In the year 2184, the US is divided. Half the country has moved on with the rest of the world, while in middle America, the survivors of the terrorist biological attack that split the country struggle just to stay alive. Though a century has passed, few people brave going behind the borders meant to contain the danger. Even the privatized military is reluctant to do so.<br><br>But that doesn’t stop recently discharged Sullivan Eberle. Only one thing drives him anymore -- the need to find Raphael Hamada. He doesn’t know why. He only knows he must. If that means a lifetime behind the borders, then so be it.<br><br>Rafe Hamada ran away from the real world when he was still a kid. The last thing he wants is to be found, especially by a soldier who can’t even tell him why it was so important to locate him in the first place. He’d like nothing more than for Sullivan to leave, but turning his back on a man alone and friendless is against everything Rafe stands for ...

Penny Candles

Rafe rolled onto his side, propping his head up in his hand. His knees nudged against Sullivan’s legs, but it wasn’t intrusive, more of a promise that he was right there. “Mama doesn’t think I should trust you.”


That hurt, though he wasn’t surprised. “I thought things were getting better. She said she likes my work.”


“She does. But it’s not about you specifically. It’s about Strike.”


Another unsurprising statement. “And what do you think?”


A callused hand came to rest on Sullivan’s forearm, the touch firming when his muscles twitched. “That you’re the most interesting thing to ever happen here. And that I’m willing to take the time for you to prove her wrong.”


Chapter 33