The Former BOPE Police Oficcer

Chapter 34 – Return to Los Angeles

The plane landed smoothly at the Los Angeles airport, signaling the end of the trip to Brazil. Rafael, Gigi and Khai were back to their routine, but the sparkle in each of their eyes made it clear that the experience in Rio de Janeiro had been special for all of them.

Khai was excited, hugging a teddy bear she had received during her stay, while Gigi held Rafael's hand, feeling more connected than ever.

— "LA again," — Gigi said, looking out the window of the car that would take them home. — "It always feels a little strange coming back after such an intense trip."

Rafael smiled as he settled Khai in the back seat.

— "You get used to it. But it's good to be home too."

Khai, listening to the conversation, interrupted enthusiastically:

— "Mommy, can we bring Rio here?"

Everyone laughed, and Rafael replied:

— "I think the most we can bring is energy, little one."

When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by the familiar comfort of the home they now shared. The Los Angeles sun streamed through the windows, illuminating the spacious living room decorated with modern yet cozy touches. Khai ran straight to the couch while Rafael and Gigi began unpacking.

"I have to admit," Gigi said, watching Rafael carefully unpack a few items, "you're more organized than I thought."

Rafael looked at her with an amused smile.

"Military discipline. You should try it."

She laughed, pulling one of his t-shirts out of the suitcase.

"I think I prefer my messy art."

While Gigi went upstairs to check on Khai, Rafael stayed in the living room, organizing some of the gifts he had brought from Brazil. Among them was a painting of a view of Sugarloaf Mountain and a small sculpture of Christ the Redeemer. He placed the items on a shelf, feeling a wave of nostalgia.

Later, while Khai slept upstairs, Gigi and Rafael enjoyed a moment alone in the garden. The stars were visible in the clear sky, and the air had a hint of the coolness typical of Los Angeles nights.

"Did you know this trip would be so meaningful?" Gigi asked, looking at him as they sipped their wine.

Rafael shrugged.

"I knew I wanted you to know something that is a part of me. But the way it all unfolded… it was better than I expected."

Gigi placed her glass on the table and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

"You know, I learned a lot about you in Brazil. More than at any other time since I met you."

He looked at her curiously.

"Like what?"

"How deeply loyal you are. To your team, to your past… and to us."

Rafael was silent for a moment, absorbing her words.

— "I learned a lot about us too," he finally said. — "And about how much I want to build something solid with you."

Gigi smiled, touching his hand.

— "You're already building."

In the following days, they began to get back into their routine in Los Angeles. Gigi went back to working on photo shoots and meetings with brands, while Rafael began to explore business opportunities that could complement his experience.

At the gym they frequented together, workouts became a special moment between them again. Gigi joked that Rafael should be her official personal trainer, and he accepted with a smile, always challenging her to push her limits.

Khai was also more excited than ever, telling stories about the trip to her friends and showing them the gifts she had brought. She and Rafael seemed to have created an even stronger bond during their time in Brazil, something that Gigi noticed fondly.

One day, Gigi decided to organize a lunch at home to bring together some close friends and family. The table was set in the garden, with fresh flowers and a selection of dishes that mixed Brazilian and American cuisine.

Kendall and Hailey arrived first, followed by Bella and her boyfriend Adán, who were in town for a few days. Rafael, as always, welcomed everyone with a polite smile and a striking presence that impressed anyone.

"So, how was Brazil?" Kendall asked curiously. G

igi and Rafael began to tell stories about their trip, including their experience at Sugarloaf Mountain, their tour of the favela with friends from BOPE and, of course, the typical foods they tried.

"And how is Khai doing after the trip?" Bella asked.

"She's in love with Rio," Gigi replied, laughing. "She's already asking us to come back next summer."

Rafael joined in the conversation with his usual sense of humor. "I think we need to teach Khai some Portuguese before that."

Everyone laughed, as lunch continued with ease and joy.

That night, after everyone had said goodbye, Gigi and Rafael sat in the garden, side by side, watching the city lights in the distance.

— "You know," Gigi began, "all of this... us, our routine, our family... it just feels so right."

Rafael turned to her, taking her hand.

— "It's because we're creating something real. Something worth fighting to protect."

She smiled, leaning in to kiss him softly.

— "Thank you for being here. For being you."

He put his arm around her, pulling her close.

— "Thank you. For letting me be a part of this."

