Page 82 of Vicious Temptation

My condo is the last place I want to be. I’ve had two days to get rid of every trace of Thiago, but I swear I can still smell his cologne every time I walk into the living room. Lighting candles and spraying some disgusting fruity shit I found under the kitchen sink only made the place smell like him, mixed with a tropical nightmare.

That’s the exact opposite of what I need.

“No, I’m good. I want this. I need the distraction, Val.”

“Killing egos on the track is just as good as any therapy session.”

“I love you, pendeja.”

She laughs as we pull into Furia side by side, the parking lot already buzzing with music, revving engines, and people packed around cars beneath neon lights.

“I’m still going to smoke you, though.”

Before I can fire back, I spot Rafe and stop cold.

That asshole has been dodging me since that night. He hasn’t answered a single call or text, and he hasn’t even bothered to pick up his car, which is still sitting in my garage riddled with bullet holes and busted glass.

Valentina’s smile disappears the second she sees me heading across the lot toward him. Her footsteps follow close behind.

“Remi, what’s going on?”

I hear the familiar sound of her Glock racking behind me and can’t help but smile.

My girl.

Rafe has his back to us, completely oblivious that I’m coming for him. Some tall chick with a black bob notices us first and taps him on the shoulder, but she’s too late.

“Rafe!” I snap. “What the fuck?”

He whips around so fast he nearly trips over himself as he backs away, stopping only when his spine slams into the driver’s side door of his car. His hands shoot up, and his face twists into the worst attempt at innocence I’ve ever seen.

“Remi? W-What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I jab a finger into his chest. “I’ve had your piece-of-shit car in my garage for weeks, and you can’t even answer your fucking phone?”

“Hey, put some respect on her name,” he protests. “Ruby isn’t a piece of shit. And I was gonna call you back, I swear⁠—”

“I was nearly run off the road, chased, and shot at while driving your car. One nobody knew I’d be taking except for you and Sam.”

Rafe’s expression falters for a second. “Remi...” He swallows hard. “You’re not seriously implying I set you up, are you?” His hands spread helplessly. “Would I really come back here if that were true?”

“I don’t know what you’d do, and honestly, I don’t care.” I step fully into his space, nearly eye-level with him. “Explain yourself.”

A crowd starts forming around us. People stare as phones lift to record and whispers already spread through the lot, but I couldn’t care less.

Rafe owes me answers, and whether he walks away from this depends on how much I like them.

Before he can get a word out, a heavy hand clamps down on my shoulder.

I whip toward the touch, my eyes lifting to the woman with the black bob glaring at me like she wants a problem.

“Back up,” she snaps.

I don’t move an inch.

“Do you like that hand?” I ask calmly. “Because if you do, I suggest you remove it.”

She smirks, clearly convinced her size is supposed to intimidate me. “Or what?”