A Man Betrayed: A Quinn Winters Novel, #3

By Ivy Love

A new romantic suspense novel by Ivy Love.

All books in this series can be read as stand-alone books, but it is recommended to read them in order.

I wasn't always a technical analyst for the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.
I spent my life hunting the worst of the worst.
Then he came along.
First, he took my family.
Then he took my chance at love.
He's taken everything I've ever cared about away from me.
Now, he's trying to steal what's left of me.
But, he doesn't know who he's messing with.
I'm hunting him now.
I'm taking back my life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ivy Love
• Release date: Apr 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201399214

Book preview

Dedication

To all those that are holding it down in a difficult time.  This is for you.

I hope that this book brings you some joy and gives you a break from reality.

Acknowledgments

I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people since I’ve began this journey.  I am very grateful for all the friends I’ve met along the way 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 can’t wait to see what you all accomplish this year.

Thank you to KLa Boutique Swag for creating such a unique and kick ass cover for this book.  I had so much fun collaborating with you on it.

Thank you to TC Matson for throwing candy at me.  That candy was the start of a beautiful, crazy friendship.  Thank you for listening to my crazy rants and ideas.  For being a sounding board on literally some of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever said.  PS - I may steal your mascot one day, haha. 

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. 

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

Terminology List

Prologue

Killer

Chapter 1

Carter

Past

Chapter 2

Carter

Present

Chapter 3

Piper

Chapter 4

Carter

Chapter 5

Piper

Chapter 6

Carter

Chapter 7

Piper

Chapter 8

Killer

Chapter 9

Carter

Chapter 10

Piper

Chapter 11

Carter

Chapter 12

Killer

Chapter 13

Piper

Chapter 14

Carter

Chapter 15

Killer

Chapter 16

Piper

Chapter 17

Killer

Chapter 18

Carter

Chapter 19

Piper

Chapter 20

Carter

Chapter 21

Killer

Chapter 22

Piper

Chapter 23

Carter

Chapter 24

Killer

Chapter 25

Piper

Chapter 26

Carter

Chapter 27

Piper

Chapter 28

Carter

Chapter 29

Piper

Epilogue

Carter

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 

Piper Arrowood, Ph.D. – Forensic Psychologist

Terminology List

BAU – Behavioral Analysis Unit

unsub – unknown subject

IRC – Internet Relay Chat

WITSEC – United States Federal Witness Protection Program

VICAP – Violent Criminal Apprehension Program

INTERPOL – International Criminal Police Organization

Prologue

Killer

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Everything I’ve done coming to fruition in one beautiful moment. My whole life has been leading up to this.

I stare at the fire, reminiscing as I toss the worn pages of my notebooks into the flames.  Thinking of the words from my youth, watching as they vanish in the night sky.  I was so young and stupid back then.  I thought I knew everything, but the reality was I knew nothing at all.

I don’t know what made me this way, but I do know that this is who I am.  I’ve felt it in my bones since I was a small child.  It’s who I’ve always been. 

I’m a killer through and through.

There was a time when I was younger when I would stand in front of my mirror and practice what I was going to say to my victims.  I would hold one of my notebooks up to the mirror, stare intensely at my reflection and read out in my scariest voice, I’m your worst nightmare.  I’m the fear you’re afraid to dream about. 

I chuckle aloud. Looking back, I was so stupid.  I would tell myself that I was going to be the most prolific killer ever.  I didn’t want to be just known, I wanted to be infamous. I wanted to be the person your grandchildren’s children would read about. When people went to double check their locks at night it was going to be because they were afraid of me. 

I never had a plan on who I was going to kill or why I was going to kill them.  I just knew that was my path in life.  It wasn’t until I lost everything that it became clear who my victims were going to be.  I was going to ruin them like they ruined me.

I throw another piece of paper into the fire and gently rub my finger along the fading scar against my cheek. 

I knew I could be that person.  The person people feared, but I was at least smart enough to know I couldn’t just start killing.  I needed to do my research first.  I wanted to know where everyone else went wrong, that way I didn’t make the same mistakes.

As I began my research, I quickly realized I needed to start small.  Nobody would notice a missing wild animal.  It would allow me to stay off everybody’s radar, but still satisfy my need to kill.  So, that’s what I did.  I found pleasure in it.  Too bad it got boring so quickly.  I wanted something more.  I needed to progress to something that allowed me to feel its fear. 

So, one day, my foster father mysteriously disappeared.  To this day he’s never been found.  Don’t worry, he wasn’t a great man.  Nobody mourned him for long and some of my foster siblings seemed much happier after he was gone.  I was never a suspect, because I was a quiet kid that kept to myself.  His wife was and some of the older kids in the home, but ultimately, I walked out of that house and they were never the wiser.

I was so proud of that kill.  It was the first time I felt truly alive.  It’s when I knew I could do this and get away with it, over and over.  I knew I was going to be great and when nobody expected it, I’d be there causing trouble and mayhem.

I laugh loudly and the sound pulls me back to the present.  I was so cocky back then.  Believing I was going to be the best there ever was.  I’m not yet, but this…this is going to put me over the edge.  There are just a few more things I need to do.

I drift back into my memories, remembering when I first made all those declarations, I was so excited. That first day, I grabbed my bag, walked out of the house and went straight to the library.  I immediately started pouring over all the books I could find. Of course, I knew I couldn’t continue to check out multiple books about killers without it becoming suspicious.  I could only use the ‘I have a report due’ excuse so many times. We lived in a small town; people would talk. 

So, I went to the library on the weekends and spent hours reading ‘normal’ books.  The librarians knew me by name and would pull a few books off the shelf that I might be interested in.  Books I could really care less about but under those normal books were the books I was truly interested in.  Books that taught me about killers, ways to kill and forensic countermeasures.  But I never checked those books out.  At least not from our little library.

I stand lost in my thoughts watching the flames dance in front of me, waiting for it to die off.  I have things to do. 

Chapter 1

Carter

Past

I watch as my sister is lowered into the ground to her final resting place.  As she disappears, I feel a piece of myself die.  I know I’ll never be the same person again.  She brought a light to me that nobody else could and a stranger took her away from me.  She was the last piece of family I had and now she’s gone. 

The police tell me they have no leads and believe it was a random act of violence.  I can’t live with that logic.  Even if it was a random act of violence someone needs to be held responsible.

I’m stoic as people offer their condolences before leaving the cemetery.  Hours later and I’m finally alone, left to stare at the headstone of my mother, father and now sister. 

I’ve kept my composure for days.  Forcing myself to keep my emotions at bay, staying strong for those around me.  I fall to my knees, alone and overcome with grief.

I’m sorry, Mom and Dad.  I failed you, I choke out.  I promised I’d take care of her when you were gone, and I failed.

I drop my head and let the tears I’ve been holding in fall on the ground. 

I should have done more, Dad.  To save all of you.  But I didn’t.  I’m so sorry.

My parents were involved in a hit and run, when I was nineteen.  They were hit in an area they had no business being.  I tried to tell the police, but a teenager’s word had no bearing on the facts.  There was no evidence of foul play, so they had no reason to suspect anything suspicious had happened.

When they told me that, I not so politely asked how that was possible, seeing as how it was a hit and run in a remote area.  There was obviously something suspicious about the circumstances of their death.

Since there were no cameras, no witnesses and no tangible evidence; their case now sits in some box in a storage room along with all