Raven (Legends Saga Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the second her name passed his lips. “They just wanted a moment of your time, Mr. Peolte, in regards to a piece of art. I hope it’s okay I had them wait?”
    “ Again, I must insist you call me Ridley,” he corrected, the faintest trace of an accent Ireland couldn’t quite place curling through each word. “And, of course, I don’t mind. However, you will have to walk with me. I have a platter of California spring rolls calling my name and a meeting I have to rush back for.” Waving his hand to the trio in an ‘after you’ gesture, Ridley shot an over-the-shoulder glance back to Meegan. “Can I bring you back anything, my dear?”
    “Surprise me ,” Meegan murmured. Biting her lower lip, she attempted a coy shrug. “I have a feeling you’d know exactly what I’d like.”
    “ I’ll take my best guess.” He winked, prompting an eruption of girlish giggles Meegan hid behind her hand.
    Sliding off the couch flanked by Rip and Noah, Ireland paused to shoot a grimace at their openly flirty interaction.
    No sooner did she get to her feet then Ridley dragged one knuckle along her forearm as he sauntered passed. “Come, walk with me.” 
    Watching his occasionally homicidal girlfriend bristle, Noah caught her arm and held her back for a beat. “Easy, girl,” he soothed, and tapped the iPod in her back pocket as a none-too-subtle reminder. “The sooner we get the information the sooner we can go … preferably without bloodshed.” 
    Patting his hand, and dipping her chin in an affirmative nod, Ireland fixed on the pursuit that brought them there. “We don’t want to take much of your time, Mr. Peolte,” she explained, following him into the elevator. The doors slid shut, followed by that familiar stomach-dropping lurch. “I was just wondering if you’d ever seen this.”
    Turning her arm tattoo up, she held it out before him.
    “Mmmm,” he muttered in appreciation, one ebony brow hitching with interest. “Your arm? I haven’t had the pleasure. But I do hope more parts will follow.”
    The elevator dinged open, allowing Ridley to s tride out without a moment’s hesitation.
    Rip patted Noah lightly on the shoulder before following. “I am still accumulating myself to modern trends, however am I wrong in assuming that what just happened here was the equivalent to you two ramming antlers?”
    “Nah, no worries.” Noah’s argument to the contrary would have been more convincing had his jaw line not tensed and his octave rose to that of a public speaker. “He doesn’t know we’re together .”
    “Th is beautiful siren is yours?” Ridley’s gaze flicked back briefly before being averted to an associate across the lobby that he offered a wave and chin-jerk to. “Well, these things change all the time, don’t they?”
    Noah ran his hand over the back of his neck, sucking air through his teeth. “ I may have to borrow your axe.”
    “ If I can’t kill anyone, neither can you .” Ireland curled her chin to her shoulder to hiss. Then, pushing past their banter, she attempted to steer the conversation back on course. “Actually, I meant the tattoo. Herb Mallark from The Richmond Gallery said he saw this same image at a private exhibit in your loft.”
    “Mallark?” Ridley snorted a wry laugh, the heels of his expensive leather shoes clicking across the marble floor. “Not the most original of pen names, is it? But I do have a lot of gatherings, so it may very well have been there. Lupé, my housekeeper, insists all cultures be represented in what we showcase and I never argue with her, otherwise she starches my boxers.”
    “I don’t know how to respond to that,” Ireland stated, looking to Noah and Rip for behavioral guidance. The best they could offer were awkward shrugs and tight lipped shakes of their heads.
    “Jerry, did you watch that game last night? ” Ridley rose up on tiptoe mid-stride to catch the security guard’s eye over the milling sea of bodies in the ostentatious lobby.