Page 209 of Vicious Temptation

It took nearly an hour to calm my parents down and convince them not to march straight to some of the local heads of The Six to demand answers about how Rafe knew the organization existed and, even worse, how our names and identities had somehow been caught up in the leak.

They can pretend Thiago doesn’t fully have their trust, but if I weren’t with him right now, I’m pretty sure both of them would be banging on my door, ready to drag me back home.

“Tired?” he asks, nudging my shoulder.

“Exhausted.” I open my eyes to find his. “It’s been a while since I’ve shot up the town.”

The corner of his mouth twitches, but the smile never comes. Instead, he looks away, and that tiny shift has my mind instantly filling in the blanks.

How do you explain any of tonight to a cop?

Sure, Thiago didn’t call for backup or turn me in. He even helped me get away, which should be enough to convince me he isn’t going anywhere. But he still doesn’t know the whole truth.

And if he ever does...

Before I can follow that thought any further, Thiago slips one arm beneath my thighs and the other around my back, lifting me into his arms just as the elevator doors slide open. Apparently, whatever is on his mind isn’t enough to make him put any distance between us.

“I thought I told you I could walk.”

“You’re exhausted, chama.” His gaze meets mine. “Let me take care of you for five minutes.”

Fuck.

Why does he have to say things like that?

I reach for the biometric pad and let it scan my fingers while I remain exactly where I am in his arms. The deadbolts click open, and Thiago carries me across the threshold.

“How romantic,” I tease.

He starts to answer, but a faint rustle from somewhere inside the apartment steals my attention.

“Wait.” I wriggle out of his arms, and he sets me gently on my feet. “Shh.”

His brow furrows as I take a slow step forward. Behind me, I hear the unmistakable metallic click as a round is chambered.

“Remi,” he whispers. “What’s going on?”

Without looking back, I raise one hand to stop him and press a finger to my lips. “Quiet.” I reach for the light switch and scan the living room. Another rustle makes me pause. At the edge of the sofa, the tip of a familiar tail disappears beneath it. “Shit.”

“Shit?” he repeats through gritted teeth. “Remi, what the hell is going on?”

“Clarice.”

“Clarice?”

I look back at him. “Yeah. My pit viper. The venomous one. She got out.”

“Shit.”

His eyes widen as they sweep the room. Without a second thought, he steps in front of me, pushing me behind him with one arm and keeping his gun at the ready in the other.

It’s probably ridiculous to think about shooting a snake, but that isn’t what gets me. Once again, his first instinct is to put himself between me and anything that could hurt me.

Damn him.

I rest my hand on his bicep, and the solid muscle beneath my palm gives me a perfectly good excuse to leave it there a second longer than necessary.

“Thiago, I’ve got this. This isn’t the first time she’s escaped. Sometimes I rush after feeding her and forget to fully secure the enclosure.”