Page 172 of Vicious Temptation

When she pulls back, I take a second to really look at her. “Jesus, Remi.”

Her grin widens. “You like?”

I laugh under my breath. “Dangerous question.”

She grips my lapels. “And why is that?”

The answer sits right on the tip of my tongue. Because every man in this room is staring at her, she’s driving me out of my goddamn mind, and if I keep looking at her, I’m going to forget where we are.

Before I can say any of it, Elena appears beside us, casting a shadow over Remi, and the irony doesn’t escape me.

“It’s so nice to see you again...Riley.” Her fake smile never slips. “You sure do know how to make an entrance.”

I immediately step closer to Remi and position myself between them, but Remi isn’t having it. She plants her feet and steps forward.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” she asks pleasantly, though her eyes are anything but.

Elena pauses for half a beat. “Very briefly. But the way Braga has been sulking all night, I’m glad you decided to come after all.”

“Me too.” The words sound innocent enough, but the challenge beneath them is unmistakable. Remi reaches for my hand without looking away from Elena. “Thiago.”

“Yeah?”

She finally turns toward me. “Let’s get some air.” Her red lips curve into a smile. “It’s a little stuffy in here.”

Satisfaction flashes through me because Remi isn’t retreating from Elena. She’s taking me with her, and the way Elena looks at our joined hands tells me she knows it too.

“Lead the way.”

Without another word, I lace my fingers through hers and guide her toward the nearest exit, leaving Elena beside the bar. Grey remains several feet away, and I can practically feel his stare burning into my back as we leave.

“Some people lack survival instincts,” Remi says the moment the ballroom doors swing shut behind us. “Mistake number one.” She stops at the bottom of a stairwell and turns to face me. The leather of her catsuit creaks softly as she crosses her arms. “Question is, why is your boss provoking me? Is she into you or something?”

I bark out a laugh.

Then the humor leaves Remi’s face.

“Wait.” Her eyes narrow. “Do you two have some sort of past I should know about?”

“No! No, we don’t.” My answer comes out harsher than necessary, but the last thing I want is for Elena to occupy any space in Remi’s mind tonight.

“I don’t do well with people like her,” she adds. “And that won’t end well. Take that however you want.” She starts up the stairs before looking back over her shoulder. “I let the Riley shit slide for you. And a little because I was in a room full of cops.”

I can’t help smiling. “Very generous of you.”

“Don’t interrupt.”

I raise both hands in surrender as Remi continues climbing.

“But it won’t happen again.” Her tone leaves no room to question the warning. “I don’t tolerate disrespect.” She pauses on the next step. “Not even from your boss.”

I simply stare at her. Most people might find Remi intimidating, and I understand why. She refuses to bend for anyone, no matter who they are or how much power they hold, and I think it’s becoming one of my favorite things about her.

I take the next step and close the distance between us. “Good.”

Her eyebrow lifts. “Good?”

“Yeah. Because if Elena ever gives you a reason not to let it slide, I’m probably already having the same problem.”