed and said, “I’ve got to say, I probably would have fucked her.”4


Edwin jerked back like the stranger had punched him or pulled a knife on him. “Who the fuck are you?”


“Your dream? The prom? Sorry about that, by the way, but I was trying to think of the last time I went on a date, and it happened to be the prom, so…”


“Who the fuck are you? What the fuck are you talking about?”


Chapter 16