The Pattels

by S. K. Hardy

  Without waiting on a reply, he turned to Lucas and began talking about a problem stirring up with their connect out of Mexico. A couple of years ago, the Pattels pooled their resources with Angel to help him with the kidnapping of his brother. Although they succeeded in getting Dominick out relatively unscathed, the aftermath of that incident was now rearing its ugly head. Angel was flying to New York soon to discuss it. If they didn’t nip it in the bud before it got out of hand, they would soon be looking at a crisis they would prefer to not have to deal with.

  As the others continued with the discussion, Hawk wandered away to stare out the window. Although he couldn’t see the men guarding the sprawling grounds of their compound, he knew they were there. It had been that way ever since he could remember, but he didn’t give it another thought. The only thing on his mind was making things right with Rae.

  Maybe giving her space right now wasn’t the best recourse. It might offer Raven room to withdraw further away from him. He’d made too much progress these last couple of months breaking down the barriers she erected around her to let her rebuild them even stronger than they were before. No. They needed to hash this thing out now. Tonight. As soon as he finished at the Manor, he would have Danny drive him straight to her apartment.

  “What are you thinking about? Or do I even have to ask?”

  Hawk turned and slanted a veiled glance at his father who stood beside him. “No. You don’t. But what you can do is tell me why the change of plans. Pop, we have Mills. We agreed to use him and Gwynn. What the hell happened?”

  Joseph stared at his son for several long seconds before answering. “You care about this woman, yes?”

  “You already know I do.”

  Joseph nodded slowly. “Maybe I wanted to find out why you would put yours and your family’s freedom on the line for a woman whose professional mission is to destroy every one of us.”

  Hawk’s scowl was instant and fierce. “That’s not what I did and you know it.”

  “What would you call it, then? You have to admit you’ve made some questionable decisions.”

  “Such as?”

  “Giving her that flash drive, for one. I don’t know what little game you were playing, but what if she’d decided to look at it? Or even worse, show it to Mills. We would’ve lost our leverage. It could’ve ruined everything.”

  “I had it under–”

  “Control.” Joseph impatiently finished Hawk’s sentence. “Yes, I know. But if you’re determined to bring this woman into our lives–and make no mistake, it affects all of us–then I wanted to see for myself if we can trust her. And after tonight, I’m more convinced than ever that we can’t.”

  “Let me get this straight. You orchestrated tonight as a test for Raven? Dammit, Pop...”

  “No, listen to me, son. Raven Randolph is a very strong-willed woman. I know your uncle can be harsh at times, but I agree with him when he says she can’t be easily controlled, and that’s not good. She knows entirely too much about our family. What makes you think she won’t use it against us whenever she decides to?”

  “She had an opportunity to do that when the Vegas investigation came up, but she didn’t.” Hawk hesitated before adding, “She wouldn’t hurt me. Not like that.”

  “She wouldn’t hurt you like that?” Joseph repeated in incredulous disbelief. “Will you listen to yourself? This is exactly what I’m talking about. That woman works for the DA’s office. She has damning information that could cripple all of us, not to mention the file you said she has on your sister. The main reason we went after Judge Warner was to send Raven a message to stay the hell away from our family. Especially Leah.” Joseph shook his head, more convinced than ever that he was right. “No. I don’t trust her, son. Definitely not after tonight.”

  Hawk was getting ready to respond when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone walk into the room. He glanced towards the entrance and saw Danny scanning the room until he spotted Hawk. Eyes narrowed, Hawk raised his chin slightly in inquiry. Danny nodded once, communicating that Raven had been safely delivered to her apartment. With that knowledge, some of the tension left Hawk’s body. He turned back to Joseph.

  “What did you expect her to do with you and Uncle Isaac surrounding her like a pack of vicious wolves? No, really. Tell me. You backed her into a corner and she came out swinging.” Hawk felt his anger igniting all over again. “Like I said, I had everything under control if you had just stayed out of it. I don’t need you or anyone else checking up behind me.”

