DaoistoHrSfA

**She built walls no man could breach… until him.**  

Kathleen Palmer’s cybersecurity empire, *SafeHaven*, was born from the scars of her past—until a magnetic stranger at a Veloria gala ignites a fire she can’t control. Too late, she discovers the truth: he’s **Carl Harris**, the ruthless billionaire whose company is poised to destroy hers.  

Carl came for a business deal, not the storm of desire Kathleen unleashes in him. But when their explosive affair uncovers a shocking secret—**they met as children in the same foster home**—their battle of wits becomes a fight for redemption.  

Now, with assassins hunting them and Carl’s orphaned niece caught in the crossfire, Kathleen must choose: **trust the man who lied to conquer her… or lose the family she never knew she craved

"NO" Safe Heaven

The private jet touched down in Veloria under a bruised twilight sky.

Kathleen stared out the window, her fingers tightening around Carl's. The photo of Alina's school—sent to Carl by an unknown number—burned in her mind.

Ava's voice crackled through their earpieces: *"I've got eyes on Alina. She's safe at the penthouse with extra security. But we've got a problem."*

Carl's jaw flexed. "Define *problem*."

*"The venture capitalist sniffing around me? Turns out he's Lionel's godson. And he just bought a controlling stake in Sandeke's remaining assets."*

Kathleen's stomach dropped. *"What?"*

Ava's sigh was staticky. *"Meet Julian Thorne. The man's got a revenge boner the size of his ego."*

Carl's grip on Kathleen's hand turned crushing. "We're not playing games this time."

The plane door opened. Veloria's skyline glittered—a kingdom of knives waiting to be unsheathed.

Kathleen kissed Alina's sleeping forehead, then met Carl's gaze.

The penthouse elevator doors slid open to chaos.

Alina sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by security monitors, crayons, and a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich. She waved at them. "Hi, Daddy! Hi, Mommy! I'm helping Ava spy."

Ava, hunched over three laptops, didn't look up. "She *is* helping. Scarily so."

Carl crouched beside Alina. "What did we say about hacking security feeds?"

She blinked innocently. "Only with supervision?"

Ava spun a screen toward them. "Julian's making his move. He just called an emergency shareholder meeting—*for SafeHaven*."

Kathleen stiffened. "He doesn't have the votes."

"No," Ava said grimly. "But he's got *this*."

The video played: Lionel Harris, in his prison jumpsuit, smirking at the camera. *"Kathleen Palmer's a fraud. She manipulated my son and stole my company. And I can prove it."*

Alina tugged his sleeve. "Daddy? You're scaring Mr. Snuffles."

He forced his fingers to unclench from the stuffed dragon's ear. "Sorry, bug."

Kathleen was already pacing. "It's a bluff. He has nothing."

Alina gasped. "*Ooooh.*" She held up a crayon drawing: Julian Thorne with fangs, a cape, and the words *"BAD GUY"* in wobbly letters.

Carl kissed her hair. "Accurate."

But Kathleen's face had gone pale.

Because Lionel *did* have one weapon left.

Ava waited until Carl and Kathleen were distracted to pull Alina aside. "Hey, kid. Wanna help me with a *super-secret* mission?"

Alina nodded solemnly. "Is it dangerous?"

"Extremely." Ava handed her a glitter pen. "I need you to draw Julian Thorne again. But this time—" She pulled up a photo. "Add *this* to his pocket."

Alina squinted at the image—a faded snapshot of a younger Lionel with a woman who looked eerily like Kathleen.

Ava's smile was razor-thin. "The reason Julian's really here."

Back to Veloria