A year ago, Melek, an orphan, street rat turned Wall Street whizz and philanthropist, had more money than he could ever reasonably or responsibly spend, a flourishing career, several successful ventures, and no will to live. One day, hope, desire, and joy, like he had nearly forgotten existed, looked up at him from a table set for a high tea for charity with familiar, warm, ocean-blue eyes and a smile. His name was Galileo, and Melek wanted him like he’d never wanted anyone before. Unfortunately, Melek's proverbial death sentence of a prenuptial agreement would pull the rug out from under his life in ways he couldn't completely recover from if he gave in to his desire. Until his divorce was finalized, the only thing he could expect was pining and enough sexual frustration to set him on fire. It was fine. Melek had suffered through worse, so he bade his time digging himself out of his spiraling, undiagnosed, and unmanaged pit of comorbidities. He did the work in the psychiatrist’s office with the damned journals, endless yoga routines, tedious breathing techniques, and put on an extra thirty pounds of muscle trying to outrun his demons, determined to start the next chapter of his life as a whole and functioning adult. On the day he was supposed to cash out on his year-long journey and sign the death certificate on his five-year marriage, the universe and karma banded together to screw him over one last time with a murder that could destroy everything Melek built. As the investigation unearths years of secrets, destroys reputations, revives careers, and churns out more than just one body, Melek realizes that the killer is closer than anyone thinks and that there is more to Galileo than his sweet disposition. CW: This story may contain depictions and mentions of child abuse, stalking, kidnapping, intense violence, mental illness, and sexual trauma.