Annabeth comes to the coast to disappear—no past, no questions, no ties. Nick’s bar is all neon glow and late-night quiet, the kind of place that doesn’t demand explanations. The kind of place she can almost breathe. Until the thing she ran from starts circling again. Nick doesn’t offer promises. He offers protection—steady hands, sharp instincts, and a found family that closes ranks without asking why. But safety has a cost, and want is its own kind of danger. In the space between smoke and lavender, Annabeth will have to decide what she’ll risk for a second chance: her secrets, her heart… or the last piece of herself she still owns. Content notes: This novel includes on-page depictions of domestic violence, kidnapping, and trauma responses (panic, flashbacks). All are handled with a strong focus on survival, support, and healing.