  “Apparently you do! For example, where are you supposed to be tonight? In Miami overseeing a transaction worth millions. Instead, you jeopardize it all by turning the plane around and heading back home because of Raven Randolph. You’ve lost perspective when it comes to that woman and I don’t like it. Not one bit.”

  “I would never put this family in danger in any way and it pisses me off for you to even think that.”

  “I know you care about her, Hawk. Believe it or not, I understand that, but have you thought this through? This life is not easy on a woman. There aren’t very many who could handle it. Normally, it’s best to keep them out of business matters, but because of who she is, Raven isn’t just any woman. If you’re determined to have her in your life then there’s only one way I feel comfortable with that happening, and that’s having her work for us in the DA’s office where we can keep an eye on what she’s doing.”

  “That’s not your call, Pop! Jesus!” Hawk’s frustration level was through the roof. “Bottom line, you ain’t got to feel comfortable with me and Raven. I love you and I respect you, but for the last time, when it comes to her please, please stay out of it. I don’t know how else to–”

  “Excuse me. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak to you, sir.”

  Hawk pulled his furious gaze away from his father and let it settle of Danny. “What is it?”

  Danny hesitated and glanced at Joseph. Mouth tightening in annoyance, Joseph abruptly excused himself and joined the other members of his family.

  “What’s wrong?” Hawk asked Danny once they were alone.

  “I just got a call from Bobby. Ms. Randolph came downstairs with a suitcase and got in a cab a few minutes ago.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Hawk’s features tightened. “What? Where’s she going?”

  “He’s following her now.”

  Hawk pulled out his phone and dialed Raven’s cell but he didn’t get an answer. Swearing under his breath, he turned back to Danny. “Tell him to let me know the second she gets to her destination.”

  “Already done. I just wanted to make you aware.”

  Hawk nodded once before turning back around to gaze out the window with a frown. Ever since the day Raven was attacked in the stairwell at the courthouse, he’d put a discreet car on her for protection. He was pretty sure he’d gotten his point across to Frank Giuliani that not one hair on her head was to be harmed, but he didn’t want to take any chances. Raven was too precious to him to risk letting something happen to her.

  His frown deepened as he thought about what Danny just told him. Where was she going this time of night, especially with a suitcase? Hawk searched his mind to think of the possibilities. It definitely wasn’t with Gwynn, not after discovering the two of them were briefly involved with each other. Maybe it was to stay with another friend. Not that it mattered. He didn’t care where she was going. He still planned to iron things out with her tonight and get on the road to mending the discord between them.

  Hawk glanced at his family, half listening to the conversation they were having about Jeffrey Mills and regaining complete access to the DA’s office tonight. The first order of business was having their cleaner go through the files and purge any and all information pertaining to the Pattels. Things would soon be back on track the way they used to be.

  “I still think we need insurance in case Mills gets the bright idea of turning himself in and confessing his role in covering up for Judge Warner’s hu
sband,” Joseph said. “Even with the evidence we have I don’t trust him.”

  “I’ll handle it and make sure he stays in line,” Lorenzo interjected quietly.

  “Oh?” Lucas asked inquiringly, tongue in cheek. “You’ll handle it, huh? How do you intend to do that?”

  Amusement crept into Hawk’s eyes. He knew exactly how Lorenzo intended to “handle ” that situation–or rather, who he intended to handle: Mills’ daughter, CeeCee. When Jeffrey won the election several years ago, Lorenzo seduced CeeCee as an insurance policy if they needed it. Hawk still wasn’t sure exactly what went down between the two of them; when Lo came back he was very closed mouthed and wouldn’t discuss it. As far as any of them knew, he hadn’t been in touch with CeeCee since.

  Lorenzo scowled at Lucas. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “No need to get testy, Lo.” Lucas’ mouth twitched as he intentionally provoked Lorenzo. “Aim those silver lightning bolts you call eyes somewhere else. I’m just asking a question.”