Together, they stood there, silent, enjoying the moment. There was no rush, just the knowledge that they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

Chapter 35 – The Portuguese Lesson

The afternoon sun illuminated the living room of the house in Los Angeles, creating a cozy atmosphere. Rafael, Gigi and Khai were gathered on the couch, and in the center of the coffee table were a notebook, some colored pens and a portable whiteboard that Rafael had brought from one of the bedrooms.

— "Today," — Rafael began, with a mischievous smile, — "we are going to learn some words in Portuguese. After all, after the trip to Brazil, you need to know more than just 'obrigado' and 'oi."

Khai jumped excitedly on the couch.

— "I want to learn! I want to learn!"

Gigi laughed, watching her daughter's excitement.

— "Okay, Professor Valente," — Gigi said, crossing her arms. — "Where do we start?"

Rafael held a pen and pointed to the whiteboard.

— "Let's start with the greetings. It's simple and useful."

He wrote the words "Olá" "Boa dia," "Boa tarde," and "Boa noite" on the board.

— "These are the most basic ways to greet someone. Repeat after me: 'Olá'"

Khai was the first to try, with an exaggerated pronunciation.

— "Oláaaaaa!"

Rafael laughed and ruffled her hair.

— "Almost perfect, little one. Now you, Gigi."

— "Olá," Gigi said, with surprisingly good pronunciation.

Rafael raised an eyebrow.

— "Not bad, Miss Hadid. Looks like we have a dedicated student here."

Gigi smiled, pleased.

— "Keep going, teacher."

After the greetings, Rafael began teaching simple words like "por favor," "com licença," "água," and "comida"

— "Now let's try sentences," Rafael said excitedly. — "For example, 'Eu quero água' Repeat after me: 'Eu quero água.'"

Khai tried first, laughing as he stumbled over the words.

— "Eu... quero... água!"

Rafael clapped his hands together.

— "Very good! Just tweak the last word a little. It's 'água,' not 'agua'"

Gigi, on the other hand, tried a little more seriously.

— "Eu quero água."

Rafael winked at her.

— "Perfect. I think I'm going to have to start charging for these lessons, you're learning too fast."

Gigi rolled her eyes, but laughed.

— "You wouldn't dare."

After covering the basics, Rafael decided to add some more lighthearted words to their vocabulary.

— "Okay, now we're going to learn something that you can use to have fun. For example, 'legal'. That means something like 'cool' or 'nice' in English."

Khai was excited.

— "Legal! Legal! Isso é muito legal!"

Gigi smiled, shaking her head.

— "I think she's really enjoying this."

— "It's going really well," Rafael said, winking at Khai.

After that, he added some funny words, like "cachorro quente" and "picolé."

— "Now you have to use these words in a sentence," Rafael challenged.

Gigi thought for a moment before saying:

— "Eu quero um cachorro quente."

Rafael laughed.

— "Impressive. You're ready to order food in Brazil already."

Khai tried something else:

— "Eu quero... um... picolé legal!"

Rafael and Gigi laughed out loud, and Rafael gave the girl a high-five.

— "That was amazing, little one!"

To make the lesson even more fun, Rafael took out his cell phone and put on an upbeat Brazilian song.

— "One of the best ways to learn a language is with music," he said. — "This song is called Mas Que Nada, by Jorge Ben Jor. It's a classic."

Gigi and Khai started bobbing their heads to the beat as Rafael sang some parts and encouraged them to repeat.

— "Great rhythm," Gigi said, laughing. — "But I'm going to need more practice to sing that."

— "You'll get better," Rafael said. — "And who knows, maybe one day you'll even be able to sing a whole song in Portuguese."

Later, while Khai slept, Gigi and Rafael were in the living room, reviewing the words they had learned.

— "You know," Gigi began, looking at him, "I really enjoyed learning Portuguese today. It makes me feel more connected to you and your world."

Rafael smiled, touching her face. — "And I love teaching you. It's a way of bringing a part of me into our lives here."

She smiled, leaning in to kiss him softly. — "So, Professor Valente, when's the next class?"

He laughed, hugging her. — "Whenever you want, Miss Hadid."

And so, with laughter and learning, they continued to strengthen the connection between their cultures, their lives, and their souls.

Chapter 36 – The Perfect Couple

The day dawned bright in Los Angeles, and Gigi was excited. She had a photo shoot scheduled for one of the biggest fashion brands in the world, and since Rafael was free that day, she decided to take him behind the scenes.

