Instinct & New Identity by Allison Bettes

Catalina “Cat” Rivera’s life is upended after a gas station robbery claims her parents’ lives and forces her and her younger sister into Witness Protection. Seven years later, the quiet life Cat has worked hard to build is shattered when Vince Fletcher, her former military pen pal, tracks her down. Once bound by letters exchanged during Vince’s deployment, their connection reignites. But Vince’s arrival stirs up more than memories—it threatens to unravel the safety net Cat has carefully constructed. While Vince offers protection and an opportunity for a fresh start with his Georgia-based security firm, Cat must confront her lingering fear, unresolved grief, and burgeoning feelings for the man who never forgot her. As past and present collide, Cat and Vince navigate old dangers and new emotions. Together, they face not only the potential exposure of Cat’s hidden identity but also a new threat from a target neither of them ever considered. While navigating a world where trust is a perilous choice, Cat must decide whether Vince can have a place in her life as she faces the looming threats to herself and her sister.