Silenced: A Quinn Winters Novel, #2

By Ivy Love

Agent Quinn Winters and her team are still picking up the pieces from their last case when the disturbing details of their next case comes in.

A killer is playing God and targeting families. In a twisted game of chance, this killer is picking and choosing who gets to live and die. If the team doesn't act fast, they'll lose him.

Agent Winters and her team aren't on their A-game though, they're dealing with internal and relationship issues that threaten to tear them apart.

Will Quinn and her team be able to put their differences aside to find a dangerous killer?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ivy Love
• Release date: Feb 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9798201951948

Book preview

Dedication

To everyone who thinks they can’t.

You can.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Acknowledgments

I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people this past year.  I am very grateful for those friendships and can’t wait for the opportunity to meet up, visit and be inspired again.  Being around so many people that love what they do, is an experience you don’t forget.

Thank you to Bobbie, Jamie, Laurie, MJ and Paige for being such beautiful friends.  You ladies are kick-ass and I hope 2019 treats you well.

Thank you to Marisa-rose Wesley of Cover Me Darling LLC for creating a beautiful cover for this book.  I have loved working with you again.

Thank you to my reader group, the Imps.  I’m very happy and grateful, that we have a place to talk and throw around ideas and just chat about random fun stuff.  Thank you for being here with me on this journey. 

Thank you to my betas for being there and giving me input. I know it may not seem like it, but your opinions mean a lot to me.

Thank you to every blog who has shared, liked, reviewed and tweeted about my books.  I appreciate all that you do for me and for authors in general. 

Thank you to my husband for blindly supporting this passion I have.  For sharing my books, when I’m too shy to and buying me supplies when I need them.  For suggesting new ways to make swag when I’m out of ideas and for allowing me to chase this dream. Thank you.

Last-but-not-least, thank you to you, the reader for picking up this book.  Thank you for taking a chance on me.  I hope you enjoy the journey.

Love, Ivy

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Character List

Prologue - Quinn

Chapter 1

Quinn

Chapter 2

Willow

Chapter 3

Killer

Chapter 4

Foster

Chapter 5

Quinn

Chapter 6

Willow

Chapter 7

Killer

Chapter 8

Quinn

Chapter 9

Foster

Chapter 10

Preston

Chapter 11

Quinn

Chapter 12

Killer

Chapter 13

Willow

Chapter 14

Quinn

Chapter 15

Foster

Chapter 16

Willow

Chapter 17

Foster

Chapter 18

Killer

Chapter 19

Quinn

Chapter 20

Willow

Chapter 21

Foster

Chapter 22

Quinn

Chapter 23

Preston

Chapter 24

Quinn

Chapter 25

Willow

Chapter 26

Foster

Chapter 27

Willow

Epilogue

Quinn

About the Author

Also by Ivy Love

Character List

Agent Quinn Winters – Lead FBI Profiler

Agent Willow Mavros – FBI Profiler and Quinn’s best friend

Agent Foster Abernathy – FBI Profiler, Dominant and in a relationship with Quinn

Agent Preston Hawkins – FBI Profiler, Dominant and in a relationship with Willow

Coach and Simba – Preston’s dogs

Agent Nick Barrudo – FBI Profiler and Dominant

Agent Carter Hayes – Technical Analyst 

Prologue - Quinn

Six more months have passed since Jared Drake had me tied to a table. The first months after everything happened were rough.  My team said they forgave me, and we tried to move on. But, saying you forgive someone and meaning it are two different things.  Even though my team said they forgave me after the whole incident, it wasn’t as easy as them just letting go and moving on.  They said their kind words that first day I came back, but things haven’t been the same between all of us.  Not that I would expect things to be exactly as they were before, but I was hoping things were going to be at least close to what we had before.

