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

“Why aren’t you more worried about this?” Mama said. She’d brought Belle over to have some breakfast, and the old woman had never left. She was probably still seated at the table by the door, helping Mama polish the knives and forks. “They burned your garage down. The next time, it could be your house.”


“Whoever did this had no intention of hurting me. Did you see where they started it? As far from my house as they could get. They put some thought into it.”


“And if you take him back, they could decide it doesn’t matter who you are because you’re harboring a Strike soldier.”


“Maria…” Belle sounded tired. Rafe wondered if he should sneak out and find a ride home for her. He hoped Mama would notice so he wouldn’t have to. “Does he know?”


“Of course not. It’s none of his business.”


Chapter 43