Page 12 of Rio (Knight Empire #3)

RIO

Dex and I met earlier in the day, in a bar at the hotel where I’m staying. That dude was all wrapped up in guilt. I could immediately tell that he feels bad for hiding my visit from Dani.

I get it.

These two lovebirds don’t want any secrets between them. Totally understandable. Dex feels bad for the all the trickery Dani endured, on account of the old man. Raquel probably hates my guts even more, if that is possible.

That is, if she’s even thinking about me.

I was starting to wonder if my surprise visit was such a good idea, but a few Negronis was all it took to convince me that it was. Dex said the girls were having a spa day, and then he told me about how the meal went last night, when they announced their engagement to Raquel.

I chuckled when he described her reaction.

“Not exactly happy,” is what Dex said.

No shit. I’m sure Raquel wants nothing to do with the Knights, after seeing how the old man screwed Dani’s father over.

Raquel’s treating them to a celebratory dinner, and I can’t screw this up.

Dex isn’t thrilled about sneaking me into their little engagement celebration, but he claims he understands why I need to crash it.

He said he doesn’t want to lie, so I’m the one who has to come up with a good reason for turning up unexpectedly.

I’ll do it.

I’ll do whatever I have to. Still, my stomach twists as I walk into the restaurant where Dex told me they’d be. The hostess leads me through the dimly lit dining room. This is good, Raquel won’t see me coming.

It will be a complete surprise.

The ambiance is intimate. Soft candlelight and art deco chandeliers. People talking in hushed tones, making polite conversation. Charmed laughter.

That’s when I see her. The woman who’s taken up permanent residence inside my head.

Raquel.

Everything crawls to slow motion. My insides turn light and floaty, like I’ve just dropped from a great height in a rollercoaster.

She has her hair pinned back, off her face, twisted into something elegant.

No wild curls tumbling down. She looks sleek, and polished.

She’s always glamourous. Always eye-catching and beautiful.

I long to trace my fingers along the delicate curve of her neck, to cup her face and admire those sharp cheekbones, to just stare at her dark Bambi eyes.

Even in the dimmed light, I can make out satin red stain on her lips. My heart jolts, and my pants start to feel tight again.

This woman doesn’t even have to touch me to have an effect on me.

I watch in wonder as a champagne glass dangles from her fingertips.

It immediately reminds me of the panties she once dangled.

I head towards them. She’s mid-laugh, head tilted back, Dani leaning into her like a conspirator, and Dex sitting opposite them looking like he’s an extra who wandered into the wrong scene.

She still hasn’t seen me, and I get a few moments to stare freely.

This woman is a hit of adrenaline and something more dangerous.

She’s the type of woman you remember months and years later.

She’s in my blood, but I’m not sure if that’s addiction or poison.

All I know is that it’s annoying, and I just need to get her out of my system, so I can get on with my life.

I adjust my jacket before stepping into the spotlight.

“Well, this is a surprise. What the hell are you all doing here?”

Three heads turn. Dani gasps. Dex tries to look surprised. Raquel freezes, the glass halfway to her lips as her smile vanishes before my eyes.

Dani’s the first to recover. “Rio?” Her tone is warm, but confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Business.” I lie smoothly, sliding into the booth next to Dex. A muscle tenses along Dex’s jaw. Like he’s thinking,

“Wrong move, brother. Don’t make yourself too comfortable.” Dex wants this to look purely coincidental. Raquel is sharp. Too sharp. He doesn’t want her, or Dani, suspecting anything.

“Sorry. It just felt like old times.” I immediately get back up again. “I won’t stay long. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Raquel is still silent, her mouth open. Her eyes curious, as if she doesn’t know what to make of this.

“This is a surprise.” Dani lets out a nervous laugh. I find it odd that she’s doing all the talking.

“Had a few important meetings that couldn’t wait, I thought I saw you guys walking in so here I am.”

“Are you stalking us? Is this planned? Are you trying to pretend that this is unexpected?” Raquel snaps. This woman. Her interrogative skills seem to be a permanent part of her personality.

“Why, hello there, Judge .” I drop a nod, and try hard not to fixate on her lips, or her smoky eyes—charcoal liner blended with warm bronze.

Damn if she doesn’t look irresistibly seductive.

My heart thumps inside my rib cage, and my nerves begin to fray, a feeling as unfamiliar as failure.

My cocksure charm and easy banter abandons me and I’m uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Luckily, Dex comes to my rescue. “Can I get you a drink, brother?”

