The Murphy Cipher

When cryptographer Laura Bennett deciphers a cartel message that was never meant to be read, a roadside ambush forces her to run for her life with an encrypted drive she refuses to surrender. Deep in the rugged Murphy wilderness, she collides with off-grid survival instructor Eric Thompson, a man who wants nothing to do with the outside world—or the danger she’s brought to his doorstep.

With cartel drones overhead and scouts closing in, Laura and Eric are forced into an uneasy alliance: her code against his instincts. As they evade pursuit through dense pines and hidden ridges, their clash of worlds gives way to something neither expected. Laura’s growing fear that her algorithm will be turned into a weapon mirrors Eric’s dread of losing someone again. Every narrow escape tightens the bond between them, until trust becomes as vital as staying alive.

But the cartel is relentless, and time is running out. To end the hunt, Laura and Eric must risk everything on one desperate plan—before the secrets she uncovered destroy them both.