It’s been an uphill battle since everything happened.  I was, and am still, constantly trying to prove myself to them again as their leader.  We have always been a close group, but something happened while I was recuperating.  While I was healing, they became even closer.  It isn’t that we weren’t a close team to begin with, but when something like that happens to one of your teammates, you instantly have this unspoken bond with one another.  It just so happens, that it happened to me.  I made the call and paid the consequences and now the team is on the rocks with me.

On top of everything the team seems to have adopted Nick into our merry band of misfits. I’m not mad, it’s something I would have done anyways. As the leader of our team I’m fine with it, but it’s another adjustment and another sign they haven’t truly forgiven me.  Honestly, it’s not the fact they brought Nick onto the team, but the fact that they brought him into the team, basically, without asking me.  They’ve created their own hierarchy within the group and are making team decisions without me. 

If it isn’t affecting how we do our jobs, then I don’t want to be the person to rock the boat and make a big deal over some of the smaller things.  Nick is one of those things. Once it starts affecting how we do our jobs, then I’ll be forced to say something.

Willow is a different story.  When I finally got a normal minute with her in the hospital, she told me she was the one who found the bloody rock at the scene that knocked me out.  She also told me about how she found my pen and the blood trail. I remember her telling me that it only fucked with her head a little bit.  But I know my best friend and I could see in her eyes that it messed her up, more than she let on and more than she already was.  When I look at her now, there’s a haunted shadow in her eyes and a fear that wasn’t there before.  I know she was guarded before with Preston but I’m afraid I’ve made it worse now.

Preston will smile at me and is cordial towards me, but there’s something beneath his smile.  He won’t truly forgive me until Willow does.  Willow won’t forgive me until, well, I don’t know when.  I don’t know what I need to do to make her forgive me, especially since she already told me she did.  But I’m going to keep trying.

Foster may have told me he loved me, but it didn’t change anything.  In fact, it may have ruined our relationship, though I don’t understand how.  Looking back, I don’t know how our relationship got to where it is now anyway.  When I was first admitted in the hospital, he was so attentive, there every step of the way.  The closer I got to being released the more he changed.  He started pulling away and becoming distant. 

We haven’t played together since the day I was discharged.  I can’t say he hasn’t played at all since everything happened, because I don’t know the answer. I can say with absolute certainty, we haven’t.  Hell, our relationship hasn’t moved forward in any way shape or form since the incident.  Ever since he told me he loved me, it’s only made our working and personal relationship awkward.  I’m relieved and sad at the same time.  I never wanted something more and I never asked for it either, I always thought life would be less complicated if I was just on my own.  Looking back, I was probably right, but now that our possibility of something more has stalled out, I feel something akin to disappointment.

Nick is the only person who is acting somewhat normal around me.  I think it’s because he was only around for the last part of our, let’s call it an ‘adventure.’ I believe if anyone could see why I did what I did, it would be him.  He has a clear view of both sides and I believe he sees and understands my motivations for what they were.  I think he knows I wasn’t trying to hurt my team, instead I was trying to do the best thing for everyone.

Knowing I was trying to protect my team is the only thing that’s getting me through all this. I love my job and I love my team.  There’s no doubt in my mind about that day for me. I know I was doing the right thing.

This morning I had to retake my gun and fitness tests to prove I’m fit enough to return to work in the field. I’ve been working in the office, but I’m ready to get back out in the field and be with everyone again.  I’m still sore and I know I didn’t run my best, but I know I’m fit enough for duty.  I’m just waiting for a call from the Director.

For now, I’m sitting at my desk reviewing reports of smaller cases that local law enforcement has requested our assistance with.  My team has poured over reports, crime scene photos, witness statements and been all over the country while I’ve been away to prepare these reports for the requesting officers.  So far, nothing is sticking out to me that would require further assistance from our office.  On the plus side, after reviewing our reports nobody from law enforcement in these cases have requested additional assistance at this time either.

For the moment all is quiet and normal on the work front.  I suppose that’s a good thing.  I stand stretching my neck and look at my watch.  It’s getting