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𝐖𝐚𝐫
𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'
𝐭
𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞
𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬,
𝐢𝐭
𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.
A brutal raid.
Marissa Ricci never expected her field assignment in Ethiopia to end in bloodshed. Humanitarian missions were supposed to be safe—they were meant to be neutral ground. She was wrong. When a strike team wipes out her camp with surgical precision, leaving her the only survivor, she knows one thing is she was never meant to make it out alive.
A buried op.
Marco “Midas” Guerriero built his life around control, loyalty, and the mission, until a black ops deployment went sideways and he took the fall. It cost him everything. His career, his honor, and her. Now grounded under NATO orders and buried in regrets, nothing will stop him from getting to Marissa. Not red tape, not the past, and definitely not the rules. She’s the one he never stopped loving. Now he just has to survive long enough to prove it.
A love they swore to forget.
Forced into hiding with a history they can’t outrun, Marissa and Midas must survive the fallout of a conspiracy with roots deep inside the Italian military. Every breath digs up old wounds, every glance ignites the embers they buried years ago, and every kiss might be their last. The man who once walked away will burn the world to protect her, and the woman who swore she’d never forgive him might be the only one who can save them both.
What’s more dangerous than a love that never fades?
The past that haunts it.
International bestselling author Bella Stone delivers an explosive second-chance romantic suspense where danger stalks in uniform, the past is never truly buried, and the only thing more deadly than the lies is the love they never stopped fighting for.
A brutal raid.
Marissa Ricci never expected her field assignment in Ethiopia to end in bloodshed. Humanitarian missions were supposed to be safe—they were meant to be neutral ground. She was wrong. When a strike team wipes out her camp with surgical precision, leaving her the only survivor, she knows one thing is she was never meant to make it out alive.
A buried op.
Marco “Midas” Guerriero built his life around control, loyalty, and the mission, until a black ops deployment went sideways and he took the fall. It cost him everything. His career, his honor, and her. Now grounded under NATO orders and buried in regrets, nothing will stop him from getting to Marissa. Not red tape, not the past, and definitely not the rules. She’s the one he never stopped loving. Now he just has to survive long enough to prove it.
A love they swore to forget.
Forced into hiding with a history they can’t outrun, Marissa and Midas must survive the fallout of a conspiracy with roots deep inside the Italian military. Every breath digs up old wounds, every glance ignites the embers they buried years ago, and every kiss might be their last. The man who once walked away will burn the world to protect her, and the woman who swore she’d never forgive him might be the only one who can save them both.
What’s more dangerous than a love that never fades?
The past that haunts it.
International bestselling author Bella Stone delivers an explosive second-chance romantic suspense where danger stalks in uniform, the past is never truly buried, and the only thing more deadly than the lies is the love they never stopped fighting for.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
About the author
Bella Stone
29 books220 followersBella Stone is the MF Pen name for Annabella Stone, all books published under this name are MF/MMF.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 1, 2025
Worth the wait
Marco’s story has been teased to us through many of the latest Four X’s Group’s books. As the story begins, we meet Marissa again. Marco’s one person, who he gave up years before because like most of our MMCs he felt he wasn’t good enough for her. Too broken. And of course he didn’t ask her what she thought! Men. So we meet Marissa as she heads off to Ethiopia for the NGO she works for, instead of the vacation she was planning on with Serena, Remi’s wife (who has had her HEA/book already).
These are stand alone books. But each series Bella writes are interconnected. Both with other series, and an overlying story arc. Reading any of her books is like meeting up with old friends for espresso a war stories. This time all our friends make an appearance!!!
What I love about Marissa is her snark. She trades one liners with the special forces operators with out batting an eye. When her camp is attacked, she pulls out her g%n and saves herself. Even when the guys get there her sass and sarcasm shine through. She grew up among the spec ops world, and doesn’t let any our guys intimidate her.
As soon as Marco heard about the attack Marissa’s camp, he went to find her. Doesn’t matter that he was supposed to be lying low at his home in the Dolomites. Doesn’t matter that Marissa actively and vocally hates him. She is it for him. He has been watching over her from the shadows since their breakup years ago. He knows he wants her back, and he plans to fight for her.
In order to protect Marissa and get her back to Italy, they must pose as a married couple. As such stories go, complications ensue, and they must stay “married” for a while while corruption is dug out of NATO and the Italian military. They go back to the Dolomites and in the forced proximity we learn why he left her all those years ago. Again, LOVE Marissa. She doesn’t forgive easily and lots of dishes are thrown!!!!
While being quite heart wrenching on the way to their HEA, I think this book has made me snort-laugh and tear up the most of all of her books. The interactions between all the characters is at an all-time high level of sass and snark. I dare you to read this one with your family thinking you are insane from the laughing. Dare you!
The action is nonstop and intense, the emotions will leave you reeling, and the characters will make you snicker out loud.
This gets a 20/10. Highly Recommend!!
