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The war on terror tore them apart. Will a terrorist bring them back together?

Former Navy Seal, Dalton *Nemesis* Knight thought he had it all. A Navy career he loved. His Seal Team brothers, and her… his Lina. The war on terror proved him wrong. It cost him everything, including his wife. With his trust broken, he’d had to find a new way forward and a new system he could believe in. Eventually, he picked the shattered pieces of his broken heart up off the floor and built Nemesis Inc. from the ground up. Now he makes the rules, he signs the checks, and his heart is off the table for good. Nobody is ever going to get close enough to destroy him again.

For years, Lina Maxwell has watched him from the shadows. Cheering his successes and mourning his losses. He’s always been hers; she’s always been his. Neither anger nor distance can change that. The time has come to gather her courage and fix the wrongs of the past. In leaving him, she protected him the only way she could, Lina needs Nemesis to see that she did not betray him, that she still loves him with everything that she is. Her bosses and her mission will not allow her to make contact. Her whole life is an illusion. She no longer has an identity, no longer has a name. As far as anyone, including her husband, is concerned, she never existed at all.

Just when Lina is ready to ignore her orders and step silently out of the dark, a terrorist wages war on Eastern Europe. With Nemesis running headfirst into danger, she will use every contact and source in her network to protect him. Will showing him she’s still alive destroy not only their memories but any chance they might have had of a future?

Will this mission be the bandage to fix two broken hearts, or will it finally destroy them both?

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2022

860 people are currently reading
319 people want to read

About the author

Bella Stone

24 books148 followers
Bella Stone is the MF Pen name for Annabella Stone, all books published under this name are MF/MMF.

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5 stars
516 (58%)
4 stars
227 (25%)
3 stars
95 (10%)
2 stars
36 (4%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Julie Booklover.
2,126 reviews105 followers
September 25, 2022
4.5 stars

A new to me author, and a great find. I love a good fast-moving military suspense, and this book is
just what I was looking for. An edge of my seat story, that had me hooked throughout. A kick-ass heroine in Lina, who is a little broken. Plenty of action and equal parts team to romance. Dalton is a strong leader, but buried deep is a woman who haunts him. But is she real?

While on a mission that is going south, an unknown woman aids the team. Dalton has a familiar feeling; he needs to know if he knows this mystery woman. As team Nemesis Inc. takes us with them to rid the bad in Eastern Europe, Dalton is fighting an internal battle about his feelings and needs to know where Lina has been for the last five years. Can he trust her? Lina has been to hell and back; she knows she needs to tell Dalton her truth. Fear and trust have built a cavern between them.

We have a great setup for the series, from our introduction to the Organization to the unexpected twists. The banter between the team members and pantie shopping; I look forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
757 reviews9 followers
September 24, 2022
Dalton
By Bella Stone

The first in the Nemesis Inc, series is an intense, emotional rollercoaster, and steamy read. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know the characters of Nemesis, Inc. In this first book, Dalton "Nemesis" Knight is the leader of the spec ops group and still trying to live with the ghosts of his wife who disappeared five years ago. While others worked to make him think she never existed, he never gave up hope that she was real. Lina Maxwell is real and hiding in the shadows, protecting Dalton when she can and fearful if she doesn't stay out of his life, it could end his.

When they encounter each other it's powerful, emotional, and angry. Dalton feels betrayed and has trouble understanding why she left and what she's been doing for the last 5 years. She knows once she reveals all to him, which she will, he won't want her around.
This story was intense, action-packed, and emotional. I loved the two characters, but perhaps could have gotten by with less internal monologue, especially when Lina was arguing with herself. I was riveted to the story and felt there were some details left out, not only about Lina and what happened to her, but in their reconciliation. I do want to know what happens with King, and hopefully the demise of the Organization! I'm invested in everyone in Nemesis and look forward to their stories. This is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,831 reviews179 followers
April 5, 2022
For years Dalton "Nemesis" Knight has been plagued by the one woman who he cannot figure out if she was real or fake. Gone missing with no tangible trace, Lina has always been in the back of his mind. On a mission that could have likely gotten him killed without the aide of a mystery woman, Dalton once again gets the feeling like there is more there that he is missing. When He comes face to face with Lina he needs to make the decision to believe her and let her back in his heart or to realize their past was based on lies. Which will rule out - love or hatred? Once again Annabella Stone gives us an action-packed story that will leave the reader breathless and wanting more. Beautifully written characters and a storyline that will literally leave you on the edge of your seat this was a fabulous read. I cannot wait for more.
23 reviews
June 20, 2022
Not complete

