Page 88 of Vicious Temptation

As his sirens grow more distant, I can’t help wondering what Thiago would think if he could see me right now. I doubt it would be anything good.

That thought brings me right back to the reality I’ve been trying to avoid.

Thiago and I come from two completely different worlds. He’ll never truly accept all of me. Not my family or the violence woven into every corner of my life, and definitely not the things I’ve done or the things I’ll still do if I have to. Maybe the cruelest part is that I let myself believe we could actually be friends.

Or worse, something more.

I glance at the mirror again, and the cruiser is even farther behind.

“Should have stayed home.”

Another mile passes, and eventually his lights disappear completely. I wait, expecting them to show up again.

Nothing.

A laugh breaks out of me as some of the tension finally leaves my shoulders.

“Good fucking luck explaining that one.”

I ease off the accelerator. Getting away is one thing, but getting myself killed because I’m too busy celebrating is another. My phone lights up with Valentina’s name, but I leave it alone for now. I’ll call her once I’m off the highway and sure no one is still following me. The next exit is less than a mile ahead. I’m already planning which back roads to take home when something starts bothering me.

The cruiser gave up too easily.

My jaw sets as I replay the last mile. The sudden lack of sirens feels more suspicious than reassuring.

He stayed on me through half the city, followed me onto the highway, then suddenly stopped trying the second I had nowhere else to go.

“Oh, shit.”

I look ahead.

At first, all I see are distant flashes reflected off the signs above the highway. Then I get closer, and that’s when I see red and blue lights stretching across every lane.

Several cruisers are parked nose-to-tail ahead of me, blocking the entire road as officers move into position behind their doors. Across the pavement in front of them, something catches in my headlights.

Spike strips.

“You sneaky motherfuckers.”

My eyes dart toward the shoulder, searching for a way around, but another cruiser is already sitting there.

They didn’t lose me. They sent me straight here.

I check the mirror and see red and blue reappear behind me, blocking the highway in the other direction. There’s nowhere left to go.

With a groan, I start bringing the GT-R down to a lower speed.

For one stupid second, Thiago crosses my mind again. He keeps asking if we’re friends. Now I’m about to be dragged out of my car by his coworkers after leading them on a high-speed chase through half the fucking city.

I let out a hollow laugh. Yeah, Braga, this should go over great.

My phone starts ringing again as I slow down, and when Valentina’s name flashes across the screen, I answer through the speakers.

“Did you make it to my place?” I ask.

“Yeah, but I don’t see you. Are you on the way?”

“Not exactly.”