Coming Home (Raine)

On a dark, rainy night I drove my overstuffed junker car back to a town I never expected to see again. And when I needed a rescue by the side of the road, a six-foot tall piece of hot, unfinished business named Mark was what the universe sent me. Three years earlier I'd fled town (and Mark) to follow my wrongly-convicted father to his federal prison, working crappy jobs to stay afloat and visit him every second I could. But now Dad's dead and I'm mysteriously offered the best job of my life at the college where his life blew up when he was accused of a crime he didn't commit. Someone wants me here. Desperately. I'm hoping it's Mark. Because if it's not, I'm in more danger than I ever imagined. And if it is? Mark may be the most dangerous choice of all.

Everything I know about my life is a lie. The more I dig into my father's death the more I find myself in peril. Mark turns out to be a liar, someone I thought I could trust. He's not what he seems, and worst of all, a part of me can't let go. My boss might be an international drug lord disguised as a dean at one of the top five universities in the country. Like anyone's going to believe me if I try to out him? But I can't help myself. I should learn to keep my mouth shut. Someone's decided to do that for me. Make me quiet once- And for all. Almost. Lily is hiding something, a secret so big, she came out of a year-long coma and her first instinct was to lie. Who does that? Someone who is afraid. No-not afraid. Terrified. And it's my job to take that fear away. My partner and I have spent countless man-hours hunting down the cold-blooded killer who did this to her. Meanwhile, Lily's spent her waking hours recovering. Getting stronger. Getting smarter. Staying beautiful. Never get involved emotionally. That's my dictate. Never get attached. When you realize you're caught in a triangle, it turns out there is no exit. Crossing a line is easy. Holding a line takes strength. Lily's shooter knows that she's my weakness. And he's about to exploit that by breaking a line and escaping, claiming a hostage in the process. One I have to get back. No matter what it takes. Mark turns out to be a liar, someone I thought I could trust. He's not what he seems, and worst of all, a part of me can't let go. My boss might be an international drug lord disguised as a dean at one of the top five universities in the country. Like anyone's going to believe me if I try to out him? But I can't help myself. I should learn to keep my mouth shut. Someone's decided to do that for me. Make me quiet once- And for all.

You can think you've had everything stolen from you. That there's nothing left to lose. You would be wrong. My best friend's been kidnapped. I was just captured. What I thought was a massive drug operation run by a man who killed my father turns out to be ten times more horrific. I'm trapped. My best friend may be dead. And Mark has no idea where to find me. Some secrets should remain buried, my captors tell me. And it looks like I will be, too. Buried alive.