Page 3 of Vicious Temptation

“I had to know which of you would walk out of this room.”

Crouching beside the woman, she presses two fingers to the side of her neck, confirming the kill before rising again.

“Operative 309 was one of our best,” she says. “But clearly, she wasn’t good enough.”

I look down at the woman bleeding across the tile. Whatever years she gave Helios have already been reduced to a number and a failed test. Elena shows more interest in the blood staining her floor than the body at her feet.

Anger burns beneath my skin, but I keep it buried. Maybe that’s another part of the test, to see if I’ll question her, threaten her, or lose control over someone I didn’t even know five minutes ago. Only, that’s the problem. I shouldn’t have needed to know her. She was one of ours.

When I look up again, Elena Duvall is watching me with faint satisfaction as she reaches into her pocket and removes a small black drive.

“But you are.” She holds it out to me. “And you’re exactly the man I need for the contract on this drive.”

One

Remi

“¡Hijo de puta!”

Metal slams into metal, the impact jolting through my baby so hard that it rattles my teeth. The rear end kicks out, tires screeching as we fishtail and the world swings sideways.

“Remi!” AJ braces herself against the dash.

“I’ve got it.”

I don’t lift off the gas because easing back now is exactly how I’ll lose control. I lean into it, keeping a firm hand on the wheel as I countersteer and ride the slide, forcing the car back into alignment. The engine snarls in response, sounding just as pissed off as I am, before we finally snap forward.

“Did you see that?” AJ asks, her dark hair whipping around her face, eyes wide and her smile even wider.

A year ago, when she first asked to ride with me, I hesitated, because three years before that, I nearly lost Valentina on the track, and I still didn’t know whether the people responsible were truly gone. If anything happened to AJ, I’d never forgive myself.

I should’ve known better than to worry.

Alessandra has Cain blood in her veins, and she’s just as addicted to speed as Val and me. The only difference is that she prefers two wheels beneath her instead of four. She’s damn good, too, already races competitively, and tomorrow, she’s off to Spain to train with a development team that could put her on the road to Moto3.

I’m proud of her, just like I’m proud of Val.

Sometimes, though, no matter how fast I drive, it feels like everyone around me is moving forward while I’m stuck in reverse. Val has Maksim and a new life in Russia, and AJ is leaving for Spain tomorrow. I’m happy for them, but I haven’t figured out what comes next for me.

“Check your mirrors, Rem.”

A blacked-out Camaro rides my flank, too close and too aggressive, trying to force me out.

Fucking rookie.

“You really wanna play?” I mutter.

“He’s been riding you since the last turn.”

“Yeah,” I say, shifting and pushing harder. “I noticed.”

AJ glances my way. “Are you sure? You seem a little...off.”

“Are you questioning my driving?” I ask, feigning offense.

The road ahead tightens, construction barriers closing in on both sides and leaving just enough space for one clean pass. And it's exactly what I need.

“Remi...”