Julian Cross, never loved or in love, is diagnosed with terminal bone cancer at 24, given three months to live. Desperate for one true connection, he enters a NYC underground bar on a rainy night—and meets Adrian Vale, a powerful mob boss.Adrian, deceived by false evidence and Silas Vane—who stole credit for saving Adrian from a fire three years ago—mistakes Julian for his betrayer. He humiliates and torments Julian as a cheap substitute. Only when Adrian spots the cross-shaped burn scar on Julian’s back does he realize: Julian was the one who dragged him from the flames.Too late. Silas holds the only effective drug, forcing Adrian into a sham engagement. Adrian plots revenge, destroys all who harmed Julian, but cannot stop the cancer. He donates his own marrow, yet Julian slips away at sunset atop the Empire State Building.Adrian spends the rest of his life alone, haunted by the love he found only to lose forever.
