Page 17 of Cryptic Curse

“Is that Raven’s purse?”I ask Daniela, stopping myself from staring at her.

How the hell is she even sexier in a sweatshirt and jeans than she was in that little black dress at Raven’s gala?

Her honey-brown skin looks like it’s been kissed by the sun, and her lips are naturally plump and pink.

“Yeah,” she says, meeting my gaze, her cheeks blushing a touch.“Hi, Hawk.”

“Hi Daniela, Belinda.I’ll show you where my dad’s room is.”

I lead them down the corridor to the room where Vinnie and Raven are still standing outside along with the security guard.

Raven steps towards Daniela and gives her a hug.“Thanks so much for doing this.I owe you.”

“You and Vinnie don’t ever owe me anything,” Daniela says.“I oweyoueverything.”

It’s difficult for me to think about Daniela.I try to fight my attraction to her because I know she didn’t have it easy in Colombia.I don’t know the details, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to.Plus, she’s a kid.Only eighteen.

Something about her, though…

I wish laying eyes on Grace gave me the burn that laying eyes on Daniela does.

But she is definitely off limits.She’s married to my sister’s boyfriend, she’s barely eighteen, and her father was a Colombian gangster.

Baggage there for sure.

Raven is showing her ID to the security guard when a nurse walks out of Dad’s room.

“He still doing okay?”I ask.

“Vitals are all good.He’s trying to talk, but still not making sense.The doctor will examine him again tomorrow after we get the MRI results.”

I simply nod and then drop my jaw.

My younger brother Eagle comes sauntering down the corridor toward the room.And I do mean sauntering, as if he hasn’t a care in the world.

I resist the urge to grab him and shake him.“Where the fuck have you been?”I grit out.

He scrunches his forehead.“I’ve been on my way.”

“Yeah?”I roll my eyes.“And you can’t be bothered to answer your fucking phone?”

“I didn’t answer it because it goes on automatic Do Not Disturb when I’m driving.”

“That is such bullshit, E.If Scarlett Ramsey—or anyone but me—had been calling you, you would have picked up.You ignore my calls, but who’s the first person you call when you need someone?”

Eagle’s cheeks redden just a touch.

Yeah.He knows he needs to not fuck with me.I hold all his secrets.

“Let’s just see Dad,” he says.

Raven walks toward us.“I don’t know what you two are fighting about, but I can finally go in to see my father.And all five of us are here, so let’s go.”

“Fine,” I say under my breath.

Raven, Eagle, and I walk into the hospital room.

Mom is still sitting next to Dad, holding his hand.Robin is sitting next to her, and Falcon is standing at the foot of the bed.I’m not sure where Savannah went.Maybe she figured this is family time and made herself scarce.Just Mom and the kids.