Page 58 of Vicious Temptation

“Remi.”

My name sounds different when he says it now, or maybe I’m the one hearing it differently. I’m not sure. He doesn’t move any closer, reach for me, or tell me he’s sorry for my loss. I’m glad he doesn’t, because I have no idea what I’d do if he did.

I cross my arms over my chest, grounding myself while keeping the space between us. “I didn’t know SWAT made house calls.”

His gaze flicks past me for a moment before returning to mine. “We don’t.”

“Then why are you here?”

He’s quiet for a second, yet he doesn’t look away. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

The words sting, but I shake my head and force out a breath. “You’ve got a funny way of doing that.”

“I wasn’t going to come up to you or anything. I just needed to see for myself.”

The silence stretches between us as I study him, really looking at him this time, and the image returns as clearly as if I were standing outside that bank again. Zara was covered in blood and wrapped around him like he was the only safe thing left in the world, while Thiago held on to her just as tightly.

“You got her out,” I say finally. “Zara.”

His expression changes, like he’s back there with her too. “She did exactly what she was told. She stayed low.”

“That sounds like her.” I look down for a moment, gathering the words I came over here to say. “I owe you,” I tell him, lifting my gaze back to his. “For bringing her back to me. She’s special to us. That’s our baby.”

He shakes his head immediately. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“I do.”

“No,” he says, firmer this time. “You don’t.”

I should leave it there, thank him and walk away before this becomes anything more than it needs to be. But then I hear myself say, “You were there when I wasn’t.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

“I should’ve been with them.” The admission scrapes its way up my throat. “I got caught up at work, and I can’t stop thinking about what would’ve happened if I hadn’t left. Maybe they never would’ve gone to that bank. Maybe Estela would still be here.”

Thiago takes a step toward me before stopping himself. “You can’t put that on yourself.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“No, I don’t.” His voice softens, but there’s nothing uncertain about it. “That doesn’t make it any less true.”

I look past him toward the rows of headstones, trying to get myself back under control. He doesn’t understand. If I had been there, I would’ve emptied every bullet I had into those men before they touched Zara or Estela, torn them apart with my bare hands if that was what it took.

But I wasn’t there. And Thiago was.

I swallow against the burn in my throat and look back at him.

Maybe coming over here was a mistake. I thought I could thank him and walk away, but standing in front of him only makes it harder to shove him back into the neat little box I put him in the moment I saw that badge.

He lied to me, and he’s still a cop. Neither has changed. But he also carried Zara out of danger. He stayed with her when she was terrified and brought her back to me.

I don’t know what to do with both versions of him yet.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice softer now because it’s the only thing I trust myself to give him. “Just know…this doesn’t make us friends.”

He lets out a tut under his breath. “I had a feeling.”

“Take care of yourself, Officer Braga.”