Page 93 of Vicious Temptation

Elena goes quiet again, and I know she’s considering it because she knows I’m right.

Helios has people everywhere, in police departments, courtrooms, government offices, and places I probably don’t even know about. I’ve watched them make problems disappear and create new ones whenever it served whatever they deemed the greater good.

For years, I accepted it because I believed we were protecting people from something worse. But lately, I’ve started wondering how different we really are from the people we hunt.

“Have a good night, Operative.”

The line disconnects without another word.

I shove my phone into my pocket and storm toward the entrance, where a clerk who couldn’t possibly care less who the hell I am meets me.

“Have a seat.”

That’s all I get. There’s no urgency, just rehearsed bullshit about protocol and procedure while Remi sits somewhere behind those walls.

Time drags by, and by the fourth time I get up to demand answers, I’m one irritation away from losing my shit.

“Officer Braga,” the woman behind the desk says with forced patience, “I understand your concern, but the inmate will go through processing like everyone else until she appears before a judge and her bond is set.”

Inmate.

Hearing her referred to that way makes something ugly twist in my chest. I grind my teeth and pull out my phone, fully prepared to call people above her pay grade, when movement near the doors catches my attention.

Valentina Cain rounds the corner, her phone pressed to her ear.

“Maksim, you do not need to fly out here,” she says firmly. “I’m fine, I promise. And Remi is as okay as she can be right now.”

“Valentina,” I say carefully.

She turns at the sound of my voice, and recognition flashes across her face.

“Baby, I’ll call you back.” She pauses, her eyes locked on me. “A friend of Remi’s.”

Hearing her call me Remi’s friend hits differently after the other night. Remi might still argue the point, but I’m starting to think I stopped believing her a while ago.

Valentina ends the call, slips her phone into her bag, then narrows her eyes at me.

“You’re Thiago, right?”

I nod. “I’ve been trying to see if there’s anything I can do, but so far, I’ve hit a wall.” My jaw tightens as I glance at the secured doors again. “Have you spoken to her? Is she okay?”

Valentina stares at me for a second before answering. “She’s fine. Mad as hell, but physically, she’s okay.”

Relief floods through me so quickly that I finally take a full breath for what feels like the first time since I saw her mugshot.

“What happened?”

Valentina glances around the station, clearly checking who might be listening in. “That’s probably not a conversation we should have here, or maybe not at all.” Her gaze returns to mine. “You should ask her yourself.”

She doesn’t seem nearly as worried as I expected, and then it clicks. These people have connections, protection, and enough money and influence to bend situations like this to their favor. Maybe even erase them entirely.

“So you came down here for her?” Valentina asks.

“A colleague let me know what was happening.”

She tilts her head, as if studying me more closely, and I get the distinct feeling I’m being evaluated.

“Remi is special, Thiago. To me and to everyone in our family.” A faint smile touches her lips, but I don’t miss the warning behind it. “I don’t need to tell you not to hurt her because I’m pretty sure you already know that.”