SOLVED. Book series somewhat like the Beaumont series, but darker. [s]

[Erin]

This series is similar to the Beaumont series in that the first book is a second chance romance where the main characters meet in high school and fall deeply for each other before things go awry. However, most characters in this series are not rockstars and exist in a bit of a darker world.

I believe the hero in the first book is called Max. I can't remember the heroines name so i will just refer to her as "H". Both characters have different backgrounds. H was raised by her aunt and while she has some friends in high school, shes not hugely popular. Max lives with his father who is a bit of a loser and his younger sister. Of course, boy meets girl and love ensues, despite a vindictive ex girlfriend. Things go generally well enough until one day Max and his family disappear into thin air, not even taking their personal belongings. H and their mutual friends are afraid for Max and his sister and call the police. They get the brush off. Years pass and H has located to a nearby city. At this point she is in college or has recently graduated. Her aunt has just passed away and has left H her house back in her hometown. H decides to keep the house and move back. At this point i believe she goes to work in her friend's bar. Shortly after, Max reappears, and of course wants to get H back. Some drama ensues (i think a girl max was intimate reappears and is some of the drama, and vindictive ex high school girlfriend as well). As well it turned out one of H's new friends is actually a friend of Max's who came to keep an eye on her. Naturally her feelings are hurt because she thought he was friends with her because he wanted to be.

Max and H eventually work things out and by the end of the book, H is pregnant. Max explains his disappearance: he returned home to find out his dad screwed up with dangerous people and the whole family was put in witness protection. It took a long time but eventually Max managed to work it out so he could return and open a garage in his hometown. At some point he had sent his sister to Scotland (or maybe England) for school so that she could have some normalcy. While in witness protection, max put his mechanic skill to use and opens a successful garage. He expanded so his shop has multiple locations. I believe he called it MG or something like that.

In the second book, Max and H are secondary characters. I dont remember the plot as well, but H and the secondary book heroine are kidnapped towards the end. H goes into labour and is either shot or the labour goes badly while captive. In a later book in the series, H and the baby are fine but Max is pretty messed up after the ordeal.

One other book in the series is focused on Max's sister. There were 5-6 books in the series if i recall correctly.

[Mai]

I found this one: His End Game by R.B. Hilliard. It's book 1 in a series of 5 books.
From the reader comments I think this is it! One even mentions the witness protection thing.

[Erin]

That is the one! Thanks so much :)