Fifteen years ago, he left without a word. She swore she would never forgive him. He swore he would never return. Now he’s the only one who can protect her—even if it means getting stabbed in the heart all over again, because in the Louisiana bayou, some promises are meant to be broken.

Navy SEAL operator Ford Thibodeaux never thought a phone call would bring him back to the place he once called home. Despite the threat that forced him to leave fifteen years ago, staying away is no longer an option with his family’s livelihood in danger. He expects trouble, ...

Fifteen years ago, he left without a word. She swore she would never forgive him. He swore he would never return. Now he’s the only one who can protect her—even if it means getting stabbed in the heart all over again, because in the Louisiana bayou, some promises are meant to be broken.

Navy SEAL operator Ford Thibodeaux never thought a phone call would bring him back to the place he once called home. Despite the threat that forced him to leave fifteen years ago, staying away is no longer an option with his family’s livelihood in danger. He expects trouble, but not the kind with fiery red hair, a sharp tongue, and bright green eyes that have haunted his dreams. When he runs into Colette LeBlanc, the woman he walked away from, he knows there’s no reason for her to ever trust or love him again. But his feelings for her never changed and he will do anything to keep her safe. Even if that means getting stabbed by her. Again. And again.

Colette LeBlanc spent fifteen years trying to forget him. Ford disappeared without a word, shattering her heart, and leaving her to pick up the pieces while pretending she didn’t care. Forced by a long-standing family rivalry to keep their relationship a secret all those years, she buried her pain, became a doctor, and made a life without him. But now he’s back. Older. Harder. And even more maddening than she remembers. Her family’s restaurant is hanging on by a thread, and the same ruthless developer threatening the Thibodeauxs is aiming to destroy everything she’s worked for. She doesn’t want his help. She definitely doesn’t want him. But it seems her heart hasn’t gotten the memo.

As tensions rise and the attacks on both families turn violent, this fight becomes more than just about the businesses or money. It’s personal. The walls Colette and Ford have built around their hearts start to crack, but old wounds and buried secrets still stand between them. If they want to survive, both of them have to face the past and decide if love and vulnerability are worth it. Or they risk more than their own broken hearts.