His work is all that matters.
But one woman could change all that.
Rafael Rodriguez is determined to get his man. Especially
after he narrowly escapes death on the hunt for drug kingpin Hector Hernandez.
But as the FBI special agent inches closer to his prey, he didn't bargain on
Allison Lexington. After infiltrating the Devil's Patrol, his onetime
confidential informant's now on the straight and narrow. With her sister set to
marry Hector's nephew, Allison topples headfirst into danger. Then her sister
vanishes and the motorcycle-riding trauma nurse might be the one who needs
saving. And Rafe's just the one to do it…
Fast-paced suspense with romance. The prologue starts the
story with a bang, as FBI agent Rafe attempts to stop a drug lord, Hector
Hernandez, and ends up shot, and two fellow agents are dead. A mysterious
rescuer saves his life. Months later, Rafe is still determined to bring down
Hector and will do whatever he can to accomplish his mission. Rafe's father was
a police officer killed in the line of duty, and Rafe is driven by his need to
avenge his father. Rafe's family, a boisterous Cuban-American group, worries
about his safety and his lack of balance in life (meaning romance!). Their
interactions on this subject are emotional and occasionally humorous.
Allie is a trauma nurse practitioner. She and Rafe have a
history, stemming from her becoming a confidential informant for him on an
earlier case. Allie is strong, independent, and protective of her younger
sister, Diana. Diana is engaged to Hector's nephew, and Hector is providing the
wedding of Diana's dreams. Allie knows what Hector is and is determined to talk
Diana out of the fancy wedding, thereby getting her away from Hector's
influence.
Allie and Rafe's lives collide when Rafe raids one of Hector's
businesses and finds Allie there. Discovering Allie's link to Hector's estate
gives him the perfect opportunity to get inside and investigate. Rafe pushes
the envelope of proper procedures and ends up suspended from the investigation
when his efforts go sideways. He is still thinking about the case and trying to
remain involved on the periphery when he and his fellow LEOs participate in a
motorcycle charity ride. He's surprised and not happy when Allie and Diana also
show up to join the ride. Trouble is hard on their heels, and Rafe is certain
that Diana is knowingly involved.
The twists and turns of the charity ride events kept me
hooked and guessing. Is Diana innocent or not? Why does Allie feel like she's
being watched? The action and intensity increase when Diana disappears, and
Rafe and Allie race against time to find her. The final confrontation was a
nail-biter, with an ending that confirmed a niggling suspicion that followed me
throughout the book. I loved Allie's ingenuity, and even Diana got an
"atta girl!" from me.
I enjoyed the development of Rafe and Allie's
relationship. The sparks between them are undeniable, but both try to resist. I
enjoyed their bonding over motorcycles and loved the scenes during the charity
ride. However, working together intensifies the attraction, and mutual respect
for each other's abilities begins to break down their defensive walls. I liked
seeing them finally let go of their fears.
Family is an important theme in this book. Rafe's mixed
feelings about his family and his heritage add to the tension between him and
that family. The love is obvious, but the arguments over his work add to the
stress. I loved the changes that loving Allie brought to that dynamic. Allie
has an interesting history with her sister that continues to affect their relationship.
I will say that Diana irritated me throughout most of the book. She was
self-centered, stubborn, and unwilling to listen to others' concerns. She
redeemed herself a bit at the end, but she still has some maturing to do.
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