Marco’s story has been teased to us through many of the latest Four X’s Group’s books. As the story begins, we meet Marissa again. Marco’s one person, who he gave up years before because like most of our MMCs he felt he wasn’t good enough for her. Too broken. And of course he didn’t ask her what she thought! Men. So we meet Marissa as she heads off to Ethiopia for the NGO she works for, instead of the vacation she was planning on with Serena, Remi’s wife (who has had her HEA/book already).
These are stand alone books. But each series Bella writes are interconnected. Both with other series, and an overlying story arc. Reading any of her books is like meeting up with old friends for espresso a war stories. This time all our friends make an appearance!!!
What I love about Marissa is her snark. She trades one liners with the special forces operators with out batting an eye. When her camp is attacked, she pulls out her g%n and saves herself. Even when the guys get there her sass and sarcasm shine through. She grew up among the spec ops world, and doesn’t let any our guys intimidate her.
As soon as Marco heard about the attack Marissa’s camp, he went to find her. Doesn’t matter that he was supposed to be lying low at his home in the Dolomites. Doesn’t matter that Marissa actively and vocally hates him. She is it for him. He has been watching over her from the shadows since their breakup years ago. He knows he wants her back, and he plans to fight for her.
In order to protect Marissa and get her back to Italy, they must pose as a married couple. As such stories go, complications ensue, and they must stay “married” for a while while corruption is dug out of NATO and the Italian military. They go back to the Dolomites and in the forced proximity we learn why he left her all those years ago. Again, LOVE Marissa. She doesn’t forgive easily and lots of dishes are thrown!!!!
While being quite heart wrenching on the way to their HEA, I think this book has made me snort-laugh and tear up the most of all of her books. The interactions between all the characters is at an all-time high level of sass and snark. I dare you to read this one with your family thinking you are insane from the laughing. Dare you!
The action is nonstop and intense, the emotions will leave you reeling, and the characters will make you snicker out loud.
This gets a 20/10. Highly Recommend!!
July 9, 2025
The brothers of The Four X's Group may have all found their HEAs but there are still more stories to be told in La Spezia. This is Marco and Marissa’s story, one that has been building since book one. Marco let her go in the past because he felt she deserved better after he took the fall to save her brother’s career in the Italian military. Now Marco sits at home under house arrest, but he still rushes to her rescue when she is almost killed on a field assignment in Ethiopia. Now they are both on the run from everyone except the McKinley brothers. That includes a team of assassins, Marissa’s brother and Marco father General Guerriero. These two can really let it fly in Italian style and Marissa is not above throwing dishes. Bella Stone has outdone herself, especially in the military hardware and tactics departments. Having her guy to consult to fine tune those touches and her sister-in-law to make sure all of that Italian is proofread adds to the authenticity. And the Four X’s headquarters building in LA Spezia? Bella knows of what she speaks, she’s been there. While she may listen to all those voices in her head that she needs to put on paper, those are the storyline. The rest comes from things she personally knows so well so that she can make that story of so believable.
July 6, 2025
You're going to love Marco. It's intense, the action jarring, tension filled and danger on steroids. Honestly, I found myself continuously holding my breath as events unfolded. But there's a lot at play here including bad actors with global reaches bent on destroying lives in order to cover up a mission gone bad. Marco "Midas" Guerriero thought he was doing the right thing by falling on his sword and shifting the blame to himself and off his best friend. The fallout and consequences were far reaching. First and foremost, he lost the love of his life, Marissa. Now he has a chance at redemption, maybe. Rissa is bitter, unforgiving, prickly and snarky. Winning her back will be a monumental challenge. One he's up for but first she has to agree to play her part. The sexual tension between these two burns so hot it may start to melt the pages. Forgiveness, understanding, atonement and honesty lead to a happily ever after ala Bella Stone style. Brava!
July 15, 2025
Oh, this book is a rollercoaster of emotions. Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable ride! I'm not a fan of second chances, in books and in real life, but Marco's and Marissa's story made me reconsider... It's action packed in the best kind of way. It kept me turning the pages like crazy! Oh, the secrets buried but ready to surface and destroy or put things where they belonged all along. Depends from the point of view.
“It feels like I’m held together with duct tape and bad decisions.”
Another mission and this time she's in danger. He can't stay away. There's a rescue, a "fake" marriage, the Four X's found family, her brother, his best friend, banter, a goat with her own agenda, action and the unique Italian temperament! I loved the slow burn between Marco and Marissa.
“Married couples don’t get flagged. Especially the ones who look like they’ve been fighting about furniture.”
“I am going to throw a chair at you one day.”
“See? Believable.”
And finally, finally their HEA after lots of heartache, wine and realizations. “Walking away from you was the f.. mistake.” “You didn’t walk, Midas. You vanished. You disappeared into the shadows and left me with everything— my brother’s rage, the fallout from that mission, the whispers and stares and sideways looks— alone. You made me your dirty little secret and ran like a f... coward.”
“It feels like I’m held together with duct tape and bad decisions.”
