She was a law enforcement officer. She was used to standing between the innocents and danger. Now she was the one hurt and in need of protection. That was his job.
Recovering from a car accident that nearly killed her, New Mexico State Police officer Aubree Cueva is part of a family dedicated to serving the people of New Mexico and Los Alamos. She wants to go back to work but she has to pass certain standards of fitness before returning to Active Status with the NMSP, both mental and physical. The loss of her memory involving the crash itself is a concern. So is the fear that she has about getting into closed spaces. Anti-anxiety meds arent something you can take before getting behind the wheel.
Her last-ditch effort? Turning to The Refuge. Shes hoping that the staff there can help her get over her anxiety as she works to strengthen her body enough to meet department standards.
Ruben Leon Chaucer left the Army when a blast triggered by another soldier threw him against a wall and damaged his spine. A surgeon was able to stabilize his spine and protect the nerves within it. Hes come back a good distance from his injury, but hes not sure hes ready to venture out into the world. The Refuge is just that. A safe place to gather himself and help others while he does it.
Aubree is one of those people.
Just as Aubree needs to make her decision about whether or not she will return to the NMSP, the past comes back to haunt her. Or rather, the past comes back to finish what it started and kill her, so she wont be able to point the finger at them. Ruben is going to have to decide whats more important to him, The Refuge, which helped give him back his life or the woman who makes him want to live life to the fullest.
