[Vows of the Heart 01] • Sworn to Protect

In Los Angeles, Bethany Kress has been forced to work for international arms dealer and drug lord, Jose Cordova, as a professional thief, stealing cars and running drug shipments. Cordova holds her ailing father and if she does not comply, Cordova will kill him. But the DEA has infiltrated Cordova's operation in Los Angeles and the undercover agent, Aaron, befriends Bethany.

Bethany hates being forced into a life of crime and willingly works with Aaron to bring Cordova down.. Due to an innocent mistake on Bethany's part, Cordova learns of Aaron's true identity and kills him. The DEA manages to rescue Bethany as a protected witness but as they pull her out, she sees Aaron's ghost, enraged at her for betraying him. Cordova escapes L.A. and flees to New York.

For two years Ethan Lancaster has worked undercover in New York for the ATF trying to gather evidence against Cordova for arms dealing. But days before Ethan is supposed to get his informant out, his cover is blown. Ethan's team fights to save Ethan but he is nearly killed and two team members die in the assault. Fortunately, Cordova is arrested and will stand trial.

Ethan survives but has been on medical leave while the doctors try to determine if the injuries he suffered will end his career. Then he learns Cordova has escaped. His Captain orders him into protective custody with the US Marshals. Ethan is one of the few people still alive who can testify, the other being Bethany who is also being transferred to the Marshals.

But Bethany is guilt ridden over Aaron's murder and is plagued with constant nightmares of his ghost hunting her. While waiting for Ethan to be delivered into protective custody at the motel, Bethany sees Aaron's ghost. Terrified she runs from the room just as two US Marshals try to kill her.

Ethan, furious with being forced into protective custody, arrives right as Bethany escapes by jumping through a motel window. Suddenly involved in a major shootout, Ethan discovers himself standing alone as Bethany's protector.

Cordova isolates Ethan and Bethany by involving Ethan in an elaborate frame-up. On the run from both Cordova and honest law enforcement, Ethan quickly learns Bethany's ability as a professional thief is his best asset. She can boost almost any type of car and out-drive even the best cops. But she has an uncanny and disturbing ability to run, absolutely terrified, from danger before it actually happens.

Ethan discovers himself powerfully attracted to Bethany but what hope do they have when either one of them could be killed at any moment? If by some miracle they did survive, what sort of future would an ATF agent and a thief possibly have?

Then Ethan learns the truth about Aaron and that Bethany believes his ghost is trying to kill her. She blames herself for Aaron's death and Cordova learning Ethan's identity. Even though he is on medical leave, Ethan is still an ATF agent and he is sworn to protect Bethany no matter the circumstance. But how can he defend her against something he cannot shoot? All the while he has a target painted on his own back not only from Cordova but his own agency.