“Unimpressed, Raul,” Chloe says.
The man is really trying to use his status to get a girl and Chloe cannot believe the audacity. Kylie seems to be enjoying the fools in front of them. Chloe would rather have them leave so she can go back to worrying about the following week.
“Well maybe you would be by the idea that I have already won a medal this year. Wonderful isn’t it,” Raul gloats. “Not many people can do that.”
“True, it is very difficult,” Kylie scoffs.
“And tomorrow we are both going for our next medals in the relay. You should come celebrate with us after we get gold,” Flavio comments.
Chloe pretends to gag off to the side. These guys really cannot be serious about this, at least Chloe hopes. She tries to focus on the waves and the people running around, ignoring the weirdly good looking men in front of her. It doesn’t work because they keep opening their mouths.
“So, what do you ladies say?” Raul asks.
Kylie breaks into laughter and holds onto her sides. Chloe watches her friend with her own laughter beginning to bubble up. They are all Olympians and Kylie actually has more medals so far than Raul. It really is quite hilarious in fact. Chloe lets her laughter bubble out and takes her sunglasses off.
“You are trying to impress two other Olympians by bragging,” Chloe chortles. “One even has more than you already. In the words of Shania Twain, that don’t impress me much.”
Flavio and Raul are silent in front of the laughing women. Kylie wipes tears from her eyes and tries to calm down, but the looks on the faces in front of them has her bursting out again.
“Well, we both have more events coming up soon and we can compare later,” Raul mentions.
Chloe calms herself down and levels her gaze on Raul. He has a cocky smile on his face and his gave shifting to Chloe. He licks his lips and smiles down at her with unwanted promises in his eyes. Though Chloe does appreciate the perfect slender build he is sporting, a swimmer’s body if she judges correctly.
“I don’t think so,” Chloe says, “it would just be sad for you when she takes home more medals than you.”
“Very sad indeed,” Kylie agrees.
“I think you may make them cry, Kylie.”
“I think so too. It would make this whole situation that much more fun.”
Chloe stands up and gathers her things before flashing a bright smile at Raul and Flavio.
“Perhaps we should leave before you gentlemen feel your manhood shrinking?”
Kylie stands up and gets her own things and shoves them into her beach bag. She giggles and does a flirty wave, following behind Chloe. The guys do their own halfhearted wave and watch, mystified by the bikini clad women.
Chloe checks back and sees the men turn away before keeling over in laughter. She holds onto her side and Kylie’s arm, prompting Kylie to look like she has found a Dodo bird before bursting out into the same type of laughter. It doesn’t take long for the friends to crash onto the sand.
“I can’t believe they just tried that,” Chloe gasps in between laughs.
“You could swim laps around him.”
“You probably could too. Now let’s get going before the vultures swing back around.”
“I wouldn’t call the sexy beasts vultures,” Kylie wiggles her eyebrows.
Chloe rolls her eyes and stands up. She puts out a hand to Kylie and yanks her up.
“So you call the arrogant assholes sexy?”
“You wouldn’t call the perfect V heading into their swim trunks sexy? Are you sure you are still a woman after a year of no sex?”
Chloe pushes her friend a little and turns to see Raul staring at her.
“I recognize that they are fabulous to stare at, but the personality could use a lot of work.”
Chloe shakes her head at Raul who winks at her from across the beach. She turns around and catches Kylie smirking at her. Chloe then walks off without Kylie, knowing she is following behind now. Kylie catches up and the friends link arms.
Chapter Two
People are milling about outside the Aquatics Stadium, still buzzing with excitement from the races that just took place inside. Chloe is one of those people in her American Flag button down and pin stripe shorts. She has her bag slung over her shoulder holding her small flag and a jacket in case she got cold.
Kylie is monopolizing a group of American tourists with their own flag gear on proud display. Chloe barely listens to them talk about how amazing the men’s relay was that night. Phelps rocked it and they loved it.
