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Chapter One
Grace
Dogs are better than people.
That’s my hill. I’ll die on it.
That’s also why I’m crouching in the dirt beside a dusty New Mexico highway, trying to coax this hairy pup out of the ditch.
The tiny bundle of matted fur is terrified, so I’m taking things slow to ensure he doesn’t run into traffic or bite me—though I’d prefer the latter if I had to choose.
I slowly pull the ham out of my sandwich and toss a piece it toward him. Curiosity sparks in those beady black eyes, and he starts to creep forward.
“Come here, sweetheart. I’m not going to hurt you.” I settle on my butt in the dirt. “Let me help you.”
He snatches the meat but doesn’t hurry back. I’m finally making progress.
“It sucks to be all alone.” I tear off a more significant piece and toss it forward. “I’m alone too. We can keep each other company.”
Hunger overwhelms fear, and the tiny creature leaps forward and snatches the ham from the ground; he moves closer, swallowing it in one gulp.
“There you go,” I say, tossing another piece beside my leg. “I’ve got you.”
Step by step, the little guy gets braver, moving forward until he’s almost on my lap. Distracting him with some bread, I scoop him up with one arm. He immediately goes limp.
“Poor baby. Someone hurt you, didn’t they.” I kiss his filthy head as we stand. “I know what that’s like. I’ll keep you safe.”
He watches me closely through the matted strands of hair but doesn’t try to escape. Eventually, his tiny pink tongue licks my hand, and I know we’ve come to an understanding.
“You’re a tough little guy,” I tell him as I place him in the cab of my pick-up. “Most pups wouldn’t have survived out here.” As he settles in the seat, he whimpers, so I toss him the rest of my lunch. “I’m going to call you Harley.”
Now that Harley is beside me, I slip on my seatbelt and turn on the engine. My body hurts from driving eight hours straight, but hopefully, I’m almost at my destination.
Deep Run, New Mexico, isn’t on any map I’ve found, but I know it exists.
It has to.
The only thing that’s kept me going after losing my mother is the hope of reconnecting with my brother. After running into a member of his former squad, I’d found out Brian and his marine buddies had formed a motorcycle gang when they’d left the service. That gang bought a ghost town, brought it back to life, and named it Deep Run. It'd taken some searching to find, but once I was on the scent, I wasn’t giving up.
He's all I have left.
I don’t know why he didn’t come back to me after he was discharged. At this point, I don’t care. I want to be a family again.
Harley gets my best shaky grin. “We’re on a treasure hunt without a map.”
He gifts me with a happy bark that helps me smile. Unfortunately, that bark quickly morphs into a growl as a motorcycle roars to a stop behind us.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
I close my eyes and say a quick prayer. It’s probably nothing, just a kind-hearted stranger wanting to make sure I’m okay.
I’ve almost convinced myself of that until I glance out my back mirror and recognize the man strolling toward us.
My heart drops into my stomach.
It’s not Brian. No way would I be that lucky.
A gloved hand settles on the frame of my open window, soon followed by a face that has haunted me for eight years.
