Chapter 17 – Remi
Seventeen
Remi
My finger taps against Papá’s ring as I watch Thiago and his teammates move through their drills on the monitor.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Valentina’s hand covers mine, stopping the movement.
“Are you finally going to tell me who he is?”
Before I can answer, she reaches for the controls and switches the camera angle.
“Hey.” I side-eye her like she just interrupted my favorite show, then immediately switch it back. “Thiago Braga.”
“No shit. I can read his ID just fine.” She narrows her eyes at me.
“Who is he to you? He’s the guy from the cemetery.
I know that much. I didn’t ask that day because, well…
that day sucked. Then I forgot.” She pauses, studying me.
“And do I really have to drag information out of you? I haven’t been gone that long. You hate me or something?”
That gets my attention enough to pull my eyes away from the screen.
I sink back into the chair with a sigh, because she’s right.
Distance and time will never dull what we have, but things have changed.
If she still lived here, Val would’ve known every detail by now, from the night Thiago and I met to why he showed up at the cemetery and to every scathing word we’ve exchanged in between.
“I met him one night when my car left me stranded on the side of the road. He seemed cool, and...” I hesitate, already regretting what I’m about to admit. “We might’ve kissed once.”
Her eyes widen. “You kissed him?”
“Can you not look so excited about it?” I point to the monitor. “He lied to me, Val. He made it seem like he was someone else, and then I found out he’s a cop.”
She keeps staring at me like she’s waiting for the part that explains why I’m sitting here watching him. Apparently, the cop thing isn’t enough for her.
“Look, no offense. You know Aunt Eva is like another mother to me, but that’s not my story. I’d never risk everything, everyone, for a man.”
Val nods slowly, her lips pressing together. “Okay, fair enough. So why are you sitting here watching him?”
“Because shit got complicated.” I glance back at the monitor. “He’s the one who saved Zara.”
Understanding replaces the skepticism on her face. “Okay, yeah. That complicates things.”
“Exactly.” I reach into the drawer and pull out a lollipop. “And I can’t prove it, but I feel like he’s low-key stalking me.”
Valentina turns back to the monitor and zooms in on Thiago as he absolutely shreds through a rifle course.
“Stalking, as in, he’s interested, or the creepy kind?”
“When is stalking not the creepy kind?” I scoff. “This isn’t some smutty book, Val. If a man keeps conveniently showing up everywhere you are, that shit isn’t cute.”
She snorts. “Okay, first of all, relax. He booked a training session at your range. He didn’t build a shrine for your bathwater.”
“First, the side of the road, then Sloane’s, the gym, the cemetery, and now he magically ends up here again with his entire team?” I point the lollipop at the screen. “That’s a lot of coincidences.”
“You own a gun range, Remi. And you just said he’s a cop.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours.” She laughs. “I’m just saying this one actually makes sense.”
I narrow my eyes at the monitor, watching Thiago finish the course before stepping aside.
“And why is he standing like that?”
Valentina blinks. “Standing...how?”
I jab the lollipop toward the screen again. “Like that! Valentina, you have eyes. Look at him.”
He knows exactly what he’s doing. Those big fucking arms are folded across his chest, straining his shirt tight enough to make me irrational, and I swear he’s flexing because he knows I’m watching.
Popping the candy into my mouth, I force myself to look away.
“Remi,” Val says gently, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m not taking his side. If your gut says there’s something off about him, listen to it. Just make sure you’re keeping him out because you don’t trust him, not because you’re scared of what might happen if you let yourself want him.”
I turn and stare at her.
She throws an arm around my shoulders. “You’re fucking stunning. Of course the man is going to find every excuse he can to be around you.”
“I thought you said you were on my side.”
“I am.” A grin tugs at her mouth. “Which is why I’m reminding you of something you once told me.”
I chuckle softly. “I’ve said a lot of things to you, and you probably shouldn’t have listened to half of them.”
Val dips her head with a laugh. “Maybe, but this one was actually decent advice.” Her smile softens as she nudges my shoulder.
“You’ve been through some shit, Rem, and you deserve to be happy.
You also don’t have to marry the guy or trust him with your deepest, darkest secrets to have a little fun. ”
I already know I’m not going to like where this is going.
“Take him for a test drive.”
I snort. “Ah, there’s that sage advice.”
“Exactly. And you know there isn’t another man alive I’d ever look at besides Maksim.” Her eyes drift back to the screen. “But I’m not blind. Thiago is hot. And huge.”
I slowly slide the lollipop across my bottom lip as my gaze finds him again.
She’s not wrong.
The temptation alone is enough to make my pulse race because I could have him if I wanted to. I know that. One little opening, and I have no doubt Thiago would take it.
But I shouldn’t want him. And I’m not going to.
I close my eyes and shake my head, hoping to physically knock the thoughts loose, but of course, that does absolutely nothing.
My phone suddenly buzzes against the glass, offering a much-needed distraction. Between whatever the hell is going on with Thiago and everything I’m still trying to process after Estela’s death, my head has been a mess.
Lachlan: Hey, Rem. Got a client asking for you tonight. Can you swing by?
Me: What do they want?
Lachlan: Couple hours max. Clean linework.
I started freelancing at Venom & Velvet Ink two years ago, mostly taking on occasional clients whenever Lachlan needed another set of hands.
I never expected much to come of it, but word spread fast. Before long, people were requesting me by name, and I was spending most weekends at the shop with a tattoo machine in my hand, turning skin into art.
Me: I can be there in one hour.
Lachlan: See you then.
I blow a lock of hair out of my face, then reach over to adjust the camera angle.
Valentina side-eyes me, amusement written all over her face, then snatches the lollipop straight from my hand and pops it into her mouth as she stands up.
