Page 56 of Rio

Especially after last night.I cock my head, my gaze bouncing from his eyes.I’m still trying to determine if last night was a strategy, and not just a cultural food festival.“Did you set it all up?Running into me at the food festival?Going with me to the lagoon?Is that the Knight way?”

He swipes a hand over his face.“Damn it, Raquel.I’m not playing you.Last night wasn’t a setup.Last night was real.”

Last night was real.

My insides hollow out at the realization that he’s possibly, maybe, shown me his vulnerability.I want to believe him, but I’m not sure I can.“You have a problem being held accountable in front of the very people you’re supposed to be look out for.People on whose land you’re building your eco-monstrosity.”

“It is not a monstrosity.Did you hear what I said?About last night?”

“I’m here on legal grounds.I can’t forget that.”

He nods.Doesn’t push anymore.Doesn’t blur the lines between personal and professional.“I still don’t understand why you felt the need to make a show of things just now.”

“You have a fragile ego, Knight.You called a community hall.What did you expect?To be wrapped up in cotton wool, and not have to answer hard questions?”

“Forget it.”

His jaw is tight and he looks furious.I’m wondering if he’s just pissed that I did this publicly.Like his ego took more of a bruising than he expected.Also, he likes to be in control.Maybe that’s the thing he can’t handle.Not being able to dictate how things turn out.

I turn to leave, and he lets me.But as I go down the stairs, I know he’s right.It was personal.I could have stopped.Like Alma said, I didn’t have to go so hard.I was trying to get us back on a professional footing, because last night, we were swimming in dangerous territory.

But tonight, I have an injunction to prep.I can’t let EcoGuardians down and I won’t disappoint Alma.

They’re the ones who deserve my focus.

Not Rio Knight.

***

RIO

This was personal.

I could see it on Raquel’s face, the joy she got out of questioning me.And now, the weight of everything she said sits on my chest.

Legal doesn’t mean ethical.

Unethical doesn’t mean illegal.

She came at me like I was a proxy for every land grab, every corrupt corporation, every broken promise ever made to this place.She hates the Knights, but she’s taking all that pent-up hatred and frustration, whatever quest she’s on, to get revenge for Dani’s father—she’s taking it all out on me.If ever there was confirmation that this woman detests me, I had it just now.

The air feels heavy.It smells like salt and sweat and something sour.Raquel intended to show me up, and I think she succeeded.Tomas comes up behind me.

“That went well.”

I shoot him a look.He shrugs, like he’s too old and too tired to care about boardroom pleasantries.

“She’s not wrong,” he continues.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I swipe a hand over my face, feeling tired.Feeling frustrated.Feeling defeated.What happened just now, not just what Raquel said, but the others, the elder man and the people complaining about the reef, and Orlando not being able to hold his own, tells me something doesn’t fit.Tomas also hinted at these things.

I rub the back of my neck, look out at the dirt road winding away from the hall.It’s lined with low houses, banana trees, kids kicking a ball barefoot in the distance.This place doesn’t need glossy images of an eco resort.It needs clean water and protection.

I hate that I’m starting to see it.I hate that Raquel is maybe right.