SHE'S ON A MISSION TO SAVE LIVES When one of her students becomes the latest victim of a D.C. gang-slaying, sociology professor Trevy Barlow is determined to protect the other girls in her literacy class for at-risk teens-even if it means compromising her own safety. HE'S ON A SHORT CLOCK TO FIND A KILLER FBI gang task force agent Cruz Larsen isn't about to let Trevy endanger herself or sidetrack his investigation with her do-gooder meddling. But when a key witness refuses to talk to anyone except her, Cruz has to find a way to earn her trust so that she'll play by his rules. NOW A SADISTIC PREDATOR IS AFTER THEM For Cruz, keeping Trevy safe has become more than a duty-his heart is involved too. But all of his leads have flatlined. And he's beginning to suspect that a hidden third party has rekindled the gang rivalry for reasons far beyond a D.C. turf war. Caught in the crossfire, Trevy will have to risk it all to give them a fighting chance to survive.