Ruthless Protector

She's a U.S. Marshal on vacation. He's a covert agent on a mission. When her abduction threatens both their lives, the only way out…is into each other's arms.

Ricardo Santiago never expected his latest intelligence mission in the Arabian desert to involve rescuing a kidnapped woman—especially not a fiery, suspicious beauty who challenges his every move. But when Melody Lewis is dragged in front of a Saudi sheik and offered up as a concubine, Ric doesn't hesitate. He claims her as his own to protect her from a fate worse than death.

Melody can take care of herself—she's been trained to. But surviving days in captivity without food or water leaves her weakened and wary of the one man standing between her and safety. He says he's here to help. He says she can trust him. But Melody's learned the hard way that trust can cost more than freedom—it can cost her heart.

As Ric's cover gets shakier by the hour and his enemies close in, his only option is the unthinkable: marry Melody to keep her safe. But the more he fights the pull between them, the harder it becomes to tell where the act ends…and real feelings begin.

In a desert filled with secrets, betrayals, and deadly games, can Ric and Melody escape with their lives—and their hearts—intact?

The Santiago Brothers

Ruthless Reckoning
Ruthless Shelter
Ruthless Protector
Ruthless Pursuit
Ruthless Exposure
Final Ruthless (Coming 2026!)