Page 217 of Vicious Temptation

Belonging.

Before I can spend too much time thinking about what it means, Zara sets her camera down, climbs back onto the couch, and plops herself between us, blissfully unaware of what’s going through my head.

After all the running around, a few strands of her curls have come loose. She blows one out of her face with an exaggerated sigh.

“Zara?” Remi says, concern creeping into her voice as she reaches out and gently separates a lock of hair between her fingers. “What happened here?”

I look closer.

The front of Zara’s hair is choppy and uneven, where someone has clearly taken scissors to it. Remi crouches in front of her and takes both of her hands.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Zara lowers her eyes to their joined hands and sniffles.

“Greta Van Buren cut my hair.”

“Is she in your class?”

Zara nods.

“Baby, why did she do that?”

“She said it’s messy.” Zara’s voice grows smaller with each word. “And poofy. And weird.”

The change in Remi is almost imperceptible, but I catch it. Her jaw tightens, and something dark flashes in her eyes before she forces it back under control. She takes a slow breath and gently tilts Zara’s chin until their eyes meet.

“You know that was a mean thing to say and an even meaner thing to do.” Her voice is soft yet unwavering. “You also know you’re the prettiest, sweetest, most amazing little menace I’ve ever met.”

Zara grins and throws herself at Remi, wrapping her arms around her and sending them both tumbling onto the floor.

“I love my hair, Remi. It’s just like Mommy’s. And Daddy says she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Of course she is.” Remi brushes a curl from Zara’s face. “And so are you, from these beautiful curls all the way down to those chipped pink toenails.”

She tickles Zara’s sides until she squirms beneath her, filling the room with squeals. I watch them together, struck by how quickly Remi buried her own anger to ensure Zara never carried someone else’s cruelty as her own.

“Come on, menace. Your mom’s on her way. Let’s get you cleaned up. You still have ice cream on your leotard.”

Zara nods enthusiastically as they stand. “Officer Thiago,” she says, planting one hand on her hip and wagging a finger at me. “You better not ruin your hairdo.”

“Aw, come on, kid.”

She gives me a firm shake of her head before trotting down the hallway.

Remi passes me with obvious amusement, but I catch her wrist and pull her onto my lap before she gets far.

“I’m glad you find this amusing, fera.” I kiss her slowly, catching her bottom lip between my teeth.

“It’s the hottest I’ve ever seen you,” she murmurs, tilting her chin for another kiss.

Before she can pull away, I tighten my arm around her waist.

“Is she going to be okay?”

“She will be. Once I explain everything to her mom, I’m hoping the school handles this the way they should.”

There’s something unspoken in her voice. I don’t know exactly what she’s thinking, but I know this much: Zara won’t have to face this alone. If I’ve learned anything about Remi and her family, it’s that when someone comes after one of their own, they don’t look the other way until it’s made right.