Another mission and this time she's in danger. He can't stay away. There's a rescue, a "fake" marriage, the Four X's found family, her brother, his best friend, banter, a goat with her own agenda, action and the unique Italian temperament! I loved the slow burn between Marco and Marissa.
“Married couples don’t get flagged. Especially the ones who look like they’ve been fighting about furniture.”
“I am going to throw a chair at you one day.”
“See? Believable.”
And finally, finally their HEA after lots of heartache, wine and realizations. “Walking away from you was the f.. mistake.” “You didn’t walk, Midas. You vanished. You disappeared into the shadows and left me with everything— my brother’s rage, the fallout from that mission, the whispers and stares and sideways looks— alone. You made me your dirty little secret and ran like a f... coward.”
June 30, 2025
Love knows no bounds, especially when the woman you love is in trouble. The same woman you walked away from in an attempt to shield her from more pain. So when Marissa finds herself under the gun and needing to be rescued the last person she ever expected would be Marco. But love and hate are a very fine line, and when things are not exactly what they seem their love might just be the only thing they have on their side. That is if she can open up her heart to him once again. Love, love, love this series. Bella Stone understands romance and has a knack for throwing her characters out into the path of danger and allowing love to shield them from the mayhem.
July 3, 2025
Marco was a protector in every way but he had hurt someone he loved, sacrificing everything to keep them safe. But when he hears one needs help he jumps into action. Rissa ends up in big danger while helping in another country, it should have been safe. This has answers from events that have occurred previously, it is a nail biting plot with angst, fear, pain and conspiracy. Marco and Rissa belong together it just takes time and talking honestly all the while the sparks almost combust. I finished reading this in tears because the journey was tough but they got the happy they so deserved. Bella, thankyou I loved this.
July 1, 2025
My rating: 3-3/4 stars I can’t say I was as thrilled with this book as I was with others! The story didn’t have any flow until about 60% into the book … I ended up speed reading the first part. I found sections of the book were confusing … I seriously thought I missed something from the hints mentioned in previous books only to have it explained near the end of the novel …hence, the confusion. It’s an OK read
July 4, 2025
What happens when you get a second chance at a once in a lifetime love. Well you burn the world down that is what you do. That is exactly what Marco does for Mariissa. He made the wrong choice when he walked away and destroyed his life, Marissa, and his best friends. It will take everything to win her back. But what no one knows that danger is closer than they think and there chance at love may not have a HEA. Grab an espresso and brush up on your Italian because the 4 Xs await.
July 14, 2025
Truly An Amazing Story!
Loved Marco and Marissa’s story, a story of love lost, anger and hurt and dealing with what life threw at them, but it is a story of renewed love and forgiveness. This series left me feeling all kinds of emotions and it is totally worth it! I love Bella Stone’s stories they hook you in at the first page and they don’t let you go until the story is complete!
Loved Marco and Marissa’s story, a story of love lost, anger and hurt and dealing with what life threw at them, but it is a story of renewed love and forgiveness. This series left me feeling all kinds of emotions and it is totally worth it! I love Bella Stone’s stories they hook you in at the first page and they don’t let you go until the story is complete!
July 2, 2025
Phenomenal!! I could feel the emotion in this book. Bella Stone sucks you into the story so you feel like you are a part of it. Marco had so much to atone even though he thought his decisions were for the best. Heart broken Marissa is not settling for anything less then everything. Marco must dance the dance of love if he intends to win her back. He does it to perfection!
July 13, 2025
Good book. I enjoyed finally getting all the details of Marissa and Marco’s story. Lots of tension and suspense. My only complaint is that in the story Marco’s hair is referenced several times, but previously he had a shaved head - it’s even on the cover! That seems like a pretty big detail to change without some explanation for the reader.
July 3, 2025
Gave it 5 stars because I couldn't give it 10. The characters were great. The plot convoluted enough I didn't lose interest. Because this is part of the series, I suggest reading them in order; however, I have faith in most readers ability to fill in the blanks when encountering characters with missing back stories. Still an enjoyable read.
July 2, 2025
The sacrifices he made
Marco made the sacrifices because of what he believed in. He sacrificed his love for Marissa. He just needed to win her back. Through actions and intense missions, he tries. This book was such a good emotional book. Bella did it again.
Marco made the sacrifices because of what he believed in. He sacrificed his love for Marissa. He just needed to win her back. Through actions and intense missions, he tries. This book was such a good emotional book. Bella did it again.
July 29, 2025
Wow
I love this series but THIS book has to be the hottest one yet. Marissa and Marco have endured hell. Hell brought on by someone they should have been able to trust. That mistrust caused them years of separation and pain. But they perceived and the HEA was worth it.
I love this series but THIS book has to be the hottest one yet. Marissa and Marco have endured hell. Hell brought on by someone they should have been able to trust. That mistrust caused them years of separation and pain. But they perceived and the HEA was worth it.
July 24, 2025
Love! Love! Love!
August 6, 2025
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series book. I can't wait for the next book to come out .Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series book. I can't wait for the next book to come out .Thank you
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews