The backyard was perfect. String lights, live jazz, expensive wine. My father Howard was holding court, showing off to his guests like always. I stood at the edge of the crowd. Invisible. "There's my daughter,"…
I raised my boot to kick the mangy dog tearing apart my foundation work. Seventeen dollars left in my account and this mutt was destroying my last chance. "Get out!" I screamed through the freezing…
The call came through static. "Possible disturbance, logging road fourteen." I killed the heater. Valor's ears shot up. "What is it, boy?" My K-9 partner pressed his nose to the glass, whining low and urgent.…
The mud caked on our boots felt permanent. Six months away from home. Six months of disaster relief, pulling families from floodwaters, no sleep, just exhaustion down to the bone. We were rolling back to…
