No Greater Loyalty Read Online Free PDF Page B

Was she really supposed to just sit back and let her sister stay with a monster like this? She didn't think so.
    Raven had made it her personal mission to bring him to justice, no matter what she had to do. She didn't care if it took a year, two years, or twenty years. Nikki might hate her for it, but if it meant freeing her and A.J. from Angel's poisonous clutches, then so be it. As long as he was in their lives, her sister and nephew would forever be in danger.
    Deciding to back off for now, Raven turned to leave, but just as she did, Hawk's eyes snagged hers for a brief second. She couldn’t help but notice the mischievous gleam in his. Raven was sure a lot of women found him adorable, but adorable was not a description she would ever use to describe Hawk Pattel. Yet, she couldn’t deny the fact that he was a truly handsome devil...but a devil, no less.
    He was also ruthless, and she could never lose sight of that. The mere fact that he and his brother were even here was proof that she was doing the right thing when it came to protecting Nikki and A.J. Anything Angelo LaCroix and the Pattels were involved in was guaranteed to be dangerous and illegal.
    Raven looked at her sister, striving to make her expression as contrite as possible. "I'm sorry, Nikki. I guess I'm exhausted from the heavy load I've been carrying at work. I didn't mean to start an argument. Forgive me?"
    Nikki's smile was strained, but she nodded and gave Raven a hug. She knew this wasn't completely Raven's fault, and the quick glare she sent Angel over her sister's shoulder told him as much.
    "Of course, sweetie. Get some rest. You're going to need it when we pick up your nephew later on today," she added, trying once again to lighten the mood.
    Raven smiled before turning to leave. She was almost out of the room when Hawk's voice caused her to pause.
    "Do you need any help? Relaxing, I mean? I've been told I'm very good at that."
    Raven stood with her back to them, straight and stiff, so tempted to return to the table, grab her cup of coffee, and throw it in his obnoxious face, but she refused to let him provoke her any more than he already had. When she told him that he and his family would get what was coming to them, she meant every word.
    Her boss, the new District Attorney, was not like his predecessor. The Pattels couldn't bribe Jeffery Mills to look the other way while they continued to go about business as usual. He was determined to clean up the streets...starting with Hawk's family. What the Pattels didn't know was that Raven's office had found a chink in their armor, a way in. It was only a matter of time before their operation fell to its feet like a flimsy stack of cards.
    She turned slightly, her lips twisted in a suggestive smirk that hinted she knew something he didn't. The amusement left Hawk ’s eyes. He squinted as if trying to figure out exactly what that look she gave him was all about. A wary expression settled on his face, and as fleeting as it was, Raven saw it. She released a low breath. The playing field had just been leveled somewhat.
    Finally , she said to herself as she walked out without addressing his silly comment. It's about time.
     

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    Angel stared after Raven for several seconds. He'd also seen the look she'd given Hawk and made a mental note to suggest Lucas and Hawk contact one of their sources in the D.A.'s office where Raven worked. His sister-in-law was up to something. It behooved them to stay on top of it and shut it down ASAP.
    His eyes went to Nikki. Angel sensed rather than saw her anger. She wouldn't show it now; that wasn't how things were done, but Angel was sure he would hear about it later when it was just the two of them. If she pushed the issue, Angel had no problem sharing his feelings with her on the subject of her little sister.
    Eyes now glacier cool, Angel turned to Dominick and the Pattel brothers. "If all of you are about ready, we can go upstairs and get started. We have a