Page 39 of Vicious Temptation

“I can’t believe I’m doing this. Your mother is going to kill me,” Papá says as he clicks his seatbelt into place.

“So don’t tell her.”

His gaze slides my way, and he tuts under his breath. “Right. You think I got a death wish?”

A laugh slips out of me as I turn my attention back to the road. I roll my shoulders and ease the Demon forward into position, lining up with the others. My eyes sweep over the stretch ahead, mapping every curve and break in the asphalt.

A girl in a light green skirt and see-through halter steps out in front with one arm raised. For a traitorous moment, my mind goes straight back to Thiago, to his mouth on mine and the badge I never saw coming.

I push him from my thoughts and focus on the race.

“Drive like I taught you, baby girl. And don’t hold back.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. The woman’s arm drops, and I launch.

The Demon shoots forward, tires gripping hard as the force presses me back into the seat. I shift smoothly as the other cars surge around me, their engines screaming in competition as we tear down the straightaway.

She’s built for this, and I can feel it in the way she responds to me. Clean power, brutal acceleration, and no hesitation as the numbers climb and the distance between me and the others stretches.

The first curve comes up fast, and I ease off just enough to guide her through it. Her weight fights me, heavier than my GT-R, but I know how to handle it. I know this car. She may not be mine, but I know her bones.

“Come on,” I mutter between clenched teeth as I push through the turn and come out clean, already setting up for the next stretch.

Papá says nothing, but I can feel him watching every move.

“You okay?” I ask, biting back a chuckle when I notice his death grip on the handle above him and his other hand braced against the leather seat. “I thought you were used to these kinds of speeds.”

“I am,” he says, his voice tight. “When I’m in control. Not like this. But I trust you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

The road bends again, tighter, and I adjust my speed as I enter the curve, balancing the Demon’s weight through the turn and keeping her exactly where I want her. Headlights flare up ahead, too many and way too close. My focus sharpens as two cars pull out from a side road. They aren’t part of the race, and neither one slows as they move to block the lane.

“Remi, brake.”

I don’t.

I cut left, then snap the Demon right, aiming for the narrowing gap as one of the cars swerves to close it. The Demon fights me for a fraction of a second before I muscle her through, clearing the bumper by inches.

The race route disappears behind us as I tear down a side road I’ve never driven before. It’s narrower and darker, but it’s open, and right now, that’s all I care about.

“Who the fuck are they? You think they’re looking for Rafe?”

“Whoever they are, they’re not friendly.” Papá reaches for his Glock. “You armed?”

“Always.”

“That’s my girl.”

One of the cars catches up fast and swings toward my rear, trying to spin us out. I accelerate before he can make contact, putting enough distance between us to avoid the hit as I scan the unfamiliar roads and recalculate with every turn. I’m not chasing a finish line anymore. I’m looking for a way out.

“Stay on it, Remi,” Papá shouts as he lowers his window.

He leans toward the opening and fires, three shots ripping through the night.

“Be careful!”

The car behind us jerks across the road. Papá fires again, and this time, it veers hard, tears off the pavement, and disappears into the embankment.

I check the mirror, but there’s no time to celebrate because the second car is still coming. Gunfire erupts behind us, bullets piercing Rafe’s roof and rear bumper.