The story seems incomplete. Dalton never found out all the sacrifices Lina made for him and the loss of their baby was not even discussed or wasn't even acknowledged that Dalton had known about it or that he mourned the loss. Lina didn't get to explain in detail how she lost it, and how King happened to take her, or what accident happened to her???!!
I think this was not a very complete story and too much was left out.
Hopefully Jeep's story is not the same and has better character development an better story line.
Profile Image for Jo.
1,162 reviews4 followers
October 20, 2022
It's been a week since I read about Dalton and Lina, and I'm still thinking about them!

Seriously these two a power couple like I've never seen before!!!!

Dalton lost his wife 5 years ago....or at least that's what he thought, even though the government and a bunch of shrinks told him he was crazy cause he was never married.

Lina walked away from her husband so she could protect him. In that time she has become one kicka$$ chick who is not to be messed with!

These two had me laughing, crying and fanning myself left and right. You will not regret grabbing this book!
29 reviews
September 12, 2023
Superb Story with Action and Romance

This is one of the best romance stories I’ve read in a very long time. The way the author handles the relationship between Nem and Lina is fantastic. You can feel the love these two have for each other, but they’ve been through so much these past years. I really appreciated and loved the fact that the author didn’t do some ridiculous “third act break up” or have Nem or Lina act like idiot and sabotage their own reconciliation for chapter after chapter like so many books can. If either of them started acting like an idiot, something or someone helped nipped that in the backside before it became an issue. I think the thing that makes this book so special to me is the depth of love Lina and Nem have. It’s obsessive and as deep as the ocean, some might call it “unhealthy” but to me it’s wonderful to see two people love each other that much. No matter what life threw at them and how long they’d been apart - he was hers and she was his, end of story. I wish more authors wrote their main characters with this depth of love, and focused on them working together to get back to each other instead of forcing miscommunications or other self-inflicted drama to keep them apart. If there was one tiny complaint I was forced to come up with, it would be that the “big bad” is still out there after Lina so we won’t get to see their final HEA until sometime in a later book. Also, after seeing Nem with that puppy, I would have loved to see Lina and Nem with a mini-Lina or Nemy-Jr. I think they’d be amazingly over the top and so much fun to read about as parents. Although I know there’s no way that’s possible YET as they still have to bury King and The Organization, but after that maybe the author will bless up with an update in their lives where we can see them with a kid or two. Either way this is definitely an amazing story and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
1,648 reviews15 followers
October 2, 2024
I felt like I missed some of the previous books in the series. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this was book 1 of a new series. That was shocking because I felt I came in the middle of this story.

The important parts are glossed over what happened to her. The readers needed more detail, like a prologue would have been nice. He has to leave the Navy because his wife goes missing and everyone has convinced him, she wasn't real - he made her up. How can this be, when his best friend and others met the h and knew they were married? Why did he believe the Navy and why didn't his friends convince him she was real?

Story dragged a lot, and the h is still in danger so not all is solved. So much of what happened to the h was not explained well. Back story needed more depth.

As with many military stories, crude words used, and Lord's name. No cheating, no cliffhanger, but know not all is resolved as to the danger the h is in. Plus, a secondary character's friend is kidnapped, and you need to read next story to see what happens, HEA, little on romance and plenty of steam - descriptive. Some suspense and violence. Nasty villain. (ljb)
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,831 reviews179 followers
April 5, 2022
For years Dalton "Nemesis" Knight has been plagued by the one woman who he cannot figure out if she was real or fake. Gone missing with no tangible trace, Lina has always been in the back of his mind. On a mission that could have likely gotten him killed without the aide of a mystery woman, Dalton once again gets the feeling like there is more there that he is missing. When He comes face to face with Lina he needs to make the decision to believe her and let her back in his heart or to realize their past was based on lies. Which will rule out - love or hatred? Once again Annabella Stone gives us an action-packed story that will leave the reader breathless and wanting more. Beautifully written characters and a storyline that will literally leave you on the edge of your seat this was a fabulous read. I cannot wait for more.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
November 19, 2022
(actually a kindle edition)

This outing had quite the strong start as ex-SEAL Dalton ‘Nemesis’ Knight is pulled to rescue blown CIA undercover agent from Russian sympathizers. After Dalton and the team do what they do and head for home when they have flight issues. Unexpectedly but welcome a disguised woman comes from the shadows offers help and Dalton is stunned immobile, he’s certain it’s Lina Maxwell, his wife!

