His enemy took everything away from him. Now, he'll take everything away from his enemy. A ruthless pirate consumed by vengeance. One fateful decision that sets him on a treacherous course.

Born into the shadows of nobility, Avaline Hawthorn carries the weight of her illegitimacy, a silent burden obscuring her longing for a family and children. Life offers her limited promise until an unlikely opportunity arises: a chance for a family across the ocean. But fate intervenes as sails are spotted on the horizon, and her journey to newfound happiness is waylaid by a rogue American privateer. As secrets unravel, Avaline's dreams of a family slip away, leaving her adrift in a tumult of danger and passion.

Captain Adrian Hainsworth seeks revenge for the treachery that branded him a traitor. In his relentless pursuit of vengeance, he seizes the betrothed of the man who wronged him, intending to leverage her to ruin his enemy. It is a well-devised plan, but unfortunately, Adrian has overlooked a couple of crucial details—Avaline's resilient spirit and her irresistible allure. When the boundaries between retribution and desire blur, he discovers he has gravely underestimated the repercussions of his scheme.