Ryan is a young artist hoping to make a name for himself. When he meets a man who offers to help him advance his career, he accepts. His career takes off when Merrick arranges two shows for Ryan at a local gallery. Ryan is elated, especially when their relationship becomes more personal. What he doesn’t expect is to end up being abused, physically and emotionally, as Merrick tightens his control over the younger artist.<br><br>After a vicious beating, Ryan manages to escape, naked except for a bedspread wrapped around himself. Policeman Shaun Levitt finds him cowering in an alley. Taking the battered young man under his wing, Shaun begins the slow process of helping Ryan come to grips with what happened.<br><br>Will Ryan learn to trust again? Or will he forever look at any man who might be interested in him as another potential abuser ... including Shaun?

In the Name of Love

Shivering, he waited for the pain to subside enough so he could move again. He knew there were two poles holding up the roof. Inching over until he was above one of them, he dropped the bedspread to the patio floor.


This is going to hurt like hell. Please, please, don’t let me pass out. Use my anger to make me strong. He looked up at the dark sky prayerfully. Then flat on his stomach, parallel to the edge of the roof, he reached down, gripped the pole, and rolled off.


Chapter 48