After returning to duty, Detective Bodhi is trying to find his footing again. But the moment his new partner joins him in the field, it becomes clear that peace is the last thing he can expect. At his side stands Asher Garrett — experienced, sharp, and dangerously perceptive. A man who sparks tension from the very first moment. Not always the friendly kind.

When the first body turns up in Dallas — and another soon after — it’s obvious this is no coincidence. The killer leaves behind almost no traces, moves with cold precision, and seems to be selecting victims from a predetermined list. Ethan and Asher are pulled into an investigation that takes them deeper than either of them anticipated.

With every new clue, the tension rises — along with the pressure and the questions. Who is behind the string of murders? Why these victims? And can the two detectives stop the killer before he strikes again?

In a case where nothing is accidental and every step could be their last, Ethan and Asher will have to find out whether they can truly watch each other’s backs — not only on the job, but when everything starts to fall apart.

„In Texas, justice is worn at the waist."


„Texas teaches you two things: How to survive the heat, and how to accept, that the truth burns even hotter."


„Texas isn't a place. It's a state of mind."


„A detective doesn't search the truth just because he wants to. He search it, because he can't stop."


„Every murder has a motive. Not every motive has an excuse."


„The worst monsters don't wear masks. They have names, families and alibis."


„The past never dies. It just waits for someone to open it again."


„Some cases never end. You just learn to live with them."


𝓜𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒆 𝒀𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏, 2026


Chapter 5 - QUOTES