Stopping a murder that happened forty years earlier may be the only way to heal a tortured mind ...<br><br>Six months after Jesse Madding is brutally tortured by Marcus Brooker, he is still experiencing flashbacks, panic attacks, and jumping at his own shadow. His lovers, Gideon Keel and Emma Coolidge, would do anything to help him, but Jesse refuses to be hospitalized for treatment, or even visit a therapist. Desperate for a change, Gideon and Emma suggest a radical solution.<br><br> Jesse wants to fix his life. More than anything, he wants to be normal again. He doesn't want to live in fear. He doesn't want to be ashamed of his scarred and mutilated body. He doesn't want to shy away from Gideon's touch. Certain that the holding pattern will kill him, he agrees to Gideon and Emma's proposed solution: travel to an alternative dimension and save Marcus Brooker from witnessing Mary's grisly murder ... in order to save Brooker's soul.

Chaos and Communion

Jesse stiffened beside him, but otherwise, didn’t react visibly. Marcus jumped to his feet, his greeting dying on his lips as Jesse caught his attention. Though there were no obvious marks from the vampires in Sangre, he was still noticeably stiff and leaning heavily on Gideon.


“Sorry to drop in on you like this. I just needed to talk about…Are you okay? Did something happen?”


“I’m fine.” Jesse’s voice was soft and hoarse. “Nothing happened.”


“It’s been a long night,” Gideon intervened. He opened the door and let Jesse enter first, stopping midway over the threshold. “Wait here, Pastor. I’ll be right out.”


He didn’t wait for a response, guiding Jesse to the bedroom without saying another word. When there was another door closed between them, he finally relaxed enough to glance at Jesse.


“Are you all right? I can get rid of him if you want me to.”


Chapter 52