Marcus lifted his head toward the hospital entrance.

His heart weighed heavily with grief. He was convinced his Eli had been killed by his mother's men, her body erased without a trace. And their child, sweet Hopey, had been taken by Samuel.

The Sterling family had tracked the child to Ashbrook. Marcus’s mother had released him, ordering him to retrieve the child, but he no longer felt entitled to fight for custody.

What would be the point? He missed ...