— "I'm sure you'll love it," she said as she arranged her bag and clothes for the shoot.

— "Love watching you work? Always," Rafael replied, with a playful smile.

They arrived at the studio, a modern space with white walls, powerful lights, and background music. The team was in full swing, adjusting equipment, reviewing costumes, and checking the schedule. As soon as Gigi entered, she was greeted with warm hugs and greetings.

Rafael, on the other hand, received curious looks and some surprised expressions. His athletic and imposing build drew attention, but he remained at ease, observing everything with interest.

— "This is Rafael," Gigi introduced herself to the lead photographer, a tall, charismatic man named Marco. "He's here to accompany me today."

Marco shook Rafael's hand, clearly impressed. — "Ah, the famous Rafael! I've heard of you. Welcome. I hope you like what you see today."

Rafael smiled politely. — "Of course. I'm curious to see Gigi in action."

Gigi's Work Gigi was led to the dressing room, where the stylists began preparing her hair and makeup. Rafael stood outside, watching as the lights were adjusted and the set was set up.

Soon, Gigi appeared on set, wearing a stunning couture gown. She looked like a vision, and Rafael couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. She winked at him before she began posing for the cameras. Gigi was a spectacle, changing expressions and postures with ease as Marco shouted compliments and instructions.

— "Beautiful! Gorgeous! That's it, Gigi, perfect!"

Rafael, arms crossed in the corner, felt a growing sense of pride. Gigi dominated the room with her presence.

After a few hours, Marco interrupted the session to review the photos that had been taken. He approached Gigi and Rafael with a thoughtful expression.

— "You know, Gigi," he began, "you look amazing, as always. But... I had a crazy idea. What if we put Rafael in the photos? He has an incredible presence and, honestly, I think it would bring a whole new dynamic to the campaign."

Gigi's eyes widened in surprise.

— "Rafael? Posing? He's never done that before."

Marco shrugged.

— "Even better. He has an authentic, natural look. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to see the most intriguing couple of the moment in a campaign together?"

Rafael laughed, shaking his head.

— "I'm not a model. I've never done anything like this."

— "That doesn't matter," Marco insisted. — "It's the connection between you that will shine. And from what I can see, that connection is powerful."

Gigi looked at Rafael, clearly excited by the idea.

— "What do you think? It would be fun."

He sighed hesitantly, but her smile convinced him.

— "Okay," Rafael said. — "But if I look like an idiot, it's your fault."

The team quickly prepared Rafael, adjusting a white tailored shirt to his body and a smart blazer.

— "You're naturally photogenic," one of the stylists said, smiling as she finished arranging him.

Gigi walked over, now in a different dress, and took a look at Rafael.

— "I have to admit," she said, biting her lip. "You look amazing."

Rafael laughed, a little embarrassed.

— "I hope I don't ruin your photos."

— "You're going to rock," she assured him.

On set, Marco began giving instructions.

— "Okay, Rafael, stand next to Gigi. Hold her hand. That's it. Now, look at each other."

Rafael followed the instructions, even though he felt a twinge of nervousness. But as soon as he looked into Gigi's eyes, everything disappeared. He forgot about the cameras, the lights, and the crew.

— "Incredible," Marco exclaimed. — "This connection! This is what I wanted!"

They proceeded to strike several poses: holding hands, sitting side by side, and even one where Rafael wrapped Gigi in a protective hug.

The chemistry between them was evident, and the entire crew was impressed.

— "You two could be the face of any brand," Marco said, pleased.

When they were done, Gigi and Rafael went to the dressing room together. Gigi was beaming.

"You were amazing!" she said, hugging him.

"It was easier than I thought," Rafael admitted. "I guess being with you helped."

She laughed, kissing him on the cheek.

"This might not be your last campaign, you know? Brands are going to go crazy for this."

Later, as they reviewed the photos with the team, they all agreed that Rafael had been a perfect addition to the shoot.

Marco looked at him with a smile.

"If you ever get tired of jumping out of planes or shooting guns, come find me. The fashion world has a place for you."

Rafael laughed.

— "I'll think about it."

On the way back home, Gigi held Rafael's hand.

— "You know, this was one of the best photo shoots I've ever done. Not just because of the work, but because I had you by my side."

Rafael smiled, kissing her hand.

— "Whenever you need me, I'll be here."

And so, the couple not only conquered the camera lenses, but also continued to strengthen the bond they had, showing that they were more than a couple; they were partners in everything.

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