  A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of Hawk’s mouth. Having been raised together they knew how to push each other’s buttons and that was exactly what Lucas was doing now. He only taunted Lorenzo because they were all aware that something happened between he and CeeCee that he didn’t want to tell anybody about. Which was fine with Hawk. The smile slowly fell from his lips. They all had their secrets.

  The two of them were still trading barbs when Hawk saw Danny answer his phone. Turning to face him, Hawk stared at him intently. That had better be someone letting him know where Raven was headed. He watched as Danny hung up and hurried towards him.

  “That was Bobby. Ms. Randolph is headed to Queens.”

  Hawk frowned. “Queens? Why is she...” He stopped abruptly as the answer came to him. “She’s on her way to the airport.”

  Lorenzo and Lucas immediately stopped their bickering and looked at him, as did Isaac and Joseph.

  “Hawk, what’s wrong?” Lucas asked.

  With his thoughts still racing to try and put himself in Raven’s head, Hawk’s eyes landed on Lorenzo. “I need your keys.”

  “What?” An expression similar to horror flashed across Lorenzo’s face. He never let anyone drive his car. Ever.

  But Hawk didn’t have time explain. He needed a vehicle with speed that would get him to the airport in record time. He hurried towards his cousin with his hand outstretched. “Come on, Lo! Your keys!”

  Still, Lorenzo hesitated. His eyes went to Danny, obviously wondering why Hawk didn’t let his driver take him where he wanted to go. Finally, he reluctantly took the key fob out of his pocket but didn’t hand it over.

  “Fine, but Hawk, be careful. I mean it. You know how recklessly you drive. She’d better not have a scratch on her when you come back.”

  Hissing his impatience, Hawk snatched the key fob out of his hand.

  “Hawk!” Lorenzo’s grey eyes flashed in irritation as Hawk ran out the room with Danny right on his heels.

  “Call the airport.” Hawk barked orders to Danny as he sprinted through the manor. “Find out what flight she’s on. Use every resource we have to delay the plane until I get there.”

  Once outside he ran to Lorenzo’s Italian sports car and climbed inside. He normally admired the way the engine purred, taunting him with its power when it started, but not this time. As soon as he started the ignition, Hawk slammed his foot down on the accelerator and peeled out of the driveway.

  Flying through the gate, he hung a left and opened the Ferrari up. The airport was an hour away. Whatever time Raven’s flight was scheduled to take off, she would have to check in and go through security first, which would buy him a little time. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Hawk didn’t know what was going on or where she was going but instinct told him that allowing her to leave was a big mistake. He couldn’t let that happen. Hawk knew he’d reached his quota of fuck ups for one night. If he didn’t get to her now...

  He had been driving for about fifteen minutes when his cell phone ran. “It’s about time,” he snapped when he answered the phone. “Did you find out when her flight leaves?”

  “She’s not taking a commercial flight.”

  Hawk scowled impatiently. “What do you mean she’s not taking a commercial flight? I thought Bobby said she was on her way to Queens with a suitcase?”

  “She is. She’s almost at the airport now, but Ms. Randolph is not booked on a commercial flight. She’s taking a private plane.”

  “What? Got dammit, Danny, that doesn’t make any sense! How the hell would she be taking a...” Hawk was just getting ready to fire Danny up for giving him half-assed information, but then another puzzle piece clicked into place. Raven couldn’t afford to charter a private plane on an ADA’s salary. But there was one person Hawk knew who could make that happen for her. Angel.

  Resisting the urge to throw his phone, Hawk asked in a voice that was eerily calm. “Where’s she going?”

  Danny hesitated. “I don’t know. I tried to get that info for you, but–”

  “Never mind. Don’t worry about it.” Hawk cut in. Disconnecting the call, he tossed the phone into the passenger seat. What the fuck was Angel doing? And Hawk knew he was responsible. Why would he fly Raven out on his personal plane?

  As he continued to drive, the questions kept coming. Where was she going? And why would she call Angel and ask him to fly her out of New York? Hawk’s eyes narrowed. She wouldn’t call Angel. Raven had never seen eye to eye with her brother-in-law, hated the fact that Nikki married him. She would never call Angel for anything. But she would call her sister.

