Borrowed Pain

Dr. Miles McCabe knows how to carry the weight of other people's suffering. As a crisis counselor, it's his job. But when his own past collides with a disturbing new case, he's forced onto the sidelines—his license under review, his every move scrutinized. Rowan Ashcroft has built his reputation on silence. Former covert operative turned investigative podcaster, he's made a career out of exposing the hidden machinery of power. He doesn't trust easily, and he doesn't talk about the scars he carries. A violent breach of patient confidentiality throws Miles and Rowan into the same fight. What begins as reluctant cooperation turns into something deeper: a partnership forged in danger, sharpened by attraction neither man expected. But the closer they come to unraveling the truth, the higher the cost. Miles risks losing the profession that defines him. Rowan risks breaking the one rule that's kept him alive—never let anyone close enough to borrow his pain. For both men, survival isn't just about exposing secrets. It's about learning how to trust, and deciding if love is worth the risk. Contains mature themes.