The Artifact Novel (m/m, yaoi)

Dane Gareis

Dane is a wealthy, reclusive young man who was viciously raped when he was a teen. This attack left him afraid of being touched by anyone, especially stronger, bigger males. But then his father, Julius Gareis, is killed in a mysterious plane crash.  Julius had refused to return a golden sarcophagus discovered deep in the desert to an ancient cult known as the Ydrath. They threatened his life and Dane is sure they carried out their promise to kill him.  Dane is determined to honor his father's wishes and keep the sarcophagus at the Winter Haven museum, but soon his life is also at risk.  He needs someone he can trust, someone who can protect him and someone who will respect his boundaries.  While he gets the first two, the third requirement falls apart when he hires Sean Harding.

Det. Sean Harding

Sean is a homicide detective with a sixth sense for evil, Sean Harding's world is turned upside down when a new drug hits Winter Haven's streets known only as the Powder that has ties to an ancient golden sarcophagus.  It kills everyone who takes it, but before they die, they seem to have super human knowledge.  Sean is determined to track the Powder to its source before wealthy Winter Haven is littered with the corpses of its youth.  But his quest for justice sends him down a dark and twisting path that seems to take everything good from him until he meets Dane Gareis.

Lt. Michael Branish

Branish is the new leader of the Winter Haven's Special Taskforce and Narcotics Unit and Sean's boss. He is a bull of a man: huge and imposing and not afraid to use his size, strength and position to get what he wants. And what he wants is Sean Harding as his own.  Sean sees Branish as his darker alter ego.  Though Branish's job is to protect and serve, some think he is a greater villain than those criminals he pursues.

The Scarred Man

The Scarred Man is one of the purveyors of the mysterious drug known only as the Powder that kills whoever takes it.  But not before it shows them terrible things.

Belinda Darnley

Ms. Darnley is Dane Gareis' trusted assistant. She arranges his schedule, vets his appointments and mother-hens him whenever she gets the chance.  She is notoriously icy though to all others, including Sean Harding, even though she allegedly recommended him as Dane's bodyguard.