In the cold grip of a Portland winter, Chelsia Toussaint has tried to leave her past behind, settling into a quiet life with her lover. But when his sudden death pulls her into a web of secrecy, she realizes normalcy was never in the cards.
With whispers of betrayal and danger closing in, Chelsia finds herself drawn into a world where every face hides a motive. A detective watches her too closely. A new "roomie" greets her with disarming charm but keeps too many secrets. And the truth about everything—including Chelsia herself—looms just out of reach.
As events unfold, the shadows of her past grow closer, and Chelsia must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect what little remains of her life. Because the greatest threat might not be what she’s running from—but who she’s running toward.
Ametra S. Rayford is an award-winning author born in Chicago, Illinois. When not adventuring with a motley crew of misfits by day, she crafts stories that delve into the darker corners of human nature, weaving suspense and intrigue into every page.
An avid reader and enthusiastic home cook, she finds balance in the kitchen, creating meals for friends and family when not immersed in projects of 75,000 words or more. For Ametra, every story has a rhythm, and her writing is always accompanied by its own unofficial soundtrack.