State’s Attorney Livvy Marini and Detective Ryan Ward have many reasons to dislike each other. Starting with Livvy’s sister once arresting Ryan. But when Livvy’s boss assigns her to interview Ryan about a case, they have to put aside their animosity and work together to keep Ryan’s former partner in prison.

Anson Bates is desperate to get out of jail. Livvy and Ryan unearth information that will destroy his chances for bail, but the more they uncover, the more risky their job becomes. Working to keep a dangerous criminal off the streets, Livvy and Ryan go from adversaries to friends. Then lovers. But when Livvy’s life is threatened, can Ryan reach her in time to save her?

And once she’s safe, can he save himself?

“Margaret Watson, a star in the world of contemporary romance, grabs you on the opening page and keeps you reading to the happily ever after.” — New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips

It’s 2:30am on a warm July night in New York City. Four months after they first encountered one another, NYPD 3rd Grade Detective Sam Archer and Alice Vargas are working in the NYPD Counter-Terrorism Bureau and also living together.

However, things between them are strained; both are struggling to deal with the aftermath of a terrifying ordeal in a Harlem tenement block the day they met. Before long, the tension between them boils over and Vargas walks out, going to Spain to visit family.

Seven days later, Archer still hasn’t heard a peep from her.

Unable to sleep and sitting on the balcony of his apartment, Archer suddenly hears a knock on his front door.

It’s his NYPD partner, Josh, and he has some shocking news.

Vargas has been abducted.

Archer and Josh are soon at the Bureau, working with two other members of their team to try and find out what happened; a preliminary lead suggests Vargas may have been taken to London. Within twelve hours Archer suddenly finds himself back on his old turf, reunited with old friends and team-mates at the ARU as the Unit and Archer’s NYPD team work together to try and find Vargas.

As his past and present collide, several unexpected and violent incidents occur and the situation starts to deteriorate at a frightening pace. Using all his skills but with his back against the ropes as their every move seems to be anticipated, Archer starts to unravel the mystery surrounding Vargas’ disappearance and begins to realise just why she was taken.

However, as events unfold and the confrontations with the enemy intensify, one thing remains constant.

Every second Vargas is missing is another second closer to never seeing her again.

And if Archer stands any chance of ever finding her, he’s going to have to return fire with fire.