Ground Zero (Dauntless Defenders #5)

The grave was a lie. The silence was a trap. Now, the past has come to collect.

Following the death of her grandfather, Alexandra “Alex” Romanova steps into the weight of Veritek, the global cybersecurity empire her family built. Taking a brief breather in the States to grieve, she believes distance will help—until a violent attack on their lake house proves otherwise. The message is the Russian mafia has come for her and for the company she now controls. But when Alex uncovers a Bratva trafficking ring targeting young girls, protecting her inheritance becomes secondary. She refuses to stand by while innocent lives are sold.

Life hasn’t slowed down for Tyler Reid—only grown more dangerous. The Bratva isn’t just after Veritek; they’re watching Alex, waiting for the moment she slips. His new mission is to keep Alex out of the mafia’s hands. But stopping the trafficking network means stepping into the path of one of the most ruthless criminal organizations in the world.

When the Bratva makes their move, everything changes. Saving the trafficked girls could cost Alex everything she inherited—and Tyler may be the only one who can stop it. Every choice carries immense consequences, and the secret Alex holds could change everything between them. Survival will demand all they have—and force them to confront how far they are willing to go to protect each other.