Her life was like a bad dream that kept getting worse. Until the Lord awakened her to a future of hope. Julianna Ortiz gave up her hopes for a perfect life long ago. She's 32, and alone, and she's accepted that. For how could she ask any-one to share in the absurdity that has become her life? Her twin brother is languishing in a Mexican prison. His fellow gang members are constantly harassing her. And her father, who was absent for so long, has finally returned. As if Julianna needs another aggravation, along comes a notorious gunslinger who goes only by the Spanish name DelNorte. Their first meeting is frustrating. So much so that she'd rather see him dead than talk with him again--a wish that almost comes true. Yet this enigmatic man just may hold the key to saving all that matters most to her.