Divided Loyalties Read Online Free PDF

ruggedly handsome face and penetrating grey eyes.  Those same eyes settled on her, his stare going straight to that delicious spot deep inside her and to disguise her disquiet she got to her feet and poured herself a drink.  Although she didn’t think Danny and Ryan would ever be the best of friends they’d at least cooperate with each other in this new business venture. 
    Battler and Bruiser arrived in quick succession, Mikey following a few minutes later and the meeting could begin. 
    “You’ll have to excuse my brother’s absence,” began Danny.  “He’s still on honeymoon.”
    “No need to apologise.  Forgive me Danny but I’d like to say something before we get started,” said Ryan.
    “As you wish,” he replied magnanimously.
    Ryan’s eyes settled on the Sugar brothers.  “I want to apologise for what I did to your brother.  He was a good man but you must understand it was business, nothing personal.”
    All eyes turned the way of Col Sugar, the eldest of the brothers and their spokesperson, relieved when he nodded slowly.  “It’s in the past.  Let’s leave it there.”
    “Thank you,” replied Ryan sincerely.
    That needed sorting out and Danny was glad that Ryan had the sense to get it out of the way immediately.  The tension in the room relaxed and Danny smiled.
    “So,” he opened, “this is a big day, the first meeting of our new alliance.”
    The meeting just recapped how the illegal businesses were doing, which was very well.  Ryan was amazed by Rachel, who joined in like one of the men and was listened to with as much respect as if she was one of them.  He’d never known a woman like her, she really was one of a kind.  It was very unusual for a woman to have such power in their world and Ryan fell for her even more.  When he was screwing that blond and her friend last night Rachel had been in his head the entire time.  He’d never felt guilty about his feelings for her before because Danny used to be an arsehole who treated her badly but now he was a man he could respect and who obviously adored his wife.  Although he couldn’t help his feelings, Ryan had the terrible premonition they were going to get him into trouble. 
     
    Rachel parked her car by Henley Towers where it would be safe and walked through the dividing gate onto the Montford Estate.  It was like two different worlds, walking from wealth and success into poverty and degradation.  Rachel herself was Montford born and bred and although it had always been rough and ready it was never dangerous like it was now. The Law family had always managed to maintain some semblance of order but now that Jez, the last of the family on the estate, had moved off it that order had crumbled and anarchy ruled.  Dog faeces, litter and what appeared to be car parts were strewn about the grounds.  She sighed inwardly at the boarded up windows, graffiti covered walls and overgrown grass.  The people here used to be proud once, even though they didn’t have much.  Now no one gave a shit.
    Rachel wrinkled her nose at the stench of urine, sidestepping the used syringes and condoms, which angered her because there were a lot of kids living here.  Fortunately Tiff lived on the first floor so she didn’t have to clamber over the detritus of wasted lives too much and knocked on the door.  It was opened by a pretty plump blond in pyjamas and a fluffy pink robe.
    Her eyes widened when she saw who was at her door.  “Mrs Maguire.  I didn’t know you were coming.”
    “Your gran came to see me.  Can I come in?”
    “Yes,” she replied, pulling the door open wider to admit her.
    Rachel was relieved that Tiff’s flat was clean and tidy, albeit small.
    “If I’d known I would have got dressed,” Tiff blushed.
    “Don’t worry about it.  I often like to lounge about in my pyjamas myself,” smiled Rachel disarmingly.
    “Do you want a drink?”
    “No thanks.  Please sit, we need to talk.”
    They sat opposite each other,