Abandoned twice, can he find a way to trust again? When orphaned Jake Harding is sent away from his adoptive home aged just seven, he does not understand why, especially as his adopted brother Toby, is kept by their mother. Forced to make his own way in the world, Jake falls in with a gang of petty thieves, who make their living lifting valuables from those who are better off. At sixteen, he crosses paths with the charismatic Johnny Cooper and his nemesis George Payne, and risks making an enemy when he attracts the attention of George’s beautiful daughter Rebecca. Johnny Cooper is a rogue with a heart of gold. He senses a kindred spirit in Jake and a talent he could put to good use if Jake worked for him. However, Jake is determined to make something of himself so that no one can ever reject him again. But as he forges his own path, he cannot escape the reach of Johnny, George and their network of cronies, all of which will have far reaching consequences for Jake’s future in ways he could never have imagined.