In a world ruled by loyalty, love is the most dangerous betrayal. When Merci Morris walks away from her high-society fiancé after discovering his betrayal, she's left questioning everything she thought she wanted. While her father helped build the Lone Star Mavericks Motorcycle Club, she's spent years playing by the rules, carving out a future beyond the chaos, loyalty, and expectations that come with it. Reckless, impulsive, and impossible to pin down, Hatchet has always been the club's charming playboy-until an unexpected obligation forces him to look at his life differently. But no amount of growing up prepares him for Merci walking back into his orbit. Hatchet knows the Maverick's code better than anyone: protect the innocent, respect the rules, and keep his hands to himself when it comes to the sisters and daughters of club members. But Merci isn't the quiet, good girl he remembers. In her place is a fierce, unpredictable woman determined to prove she doesn't need the club-or him-to keep her safe. And she's done asking for permission-not from the club, not the code written by her father before she was born. As new threats surface, the line between protecting Merci and wanting more starts to blur. And the closer they get, the more dangerous their connection becomes. Because in a world built on loyalty and consequences, crossing the line could cost them everything.