Dalton’s been through a lot the last five years searching for Lina despite government claims she doesn’t exist! Thanks to her father, Lina’s leashed and closely monitored by an international thug with delusions of grandeur, a legal or illegal partner to most governments. Lina’s been able to resist his pressure on her, thwarting his plans when she can but time is running out.
Rating: 4.5stars
Profile Image for Eli Books.
227 reviews
February 4, 2025
Qusto libro è il primo della serie Nemesis Inc. si tratta di un military, cointroducen qualche sfumatura spy, troviamo due protagonisti belli tosti, e anche i personaggi secondari vengono ben definiti, credo infatti che i prossimi volumi trattino gli altri menmbri della squadra.
Il libro inizia e siamo già nella vicenda, dovrebbe esserci un prequel che ci introduce tutto quello che scopriremo oltre la metà, sinceramente però ho preferito scoprirlo così, un po' per volta, nonostante i colpi di scena questo mi ha incuriosita e quindi ha tenuto alta l'attenzione.
La trama è interessante e bella piena, ma secondo me pecca un po' di qualcosa, c'è cameratismo, c'è lo spicy, ci sono armi e scontri, ma forse manca un po' di sana violenza, ovviamente nel finale troviamo un plot twist che ci introduce al secondo volume.
È un si, ma con un ma.
Profile Image for Danielle.
1 review
May 11, 2025
The book starts out great but gets pretty slow in the middle with a heavy reliance on inner monologue which can get confusing at times since this book is in desperate need of a good edit to fix numerous grammar errors. This is the first book I ready by the author but it was pretty confusing throughout because people, events, and groups were mentioned with no backstory. Even though this is the first of the series it seems like there should be another book before to explain some of this stuff. Leave you on a cliff hanger but unfortunately the writing was too hard to get through to consider reading the next one.
763 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2025
Nemesis and Lina

It’s hard reading a book when you can’t wait for it to end, all the while hoping it gets better. This one did not.

Tell me why you left. She’s too scared to say much. He gets angry and then she gets angry. They use the most juvenile, non-military language with each other. “Make me” — seriously??? One minute Nemesis/Dalton hates her and tells her they can’t have their relationship back. She refuses to give him more than a short answer at a time, rather than just getting the whole story out.

So frustrating — one of the rare times I had to talk myself into continuing the book. Not planning to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Meg.
1,388 reviews9 followers
April 18, 2024
storia particolare
storia molto particolare perchè a meta tra la spy e la military, tanti i colpi di scena e le parti dirette
però credo vada letto il prequel perchè anche se qui abbiamo quasi quattrocento pagine ben oltre la metà riusciamo a capire bene cosa è successo ai due protagonisti e non tutto in sequenza
ci sono delle parti nei dialoghi che quasi sembrano intrecciate e questo sicuramente fa parte dello stile narrativo dell'autrice, per cui si fa un pò fatica (e a dirlo io che di questo genere ne leggo tutti.....)
tre stelle e mezzo
Profile Image for Linda Elliott.
1,596 reviews9 followers
November 16, 2024
A very intelligent and fast moving story

You can tell the author did a lot of research on this book on military standards and procedures. But putting that aside the author has a way with words that makes you read the book from start to finish with taking very few breaks. It was so good once I picked it up I couldn't put it down till I finished the last page. I think this is an authorized author I will be following and reading from this point forward. You tell Relationship that the characters in the story had with 1 another.
1,072 reviews
January 30, 2025
The book is bad. The story is dragging, too many inner dialogue nonsense. Which I expected after those dialogues I will know something more but of course, I don't. Even with Lina's big reveals, we didn't even know the real reason of her leaving and what happened.

