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

The longer Carson stared back, the more details filtered through the growing fog of fear. The man didn’t look right. His head was back and to the side, at an unnatural angle. It triggered a new sort of terror. One that crawled up his chest and lodged itself in his throat. He wanted to scream, but the terror blocked his breath. His arms tightened around Edwin automatically, but he wasn’t sure if he was trying to protect the sleeping man, or use him as some sort of shield.


The figure moved. Carson couldn’t define the difference. It wasn’t closer. It wasn’t farther away. But it had definitely moved. The knowledge somehow dislodged the lump in his throat, but the screams didn’t escape. Instead, the Lord’s Prayer tumbled from him. Carson couldn’t remember the last time he had uttered the Lord’s Prayer, but now the words came to his lips as easily as his own name.


Chapter 43