(TW: self-harm) (Underwater Murder Series spin-off; Book 10 in the Family Ties Series) In the wake of a harrowing confrontation with an old enemy, Ryan Mercer finds himself teetering on the brink of death. This life-altering encounter compels him to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and transformation, forcing him to reshape his very identity and confront the demons of his past. It leaves him not only mentally and physically scarred, but emotionally as well. As he and his family work to put the pieces back together and regain a sense of normalcy, they learn that not everything is as they left it. A new and formidable enemy has surfaced, bringing up some of Ryan's past that he's tried very hard to forget. Along with his family-all of whom are fighting similar battles-he's faced with a brutal outcome, one that ends up forcing him to confront the darkest and most shameful parts of himself. After everything that Ryan has survived in his life (losing both his biological sisters, being forced to witness the murder of his biological father, and being mentally and psychologically tortured for two years), this reinvention of himself will be the hardest thing he has had to endure. Will he be able to put his past behind him while still maintaining the ruse for which he gave up his old life? Or will he eventually break under the pressure? Read to find out.
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