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She had been terrified of Rowdy knowing Fearing he would blame her

But even more, she had feared for Rowdy He would have never stayed on duty if he kneas going on at home He would have left, with or without pereance Rowdy protected those he cared about, and Kelly knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would have co AWOL

But noas home And Kelly knew, once he learned the truth, he would never let it rest He would find the stalker tor her, or he would die in the effort And the fear of his death overshadowed even the fear of the threat she faced herself Because life without the prohter and the dark promise of passion in his voice, was a life Kelly didn’t want to contemplate A life she knew she didn’t want to face

TWO

At fifty-seven, Ray Mackay was still a powerful man, with hazel eyes and hair that still retainedto crease with deep laugh lines at the sides of his eyes Eyes that were usually cheerful, alar on the front porch of the two-story white and red farreen Jeep Laredo parking beside Rowdy’s Harley

Maria Mackay was out of the jeep before Ray turned the engine off, rushing up the ceaze

"Is Kelly okay?" Maria Salyers Mackay was still slender for her forty-seven years of age The summer shorts and crisp, white cotton shirt showed off her tanned legs and arainst the railing, watching her with narrowed eyes "And why do I have a feeling that if I had warned ya’ll I was coht have found my way barred?"

He could see it in her face, in his father’s heavyset expression They hadn’t expected hi there alone with Kelly And that just pissed hi should have been set in cement in their heads, and that was the fact that he would die before he hurt Kelly

"I’d never bar you frolas"

He winced Maria was the only person who called hilas, and the snap in her voice when she said it noas as sharp as a knife No one called hiht hi her of the habit wasn’t easy

He crossed his ar down at her intently as she stepped onto the porch

"I’ to check on Kelly" She moved for the door

"Not yet" He didn’t ly, or his body to tense as he watched a main source of information atte off until he had thee hands settling on her shoulders as he gave the squeeze "I’ll talk to Rowdy We’ll be in soon"

She glanced up at Roorry and regret shi his cheek gently beforeinto the house

Rowdy’s attention fixed on his father, watching as he swiped his fingers through his hair before burying his hands in his jeans pockets

"Was she raped?" Rowdy lifted the bottle of water to his lips, taking a long sip as he watched Ray’s eyes darken with pain

Ray breathed out roughly, his shoulders shifting as he lowered his head

"Attacked," he finally muttered "She wasn’t raped But she was cut up pretty bad, traumatized" He lifted his head and Roondered if his father could see the pureinside him now

"Who did it?" He kept his voice even, cool nonetheless

Ray shook his head slowly, his expression heavy

"She didn’t see his face; there were no leads on who he was or why he attacked her"

The water bottle cruers before he realized what he had done Forcing hi and focused on his father

"Where did it happen?"

"She hly "Nice little apartment in town, next to one of her friends Feeeks later she started getting crank calls Caller ID couldn’t trace them We put new locks on her doors and s, but you kno she was" Ray shook his head wearily "Liked sleeping with hercracked She thought she was safe Thought she would hear it if sohbor’s boyfriend heard her screams and knocked the door down, but he’d already hurt her The attacker got out thebefore the boy could catch hi, Rowdy could feel it He stared back at his father, silent, probing, knowing he would tell hilanced back at hilittered in his eyes

"It wasn’t a normal attack," he finally muttered

Rowdy felt a chill race up his spine

"What do you mean by that?" He had to force the words past his throat

Ray coughed nervously "He ed it"