  Raven and Nikki were very close. Hawk knew firsthand how protective Nikki was of Raven. More than likely, Raven called her when she got back to her apartment and told her what happened at Pattel Manor tonight. Hearing how upset Raven was, Nikki would’ve no doubt been just as upset. If Angel witnessed his wife’s emotional state, of course he would step in.

  Fuck!

  Hawk respected Angel and considered him a friend. The last thing he wanted was tension between them, but there was about to be a problem. He could just feel it. Hawk would never think about interfering in another man’s relationship and he expected that same courtesy. Whatever happened between himself and Raven was no one’s business but their own.

  Feeling that things were even more urgent, Hawk floored the accelerator. Expertly weaving in and out of traffic, he veered onto the exit that would take him to the airport. He ignored the blare of horns and switched lanes to cut in front of slower moving vehicles until he got to a stoplight. Hawk impatiently tapped the steering wheel with his thumb. Almost there. The next intersection would take him to the airport. He glanced at the clock on the dash. He’d made the hour-long trip in less than forty minutes. Even at this late hour, the traffic was still unbelievably heavy.

  Hearing his cell phone ring, Hawk glanced at it and saw Danny’s number. “I’m almost there.”

  “How far are you? She’s getting ready to board.”

  “Shit!” Hawk hung up and leaned on his horn when the light turned green. What tha’ fuck! Were the cars moving in slow motion or something? His frustration hit a high point when just two cars from the light, it turned red again. `

  “Oh, hell nah!” He shouted.

  Inching the Ferrari back and then forward a few times, he managed to maneuver his way out of the tight spot and pull around the car in front of him. Hawk winced as he scraped the left side of Lorenzo’s car on the guardrail, but it could easily be fixed. Driving on the shoulder of the highway, he saw a slim opening in the incoming traffic on took it. Shooting forward, he cut into the flow of cars, narrowly missing getting sideswiped by a semi-truck. Tuning out the symphony of horns blaring angrily at him, Hawk jetted down the highway.

  Yes!

  He was several yards from the airport when he heard the unmistakable wail of a police siren. Hawk looked in the rearview mirror then swiveled around to glance over his shoulder. He saw red and blue flashi
ng lights barreling towards him through traffic that suddenly parted as if by magic.

  “Now ain’t that a bitch,” he muttered, turning back around. Well, fuck it. He wasn’t pulling over. They could kiss his ass.

  CHAPTER 4

  Hawk breathed a sigh of relief when the airport finally came into view. He stopped in front of the terminal with a screech of tires and burning rubber. Looking behind him, he saw that one police car had now turned into three. However, Hawk’s focus was on reaching Raven, not explaining to the cops why he was driving like a bat out of hell. Throwing the door of the Ferrari up until it spanned wide like a bird’s wing, he jumped out of the car and ran inside.

  Danny told him which hangar the private plane was taking off from but there was no way Hawk would be able to drive to that side with the police on him. Knowing that they wouldn’t shoot and risk harming innocent civilians, he ignored their calls to halt and kept going. He sprinted through the airport like a running back working to get to the goal line. It didn’t take long to lose the cops. Their donut eatin' asses weren’t built for actually chasing people on foot.

  It took seven minutes for Hawk to get to the VIP terminal. He had just been there earlier that evening to fly to Miami so he was waved him through to the private lounge without a problem. Out of breath and hands splayed on the dark counter, Hawk leaned forward but before he could speak, the attendant gave him a wide smile.

  “Mr. Pattel, hello. We weren’t expecting you back so soon. What can I do for–”

  “Raven Randolph.” Breathing hard, Hawk cut in abruptly. He didn’t have time for pleasantries. “Where is she?”

  “Sir?”

  “Raven Randolph! She should’ve just boarded. Where’s her plane?” Hawk snapped, glancing around the lounge.

  “Uh, she...it’s actually taking off now, sir.”