Page 127 of Vicious Temptation

“Have a good night.”

Elena takes a step back before stopping. “Oh, and Op...Officer Braga.” Her smile widens. “Do check your messages when you get a chance. There are a few notes I’d like to pick your brain about before our next debrief.”

“Of course.”

“Wonderful.”

Her attention shifts back to Remi. “It was nice meeting you. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.”

Remi rises from her seat, her expression cold as ice. She stops directly in front of Elena, nearly eye level with her, holding nothing back.

“I didn't give it.”

Neither of them looks away.

I stay quiet and let Remi hold her ground. Elena is used to walking into a room and taking control, but Remi doesn’t give her an inch. And I probably shouldn’t enjoy it as much as I do.

Elena breaks eye contact first, not because Remi intimidated her, but because I know Elena well enough to recognize when she’s gotten what she wants. She came here to see Remi for herself, and now she has.

“Monday,” I say.

Elena gives me one last nod, then walks away without another word. When I turn to Remi, she’s still watching Elena as she crosses the parking lot.

“I don’t like her,” she says. “Don’t trust her. You shouldn’t either.”

The words land square in my chest. Because the person she shouldn’t trust isn’t walking away. He’s sitting right beside her.

“She is who she is,” I say with a shrug. “If a power trip were a person.”

“Is she always like that with everyone?” Remi asks, finally turning to me. “Or just you?”

Elena keeps everyone at arm’s length, but whatever is happening with me has nothing to do with whether she likes me. She wants results, and lately, I’ve given her every reason to question whether I can deliver them.

“Everyone,” I lie.

Because lying is what I do. Every lie I give Remi comes with another one buried beneath it, and the closer we get, the worse they become.

Maybe Elena and I aren’t as different as I’d like to think.

“You mind if we take this to go?” Remi asks, glancing again toward the parking lot.

“Whatever you want to do.”

I grab a few containers and bags from the counter, and within minutes, we’re standing beside my truck. When I head to the passenger side to open the door for her, she steps in front of it, blocking the handle.

“Can I drive?”

I blink. “Can you what?”

“Drive. Did I stutter?”

A laugh slips out as I fold my arms across my chest, knowing damn well Remi Cain could probably drive circles around me blindfolded. Still, I play my part.

“You want to drive my truck?”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, God. Don’t tell me you’re one of those.”

“One of what?”