Alyvia Jackson thought she’d finally outrun her past. Now working as a vocational rehabilitation specialist at the VA in San Diego, she’s built a quiet, carefully controlled life helping others reclaim theirs. It’s the kind of life she fought hard for after escaping an abusive marriage to a man who nearly destroyed her.
Navy SEAL Seth Murphy knows what it means to live with ghosts. After an ambush that killed five members of his team, survivor’s guilt follows him everywhere, a constant reminder of the men he couldn’t save. He throws himself into his work, or into anything that keeps him from thinking too hard. But Alyvia has a way of breaking through his defenses. There’s a quiet strength in her, a resilience that draws him in despite his better judgment.
They’ve always kept things just out of reach. They were friends through mutual connections, careful conversations, and stolen glances that neither of them is willing to acknowledge. Seth tells himself she deserves more than a man weighed down by his past, while Alyvia refuses to risk her hard-won independence on something as uncertain as love. Denial was easier and safer.
But when Alyvia’s ex-husband tracks her down, the illusion of safety shatters. What begins as a chance encounter quickly escalates into threats that carry a chilling promise. He hasn’t come back for closure. He’s come to reclaim what he believes is his. This time, running isn’t an option, and hiding may not be enough.
Seth refuses to stand by and watch her face that kind of danger alone. As the threats turn more violent and the stakes climb higher, his role as her protector becomes deeply personal. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to ignore the truth they’ve both been avoiding. But with a ruthless enemy closing in and old wounds still raw, trusting each other might be the biggest risk of all.
Because this time, it’s not just their hearts on the line, it’s her life.
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Navy SEAL Seth Murphy knows what it means to live with ghosts. After an ambush that killed five members of his team, survivor’s guilt follows him everywhere, a constant reminder of the men he couldn’t save. He throws himself into his work, or into anything that keeps him from thinking too hard. But Alyvia has a way of breaking through his defenses. There’s a quiet strength in her, a resilience that draws him in despite his better judgment.
They’ve always kept things just out of reach. They were friends through mutual connections, careful conversations, and stolen glances that neither of them is willing to acknowledge. Seth tells himself she deserves more than a man weighed down by his past, while Alyvia refuses to risk her hard-won independence on something as uncertain as love. Denial was easier and safer.
But when Alyvia’s ex-husband tracks her down, the illusion of safety shatters. What begins as a chance encounter quickly escalates into threats that carry a chilling promise. He hasn’t come back for closure. He’s come to reclaim what he believes is his. This time, running isn’t an option, and hiding may not be enough.
Seth refuses to stand by and watch her face that kind of danger alone. As the threats turn more violent and the stakes climb higher, his role as her protector becomes deeply personal. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to ignore the truth they’ve both been avoiding. But with a ruthless enemy closing in and old wounds still raw, trusting each other might be the biggest risk of all.
Because this time, it’s not just their hearts on the line, it’s her life.
Genre: Romantic Suspense