When a sniper’s bullet shatters a Manhattan charity gala, Isabella Laurent becomes more than a headline. She becomes a target. Enter Ronan Hale—former black-ops, elite private security, a man known for one He doesn’t fail. Assigned to protect Manhattan’s golden heiress, Ronan moves into her penthouse with strict No distractions. No attachments. No mistakes. But Isabella isn’t fragile. She’s sharp. Strategic. And far more dangerous than the men circling her. The deeper Ronan digs into the attack, the clearer it This wasn’t random. It wasn’t about corporate rivalry. It was about him. Someone from his past—from an operation he barely survived—has resurfaced. And they’re using Isabella to draw him out. Now the mission isn’t just protection. It’s war. As secrets unravel and betrayal creeps closer, Ronan is forced to confront the one thing he’s never allowed himself to Fear of losing her. But if he hesitates again—like he did once before—Isabella won’t just be leverage. She’ll be collateral. GUARDED is a high-stakes dark romantic suspense A lethal, ultra-protective bodyguardA fearless heiress who refuses to be handledForced proximityJealous tensionSecret past missionFamily betrayal“Stay behind me” energyEmotional slow-burn with explosive payoffPerfect for readers who love possessive protectors, sharp heroines, and romance threaded through danger.