Fate brought us together. Obsession tore us apart.

Ten years ago and with a bright future stretching ahead of me, I skipped town with the captain of the football team. Turns out, my vision of an idyllic marriage is a far cry from reality. A decade after I said “I do,” I escape from my violent husband in the dead of night and return to New York, a hollow shell of my former self.

With my cash reserves running low, a chance encounter with a former high school friend is just the break I hoped for. Ciaran O’Reilly is everything my ex isn’t. He’s patient, gentle, and his kindness slowly peels back the layers of hurt. When he looks at me, I dare to believe there’s such a thing as second chances.

But my ex’s ominous shadow is never far away. When he inevitably tracks me down, his plans for revenge leaves me gasping, and Ciaran at risk of losing everything he’s fought for.

As Tanner’s grip tightens, I’m left with an impossible choice. Do I devastate the man I’ve fallen in love with—or destroy myself?

Author note: This book was previously released as His To Protect, part of the Brook Brothers series. It has been completely reimagined and re-edited.