“I was surprised by Brazil,” an older lady mentions.
Chloe looks up and begins paying attention to the conversation in hopes that they won’t be talking about a certain cocky swimmer who was making eyes at her before and after the race. It made her want to hide somewhere where he couldn’t find her.
“They were impressive. I thought Japan was going to beat them for bronze,” Kylie says.
“It was their anchor swimmer that pulled them through in the end. What was his name?” the man asks.
“Raul Correa,” Chloe interjects without thinking.
Kylie smirks under her breath at Chloe and then continues the conversation. Chloe blocks out the rest, trying not to embarrass herself anymore. She looks toward the exit and sees some of the teams leaving with their countries colors on full display. She waves to the Americans and frowns when Raul comes out behind them and waves back at her.
Chloe turns back to the group and tries to ignore the feeling of someone coming up behind her. Too late, Raul slips his arm over her shoulder and Flavio does the same for Kylie.
“Speak of the devils,” Kylie jokes.
“Since when are we devil's?” Flavio questions.
Chloe tries to free herself from Raul and succeeds. She takes a few steps away and tries to smile at the couple in front of her.
“Since you were staring up at a certain lady during the events, Flavio. Not even trying to hide it. You too, Raul.”
Chloe sends daggers to Kylie as she smiles between her friend and the handsome Brazilian. Chloe takes a deep breath, attempting not to drop kick Raul as he puts his arm around her waist.
“And why would I try not to look at this beautiful woman? She stole my breath away yesterday,” Raul purrs in Chloe’s ear.
“I can take it away right now too, if I aim my foot in just the right direction,” Chloe smirks.
“You all know each other?” the woman asks.
“We met on the beach yesterday,” Kylie starts.
“Let’s just say they were better in the pool tonight then they were on land the other day.”
Chloe smirks up at Raul and steps on his foot to get him to walk away. It doesn’t actually work and Raul just stays right next to Chloe the whole time, his eyes glued to her.
“So, what are we all going to be up to tonight? Shall we celebrate?” Flavio asks.
“What did you have in mind?” Kylie asks.
“A club maybe, you ladies in?” Raul says.
“Not me, I am just going back to the Village tonight,” Chloe chimes.
Chloe steps away from the group and points toward the metro train entrance. Raul looks over then at her. He is not going to follow her if Chloe has absolutely anything to say about it.
“Well, I’m in,” Kylie shines.
“I’ll make sure Chloe makes it home safely, then meet you,” Raul states.
“I’ll be fine,” Chloe manages.
“We’ll be taking the metro too, she can ride with us,” the man offers.
“That would be perfect, thank you.”
Chloe waves goodbye to everyone and goes with the couple down into the metro tunnel. Unfortunately, Raul is following behind and Chloe can hear his footsteps perfectly.
The metro is practically empty except for a couple of guys wearing Brazil shirts waiting at the end of the platform. Chloe has a bad feeling about them, but has an even worse feeling about Raul trying to be a gentleman that she does not wa
nt.
“Are you really just trying to help me, or do you want something in return?” Chloe asks.
“I just want to make sure a beautiful woman gets back to her home safely. Rio is a dangerous place at night and you are a target in your American gear.”
Raul smiles and stands next to Chloe as they wait for the train to arrive. He is keeping his hands to himself, pleasing Chloe beyond words.
“I have company,” Chloe manages between her teeth.
“How about this, I feel better taking you home,” Raul responds.
Chloe huffs out a breath and notices the older couple listening and smiling at Chloe and Raul. Chloe hears them mention how they were like that when they were younger and it makes her want to gag. Raul apparently hears it too and smiles at Chloe. She fake vomits and turns away from him.
“Put your hands up,” a man with broken English yells.
Chloe turns around and sees three guns pointed at her and the couple. Raul steps up and pulls Chloe into him, making her feel safer in the face of danger.
“Put your hands up,” the man yells again.
