Twin Temptations by Carol Lynne

raped her had him squeezing her to his chest. “He’ll pay for this, sweetheart. Ranger will make sure of it.” The thought of Ranger finding out what Jeff had done seemed to galvanize his strength. Ranger may be able to just walk out on him, but he’d never let someone hurt Lilly and get away with it.
     

     
    Sonny let himself in to the apartment above the feedlot offices. “Ranger,” he called as he entered the dark living room. Stumbling around, he finally found the light switch and flipped it on. “Oh shit,” he said as he saw Ranger face down on the carpet beside a pile of vomit.
    Squatting beside his brother, he rolled him over. “Ranger,” he said, slapping his cheeks. Sonny couldn’t tell if Ranger was just passed out or if he needed an ambulance. He started to worry when he couldn’t rouse him. Ranger was a lot bigger than he was, so he knew he couldn’t carry him into the bathroom.
    Rubbing his chin, he looked around the apartment. With a grin on his face, he walked into the kitchen and dug around until he came up with a large stew pot. Filling the pan with ice cold water, Sonny carried it back to Ranger. “Forgive me, brother.” He poured the contents of the pot in Ranger’s face, after making sure it was at least turned to the side. The last thing he needed was to drown him while trying to help.
    Ranger coughed and swatted at the water pouring down on him. “What the hell?” Ranger tried to sit up but fell back to the carpet.
    After setting down the pan, Sonny helped Ranger to the sofa, away from the mess. “You called me over here and then passed out.” He took the blanket off the back of the couch and dried Ranger’s face and hair. Ranger was still swaying until his head fell onto the back of the old sofa.
    Sonny had never seen Ranger like this. He wasn’t sure that he’d even seen him tipsy more than a couple times in his life, but this? Something was seriously wrong. While he waited for Ranger to wake up a bit, he pulled out his cell and called Garron.
    “Sonny?” Garron asked as soon as he picked up the phone.
    “Yeah, it’s me. I found him passed out next to a pile of puke. I got him onto the couch but I still don’t know what the problem is.”
    “Rawley came by looking for him. He had Ryker and Lilly in the truck with him and Jeb. Babe, Jeff attacked Lilly tonight when she left the bar to go home.”
    “Shit, is she okay?” He looked over at a still dazed Ranger.
    “Physically she seems okay. She’s got a couple bruises on her face where he hit her. Damn, babe, I guess he tried to rape her.”
    “What!”
    “He didn’t get further than undoing her jeans before she slashed him across the face with the keys and managed to get away, but emotionally she’s not doing well. Rawley said on top of everything else she’s been through this evening, she’s blaming herself for Ranger.”
    “What the hell is going on?” Sonny shook his head. “Okay, give me fifteen minutes then call Rawley and let him know where we are.”
    “Sure thing, you doing all right? Getting a headache or anything?”
    Sonny smiled at the concern in Garron’s voice. “I’m fine. Just need to put my family back together.”
    “Well if anyone can do it, it’s you. Love you.”
    “Love you. I’ll call when they get here.” Sonny hung up and looked at Ranger. “Come on, wake up. We need to talk, and there are some things you need to hear.”

Chapter Thirteen
     
     
     
    Giving Ranger another cup of coffee, Sonny stepped into the bathroom and called Ryker.
    “Hello?”
    “Did Garron call?”
    “Just a few minutes ago. We’re on our way.”
    “Well, I’d like you to stay outside ’til I come get you. I’m not trying to piss you off, but he asked me here to talk, and I’m just now getting him sober enough to form sentences.”
    “Sober?”
    “He was passed out when I got here.” Sonny went on to tell Ryker what he’d found. He heard Ryker’s broken sigh on the other end. “Please,