Terrified, seeing no other way out, Andrew had staged his own death and vanished, leaving behind a drifting boat and a grieving family, choosing their grief over the danger he believed his presence would bring them.

And then, in a Pasadena cafe, he had met Maria, and fallen in love, and Noah had been born, and for a few years Andrew Whitmore had been, under a borrowed name, quietly happy.

Until eight months ago, when he learned that someone had started searching for him again.

He had left, once more, believing that disappearing was the only way to keep Maria and Noah safe.

He had promised he would come back.