She ran through the night with her daughters in her arms, fleeing the man who had owned her, broken her, and fathered her children through cruelty. In the scorched Texas wilderness of 1837, Etta finds herself hunted, desperate, and alone... until two towering twin brothers, Cash and Briggs Carson, offer her something she's never known, safety.

But trust doesn't come easy, not when every white man she's ever known has brought her pain.

As Etta journeys toward Hell's Pass, she begins to unravel the threads of fear and rediscover the strength buried deep within her. Cash's quiet devotion chips away at her walls, and her daughters blossom in the light of kindness. Yet the past refuses to stay buried. Cordel Bishop, the monster who raised her in chains, returns with vengeance, and his brother Thorne brings horrors even darker.

What follows is a story of survival, of love forged in fire, and of a woman reclaiming her body, her voice, and her soul. Through rivers and storms, Etta learns that belonging isn't given, it's fought for. And breath, once stolen, can be reclaimed in the arms of a man who sees her not as broken, but as whole.

This is not just a love story.

It's a story of freedom.

Content Warning: This novel contains themes of trauma, abuse, and emotional healing, including references to slavery and sexual violence. It also features consensual erotic scenes that explore intimacy, trust, and passion between adults. These elements are portrayed with care and purpose, and are essential to the characters' journey.