He survived the cartel. He won’t survive what comes next.

Former DEA agent Danny Cortez thought he’d left the bloodshed behind. Lying low in the Arizona desert, he’s trying to rebuild what’s left of his life after taking down Victor Villa and Los Leones.

Then he gets a text message with five names. All connected to the DEA.

A warning follows.

Choose a side.

Before Danny can make sense of it, his mother is abducted from her care facility in Colorado. The message from her kidnappers is brutal and simple: assassinate the names on the list, or she dies.

But the first man Danny is sent to kill isn’t a monster. He’s a good man with a target on his back.

Now Danny is caught in a covert war far bigger than cartel revenge, one built on buried secrets, corrupted power, and a kill list that reaches deep into the U.S. government. Hunted from every direction and running out of time, Danny must uncover who’s behind the directive, save his mother, and stop a deadly purge before he becomes the weapon they want him to be.

Shadow Directive is a relentless thriller packed with conspiracy, betrayal, and bone-deep suspense.

Published
March 24, 2026
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