Staying away was harder than he thought ... Recovering from an accident was hell on anyone, but, for a stubborn guy like Carter, it was worse. No way would he be a burden. So he stayed away from Montana, where his best friend lived ... and his best friend's sister. Until Geir and Cade ask Carter to check up on a dog delivered to a small town close by, but the dog never arrived. Considering this was one of the missing War Dogs that Titanium Corp was handling, Carter was happy to assist. Maybe even relieved as it gave him a reason to go where he'd been afraid to go before. Walking into her partner's office to find his dead body on the floor had sent Hailey down a nightmarish path that never seemed to end. Then it had started with Carter's arrival. What else should she expect from the man who she'd always loved and who had rejected her time and time again. She'd hoped the attraction to him would have lessened by now, but it was even worse. As the body count mounts, and the town takes sides, Hailey realizes that Carter was always the one to back her up, even when it meant he could die in this fight that's gone to hell. Particularly when Carter finds the missing K9 dog, and his current owner is on the wrong side of the war ... Only Carter doesn't care, knowing he'd always stand on the side of right, but maybe-if he was lucky this time-he wouldn't be standing alone ...