In a world where loyalty is life and trust is earned with blood and sweat, these men have been hardened by battle—and guarded by secrets they swore they'd never reveal. But love doesn't follow orders... and when it strikes, no shield is strong enough to stop it. Velvet Ink: Grit, Glory, and Guarded Hearts Vol. 1 brings you emotional, heart-pounding romance where honor, heartbreak, and desire collide. First up, Shielded by Honor: Aidan Cross, a Navy SEAL turned single dad, faces the ultimate forbidden temptation—his best friend's sister, Lena Rivers. Torn between a code he's lived by and a love he can't resist, Aidan must risk everything to claim a future he never dared dream of. But he's not alone. Across dusty small towns, tense reunions, and second chances, these men of grit and glory will discover that even the toughest hearts... can fall the hardest. Will loyalty protect them—or will love break through the shields they swore would never fall?