Page 280 of Vicious Temptation

She goes quiet before realizing, “Oh. The little boy.”

“That was him.”

Santino gives me a small nod from across the room. Aunt Athena must have told him.

“Thiago is also the officer who saved Zara at the bank.”

He saved and comforted Zara, someone who means everything to all of us. I think that was the day I started seeing him differently. Knowing he’d put his own life on the line for her affected me more than I knew how to admit at the time. I believed it showed me exactly who he was. Even now, I don’t know if I was wrong about that part. And that’s what scares me.

“If Helios knows as much about this family as that file suggests, then they know about Zara too.” I turn toward Santino. “Things are already getting dangerous, and she’s too young to be anywhere near this.”

“Agreed.” Santino pulls out his phone. “Athena’s already on her way. Zara won’t leave our sight.”

“We don’t know what Helios is planning or how far they’re willing to go. We have contingency plans and safe houses for this very reason.” I look around the room. “I think it’s time we use them.”

“Remi.”

I turn toward Matteo as he rises from his chair. “What about Thiago?”

I knew someone would ask eventually. I’m still not ready to answer.

In this family, we don’t go looking for trouble, but when someone comes for one of us, we make sure they never get another chance to do it again.

And Thiago came for me.

Back on that rooftop, I wanted him dead. I hated him enough to believe that pulling the trigger would be easy. But I couldn’t do it. And now the thought of anyone else hurting him, of his life ending because of me, makes me sick.

“I’ll deal with Thiago when the time comes.”

“Remi.” Uncle Derek looks to his brother.

I understand what he’s asking without hearing the words. Uncle Derek has loved me like a daughter for as long as I can remember. If my father gave the order, there would be nothing left for me to deal with.

I’ve never lost sleep over what the men who raised me are capable of. But I would if the man on the receiving end had Thiago’s face.

“Please.” I look between them. “Give me that.”

Uncle Derek’s jaw tightens, but after a moment, he gives me a reluctant nod.

Voices rise around the room as phones come out and everyone starts making plans. Mamá comes around the desk and wraps her arms around me.

“Mi amor, I’m proud of you.” She kisses my temple. “And I’m sorry.”

I don’t trust myself to answer, so I hold on to her.

All my life, I’ve watched my mother walk into situations that would terrify most people and take control. I used to wonder if I’d ever be able to do the same.

Maybe I already have more of her in me than I realized.

I stood before the people I love most, admitted one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made, and offered them a path forward even as my heart was still breaking.

For today, that’s enough.

Chairs scrape against the floor around me, and phones begin to ring. Uncle Derek is already issuing orders as Aunt Eva falls into step behind him on the way out. Santino leaves next, focused on getting back to his family. Papá pauses beside me long enough to rest a hand on my shoulder before following them.

“Remi?” Valentina’s voice carries through the room, and I turn toward the television. After our last conversation, part of me was afraid of what I might find on her face once she knew how wrong I’d been.

I should’ve known better. Val has always been my person. She smiles at me through the screen, her eyes already glistening.