When they were teenagers, Quinn MacGregor and Aaron Larsen fell in love over the course of one magical summer. It ended in bloodshed and tragedy. Now, ten years later, Quinn is back in Spruce Creek, Nevada, to inherit his family’s criminal cartel. His cousin Jimmy has been making friends -- and enemies -- in dangerous places, but that doesn’t mean he’s happy to hand over leadership to Quinn. And Jimmy might not be the only one who wants Quinn out of the way for good, especially if Quinn’s secret comes out. Aaron Larsen is back in Spruce Creek to sell his former family home. Aaron lost a leg in Afghanistan, and he’s drinking too much and battling depression and PTSD. The last thing he needs is for Quinn MacGregor to drop back into his miserable life. But when Quinn is shaken by the news that he left more behind in Spruce Creek than his bad memories, he turns to Aaron like it’s old times, and Aaron doesn’t know how to say no. The events of ten years ago cast a long shadow, and in a town where they can’t trust anyone else, Quinn and Aaron just might have to learn to trust each other again.

A Desperate Man

He wasn’t trying to fool Quinn, nor could he have. Arthur was most likely armed to the teeth just like Quinn would be as soon as he left his trailer.


They embraced each other quickly, and Arthur held onto his shoulder to look at him properly


“Thanks. You don’t look bad yourself, Uncle Arthur,” Quinn said, and the slight tension around Arthur’s eyes relaxed.


“You have coffee in this castle of yours?”


Quinn scoffed. “I’m a MacGregor, aren’t I?”


Soon enough, they sat at the table, the laptop set aside, and sipped at their coffees.


“Do you ever visit him?” Quinn blurted out, then internally cursed himself.


“No. I tried for a couple of years, but he doesn’t want anyone to come. He won’t reply to letters, either.” Arthur tapped his fingers on the side of the mug as he gathered his words. “The only one I think he’s replied to was the divorce papers your mother sent him.”


Chapter 15