This is the story of Gabriel Dunne, a lower class white kid growing up in South Florida. At the age of ten, he is thrust, along with his best friend, Thomas, into a hair-raising adventure. Stalked by a savage foreign killer, they only have each other and one way out to escape. Gabriel's life-and-death experience as a boy serves as an initiation, unwittingly sending him into manhood. As an adult, Gabriel becomes an elite member of a commando unit rescuing hostages behind enemy lines. Suspense, adventure, humor and a touch of horror are mixed together in this tale that spans over fifteen years.