Chapter Three
Chloe puts her hands into the air along with Raul and the couple beside them. Her mind rolls through many scenarios, including the one where Raul warned her this could happen. Why couldn’t he have been wrong?
“Give us everything,” the second man nearly screams.
Chloe hands over her bag with her phone and wallet inside. The couple hand over their own bags and wallets. One of the robbers puts his gun away and takes the bags away from everyone, and holds his hand out to Raul.
“No,” Raul commands.
“Hand over, or pretty girl gets it,” the second screams.
Raul looks between the barrel of the gun and Chloe before handing his duffel over with his gear inside. He pulls Chloe closer to him and she invites it. The robbers don’t leave though; they stay with their guns pointed at the group.
“You have what you want, now leave,” Chloe demands.
“I don’t think so,” the first robber chuckles.
He herds the group to the edge of the platform and one of the robbers motions for the whole group to get down on the tracks. The couple do immediately, but Chloe is very reluctant. She looks to Raul who nods at her, assuming she is going to get down on the tracks too.
Chloe is not easily scared or murdered like that though. She pretends to get low to get on the ground, but instead sweeps her leg behind one of the robbers. He falls to the ground and she reaches for his now discarded gun. Raul follows with her and manages to tackle one of the other guys.
The robber pushes Chloe back and she nearly falls off the platform. Raul has managed to hold back one of the robbers while Chloe reaches for the gun one more time and grabs it. She holds it up to the robber she took it from and looks down the sight. He doesn’t look afraid though.
Chloe keeps her eyes trained on her target, but is keenly aware of the fight between Raul and his own robber. Chloe feels for the safety and turns it off, knowing now that she had an advantage the whole time.
“Drop it,” Chloe hears behind her head.
She turns around and sees a gun pointed in between her eyes. The first robber has a horrible smile on his face and clicks his own safety off. Chloe takes a gulp, worried now more than ever that she could really die here tonight.
Chloe sees a gun being pointed at the first robber and Raul states something in Portuguese that Chloe doesn’t understand. The other robber runs off and leave the first one with Raul and Chloe. She turns her own gun on the man pointing at her.
The couple are now climbing up onto the platform and holding onto each other. The woman helps Chloe up as she keeps her gun pointed at the target. Raul circles around and stands next to her.
“If I were you, I would put the gun down,” Chloe grits out.
Instead of listening to her, though, the robber runs off and Chloe lowers the gun and turns the safety back on before clearing the barrel. Raul does the same and takes the gun from her. The couple immediately wrap a shaking Chloe in their arms.
Chloe thinks back to all the training her dad gave her
with guns and thanks him in her head. Of course, she will never tell him what happened here tonight, but nonetheless, she thanks him for everything.
“Are you okay?” Raul asks.
Chloe looks up at Raul and sees a giant red mark on his head and reality crashes in. She pulls away from the couple and goes up to Raul.
“I’m fine, but what about you?”
Chloe lightly touches his forehead and he flinches back.
“I’ll be fine soon. We need to call for help,” Raul commands.
Chloe nods and digs through her bag on the floor and finds her phone. She hands it over to Raul who dials for help.
The couple are holding onto each other tightly and touch Chloe on and off. She can still feel herself shaking in fear and adrenaline, no doubt everything will set in later and she will have a major freak out on Kylie.
“They are on the way. I let them know they need to bring an interpreter,” Raul announces.
“How are you not freaking out?” Chloe asks.
The couple behind her murmur in agreement and look around, waiting for the police to arrive quickly.
“I grew up in Rio, not the safest place to grow up in. You tend to see a lot of guns.”
Raul takes the clips out of the guns and sets it all down on a nearby bench. Chloe sits down on one opposite, trying to calm her shaking hands with no luck. She does feel a moment of relief as the first few police officers trickle in from above. The train arrives behind her and Chloe feels her ears ring with the noise of everything.
People are milling around the platform curious as to what just went down. Chloe ignores everyone.
