Book excerpt: Even with a decent job, Candace is barely getting by, and raising her 10-year-old son is becoming more challenging by the day. Still she's focused on a big promotion with a healthy salary increase that will put her right where she needs to be. Then she meets Chris - a pretty boy seven years her junior. His street-savvy swagger and seductive smile keep her heart racing. She should know better than to get involved with a man who's tied to the streets, but Candace can't bring herself to shake him off. And soon, Chris drags her down a road that threatens to end her life...