How can you trust the man who tried to kill you?Undercover cop Deacon Shepherd lost everything trying to maintain his cover – the man he loved and the future he craved. He walked away and never looked back because it was the only way to keep Rafael alive.The last thing he needs is to be dragged back in that world, but an attempt on Rafael’s life is enough to make him risk his heart again.Rafael … his heart again.
Rafael ‘Rafe’ Ramirez wakes up in the hospital, the victim of a hit and run. He’s horrified when the first face he sees is that of the man who betrayed him and left him for dead three years before. Witness protection had stripped Rafe of his family and friends, and now it seems his sacrifice to bring his Uncle to justice was for nothing.
Someone wants Rafe dead, and the only way he can stay alive is to go with the murdering drug dealer who broke his heart. But how can he ever trust Deacon, and how can Deacon protect Rafe without falling in love all over again?
Word Count: 50,000
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**********Contains Spoilers**********
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the connection between Rafe aka Craig and Deacon, which started while Deacon was undercover in Rafe’s family’s organisation as his uncle Arlo and his cousins, especially Felix are under the suspicion for drugs, mu*der and human traffic*ing but nothing has ever been confirmed. Everything was going good until Rafe shows up after his dad was k*lled in a suspected car accident, but Rafe knows what his dad told him about his uncle be*ting his own sister to de*th all because he married him and Arlo didn’t approve so Rafe suspected that the same fate happened to his dad as it was not long after he’d visited his brother in law did he end up in a car accident. Rafe wants to find proof of what his family is doing so they can pay for everything they’ve done. Arlo requests that Deacon basically babysit Rafe so he knows what Rafe is up to and he can’t snoop. Rafe just thinks that Deacon is hired muscle but can sometimes sees a look on his face when his mask slips and sees compassion, but in a blink of an eye it’s gone so he thinks he imagined it.
Deacon tries to get Rafe to go back to college and complete his degree without being too obvious that he cares but Rafe isn’t leaving until he finds proof. They only get to share one kiss. Rafe ends up getting caught multiple times snooping in Arlo’s office and Deacon stops Felix from be*ting Rafe too much the first time but he’s too late the second time and Arlo and Felix are ready to k*ll Rafe but Deacon agrees to be the one to do it and takes Rafe out to the lake. He ends up sh*oting Rafe in the shoulder so he falls in the water and Deacon’s team can get him out of the water, patch him up and put him into witsec until when they know that everyone that can hurt him is behind bars. Deacon feels absolutely guilty at having to sh*ot Rafe but he couldn’t break his cover to let him know the plan. Arlo is extremely happy with Deacon so he ends up making it into their inner circle and he brings them down from the inside without anyone knowing.
I’m totally okay with the quickness that their relationship progresses since it’s kind of a second chance romance and being in a stressful situation after Rafe was in a hit and run and because Deacon found out that Felix escaped from the psych hospital/prison and knows that Rafe is in danger so he runs to Rafe’s side to bring him to Mac and Sam’s where he knows that they can protect him. Rafe is completely scared sh*tless when he wakes up in a strange place that isn’t a hospital and Deacon is sitting by his bed, who tried to k*ll him and Rafe has no idea that he was an undercover cop. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
Rafe was determined to get answers and justice for the deaths of his parents. he gathered the info his father had left behind, and went to his Uncle Arlo and asked to be embraced as family.
But this isn’t just any family.
A band of killers involved in financial shenanigans, drugs, and human trafficking – and Rafe hardly has a clue.
What happens when the openly gay man gets in the way of his uncle and cousins?
A man he was falling for shoots him.
Deacon feels torn apart. He has done everything he can to keep Rafe safe, but he doesn’t even know that he was trying to help him by shooting him – and he just can’t get the guy out of his head.
Trust is hard won – and violence is easy for the sick members of Rafe’s family.
Love can be a real thing for these guys – if they can survive the living and dead ghosts, and real security threats, along with the emotional baggage.
I got hooked on this series with a single story – then read three in three days!
Keep reading for a fun and edge of your seat romantic adventure!