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 fact still stood that Quinn didn’t have a clue what Jimmy wanted. He hadn’t seemed hostile at the funeral, even when telling him to come over, but that could just be bluffing. Not all snakes had rattles.


Charlie sent him a text telling him to stay safe around six. Quinn just sent her back a heart emoji. He packed up the little stuff he had into his car and grabbed his badge from the hidey hole. Then he took the rest of his stocked cat and human foods to old Ezekiel next door.


“You leaving town?” Ezekiel asked, his expression neutral.


“Yeah. Now that Ian’s buried and Karen and some others are leaving town, there’s nothing for me here,” Quinn said as he carried the small box into Ezekiel’s kitchen. Then he turned to look at the old guy thoughtfully. “Do you know Benny Kyle?”


Ezekiel smiled dryly. “As much as anyone knows anyone else in this town. Why?”


Chapter 57