Finding out that an old friend was kidnapped, tortured, then deep-sixed in the harbor, complete with cement boots—and survived—sends Steve rushing to California to help. Also Opal and her mother had appealed to Levi to find Steve and to send him to help, if possible.

Opal has been through the worst possible scenario, but it's not over, as her kidnapers were looking for something she didn't have. She'd been to hell and back for a couple years already and had hoped the worst was over. How wrong could she be? And it wouldn't ever end, unless she found what these men were looking for or stopped them altogether.

With her in hiding, and Steve now back in her life, she's finally hopeful she might survive. Until things take an ugly turn, ... and having a future is no longer a guarantee.