Charlie's life in Ohio is ordinary and consistent. When her dad loses his job, fighting becomes an every day event. Moving in with her sister only makes matters worse. Her life is turned upside down. I n a desperate attempt to find a safe haven, she ends up on the streets of Chicago. She's introduced to a different kind of world. A place where crime lords and women of the night come out to play. Charlie finds herself at the mercy of Rico DeLusa, a local crime king. When she begins having feelings for one of Rico's employees, Angel Blackwell, she wonders if she's out of her element. Is she being drawn into their world, instead of being a light in a dark place? Blackmail, prostitution and drugs were never a part of her life, but they are now. Charlie finds herself in the middle of a fight between good and evil. She needs the strength to overcome, the wisdom to make the right choices, and the insight to follow what is right Instead of listening to her heart

Antonio was out walking the beach before the sun was up. He was unfairly burdened for a kid of fourteen, but he quickly learned that his troubles at home were nothing compared to the new problems he had now. He was the only witness to a terrible plane crash that happened in those early morning hours. Two men had been in the plane; one walked away, the other lay unmoving on the sand. Later he learned the man was taken to Mercy General; since his mother was a nurse there he was able to gain access to the injured man, Carlos Santora. The pretty nurse Fran and that cocky doctor they called Max McDreamy were tending to his plane crash victim. Thankfully, Doctor Max seemed more interested in Fran than he did the man from the beach. Fran on the other hand seemed concerned, but she was too busy to spend much time digging for the truth. It didn’t help his troubles with the detective, though. Detective Donigan was supposed to be investigating the crash, but he seemed to be spending more time flirting with Rosa, Antonio’s mother, than he did working on the case. Antonio didn’t like it but he wouldn’t complain; it kept the detective from looking his way. And what about the pretty redhead Antonio sold the Sunday paper to? Why was she so interested in the man from the plane crash? If he could only figure it all out. He’d managed to talk to talk to the man named Carlos twice, but he was no help; he had amnesia. So much to figure out and he had a feeling he was running out of time . . .

Michael Steele has tried to be an adult since he was a seven. Losing his dad early on and living with a liberal mother has given him a distorted view of life and love. The gritty streets of Chicago is where he works. He encounters everything from thugs and cons to his homeless uncle. He's used to being lied to and conned, but not by his grandmother, Nana Steele. While living in and out of his Nana's apartment, he finds himself at odds with her nurse, Jessica White. His liberal ways, and loose love life, has her on the offensive. His occupation as one of Chicago's finest, in her eyes, is his only redeeming quality. When Michael's dispatched to Nana's apartment he finally understands why Nana is so elusive on the topic of her nurse. Jessica White is stunning and as Nana knew, the minute their eyes met, sparks began to fly. Michael has a lot on his plate, an aging grandmother, a homeless uncle, and now a blonde beauty that won't give him the time of day. Why does he care, why does he need to prove anything to anyone. He wants to go back to the way things were before he first held Jessica White in his arms, but for some reason he just can't.