Steel Coleman sinned in his heart the day he saw fifteen-year-old Riley Spencer. Driven by lust he couldn't acknowledge or control, he encourages his mother to marry Riley's father, joining the two families and creating a living hell for Steel in the process. In an attempt to spare his sanity, he goes for long rides from the family ranch, and he's not home to protect the family when bandits strike. Riley survives but their parents are murdered. Haunted by grief and guilt, Steel flees to catch the men responsible, promising his younger stepbrother he would return. He never does. When they meet again ten years later, Riley is a far cry from the boy Steel left behind. And he needs his former stepbrother to pay for the very real sin of abandoning him when he needed Steel the most. But their fateful meeting sends Riley running. Leaving Steel is the hardest thing he's ever done, but Riley understands what Steel knew all along -- it's too dangerous to stay. Will he be prepared to face the consequences when Steel inevitably catches up with him? Can forgiveness be possible?

Steel's Redemption

It seemed Steel wanted to behave as though nothing had changed between them. That in the intervening years, Riley’s devotion hadn’t soured, his love hadn’t curdled and turned into something rancid. He clearly wanted to pull Riley into his arms, and later perhaps he would try to explain himself. Riley would let him try to justify his betrayal. He’d listen to every word and excuse offered, but his heart wouldn’t soften. And one way or another, Steel would have to answer for himself and pay his debt to Riley. 2


Chapter 4