BETRAYAL ROAD

A man falls in love with a woman who has information about a criminal he’s investigating.

Azelie Vargas is alone in the world after her family members were victims of a violent crime. She’s making her way, finishing college and finding success as a romance author. Unfortunately, she also has a job she can’t quit: When she was 16, her late brother-in-law recommended her as a bookkeeper to Alan Billows, a local club owner who was in a jam. He’s a violent man, and Azelie suspects he’s a criminal. One day, Azelie is approached by Andrii “Maestro” Federoff at the local coffee shop they both frequent. He’s incredibly handsome and she can’t believe he could be interested in her. Maestro was raised in Russian schools where the staff abused children with the goal of turning any who survived into emotionless assassins. Decades later, a small group of men and women who survived the torture banded together to form the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club. Now they use their deadly skills and talents to track down criminals and bring them to vigilante justice. Maestro has approached Azelie as part of Torpedo Ink’s investigation into Billows, who they suspect is running a human trafficking ring. He’s attracted to Azelie but decides not to tell her the truth about his investigation. Feehan’s ninth Torpedo Ink book follows the standard formula for the series: instant love plus a sidecar of trauma for everyone. Azelie and Maestro fall for each other immediately, and their story explores how lovers heal in the face of betrayal, even if the cause was just.

A long-running series continues its exploration of the way love can help people survive and thrive through trauma.