This was a fantastic conclusion to the series. While each book can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading them all, in order, to get the full effect of the overarching storyline. Each book is a complete story involving one couple and solves their immediate problem, but there is also the continuing story of bringing down a domestic terror group. I was fully invested in the whole thing from the very beginning, as Elle James writes truly gripping tales.

CJ Grainger played a large part in the previous book, Tactical Force, as the unknown informant who warned the Defenders about sleeper agents in the White House and an impending attack. In this book, we learn more about her as she joins forces with the group to bring down Trinity. CJ was kidnapped as a child and trained as an assassin by Trinity. When she refused to carry out her last mission, she became the target. CJ has been on the run for a year, trying to stay alive while looking for Trinity's leader. Having concluded that she can't do it alone, she has joined forces with Declan's Defenders.

Cole is the team's computer guy. Charlie tasks him with protecting CJ after she revealed herself in the previous book. Cole is a bit frustrated because CJ resists his help, believing that she is better off on her own. I liked his patience, as he understood that CJ had to think he could be trusted before she would accept his help.

It didn't take too long for Trinity's hunters to close in on CJ, forcing her to accept Cole's help. Now that they are constantly in each other's company, the attraction that flared between them from the moment they met grows stronger. I loved the interactions between them, as Cole's protectiveness grows, and CJ hangs on to her independence. I enjoyed seeing that, though Cole is protective, he also respects CJ's capabilities and doesn't try to hold her back. CJ is just as protective of Cole, especially knowing what Trinity is capable of. When everything was all over, I loved Cole's support of CJ and what she wanted for her future. I ached for her as she had trouble believing that he could love someone who was a trained assassin. I loved it when he told her, "Your past doesn't dictate your future. But it helps to shape you into the woman you want to become."

The suspense of the story was fantastic as the team continued its quest to stop Trinity. The intensity increased as the team uncovered pieces of the puzzle and raced to put them together before Trinity could strike again. The scene in the woods was heart-wrenching and showed the depth of CJ's caring, to the point of risking her life. I was glued to the pages as the extent of Trinity's plan was revealed. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. There was an exciting twist to the conclusion that I didn't see coming but made perfect sense once it was revealed.

Though there was no epilogue, the final chapter provided the perfect wrap-up for both book and series. I loved seeing how CJ's life changed and how she put her past to work for her. There were a couple of surprise announcements from members of Declan's Defenders. There was also a letter from the president with an unexpected result of their efforts stopping Trinity. As much as I liked that surprise, and the men's reaction to it, my favorite was the one about Charlie herself. ( )