Page 77 of The Forbidden Fling

He scowled. “Quê?”

She lifted her T-shirt. “It helps me go to the bathroom. That’s all. No cheating here.”

Tiago’s lip curled, more spit flying from his mouth. “That’s disgusting.”

The room stilled for a beat, but adrenaline steadied her voice. “No, it’s not. But the way you’re unable to speak without splashing everyone with your saliva, frankly, is.”

Romeo chuckled, but Tiago’s glare cut to him, and he looked away.

“Sit down.” Duarte touched his brother’s arm, but he shook it off. “She beat you fair and square. Take it like a man.”

“Or better yet, like a woman,” Faye said. “Maybe then you wouldn’t have to perform this egocentric caveman act to try to recover your pride.”

“Okay, okay.” Carla waved her hands. “I think everyone needs to take a chill pill. Acalmem-se. Sim?”

Despite the game being very much over, no one made to move. Tiago’s heavy breaths were giving the old appliance a run for its money.

“That was amazing,” Romeo murmured, leaning into Faye. “What are you going to do with your winnings?”

“I’m going home on Monday. I don’t really need it.” She lifted a shoulder. “I thought maybe you could use it to get some more training equipment for your goats.”

“Really?” His eyes brightened. “That would be amaz—”

“For goats?” Tiago snapped. “You have to be joking. I need that money, and you’re going to waste it on grass-eating fleabags?”

Duarte seized his brother’s shoulder. “Enough. No more. No more money either. Not until you pay me back for everything you lost.”

Tiago banged his fists on the table like an oversized toddler, knocking Faye’s chips over. “I will pay you back.”

“This is what you keep saying, but all you do is take. The tip jar, Pai’s favourite coat, my fishing knife?”

“Calem-se!” The room settled into silence. Filamena rubbed her fingers against her wrinkled forehead as though she were trying to iron out the creases—or trying to remember why she’d put herself through this ordeal. With a sigh, she unleashed angry Portuguese on the two brothers. Judging by their reddening faces and Carla’s sheepish expression, they’d been given an earful. Shame the woman couldn’t translate.

Filamena dragged her tired eyes towards Faye. “And you. Well played.” Faye’s ears pricked up at the clear English. “You certainly had the Santos boys fooled, but I knew you’d be one to watch.”

Faye closed her gaping mouth. “Uh…thank you.”

Filamena stood, adjusting her lenço. “That’s enough fun for one night. Carla, Romeo, Bruno, always a pleasure.” She tugged on each of the brothers’ ears. “You two behave yourselves. No more stealing, Toranja.”

The group laughed, but Faye’s head spun. A lot of information had been dealt out in the last few minutes. Carla and Romeo helped pool her winnings together, exchanging the chips for the money in the pot. Tiago watched begrudgingly, his eyes burning a hole in Faye’s face as Duarte gathered her notes.

“Great game.” Duarte grinned. “I do love watching my brother lose. But it is better when it’s his own money. Here.”

She accepted the notes from his hand, catching the engraving on his ring. DS.

DS. Duarte Santos. The same initials she’d found on the penknife in the woods.

Her eyes darted to Tiago. He continued to glower at her, but Faye’s amusement had twisted into something else. Could this be the man she was chasing? Her attention flicked back to Duarte. Or was it something to do with the captain?

“That fishing knife you mentioned… What did it look like?” she asked.

Tiago stiffened.

Duarte used his fingers like a ruler. “About this big—with my name carved on the tip.” He cut an annoyed glance at Tiago. “It was a gift from my father.”

A cold chill spread up her spine.

“It’s you,” she said with a little too much force, turning to Tiago. A glimpse of fear flashed behind his eyes—the guy really needed to work on his poker face.