DEFENDING HIS OWN Newly sworn in as chief of police, Ryder Hayes is ready to defend the citizens of Desert Valley—especially his five-year-old daughter, Lily—from his wife's murderer. So when Ryder starts to grow close to K-9 trainer Sophie Williams, he pushes her away to protect her. He can't let Sophie become the next target of the deranged serial killer who's obsessed with him. But Sophie has secrets of her own, and Ryder's caution isn't enough to shield her—from deadly peril or her own feelings. To save everyone he loves, Ryder will have to let Sophie in…and count on his new K-9 partner to help sniff out the killer.