Chapter Four
Raul holds an ice pack up to his head while people bustle around. Chloe just watches him, feeling bad that she didn’t trust him in the first place. It may only be a bump and bruise, but everything could have been so much worse.
“Are you sure you are fine?” Chloe questions.
“Yes,” Raul mumbles.
He catches her eyes and the deep brown of his makes her heart thump harder in her chest. It is almost like her can see the deep hidden secrets in her soul that she doesn’t even know about yet.
“Do you have any more races?”
“No, tonight was my last for the games. I will be fine, Chloe, I promise.”
Chloe lays her hand over Raul’s and tries to show him that she does care that he tried to help her, even if it meant that he got hurt. He smiles at her and holds onto her hand.
“This shouldn’t have happened. First Zika and now this? We aren’t the only people who have been robbed since getting here.”
“Good news, chances are high that this is the only time you will ever be robbed in your lifetime.”
Chloe laughs at the joke that Raul tried to make, but it came out more as just a fake laugh. She does smile up at Raul, to make him feel better about everything.
“You say that, but I have a feeling you were just the start of my bad luck,” Chloe elbows Raul.
Raul laughs at her joke, a real and honest laugh. Chloe lets herself laugh now too, feeling real relief and happiness since everything in the metro.
“Do you have any races tomorrow?” Raul asks after calming down.
“No, Kylie has her qualifying tomorrow, but that is at night.”
“What about you? If you’re staying in the Village then that means you race too.”
Chloe pulls her hand out of Raul’s and looks down at her clasped ones.
“I am a marathon swimmer, so I go next week.”
“Plenty of time to workout then. Maybe I could join you on one.”
“I doubt you could keep up with my distance. It is ten kilometers, you know,” Chloe mocks.
“You don’t think I could do it? I think I could.”
They both laugh at his dishonest statement and relax
as the hustle and bustle around them gets going loud. Apparently there were some drunk people coming in and making a real fuss. Chloe watches as one of the men from before walks by in cuffs.
An officer talks with Raul about something that Chloe can’t understand. He nods and points at the guy who just walked past in cuffs and it becomes apparent that they managed to catch at least one of the assailants. Chloe looks at him behind the bars of a jail cell and scrunches her face. He looks down, shame or anger on his face, it is hard to tell.
“So, they got one, but he isn’t turning on the other two,” Raul mentions.
“At least they got one,” Chloe smiles at Raul.
“You were impressive back there.”
“I was raised in the backwoods in Minnesota, raised to hunt. Then I learned self-defense when I moved to the Twin Cities. Safety first.”
Chloe internally smacks herself at her word vomit while Raul smiles at her. It is really impressive how he is able to smile at everything Chloe is saying and doing, it is actually annoying her a bit.
“Can we go?” Chloe yawns.
“Yeah, we are good to go.”
Raul helps Chloe up and they grab their bags they got back. He walks with his arm over her shoulders, and Chloe likes the feeling of comfort it provides. It feels like home to her.
“Do you want to go sightseeing with me sometime, Chloe?” Raul asks.
They exit the police station and walk along the streets. Raul is leading them toward a street with cabs on it. Chloe is watching their surroundings with a keen eye, only half paying attention to what Raul is saying.
“So, you want to go?”
“Where?” Chloe asks.
“Sightseeing. I can show you around Rio and we can get some food too. You have tomorrow free so I thought it would be a fun way to pass the time.”
Chloe giggles at Raul’s word vomit. Some of the words were extremely accented and hard to decipher, but Chloe got the gist of it all.
“I don’t know, maybe.”
“Wonderful, wonderful,” Raul claps.
Raul calls out for a cab when they stop on the corner. One pulls up to the curb and they both climb inside. Raul instructs the driver in Portuguese and they are off. Chloe recognizes the way to the Village and remains silent on the way there. Raul is looking out his own window, silent too.
Romance: The Bad Boy Affair: A Second Chance Romance Page 105
