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Sawyer heard what his father said, but the darkness rushing into his Roger’s hazel eyes contradicted his words, a confirmation to Sawyer and what he suspected Travis, Ashlyn’s boyfriend of three months, had done this to her

His father added, “The police are involved and are interviewing friends and acquaintances to see if anyone knew anything or saw anything out of the ordinary”

“This attack is brutal, and based on what I’ve seen, it looks personal” As Sawyer spoke he gestured to his beaten baby sister “Look at her, for Christ’s sake” Saas a cop, and he’d seen it before A beating like this, so intense and violent, typically involved someone the victim knew “We all know Travis is capable of this and more”

Travis was an up-and-cohter and had the skills to beat someone into unconsciousness Sawyer suspected Travis had used steroids on more than one occasion, and he’d seen evidence of Travis’s ’roid rage from time to time It had never been directed at his baby sister before, though

A sob ripped fro the pallor on her face, hecomfort His chest constricted as he wrapped his arms around hisbroke him more than to hear her weep

“Look at what he’s done to her” His ainst Sawyer’s chest, her short curly blond hair tickling his neck as she clung to his black T-shirt “How could he do this?”

Anger bit into Sawyer like a sharp blade while he exa—she had turned twenty-two only three weeks ago He was eleven years older, and he had always tried to protect her His parents hadn’t planned on having a second child—given his ain after Sawyer’s birth would have been impossible They were shocked when they found out about her pregnancy, but Saas overjoyed that he’d have a player sister

“He’ll be arrested” Sawyer gently rubbed his mother’s back “Don’t doubt that”

“Hoill she recover from this? My poor baby…”

His ine puht; as a member of the police force, sworn to serve and protect, he had to let justice be served through the law Having served in the as’s SWAT teaot in the way of what his heart wanted to do, and right nohat his heart wanted was to make Travis feel pain

He held on to hisbeneath his arms, and it made Sawyer realize just how Travis had broken into a happy life full of happy memories In his line of work, he often saw people who experienced horrific childhoods Not Sawyer and Ashlyn Their dad, a white-collar worker, had always exceeded the role of a father His h her children Travis had brought darkness into the Quinn family

Saouldn’t forget that

A sound of so his throat ca Sawyer turn He saw a fellow Doan Tall and muscular beneath his police uniform, Kyler radiated power

A coil of tension escaped Sawyer, as Kyler was precisely the , then pulled away “I need to speak to Kyler for a minute Go be with Ashlyn She needs you”

“Yes She needs