First published 2009
James Nash wants out of The Agency, a corrupt government outfit that has used him for black ops missions for years. His bosses refuse to let him walk away. They nearly kill him in an assassination attempt. Lawrence Decker, his friend and leader of the elite security firm Troubleshooters Incorporated, stages an elaborate fake death to save Nash's life. Decker moves Nash and his fiancée Tess Bailey to a safe house while Nash recovers from his injuries. Only a few people know Nash survived. The rest of the Troubleshooters team believes he died, including Sophia Ghaffari, Dave Malkoff, and receptionist Tracy Shapiro. Sophia thinks Decker has started dating Tess and begins a relationship with Dave, who has loved her for years. Tracy figures out Nash is alive, threatening Decker's carefully constructed lie. The Agency targets Decker next, pulling the entire team into mortal danger. The Troubleshooters must unmask their enemy while staying alive, but each step closer increases the risk of death.
Genres: romance, adventure, suspense, contemporary, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, found-family
Setting: The Agency
Period: contemporary
418 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine
Content warnings: violence