“You’re gross.”
“I love you too.” She winks and pushes to her feet. “I need to stretch my legs and call Maxy. I’ll be back.”
I wave her off, pretending to be annoyed, though deep down, I couldn’t be happier she’s here. Having her beside me feels like old times, and I’ve missed her more than I realized, which makes knowing I only have one more week with my Val feel nowhere near long enough.
The next hour drags on painfully slowly, especially now that I’m alone with my thoughts and avoiding room camera B like the plague.
Aunt Leni picked up Valentina thirty minutes ago, and I would’ve gone with them if I hadn’t already committed to Venom. Now I’m starting to regret that decision.
Most of the patrons have cleared out, along with Thiago and the rest of his team. At least, I assume he’s gone. He didn’t say goodbye, stop by the counter, or even look for me as he left. I pretend not to notice the stupid little sting of disappointment that comes with that realization.
“Stop it, Remi. It’s for the best, and you know that.”
Once the last straggler makes his way out the door, I head upstairs to grab my bag from my office, then come back down to close up.
“Remi.”
I nearly jump out of my fucking skin, my hand instantly going to the blade at my waist as I spin toward the sound. Thiago stands near the entrance to the reserved rooms, bag slung over one shoulder. His eyes drop to my hand, and I wonder if he knows exactly how close he came to being stabbed.
“What is actually wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He raises his hands in surrender, though I don’t miss the hint of amusement on his face.
Fucking asshole.
“Scare me? You almost got eviscerated.” I glance around the empty range, then look back at him. “What the fuck are you still doing here? The lights off and everyone else leaving didn’t ring any damn bells?”
“I was packing up.”
“For thirty minutes?”
His mouth twitches.
My eyes narrow. “Thiago.”
“I might’ve taken my time.”
The way he just stands there, looking entirely too good for my liking and not saying a word, is seriously starting to piss me off.
“I just needed to talk to you,” he says at last, stepping close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
I swallow harder than I’d like to, and against my better judgment, I stay exactly where I am.
“What now?”
“Nothing.” His voice drops as he leans in slightly. “I just like talking to you.”
I’ll be damned. My traitorous stomach flutters.
This is the moment I should shut this down and send him straight to hell, because I know better than to entertain whatever this is becoming. But Val’s voice chooses this moment to creep into my head.
Take him for a test drive.
Fuck it.
“I haven’t exactly been friendly.” I step into him until my chest brushes his. “You really are a masochist, Officer Braga. Is this some kind of kink of yours?”
“Kink?” he repeats, a low growl rumbling in his chest, sending heat straight through me.
Well, shit.
“Maybe.” His gaze drops to my mouth. “So I’ll take that as my sign to stick around because I have a feeling you can be meaner.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “You haven’t seen anything yet.” Turning my back on him, I head for the exit. “Get out.”
“Where are you going?” he asks, following me.
We step into the parking lot, and he waits while I lock up and arm the security system.
“None of your business,” I toss over my shoulder as I walk toward my bike.
“Let me take you out for drinks,” he says. “Or a late dinner if you’re hungry. Nothing fancy. We can keep it quick.”
I won’t deny I’m getting a little enjoyment from making him work for it. Stopping beside my bike, I slowly turn to face him.
“Oh, so you think I’m the kind of woman who deserves a quick, cheap meal?”
“Fuck. No.” He runs a hand down his face. “That’s not what I meant.”
The smile I’ve been fighting finally breaks through. “Relax. I’m fucking with you.”
His eyes narrow. “You enjoy this way too much.”
“Maybe I do.” I reach for my helmet. “But I’m not going home. I have a client waiting for me.”
“A client?” His focus intensifies. “What sort of client?”
I should be annoyed because if his reaction means what I think it does, then what right does he have to judge me? And why the hell was that his first thought?
Rolling my eyes, I grab my helmet, but he steps in front of me before I can put it on.
There’s a fire behind those pretty brown eyes that wasn’t there a second ago, and suddenly I see another side of him.
He’s not just the chivalrous, apologetic guy he keeps showing me.
There’s something darker beneath, something possessive that has no business making anticipation burn beneath my skin.
Especially when my mind immediately goes to his touch and to the memory of his lips on mine.
Remi, no.
“I’m trying here,” he says, quieter now.
Something about that admission takes some of the fight out of me.
“I take clients at Venom & Velvet Ink. I got called in tonight.”
“Tattoos?”
“Yeah.”
The tension in his face disappears so quickly I almost laugh.
“Cool.”
I shake my head, unable to suppress another smile. “See you around, then.”
As I try to step around him, he shifts with me, putting himself right back in my path.
“Can I come with you?”
“What?” I stare at him. “Absolutely not. I told you, we’re not friends.”
“You also said you owed me.”
Bastard.
Is he really trying to cash in on that now, even after telling me I didn’t owe him a damn thing? And why am I even standing here entertaining this in the first place? He’s a cop, and he lied to me.
“I’m pretty sure you told me I don’t,” I remind him.
“I lied.”
Of course he fucking did.
The word “fine” starts to slip from my lips, and I don’t stop it because I don’t want to. Apparently, that makes me a fucking masochist, too.
“Fine, Officer Braga, but only if you can keep up.”
A grin splits his face as he steps back, giving me room to put on my helmet and swing a leg over my bike. I fire up the engine, and Thiago takes off across the parking lot toward his truck.
By the time I pull onto the street, every instinct I have is telling me that letting Thiago Braga follow me anywhere is a terrible fucking idea. I know he’s hiding something. I know I shouldn’t trust him, and I definitely shouldn’t give him another chance to get any closer than he already is.
But knowing better has never kept me from making a bad decision.