Plus, we all only can read Dalton and Lina's reconciliation. We didn't get their past, about their love story, anything. So basically it's just like.. Hello! We're back together again! Oh, and here's the bad guy, but he's not even catch in the end. So... Bye guys!
Profile Image for Debbie DiFiore.
2,747 reviews317 followers
December 16, 2025
He claimed her

Very possessive hero and they were apart for five years because he was in a danger if she stayed with him. She was never with anyone else but it wasn't made clear if he was. I mean he was obsessed with her and I would hope he was but he did have condoms for the first unplanned hookup so that bothered me. But he definitely.said mine a million times. And he did look for her. He thought it was a dream or something. I didnt.understand that part. There's lots of shoot them up action and sex. Not too much but it was there. I have to read the rest now.
Profile Image for Kelsey’s Kindle.
407 reviews21 followers
May 6, 2023
After seeing Lina and Dalton together in Lina’s book I was hoping for them to have a happily ever after. But that never comes easy for our operators. At first I was mad at Lina for leaving and ripping Dalton’s heart out. But there’s more than meets the eye, she’s been in the shadows helping him all this time and he didn’t know. This story had me guessing at every chapter, I love how it unfolds! Can’t wait to read about Jeep and Willow!
Profile Image for Carolyn.
1,798 reviews7 followers
July 20, 2023
Dalton and Lina

I loved this second chance romance book. Dalton hasn’t been the same since his wife left him and is shocked to be rescued by her in a foreign country while on a mission. Lots of questions and secrets exposed and more danger in their future. This one is steamy hot with action and suspense. I gave this 4 stars because of the numerous errors. A good edit will make this one a 5.
1,034 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2022
Great Series

Not really a fan of MF these days but love all your other series so gave it a try and it follows the other stories similarities. Loved meeting the people of Nemisis and seeing a few from previous books. Loved Dalton and Lina but looking forward to Rexars book…if he gets one. Sounds like all the “Teams” need to band together…
Profile Image for Angela Carter.
372 reviews13 followers
February 5, 2024
Romantic suspense

During a rescue for the deputy director's daughter Dalton and his team are at the ready. The last thing Dalton expects is to find his estranged wife but that's exactly who is spotted during the rescue mission. He's vowed to get her back and destroy anyone who tries to take her away from him
4 reviews
January 31, 2025
The character does stupid things for stupid reasons

The story has a LOT of inconsistencies and plot holes. DNF at 84%. Lina’s reason for leaving that she FINALLY reveals after avoiding telling him for absolutely no good reason was a total cop out and came totally out of left field.
Profile Image for K. Ryner.
544 reviews24 followers
October 29, 2025
Yup. This is exactly my kind of book. A strong, sassy but loving heroine. Grumpy, all alpha man but also devoted to his woman. Crazy for her. Bad boy on the outside but a teddy bear with her, kids, puppies and other brothers.
Add a sprinkle of action, a villain and lots of good friends. Perfect read.
Profile Image for Kim Mills.
Author 11 books76 followers
April 9, 2022
What can I say, I love this author and her ability to write these action packed romance that bring you so close into the lives of the characters and the team members. This MF offering by her is no different. It is not often you see a military romance written from the perspective of someone who *knows,* but Bella blows it out of the water!
Profile Image for Virginia Lee.
2,492 reviews34 followers
May 7, 2022
Kick ass

This branch off with some familiar characters. Was kick ass and action pack from page one. When you mess with the mamba you get more than you bargain for it. Can't wait for book 2 and where to hit the organization first
429 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2022
Love always

Oh my goodness! Dalton and Lina are off the charts! Their love never faded but the trust is hard to grasp. Loving this powerful new series and can't wait till we get Jeeps side of the story!
105 reviews
October 8, 2022
Finally found

Dalton and Lina have a tough road ahead of them. With all the obstacles that keep popping up in their lives, will they ever make it back to just their love. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in this series.
1,124 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2023
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ADVENTURE

A very interesting and intriguing drama involving a group of ex-military men belonging to the Nemesis Group. As the characters are introduced and the plot thickens the reader will become totally captivated. Many interesting and shocking surprises.
44 reviews
September 4, 2023
Dalton Nemesis Inc. Alpha team book1

Excellent book absolutely awesome loved every page,very good reading. Action packed suspense and emotion with these fabulous sexy ex SEALS. I recommend to everyone to read this book its unmissable. Thanks
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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