"Nothing makes us as lonely as our secrets," he spoke menacingly as he took another step forward, forcing me to back up against the wall. "I don't think you know what you've gotten yourself into sweetheart." If my heart were to beat any harder in that moment I'm certain it would've been visible through my skin. "I think I k-know what I'm doing," I stammered breathlessly as I stared up into his eyes, uncertain of the words falling off of my own tongue. - One year to the date from a far from forgetful hookup, Sophia O'Malley, an under-appreciated investigator working for local law enforcement crosses paths with the guy she never expected to see again, Luke Hemmings. A hostile gang member with an ego bigger than himself, Luke was pleasantly surprised to catch a glimpse of the one girl who never fully left his mind even after countless other meaningless hookups. He was even more surprised to see her in uniform. Although her guard is up, a complete change of pace from the night they met, he sees this as a challenge he is willing to take on. She gains a new enemy while he gains a new vice, not being able to keep himself away from her as much as he often tries. She's ready to ruin his life while he now realizes he's left with no choice but to protect her from the dangers of gang life he's unintentionally bringing into her world. Once the truth comes out it's hard to run from the demons following close behind. //MATURE CONTENT\\ Book Started: January 2023

"This isn't who I am or who I want to be," he admitted for what now felt like the thousandth time. "I need you to trust me." I couldn't possibly roll my eyes any further back into my head. "Trust you? How am I ever supposed to trust you? You are fully a part of the reason why I can't trust!" I snapped at him. "I can't prove anything to you until you fully give me the damn chance to do so." Those words left his mouth calmly, but with a serious and almost demanding tone that I've never heard from him before until now. I stared up at him blankly, my vision blurred from the never-ending tears. I didn't want to admit that he was right. - After experiencing an unexpected breakup with the man she intended to marry, Anna Sinclair is forced into a new era of her life where she comes face to face with the realities of heartbreak, healing, toxicity, and the many decisions she will have to make in order to rebuild the parts of herself that were shattered in the aftermath of a failed relationship. When she crosses paths with Luke, a part of her is ready to leave her past behind and move forward with who she believes is a normal guy. Little does she know he's dealing with demons of his own.