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

The house was small and rundown, but it was neat.


“Lennox, this is Aaron,” Charlie said. “I’ve talked about him before, remember? We grew up together. Aaron, this is Lennox.”


The kid stuck his hand out, so Aaron shook it.


“You knew my mom when you were kids?” Lennox asked, tilting his head on the side.


“Yeah,” Aaron said. “We were best friends.”


“How come I never met you before now?”


“Because I moved away,” Aaron said.


Charlie swatted Lennox on the backside. It was more playful than serious. “Go and pack your school bag and don’t be rude.”


Lennox headed into what was presumably his bedroom.


Charlie folded her arms over her chest. “It’s a little early for a social visit, isn’t it? What’s going on?”


“Ian MacGregor got shot early this morning,” Aaron said, keeping his voice low. “Quinn phoned to tell me. We gotta be ready to go, Charlie, the second Quinn tells us.”


Chapter 46