Page 208 of Vicious Temptation

“Yeah.” Her laughter fades and she climbs into the passenger seat. “You’re going to have to report it, aren’t you?”

I know what she’s really asking, so I take her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

“We were never here.”

Her lips part as she stares at me. “Thiago…I don’t want you risking your job for me.” She goes quiet for a beat. “Wait. How did you even know where to find me?”

“Matteo told me where you were.”

She groans. “I’m going to kill him and his big fucking mouth.”

“To be fair, I’d already heard whispers about Furia.” I glance at her. “Is that what you do, Remi? You street race?”

Remi gives me a look. “Are you asking as Thiago or as a cop?”

“Thiago,” I say without hesitation.

“Then, yes.”

I shake my head, fighting a smile. “Is that why you hate cops?”

“Please. I hated cops long before you started ruining my life.”

“I’m glad to know it isn’t personal.”

“Oh, Braga. Some of it is definitely personal,” she adds with a wink.

I laugh under my breath and turn my attention back to the road.

“Remi, you said you’re not the type to take orders,” I say, squeezing her hand. “But I’m going to need you to bend that rule for me just this once, okay?”

Her mouth twitches. “You’re a shitty cop.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I think I might be.”

She brings my hand to her lips this time and whispers, “Thank you.”

“Call your mom to let her know we made it out before she doubles back. Then we’ll go home, and you can tell me what the hell happened.”

She nods and reaches for her phone.

“I still have to figure out what to do with my truck. The moment I roll into a body shop with bullet holes all over it, the entire city will be calling the tip line.”

“Well,” she says, pressing another kiss to my knuckles, “it’s a good thing your girl has her own garage and happens to be pretty damn good at bodywork and making problems disappear.”

Your girl.

After everything that happened tonight, hearing her call herself that shouldn’t affect me as much as it does, but fuck, it does.

My girl.

Fifty-One

Remi

Dead.

I lean back against the elevator wall and close my eyes. Today has been one hell of a day, and saying I’m completely drained and ready to collapse into bed is an understatement.