“Thanks, but no. I was having drinks with the guys from the meeting, across the road.” I vaguely wave in the direction of the street.

“You had a meeting here, in Miami, the same time that Dex and Dani are here, on a weekend?” Raquel’s champagne flute still dangles from her hands. I keep an eye on it, in case she wants to throw it at me, such is the hatred flowing out of her gaze.

“You think I’m making this up?” I chuckle, running a hand across my beard. I catch the way she stares, the way she examines my face. Inch. By. Inch.

She’s missing me. I know it. “Oh, princesa.” I whip out a business card from my pocket. “Andre Berloni. The guy I had a meeting with. He and a few others are still there. Call him.”

I venture a glance at Dex, who looks wide-eyed. I bet he’s thinking, “What the fuck?”

“Sit down, Rio. Don’t be a stranger.” Dani seems to have bought my ruse, but Raquel snatches the card from my fingers, whips out her cell phone, and calls the number. I ease into the booth, next to Dex, watching her directly opposite me.

I know this woman. So well.

She gives me a let’s-see-how-you-wrangle-your-way out-of this look. “Andre?”

I smile.

Her gaze fixes on me. “This is going to sound insanely crazy, but, did you have drinks with someone just now? A business meeting?” She’s clever. She doesn’t give him the name.

Dex looks like he’s seen a ghost. Dani looks perplexed. I casually adjust the sleeves of my jacket, biding my time. I know Raquel. I know she doesn’t trust or believe. I came prepared.

“You did? Uh-huh. Oh. It was? Thank you.” She hangs up, resentment oozing off her. “Andre sends his regards.”

I chuckle. “You had to check, huh, princesa?”

Dani laughs. “Raquel, give the man a break.”

Dex is silent, but his eyes fill with a million questions.

That was the best use of a hundred dollars ever.

“I left the guys early, and figured I’d swing by and toast the happy couple, again.” I glance at Dex who is still silent, but he lifts one brow, probably wondering what trick I’ll come up with next.

Raquel picks up her glass, murmurs, “How convenient,” and drains it dry. Her voice is satin and silk. Smooth as honey, sweet as molasses. The looks she’s giving me though, are anything but.

“You look well,” I say, giving her an easy smile.

“And you look ... the same. Still allergic to reading the room, I see.”

I’m loving this. I miss the way we spark and converse with each other. “Ouch. No warm welcome?”

Those lips I adore press into a tight line.

“I’m glad to see that you’re well,” I say carefully. “I got worried, especially when you didn’t text back all those times.”

“I did text you,” she retorts. “To tell you how right I was to stay away from you.”

“I was thrilled to hear from you at long last, despite sending you million messages and getting cold-shouldered.” I lean towards her slightly, see her eyes flash, and her mouth twitch. She’s trying not to get riled up, but the fact that I can rile her up, feels good.

I yearn for another night of strip poker.

Dani cuts in. “This champagne really hits, huh?”

Dex clears his throat. “We, uh... should probably give you two a moment.”

“No need,” Raquel says, eyes still locked on mine. “We’re great. Totally fine.”

“Fine is such a subjective word,” I counter.

Dex stands. “How about we get our dessert outside, Daniela?”

Dani hesitates. “Raquel?”

Raquel waves her off. “I’m good. I’ll try not to kill him.”

I smile, warming up to her. “You’d do anything to get your hands on me.”

“Chokehold or a headlock?” she asks, eyes narrowed. Dex and Dani leave quickly, and then it’s only the two of us. The air tightens around us instantly.

“That’s not a good move for a lawyer.” I wave the server over and order a Negroni.

“And I’ll get the bill, please,” Raquel tells him.

“You’re leaving already?” I’m shocked. I didn’t expect her to rush off this fast. I expected more time, more banter, more flirting. Now I’m doubting myself for coming here. Maybe she’s in a relationship?

“You came all the way here to... what? Ambush me with banter and pretend it’s business?”

“Who says I’m pretending, princesa? You spoke to Andre, didn’t you?”

“Please.” She scoffs, folding her arms. “I’ve met you, remember? I know you Knights have answers for everything. You people are good at covering your tracks.”

“Want to go over and meet Andre?” I glance at my watch, but don’t note the time. “We can go and have a drink with him. Maybe he can tell you all about our meeting.”

“Nothing for me, thank you,” she says, when the server asks if she’d like dessert.

“You’re not asking me?”

“Absolutely nothing for him. My guests are outside, if you’d like to take their order.”

“Certainly, ma’am.” The server nods and disappears.